The “Pope” of Holland House
John Whishaw to Thomas Smith, 7 March 1818
March 7, 1818.
Since I last wrote I have had several conferences with Mr. Ritchie, the young African traveller, whom
1 Ritchie was the son of a surgeon, and followed his
father’s profession. He went to Paris in 1817, and saw Humboldt, who recommended him to undertake
the expedition to the Nigerian Soudan. He was a friend of Keats, and wrote a “Farewell to
England” in Spencerean stanza. Ritchie
died in 1819 at Murzuk. His travels were published by his companion, Captain Lyon, in 1821. |
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| Ritchie’s Travels |
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I mentioned. He is the son of a
farmer near Ottley, in Yorkshire, and was brought up as a surgeon at York, after
which he attended the hospitals there. He has since been private secretary to
Sir Charles Stuart, at Paris, where he was
well acquainted with Humboldt and other
scientific people. He quits this advantageous situation without regret, having been
possessed from his childhood with an ardent desire for travelling. He goes out as
an agent for Government to Tripoli and Fezzan, with a determination to penetrate,
if possible, to Bornou, for the purpose chiefly of exploring the river Zad, and of
ascertaining whether it has any connection with the Niger. The Pacha of Tripoli,
now closely connected with the British Government, with whom a communication has
been had upon this subject, has promised a safe conduct to Fezzan, and is confident
there will be no difficulty in reaching Bornou. The young traveller is confident
and sanguine, but at the same time natural and pleasing. He asked my opinion on
various points of African geography, and on several of the late books of travels. I
could not give him much information; but he pressed me strongly to furnish him with
some hints and suggestions in writing, which I hope to do, chiefly with a view to
enforcing great care and circumspection.
He set out a few days ago for Paris, where he proposes to remain
two months on his way to Africa, in order to improve himself in Arabic and in the
art of taking astronomical observations. He talks of being absent about fifteen
months. The parting was
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| “Childe Harold“ |
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very
melancholy, as I could hardly expect to see him again.
A curious poem in the burlesque style has been published by
Lord Byron, called “Beppo,” written in a very original vein of humour, and forming a
great addition to his poetical reputation. It contains, unfortunately, a furious
attack upon his former friend poor Sotheby,
who has offended him by his criticisms, and a malignant allusion to his wife, as one who studies mathematics. The fourth canto
of “Childe Harold” is
sent back to Venice, in order that some passages deemed objectionable (probably
attacks on the Regent) might be revised and
corrected.
John Keats (1795-1821)
English poet, author of
Endymion, "The Eve of St. Agnes," and
other poems, who died of tuberculosis in Rome.
George Francis Lyon (1795-1832)
English explorer educated at Charles Burney's naval academy, Gosport; he engaged on
Joseph Ritchie's failed expedition in 1819 in North Africa and Parry's second arctic
expedition in 1823.
Joseph Ritchie (1788 c.-1819)
York surgeon and African traveler who met John Keats and wrote a popular poem before
departing on his fatal expedition to the Sahara.
William Sotheby (1757-1833)
English man of letters; after Harrow he joined the dragoons, married well, and published
Poems (1790) and became a prolific poet and translator,
prominent in literary society.
Charles Stuart, baron Stuart de Rothesay (1779-1845)
Diplomat and art collector; he was minister at Lisbon (1810-14) and ambassador at Paris
(1815-24). A grandson of Lord Bute and early friend of Henry Brougham, he was raised to the
peerage in 1828.
