[Illustration: ROUTE OF _Major Denham, Captn. Clapperton_ and
_Dr. Oudney,_ in AFRICA.]
A
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR
OF THE LATE
=DR. WALTER OUDNEY,=
AND
=CAPTAIN HUGH CLAPPERTON,=
BOTH OF THE ROYAL NAVY,
AND
=MAJOR ALEX. GORDON LAING,=
ALL OF WHOM DIED AMID THEIR ACTIVE AND
ENTERPRISING ENDEAVOURS
TO
EXPLORE THE INTERIOR OF AFRICA.
* * * * *
BY THE
REV. THOMAS NELSON, M.W.S.
* * * * *
EDINBURGH: WAUGH AND INNES;
WHITTAKER, TREACHER, & CO. LONDON.
* * * * *
M.DCCC.XXX.
Edinburgh:
Printed by A. Balfour & Co. Niddry Street.
TO
ROBERT JAMESON, ESQ.
PROFESSOR OF NATURAL HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH,
_This small Volume is respectfully inscribed by the Author, as a
token of gratitude for his kindness to himself, as a Memorial of
the friendship and patronage extended by him to the Gentlemen, the
incidents of whose lives it records, and as a Testimony of the
estimation in which his character is held for his assiduous cultivation
of Physical Science in all its branches, and for his unwearied,
enlightened, and generous efforts to inspire, not only the Students
of his class, but the Public at large, with a love for the study of
Nature._
PREFACE.
* * * * *
The materials whence the following biographical memoirs of the two
young men who were knit together in friendship, and whose adventurous
enthusiasm led them into the dangerous situation in which their lives
were terminated, have been drawn entirely from private and authentic
sources of information. The author had the satisfaction of being
personally acquainted with both the travellers, before they went to
Africa, and had, in consequence, the best opportunities of learning the
facts and circumstances of the previous part of their lives. But the
present publication, of which they are the subject, owes its origin to
an incidental conversation which he had with Dr. James Kay, R.N. the
intimate friend both of Oudney and Clapperton. Dr. Kay not only had
stored up in his memory many curious incidents and anecdotes of his
friends, which he communicated freely, but he had in his possession
a number of letters from them both, received before and after they
had commenced their exploratory expedition. All these letters, with
a variety of other documents relative to them and their affairs,
were readily imparted to the author, to make whatever use of them
his judgment and discretion might dictate. When he had resolved on
publication, he mentioned his design to Professor Jameson, who, he was
aware, had been instrumental in getting both our travellers appointed
to the mission, in the accomplishment of which they went to Africa.
The Professor not only approved of the design, but afforded the author
essential service in its execution, by putting into his possession a
file of letters from Dr. Oudney, written during the prosecution of his
African expedition, and addressed, some of them to the Professor, and
the rest of them to the traveller’s eldest sister. Professor Jameson,
likewise, mentioned a number of interesting particulars relative
chiefly to the arrangements of the expedition, and the views of the
gentlemen by whom it was undertaken. The author is farther indebted for
a part of his information to Lieutenant Sheriff, R.N. who had lived
in habits of the closest intimacy with Captain Clapperton, during a
series of years, and had become well acquainted with his history.
Dr. Kay, moreover, applied to Mr. Anderson, formerly a resident in
the West Indies, afterwards in Edinburgh, and now in the vicinity of
Birmingham, also one of Captain Clapperton’s friends, to communicate
what he recollected of him worthy being made public; and in reply he
sent a letter, which was also given to the author, containing many
valuable facts relating to an important period of Clapperton’s life;
and stating the dates and particulars of a great part of his public
career as an officer in the Navy, as well as mentioning a number of
incidents, sentiments, and conduct, illustrative of his character as a
private individual. These are the materials out of which the following
narratives have been composed, and while, it is hoped, they will
have the effect of preserving the memory of two interprising men who
sacrificed their lives in the discharge of their duty, from being lost
in oblivion, they will, at the same time, serve to assure the reader,
that he may safely repose the most unlimited confidence in the accuracy
of their details.
After both the memoirs had been composed, and indeed printed in a
different form to that in which they now appear—a circumstance which
will account for the frequent use of the editorial WE—the Author
had the good fortune to meet with Captain Clapperton’s sister, from
whom he received some valuable information respecting the early
part, especially, of her adventurous and lamented brother’s life. In
consequence of this accession of materials, he has been enabled to
correct several passages, and greatly to enrich his narrative. And now
he begs leave to offer his cordial thanks to that lady, as well as to
all the gentlemen mentioned above, to whom he has been so much indebted.
With regard to the Memoir of Major Laing, the Author of those of Oudney
and Clapperton must disclaim both the merit and the responsibility. It
was compiled from a variety of previously published notices of that
gentleman, who like many others met an early grave in the interior of
the African continent. As, however, he was the countryman of the other
two travellers, and met his death while engaged in the discharge of
similar duties, as well as nearly about the same time, the accompanying
notice of his career seems to form a suitable companion to the
narratives in which theirs are recorded.