you before your
departure. We might have taken a farewell dinner together. You will
most highly oblige me by communicating to me all the intelligence
you can collect concerning the interior of Africa, more especially
of Timbuctoo; its trade, government, geographical situation, and
the manners and customs of its inhabitants. If you could send me
too, any of its products or manufactures, which may appear to you
curious or interesting, or may serve to shew the state of knowledge
and civilisation in the country, and the progress they may have
made in the arts, in manufactures or commerce, you will confer upon
me a singular favour; the expense of which I will readily repay,
and which I shall be happy to return whenever I can be of use to
you. If ever this region of Africa, which excites so strongly our
curiosity, should be laid open to us, you are, of all the men with
whom I am acquainted, the best qualified, and the most likely to
lead the way to this important discovery. I request you to favour
70 me with your correspondence; let me hear from you as frequently as
possible, without ceremony, and as one who wishes to be considered
as an old friend. When peace returns, I shall certainly take my
station in Senegambia[99], where we may then be fellow-labourers in
the same vineyard. There is no news yet of Park; perhaps you would
like to know how he proceeds; and as I expect to hear of him by the
return of my ship, I will inform you, if you wish it; and, in
short, will keep up a regular correspondence on my part, if you
will do the same on your's. Pray, in what ship do you go? Perhaps,
if you would give me encouragement, I might venture into a little
commercial speculation to Santa Cruz. I heartily wish you a
pleasant voyage, health, and success; and am, with great regard,

My dear Sir,

Very truly your's,

J. WILLIS.

August 12,1796.

[Footnote 99: Mr. James Willis had the appointment of consul at
Senegambia, and was then waiting an opportunity of proceeding
thither.]
71

LETTER VI.

FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME.

My dear sir,

I duly received your letter from Gibraltar, and have made known to
Government the expediency of sending a person to Marocco, to oppose
the influence of the French and Spaniards; but I cann