Autographed letter
1832. 18 x 12cm. No Binding. ALS, handwritten letter, dated 3rd October [c1832] and signed "John Barrow". Barrow ( 1764-1848) was an English traveller and naval administrator. He was notably a member of the Maccartney embassy to China in the 1790s, and founder member of the Royal Geographical Society.The letter is headed Leigh Park, Havant and written to John Murray the publisher. The letter expresses doubt as to the veracity of Jean Baptiste Douville's journey as published in the narrative "Voyage au Congo", later shown indeed to be fraudulent. "I cannot understand how Monsr. Douville got to the places he professes to have been at and to describe I should be inclined to think, if he be a true man he has hit upon a part of Africa most desirable to be known, as it probably embraced the Sources of all the Rivers South of the Cameroons - but I must see more before I can say any thing." Very Good. Item #020346
Price: $4,940.00 NZD