Journal of a Mission to the Interior of Africa, in the Year 1805 (ed John Whishaw) | Page 4

in affluent circumstances, engaged a private teacher to reside in his
house and assist in their early instruction.
It is most satisfactory to add, that these paternal cares were followed by
the happiest results, and received their appropriate reward. Mr. Park
had the gratification of seeing the greater part of his children
respectably settled during his life, and of witnessing their success and
prosperity.
After having received the first rudiments of education in his father's
family, Mungo Park was in due time removed to the Grammar School
at Selkirk, where he remained a considerable number of years. He had
shewn a great love of reading from his childhood, and was
indefatigable in his application at school, where he was much
distinguished and always at the head of his class. Even at that early age,
he was remarked for being silent, studious and thoughtful: but some
sparks of latent ambition occasionally broke forth: and indications
might even then be discovered of that ardent and adventurous turn of
mind, which distinguished him in after life, and which often lies
concealed under a cold and reserved exterior.
It was the original intention of Park's father to educate him for the
Scottish church, for which he appeared to be well fitted by his studious
habits and the serious turn of his mind; but, his son having made choice
of the medical profession, he was readily induced to acquiesce. In
consequence of this determination, Mungo Park was bound apprentice
at the age of fifteen to Mr. Thomas Anderson, a respectable surgeon in
Selkirk, with whom he resided three years; continuing, at the same time,
to pursue his classical studies and to attend occasionally at the grammar

school. In the year 1789, he quitted Mr. Anderson, and removed to the
University of Edinburgh, where he pursued the course which is
common to medical students, and attended the usual Lectures during
three successive sessions.
Nothing particular is recorded of his academical life. He appears,
however, to have applied to the studies connected with the science of
medicine with his accustomed ardour and assiduity, and to have been
distinguished among his fellow-students. During his summer vacations
he paid great attention to botanical pursuits, for which he seems always
to have had a great predilection; and a tour which he made, about this
time to the Highlands, in company with his brother-in-law, Mr. James
Dickson, a distinguished Botanist, contributed greatly to his
improvement in this science.
After having completed his studies at Edinburgh, Park removed to
London in search of some medical employment. In this pursuit he was
much assisted by his relation Mr. Dickson, to whom he had before been
indebted in his botanical studies. By his means Park was now
introduced to Sir Joseph Banks; whose interest or recommendation
shortly afterwards procured for him the appointment of Assistant
Surgeon to the Worcester East Indiaman.
From this period Park was honoured with the patronage, and indeed
with the constant friendship, of Sir Joseph Banks, from which he
derived many important advantages, and which had a material
influence on the subsequent events of his life. For this highly valuable
friendship he was originally indebted to a connection which had
subsisted for many years between Sir Joseph and Mr. Dickson: and it
may not therefore be improper, to describe shortly the origin and nature
of this connection; which, besides its immediate influence on Park's
fortunes, was attended with several characteristic circumstances highly
honourable to the parties concerned, and in themselves not
uninteresting.
Mr. Dickson was born of humble parents, and came early in life, from
Scotland, his native country, to London. For some time he worked as a
gardener in the grounds of a considerable nurseryman at Hammersmith,
where he was occasionally seen by Sir Joseph Banks, who took notice
of him as an intelligent young man. Quitting this situation he lived for
some years as gardener in several considerable families: after which he

established himself in London as a seedsman; and has ever since
followed that business with unremitting diligence and success. Having
an ardent passion for botany, which he had always cultivated according
to the best of his means and opportunities; he lost no time in presenting
himself to Sir Joseph Banks, who received him with great kindness,
encouraged him in his pursuits, and gave him access to his valuable
library. He thus obtained the free use of one of the most complete
collections on Botany and Natural History, which has perhaps, ever yet
been formed; and which, through the liberality of its possessor, has
contributed in a greater degree to the accommodation of scientific men,
and the general advancement of science than many public
establishments. Such leisure hours as Mr. Dickson could command
from his business, he devoted to an assiduous attendance in this library
or to the perusal