I had now been
eleven months in the forests, and collected some rare insects, two hundred
and thirty birds, two land-tortoises, five armadillos, two large serpents,
a sloth, an ant-bear and a cayman.
I left the wilds and repaired to Georgetown to spend a few days with Mr. R.
Edmonstone previous to embarking for Europe. I must here return my
sincerest thanks to this worthy gentleman for his many kindnesses to me;
his friendship was of the utmost service to me, and he never failed to send
me supplies up into the forest by every opportunity.
I embarked for England on board the _Dee_, West-Indiaman, commanded by
Captain Grey.
Sir Joseph Banks had often told me he hoped that I would give a lecture in
public on the new mode I had discovered of preparing specimens in natural
history for museums. I always declined to do so, as I despaired of ever
being able to hit upon a proper method of doing quadrupeds; and I was aware
that it would have been an imperfect lecture to treat of birds only. I
imparted what little knowledge I was master of at Sir Joseph's, to the
unfortunate gentlemen who went to Africa to explore the Congo; and that was
all that took place in the shape of a lecture.
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