part I

am sure there was nothing personal in our differences, hardly deserve such insinuations as are thrown in the letter he writes to you.

It is a feeling however that has been rankling in his Breast ever since the day of his appointment, when they wrote him from the Colonial Office to say that Clapperton might accompany the Expedition as my assistant, while he was to consider himself as Consul at Bornou.[572]

This feeling is anything but in unison with the mildness of the Dr. exterior, and unjust towards me, as I was not the framer of my own Instructions. . . .

On our joining the party at Memoon I found that Clapperton had commenced Sketching the route, and from delicacy to him I abstained from interfering in any way, as by so doing I must have taken some of the Credit which I was willing exclusively should attach to himself.

I have differed in opinion from Dr. Oudney and do so still on some points, but this arises, I may say entirely, from my taking the Instructions of Lord Bathurst as the Basis upon which I act, and his, to use his own expression, endeavouring to forget that he ever received any. . . .

Extract from letter of Dr. Oudney to Consul Warrington, dated Mourzouk, October 12, 1822.

. . . My worthy friend Clapperton is quite disgusted with his [i.e. Denham’s] returning and threatens to return, but I hope I will be able to prevail. . . . Clapperton’s loss would be that of a rough diamond which could not be found in a country such as this. . . .

Letter from Consul Warrington to Robert Wilmot, Esq.

_Private._

Tripoli, Nov. 4, 1822.

SIR,

I have abstained for some time past acquainting you with a Hostile Disposition existing in the Southern Mission. I think it would be culpable in me, if I were to delay any longer offering my opinion, and which I conceive ought to be done by the medium of a private Letter.

I have therefore the honour to refer you to the accompanying copies of Letters which will speak for themselves.

I fear that Rancorous feeling may militate against the Public Interest, and I am inclined to think, that in the present, as well as in similar cases, blame may attach to each Party.

The Bone of Contention appears to be the great jealousy which has from the first manifested itself between Dr. Oudney and Major Denham, and probably the Breach has been widened by various paragraphs in the News Papers, saying that the Mission is under the Immediate direction and auspices of the latter.

For my own