The conversation which he had had with his grand-uncle made a very
forcible impression upon Alexander Wilmot; it occasioned him to pass a
very sleepless night, and he remained till nearly four o'clock turning
it over in his mind. The loss of the _Grosvenor_ Indiaman had occurred
long before he was born; he was acquainted with the outline of what had
taken place, and had been told, when a child, that a relation of his
family had perished; but although the narrative had, at the time, made
some impression upon his young mind, he had seldom, if ever, heard it
spoken of since, and may have been said to have almost forgotten it. He
was therefore not a little surprised when he found how great an
influence it had upon his grand-uncle, who had never mentioned it to him
before; indeed it had escaped Alexander's memory that it was his
grand-uncle's only surviving daughter who had been lost in the vessel.
Alexander Wilmot was warmly attached to the old gentleman; indeed, he
would have been very ungrateful if he had not been, for it was
impossible that any one could have been treated with more kindness and
liberality than he was by Sir Charles. It was but the week before, that
he had expressed a wish to travel on the continent, and Sir Charles had
immediately given his consent that he should remain abroad, if he
pleased, for two years. When he approved, however, of Alexander's
plans, he had made a remark as to his own age and infirmity, and the
probable chance that they might not meet again in this world; and this
remark of his grand-uncle left such an impression upon Alexander, that
he almost repented having made the request, and had been ever since in a
state of indecision as to whether he should avail himself of his
grand-uncle's kindness and disregard of self, shown towards him in thus
having granted his permission.
The conversation with Sir Charles had brought up a new idea in his mind;
he had witnessed the anxiety and longing which his good old relation had
shown about the fate of his daughter; he had heard from his own lips how
long the ignorance of her fate had preyed upon his mind, and that to be
satisfied on this point was the one thing wanting to enable the old man
to die happy,--to permit him to say with sincerity, "Lord, now lettest
thou thy servant depart in peace." Why, then, should he not go to
discover the truth? It would not, perhaps, occupy him so long as the
two years of travelling on the continent, which had been consented to by
his grand-uncle, and, instead of travelling for his own pleasure, he
might be the means of satisfying the mind and quieting the anxiety of
one who had been so kind to him. Indeed, he should actually prefer a
journey into the interior of Africa to a mere sojourn of some time on
the continent; the very peril and danger, the anticipation of distress
and hardship, were pleasing to his high and courageous mind, and before
he fell asleep Alexander had made up his mind that he would propose the
expedition, and if he could obtain his uncle's permission would proceed
upon it forthwith. Having come to this resolution, he fell fast asleep
and dreamed away, till eight o'clock in the morning, that he was hunting
elephants and having hand-to-hand conflicts with every variety of beast
with which he had peopled Africa in his fancy. When he was called up in
the morning, he found his determination of the night before rather
strengthened than otherwise, and accordingly, after breakfast was over,
he opened the subject.
"My dear sir," said he to Sir Charles, "you were kind enough to give me
your permission to travel on the continent for two years."
"I did do so, Alexander; it is natural at your age that you should wish
to see the world, and you have my full permission. When do you think of
starting?"
"That depends upon circumstances, sir, and I must be altogether guided
by you; to tell you the truth, I do not think that one sees much of the
world by following in the beaten track made by so many of our
countrymen."
"There I agree with you; in the present high state of civilisation there
will be found little or no difference in the manners and customs of
people; in the courts, none; very little in the best society, in which
you will of course mix; and not so very much as people may imagine among
the mass of population; but the scenery of the countries and the remains
of ancient times are still interesting, and will afford pleasure; it
must be your own reflections and comments upon what you see which must
make it profitable; most people, however, travel from the love of
change, added to the love of excitement."
"I grant it, sir, and I do not mean to say but that I should receive
much pleasure from a continental tour; perhaps I may add that I should
derive more profit if I were to delay it till I am a little older and a
little wiser; do you not think so?"
"I certainly do, Alexander. What then? do you propose remaining in
England for the present?--if so, I am sure it is on my account, and I am
very grateful to you for your sacrifice."
"If you wish it, sir, I will undoubtedly remain in England; at all
events, if I do not go elsewhere. I have abandoned my continental tour
for the present; but I have another proposal to make, which I hope will
meet with your approbation."
"Why, my dear Alexander, on what expedition would you now proceed? Do
you wish to visit the United States or South America?"
"No, sir; I wish to make a voyage of still more interest--I wish to go
to Africa,--that is, to embark for the Cape of Good Hope, and from
thence proceed to the northward, to ascertain, if possible, what now is
a source of sad disquiet to you, the actual fate of those who were
wrecked in the _Grosvenor_, and have not since been heard of with any
degree of certainty."
Sir Charles was for a time silent. He pressed his hands to his
forehead; at last he removed them, and said,--"I cannot, much as I wish
it, no,--I cannot consent, my dear boy; the danger will be too great.
You must not risk your life. It is very kind of you--very kind; but no,
it must not be."
"Indeed, sir, I think, on reflection, you will alter your mind. As for
danger--what danger can there be when missionaries are permitted to form
their stations, and reside uninjured among the very savages who were so
hostile when the _Grosvenor_ was lost? The country, which was then a
desert, is now inhabited by Europeans, within 200 miles of the very spot
where the _Grosvenor_ was wrecked. The continual emigration since the
Cape has fallen under British government, and the zeal of those who have
braved all dangers to make known the Word of God to the heathen and
idolater, have in forty years made such an alteration, that I see no
more danger in the mission which I propose than I do in a visit to
Naples; and as for time, I have every reason to expect that I shall be
back sooner than in the two years which you have proposed for my stay on
the continent."
"But if some accident were to happen to you, I should never forgive
myself for having given my consent, and the few days that are left to me
would be rendered miserable."
"My dear sir, we are in the hands of God; and (short-sighted as we are)
in running away from danger, as often run into it. What we call an
accident, the fall of a brick or a stone, the upsetting of a vehicle,
anything however trivial or seemingly improbable, may summon us away
when we least expect it: `In the midst of life we are in death,' and
that death I may meet by staying in this country, which I might have
avoided by going on this expedition. Difficulties may arise, and some
danger there may be, I admit; but when prepared to encounter both, we
are more safe than when, in fancied security, we are taken unawares. Do
not, I entreat you, sir, refuse me this favour; I have considered well,
and shall be most unhappy if I am not permitted to obtain the
information for you which you have so much at heart. Let my travels be
of some advantage to you as well as to myself. Do not refuse, I entreat
you."
"You are a good boy, Alexander, and your kindness makes me still more
unwilling to part with you. I hardly know what to say. Let us drop the
subject for the present; we will talk of it to-morrow or next day. I
must have time for reflection."
Alexander Wilmot did not fail to renew his entreaties on the following
day, but could not gain Sir Charles's consent. He was not, however,
discouraged. He had taken from the library all the works he could find
relative to Southern Africa, and continually enforcing his arguments by
quotations from various authors, all tending to prove that he might
travel through the country without much risk, if he took proper
precautions, his grand-uncle's objections grew daily more feeble, and at
last Sir Charles gave his unwilling consent. In the mean time, the
books which Alexander had read had produced a great effect upon him.
When he first proposed the mission, it was more from a feeling of
gratitude towards his old relative than any other, but now he was most
anxious to go on his own account. The narratives of combats with wild
beasts, the quantity and variety of game to be found, and the continual
excitement which would be kept up, inflamed his imagination and his love
of field-sports, and he earnestly requested to be permitted to depart
immediately, pointing out to Sir Charles that the sooner he went away
the sooner he would be back again. This last argument was not without
its weight, and Alexander was allowed to make every preparation for his
journey. Inquiries were made, and a passage secured on board of a
free-trader, which was to touch at the Cape, and in six weeks from the
time that the subject had been brought up, Alexander Wilmot took leave
of his grand-uncle.
"May God bless you, sir, and keep you well till my return," said
Alexander, pressing his hand.
"May the Lord protect you, my dear boy, and allow you to return and
close my eyes," replied Sir Charles, with much emotion.
Before night Alexander Wilmot was in London, from thence he hastened
down to Portsmouth to embark. The next day, the _Surprise_ weighed
anchor and ran through the Needles, and before the night closed in was
well down the Channel, standing before the wind, with studding-sails
below and aloft.