Mr. Oudney, on his return, found his mother and his young sisters residing in Edinburgh, and with these near relations, who ever were, and continued to the last to be, the objects of his duteous affection and tender solicitude, he once more domesticated; and while he treated his mother, now advancing into the vale of years, with the respectful attention and kindness which filial regard alone can dictate, he was to his sisters at once a father and a brother. He put them in the way of receiving a good education, was careful to impress upon their minds the lessons of virtue and religion, and introduced them to society of a higher grade than, without his assistance, they could have hoped to associate. Indeed, during the whole period of Mr. Oudney’s public service, his mother and his sisters had never ceased to engage his solicitous attention; and to assure them of his affection towards them, and of his desire to minister to their comfort, he had from time to time sent them money so long as his public duties kept him at a distance from their society. This fact, so worthy of being recorded and remembered to Mr. Oudney’s honour, is a proof that his mind, which had been early impressed, continued to be steadily actuated, by a sentiment, which has long formed a distinguishing feature in the character of the Scottish peasantry; namely, the obligation so deeply felt, and so generally acted upon by them, of contributing to the support of their aged and dependent relatives. To form and to cherish this generous principle in the minds of the young, constitutes a part of their religious education, and hence spring many of those pure and lofty virtues which are often seen exemplified even in the humblest walks of life, and which are nowhere depicted with more truth and feeling than in the immortal pages of Burns. This is a trait in the Scottish character which is truly ennobling, and which we fondly hope no change of manners will ever weaken or efface.
As soon as Mr. Oudney had settled in Edinburgh he resumed his professional studies, and having completed the curriculum, prescribed to those who wish to take the degree of Doctor of Medicine, he obtained that academical rank upon the first of August 1817, his inaugural dissertation being “De Dysenteria Orientali,” a subject to which his attention was doubtless directed by having had an opportunity of observing the character and treatment of that disease during the period of his naval practice. He now became a medical practitioner in Edinburgh, and was very careful to observe and record the symptoms and circumstances which, in that capacity, came under his notice. While he was thus employed, he was in the habit of imparting the result of his observations to his medical friends, and among others, to Dr. Abercrombie of this city, who, once and again, in his communications to the “Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal,” has mentioned Dr. Oudney with approbation, and incorporated his young friend’s information with that of his own. We likewise observe in the same Journal (for July 1820) a paper by Dr. Oudney, entitled, “Cases of Ileus from a twist of the colon,” and we are assured on the authority of one of the most intimate of his medical friends, that he frequently sent communications to the “London Medical Journal.” At this period he was assiduous in the study of chemistry and natural history. Botany, especially, engaged much of his attention; and, we believe, he was indebted to the late Dr. Scott for much valuable information on this interesting department of physical knowledge. He and Dr. Scott commenced a botanical work on the grasses; he was employed by Dr. Duncan in arranging the plates of a botanical work belonging to the university library; and, we have been told, that at one time he entertained serious thoughts of becoming a lecturer on British botany. We know that he was enthusiastically attached to this study, and oftener than once we have accompanied him when he went on botanical excursions. He not only attended the natural history class in the university of Edinburgh, so ably taught by Professor Jameson, but he became likewise a member of the Wernerian Natural History Society, which, under the auspices of the same professor, has long held a conspicuous place among the scientific associations of the country.
It is a singular circumstance in the feelings and character of Dr. Oudney, that although the sedateness of his disposition and the benevolence of his heart made him enjoy the quietness and the comfort of home, and the interchange of the kind affections with his relations and friends around the domestic hearth, with a peculiar degree of satisfaction; although his steadiness and attention, joined to his professional experience and skill, were fast procuring for him an extensive medical practice; and although he could have formed a matrimonial alliance both agreeable to his feelings and advantageous to his prosperous establishment in life: yet, such was his love of distinction as a scientific traveller, and so strong was his desire of exploring distant, and of discovering unknown regions, that he was willing, for a while, to forego every other consideration for the sake of gratifying this master-passion of his mind. The hope of having it in his power of visiting foreign countries, and of extending the boundaries of physical knowledge, stimulated him to persevere in those scientific pursuits which were especially fitted to qualify him for accomplishing this purpose on which he had so steadfastly set his heart; and caused him to make his sentiments on this subject known to such individuals as he supposed had influence sufficient to promote the object which he had in view. For this end, he would have had no objections to have resumed his public services as a naval surgeon, trusting that he might be sent to some station favourable for prosecuting the inquiries which he was so anxious to make. But the interior of Africa was the field of investigation on which his own wishes were bent. The considerations, that the climate of that country had been fatal to so many former travellers, and that its inhabitants had showed themselves averse to have it traversed by strangers, were unable to exert an influence over his mind sufficiently strong to deter him from engaging in the enterprise if he should have it in his power to make the attempt. He felt that his constitution was vigorous; he had already acquired some knowledge of tropical climates; and he trusted that he possessed prudence and precaution sufficient to enable him to surmount every opposing obstacle, and to conduct any expedition on which he might be sent to a favourable and satisfactory issue. And sooner, we believe, than he expected, he had an opportunity of putting his sanguine anticipations to the test of experiment.
When it was known that government had resolved to send a new expedition to explore the central parts of Africa, and especially to trace the course, and endeavour to ascertain the termination of the Niger, Dr. Oudney, through the influence of Professor Jameson, along with Major Denham, and Captain Clapperton, was, greatly to his own satisfaction, appointed on this interesting mission. He had no fears of losing his health by travelling, was very sanguine that his labours would be crowned with success, and, being amply provided with instructions, by his friend Professor Jameson, how to prosecute his inquiries, and to collect and preserve specimens of the natural productions of the countries he was about to visit, he took farewell of his friends in Scotland and went to London in the summer of the year 1821. And we are peculiarly happy, that by means of a regular series of letters to his eldest sister, and to some other of his correspondents, we are enabled not only to make him give a luminous account of the rest of his career, but also to impart much new and valuable information respecting the countries in which he travelled. The first of the Doctor’s letters from which we shall take an extract, is one which he sent to his friend Mr. James Kay, surgeon of the Royal Navy, from London, on the eve of his setting out on his expedition.
“Here I am actively engaged in business of one kind or another. But I expect to finish and arrange every thing to day; for it is probable Clapperton and I shall depart to-morrow morning, unless the mail be detained a few days, a thing which I understand often happens. I have found every thing very agreeable here. Those with whom I have had to deal have been exceedingly polite, and in most respects have forwarded my views as far as possible. Our worthy friend Clapperton gets on amazingly well. I am in high spirits respecting my mission; from all that I have been able to learn, very little danger, and scarcely any impediments, are to be apprehended. We have got excellent fowling-pieces and pistols, and a most valuable assortment of philosophical instruments. The former, I hope, except for the purposes of natural history, will scarcely be required—an agreement exists between the British government and the pasha of Tripoli respecting the conveying of travellers safe to Bornou, therefore, so far as he is concerned, all is safe.”
The next letter in the series from which we shall quote is addressed to his eldest sister, and is dated “Malta, October 17, 1821.”
“This is certainly a curious island, it was originally a barren rock, but the labour of man has done wonders. Soil has been transported from different places, on which many gardens have been formed. The town is a strong fortress, celebrated in history for the noble stand which it made against the whole power of the infidels. You can have no idea of the houses from any thing you see in Edinburgh. The roofs are all flat, and well fitted for a warm climate. The entrance is capacious and gloomy, not unlike that of ancient baronial castles. The rooms are lofty, the floors of which are paved with stone; and the walls are generally decorated with large paintings. There is one very fine church, St. John’s, the floors of which are all of the finest marble, with some fine specimens of mosaic work, and the walls are adorned with beautiful paintings and well executed sculpture. There are, however, many marks of decay on the exterior of the building, which, by the bye, does not present that grand appearance that one would expect.”
The two letters which follow in the series are both dated “Tripoli, October 24, 1821,” and relate principally to what occurred on the passage from England to Africa.
“We are here at last, and a pretty place it is; so built, however, that three can scarcely walk a-breast in the streets: every few yards a house is in ruins, for there exists among the Moors a strange dislike to repair any thing, particularly houses. Whether that arises from indolence or superstitious notions, I cannot tell, but the fact is evident to the most superficial observer. Our passage to Malta was exceedingly agreeable—long certainly, but pleasant company prevented tedium. I visited the galleries at Gibraltar, and was highly pleased with the grandeur of the design. Your favourite fort, Malta, excited very little interest in my mind, not that the place is deficient in interest, but we were fretful from experiencing great harassment from individuals who ought to have forwarded our views, so that a disinclination to enjoy any thing was induced. On our arrival here, we found matters far beyond our expectation; far to the south of Bornou is open to us, and almost entirely subject to the pasha of Tripoli. All our route is clear and free from danger. The pasha’s word is a law not to be disobeyed, and he has pledged himself to protect us fifty-seven days’ journey beyond Bornou. On our landing, that favourable intelligence made us leap for joy. The Mahometans here are a most liberal sort of men, and tolerate people of every religious persuasion—a circumstance almost unknown in any other Mahometan country. The police is admirable, so that a stranger may traverse every part of the city without the least apprehension. As to the moral condition of the people, I can say but little, as I have had very imperfect opportunities of observing them.
“I must now describe to you my introduction to the pasha. The court-yard was filled with people of very different complexions, mostly the servants, guards, and relations of the pasha. The group had a most motely appearance; many were superbly dressed, others were in rags and filthy in the extreme. The room in which his Highness was seated was decent, with nothing gaudy. He sat at the farther end of the room, and his two sons sat on chairs at the other end of it; while many of his guards and ministers stood in different positions round the chamber. He was grave, and his muscles were as motionless as those of a statue, so much so that I was several times inclined to laugh. The gravity, however, ceased after a little conversation, and then a scene was displayed far from being disagreeable. He conversed with apparent pleasure on the success of his arms, and on the great distance to which he could convey the mission in perfect safety. That, you may be assured, was agreeable intelligence to us, and inspired us with hopes of almost certain success. I had to prescribe for him, for no sooner had I entered the room than my advice was requested. The two sons present were tolerably good-looking men; the elder of them was corpulent and very like his father; and the younger of them tall, slender, and, upon the whole, a good-looking young man. The pasha’s dress was clean, plain and neat. I hope we shall be able to set off early in December—a fine season for travelling—and expect to eat our new yearday’s dinner in Mourzuk. We travel in European dresses, and in this respect we shall be different from most of the former travellers in this part of Africa. The pasha approves of our resolution, and the consul is highly delighted with it. Indeed, on reflecting seriously on the matter, I think the plan is by far the most judicious. Hypocrisy almost always engenders suspicions; and the people well know that our pretensions to be of their religion are only feigned.”