“Your most obedient servant,
“Wm. Willshire.”
“P.S.—I open this letter to add, I have received a letter from Mr. Davidson, dated Saturday, the 5th inst., who appears in high spirits, and writes,—
“‘The start is to be on Monday, although I do not go on that day; everything is now packed up, and placed ready to be put on the camels, with which Abou starts at day-break on Monday. I am to be left here, as if having sent him on. Mohammed El Abd remains behind. On Wednesday or Thursday, according to the distance made by the camels on the first day, we start on horseback, accompanied by Beyrock and about six horsemen, and are to make Yeisst, if possible, in one day. Here I leave the district of Wadnoon. And to this place is three days’ journey for loaded camels. I here leave my horse and mount my camel, and we push on to the tents.’
“Mr. Davidson did not start on a sudden, on the 3d inst., as stated to me by a courier, who brought me a letter from him of that date, and which I reported in a letter I had the honour to address to his Majesty’s secretary of state, Viscount Palmerston, on the 8th inst., and which you will oblige me by correcting and making known to his lordship.
“Your most obedient servant,
“W. W.”
The following extracts from Mr. Willshire’s letters will give all the intelligence received respecting the sequel of Mr. Davidson’s expedition:—
“Mogadore, 13th Dec., 1836.
“Sir,—I had the pleasure on the 28th ultimo of announcing the departure of Mr. Davidson from Wadnoon, on his route to Timbuctoo, and I beg to acquaint you, I have since had the satisfaction to receive a letter from him, dated Yeisst, 15-16th ult., from whence he writes to me,—‘All is at length settled, and we start to-morrow morning at first-day. I believe also the Cafila will be allowed to proceed, although one mitcal a-head is to be paid by all who pass; we have here above fifty persons, and one hundred camels. I am unable to tell you for certain the route I take; this is to depend upon circumstances. But two persons besides Mohammed El Abd accompany us; so that after all the talk of Wadnoon, I am going in my original way, of a party of only five, including Abou and self.’