Paris, 20th October 1828.
Monseigneur,
A French traveller, M. A. Caillié has just arrived at Toulon on board the king’s schooner La Légère, after having brought to a happy termination a difficult and painful journey in the interior of Africa, from Rio-Nuñez to Tangier. It appears that he has resided for some time in the town of Timbuctoo. This arduous journey has exhausted all his resources, and his health is impaired by long continued fatigue. His Majesty’s Vice-Consul at Tangier recommends him to the Geographical Society, that it may procure for him from the government the means to proceed to Paris. As this is the first European traveller who has accomplished such an enterprise, we think ourselves entitled, Monseigneur, with confidence to solicit your interest in his behalf, and to request for him the support of your benevolence. The Society entreats you to have the goodness to procure for him the means of conveyance to Paris.
We are, &c.
Signed Baron Cuvier, President of the Society; Viscount Simeon, Vice-president; Jomard, Vice-president of the Central Committee; De Larenaudière, Secretary.
Mr. John Barrow, to M. Jomard.
Sir,
I have the honour to address myself to you on a subject in which I am persuaded you take as much interest as myself—the progress of the discoveries in Africa.
I see by the supplement to the 66th Bulletin published by the Geographical Society of Paris, that a Frenchman, of the name of Caillié, has succeeded in reaching the city of Timbuctoo; and that M. Delaporte, Vice-Consul at Tangier, observes in his letter to you, announcing the arrival of M. Caillié, that that traveller consoles himself for the fatigues which he has endured by the reflection that he is the only European who has hitherto succeeded in happily accomplishing an enterprise in which so many brave travellers have fallen.