"
I have given the above narrative in the words of Dr. Barth; but must
direct the reader's attention to vol. ii. p. 261, where he will find
that the whole account of the prophetic dream is distorted by the very
unauthentic medium of Oriental report. There is no reason to suppose
that Mr. Richardson was unusually affected by this circumstance,
although any dismal suggestion is likely to disturb a person of
sensibility placed in a dangerous position. The remaining facts, as they
seem confirmed by concurrent testimony, may be taken as a sufficiently
accurate account of the death of this lamented traveller.
From the statements which have from time to time appeared in the press,
the public are already aware, that the presents and the treaty intended
for the Sheikh of Bornou were duly presented and accepted, and that the
boat which caused Mr. Richardson so much anxiety on the road was
ultimately launched, as he desired, on lake Tchad, and employed in the
survey of that celebrated piece of water. It is unnecessary here to
notice the results of this survey, or of the explorations subsequently
undertaken by Messrs. Barth and Overweg. These gentlemen, it is to be
hoped, will be more fortunate than their colleague, and return to give
in person an account of their exertions and discoveries.
I shall conclude by expressing my hope that Mr. Richardson's reputation
will not suffer from the way in which I have superintended the
publication of his remains, and my regret that I am not able to do
justice to the great services which he has rendered to philology by his
copious collections of vocabularies of the languages, both of the Sahara
and of the various kingdoms of Central Africa.
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