Journal of a Mission to the Interior of Africa, in the Year 1805 (ed John Whishaw) | Page 2

England.
A work, thus imperfect, and which the unfortunate fate of its author has
prevented from being brought to a completion, is entitled to peculiar
indulgence; and if those allowances are made, which candour and
justice require, the editor confidently hopes, that Mr. Park's Journal will
not disappoint the public expectation. It will be found to contain several
interesting particulars concerning Africa, not hitherto known, and to
illustrate and confirm, in various material respects, some of the most
important discoveries communicated in Mr. Park's former Travels. It
bears strong internal marks of truth and fidelity; and, perhaps, the very
nakedness and simplicity of its descriptions and its minute details of
petty circumstances, may be thought by some readers to convey a more
accurate and distinct conception of the process of an African journey,
and of the difficulties with which such expeditions are attended, than a
more elaborate and polished narrative.
With a view of rendering the present publication more complete, and of
gratifying in a certain degree that reasonable curiosity, which will
naturally be felt by many readers of this Journal and the former Travels,
it has been thought advisable to add a biographical Memoir of the
Author. But as the events of Mr. Park's life, with the exception of those
contained in the works just alluded to, are few and unimportant, the
editor has been induced, in the course of this undertaking, to deviate
occasionally into other topics, more or less connected with the principal
subject; in the discussion of which he has inadvertently exceeded the
limits which he had originally assigned to himself. This circumstance
has added considerably to the length of the Memoir and its Appendix;
for which, he would willingly believe, that the interest belonging to the
topics themselves, will be deemed a sufficient apology.
In preparing this Memoir, the editor naturally applied for information
to Mr. Park's family, and was much gratified by discovering, that some
materials, with a view to a similar undertaking, had been collected by a
brother-in-law of Mr. Park, Mr. Archibald Buchanan of Glasgow; who,
on being made acquainted with the editor's intention, immediately and
with the greatest candour, transmitted to him the whole of his papers.
These materials have been of great use in preparing the Memoir; in
which the editor has likewise been assisted by much useful information

which he has received from another brother-in-law of Mr. Park, Mr.
James Dickson, whose name will occur in the course of the ensuing
Memoir; and also from Mr. Park's two brothers, Mr. Adam Park of
Gravesend, and Mr. Alexander Park of Selkirk, the latter of whom is
unfortunately since dead.
The editor is likewise greatly indebted to Major Rennell and to Zachary
Macaulay, Esq. for several interesting particulars concerning Mr. Park;
and to the latter in particular, for much valuable information relative to
the trade of this country with Africa, which will be found in the
Appendix to the Memoir.
But his acknowledgments are due, in an especial manner, to Sir Joseph
Banks; who has not only favoured the editor with the fullest
communication of his correspondence with Mr. Park, and of his papers
relating to this subject, but has in every other respect assisted and
promoted the present undertaking with a kindness and liberality,
proportioned to his sincere and constant friendship for Mr. Park, and to
his uniform zeal for whatever he considers to be in any degree
connected with useful knowledge and scientific discovery.
* * * * *
It remains only to say a few words respecting the Map, which is
prefixed to this publication. The readers of Mr. Park's former Travels
are already apprized, that the map which accompanied that work, was
constructed by Major Rennell, whose interesting Geographical Memoir
in illustration of Mr. Park's first journey, was also annexed to the quarto
edition. It would have been highly gratifying to the editor of this work,
and most satisfactory to the public, if the same valuable assistance
could have been obtained on the present occasion. But unfortunately,
Major Rennell's other engagements rendered this wholly impracticable.
He had the kindness, however, to furnish the editor with some notes
which he had taken, and with a construction of part of Mr. Park's route
in 1805, which he had traced out from the Journal now published, when
it was formerly submitted to his inspection.
These papers together with Mr. Park's Journal, were placed in the hands
of a respectable artist, employed by the publisher to construct the map
intended to illustrate the present work; at whose request the following
statement respecting certain difficulties which have occurred in its
construction, is subjoined.

"In compiling the map of Mr. Park's route in 1805, much difficulty has
arisen from the bearings of places not being mentioned in the Journal;
and also in consequence of there