| Title | Copy of a letter addressed to John Hunter, esq. and Dr Lettson containing a prospectus of a voyage to Africa for the purpose of collecting in Natural History, establishing a new species of comerce, and making Observations and Experiments etc. to which are added a view, Sketches etc. of a former Voyage, the advantages, disadvantages, etc. by Henry Smeathman |
| Description | Dated London, 11 October 1785, the letter describes over eight pages Smeathman's proposal to travel back to Africa, basing himself at the Iles de Los [Guinea] and there carry out scientific study, sending back collections to the subscribers on a regular basis. Whilst there, he would also be able to develop links with the kings, principle chiefs and traders.
In the following pages he describes 'A sketch of the difficulties and inconveniences which attended my former expedition to Africa and greatly lessened its advantages, with the proposed methods of prevention'. The inconveniences include: the want of a house to myself, living with others, the want of tables and seats, want of closets, cases etc., the want of glass windows, dampness, defective thatching, and want of nets, traps, cages, etc. |
| Administrative History | Henry Smeathman (1742-1786) was a self-taught naturalist from Yorkshire. In 1771 he was sponsored by three members of the Royal Society, John Fothergill, Sir Joseph Banks and Marmaduke Tunstall to study natural history, particularly insects in and around the Sierra Leone peninsula. After four years he embarked on a ship used to transport enslaved African peoples to England, but was delayed in the Caribbean, where he spent another four years before returning to England. |