ill-fated predecessor. One was a tailor's bill addressed to Mr. Anderson, one of Park's party; the other was a brief note dated Strand, 9th November, 1804, containing an invitation to dinner, from a Mr. and Mrs. Watson, and addressed to Mr. Park.
Among other interesting incidents were the shifts to which the Landers were put to make presents to the various royal personages through whose territories they passed, a necessity of their progress for which the means placed at their disposal by the Government appeared ludicrously inadequate. Unfortunately for them, a great quantity of needles had been distributed through the country by the last mission, so that one of the resources on which they had relied partially failed them. "When they arrived in a region less stocked with these instruments, a new trouble awaited them. They had brought from England nearly a hundred thousand needles of various sizes, and among them a great quantity of what were called "Whitechapel sharps," warranted "superfine" and "not to cut in the eye." Thus highly recommended, the unfortunate travellers had imagined that their needles must be excellent indeed; but, to their great chagrin, a number which they had disposed of were returned to them with the complaint that they were all eyeless, a fact which certainly justified the boast of the maker that they "would not cut in the eye." On an examination, it was found that the same charge was applicable to the whole remainder of the so-called "Whitechapel sharps," so that to save their credit they were compelled to throw them away. Their next best, and indeed their only resource was then the metal buttons attached to their clothes. These, when polished
