them over the lake, that very far to the south there lay a great saltwater sea, and that the one they were on ran into it; that there was no end to it; that there were plenty of Safina kabeer (large ships) upon it; and that they called it Bahar elkabeer, that is, the Great Sea, or Atlantic ocean." (Edinb. Philos. Journal, No. 7.)

In confirmation of this termination of the Niger in the Gulf of Guinea, Mr. M'Queen says, "Perfect accuracy in these things, at present, is impossible; nor does the want materially alter the grand features which it is my chief object to delineate." Jackson says that a lake is formed by the waters of the Neel el Abeed, of which the opposite shore is not visible. He says it is navigated by large vessels, which sometimes come to Timbuctoo, manned by a particular kind of people. On its eastern bank begins the territory of white people, denominated by the Arabs, N'sarreth (Christians). From this description it is quite evident, that the lake here mentioned is a different lake to that represented as being situated 450 miles east of Timbuctoo; it is clearly the sea on the Gold Coast, the Bight of Benin and Beafra, a lake whose opposite shore is not visible, and on the eastern bank of which is the territory of Christians! The fact of large vessels coming up from this lake to Timbuctoo, manned by a particular kind of people, is an additional proof that the navigation of the Niger is unobstructed from the ocean to Timbuctoo (p. 118.) Our author's third argument in favour of his hypothesis is as follows: "From Sego to Baedo, according to Park, is thirty days' journey in a southerly direction. 'One month's travel,' says he, south of Baedo, through the kingdom of Gotto, (Moosee) will bring the traveller to the country of the Christians, who have their houses on the Ba-se-feena. This water is incomparably larger than the lake Dibbie, and the water sometimes runs one way and sometimes another. (Park, vol. ii. p. 229. 8vo. edition.) The words Ba-se-feena are very properly shown by Jackson to be a corruption of the Arabic words, Bahar sefeena, signifying literally the sea of ships, or the sea where ships are seen! The direction, the distance, and every other particular mentioned, however, clearly point out the European settlements on the coast of Guinea. The water running sometimes one way and sometimes another, obviously relates to the flux and reflux of the sea, a phenomenon which could not fail to arrest the attention of a negro from the interior." p. 129.

A fourth argument in favour of Mr. M'Queen's hypothesis is related as follows:-"Before turning our attention to the coast, it is worth while to consider the explanation which Mr. Jackson gives of the Arabic words, Bahr Kulla; the term, he says, in proper Arabic, is Bahar Kûlha, which term signifies the ocean, and also an alluvial country. If this explanation be correct, and which there seems little reason to doubt, we have the clearest account of the termination of the Niger. Numerous authorities state, that in its middle course it turns to the southward, and flows till it joins the Bahr Kulha-the sea, or the alluvial country. This it certainly does do at the points we have mentioned; we therefore conclude, that after all the Gulf of Guinea will turn out to be the true sea of Sudan." p. 125.

From the following account there appears to be good reason to suppose that the salt pits, mentioned by Ibn al Vardi (or more properly Ben al Wardi), are those on the sea-shore of Bening, and at the island

of Fernando Po. Our author says, "The number of slaves annually exported from Bonny and old Calabar rivers, were formerly, and still continue to be great. They are chiefly brought from the interior, by a water conveyance. The people are every where fond of trade, generally civil and obliging to Europeans who deal honestly, and they are anxious to cultivate commercial connexions with them. All around the Delta, the population on the sea coast is busily employed in making salt for the interior market; the land on the coast is called the salt ground; it is, perhaps, the place where Ibn al Vardi mentions the numerous salt-pits on the shore of the sea. This salt is carried in boats so large as to contain 200 people,* and having cannon placed at each end. (Robertson's Notes on Africa, p. 308.) Boussa, on the Niger, is a great emporium for this trade, and the place where the people from the sea-coast meet the caravans from Barbary, to exchange their merchandise. (Robertson, p. 209 and 301.) The natives on these coasts also talk familiarly of their trade, intercourse, and communication with Boussa and Timbuctoo," p. 135.

Then follows some reasons for supposing the Niger and the Nile to have no connexion; which being founded on theories, and being irrelevant to our purpose-which is to state the arguments for asserting the discharge of the Niger in the Bight of Benin-we shall pass over, and proceed with our author's observations, who, speaking of Park, says, p. 149, "This celebrated traveller descended the stream in safety to Boussa, where an accident terminated his life. The traders from the coast go up the river above this place."

Our author gives reasons for supposing the Niger and Congo to be different streams. In order to obtain the command of Africa, Mr. M'Queen recommends stations on the Niger, either where the stream divides or unites, as may be found most eligible; another station is recommended at the Rio Lagos, which would give us the command of the trade into the recesses of the Kong mountains. A settlement, or depôt, on the island of Fernando Po, is also urged as expedient; and this island could be easily purchased of the negro natives, as we presume the Portuguese have long since given it up. Steam-boats would navigate from the coast to Timbuctoo in 10, 15, or 20 days, at the utmost, and establish a communication with Bornou, Balia, Dar Saley, &c. page 173.

Wood being very plentiful, the steam-boat could be navigated at a trifling expense. "Granting that the navigation of the Niger was interrupted at Boussa by reason of rapids and rocks rising amidst the stream, still we know that the river can be navigated in safety from Boussa upwards, and from Boussa downwards." p. 178.

This is the point to be ascertained. Mr. M'Queen has given very strong presumptive evidence that this communication exists, sufficient at least to invite the British nation to attempt the navigation, which might be done without incurring any extraordinary expense. If it failed, it would add certainly one more failure to our many African expeditions; but if, on the contrary, it succeeded, it would amply reimburse all expenses hitherto incurred, and open besides an incalculably

This is a corroboration of what Jackson and Alex. Scott say. Vide New Monthly Mag. No. iii. 355 and 356.

beneficial trade, and provide withal, what is so much wanted at this time, a great and new market for our various manufactures.

If the navigation of the river failed of conducting to Timbuctoo, it would conduct, most assuredly, to many countries of the interior, with which we might establish a commerce on the most advantageous terms, as a prelude to civilization. The immense bodies of waters discharged from the interior into the Bight of Benin, is an incontrovertible evidence that the waters come from remote regions of the interior, and that a navigable communication and intercourse might be established with several populous countries of the interior of Sudan, if not with Timbuctoo! Therefore our author says, "let the British standard be planted at Boussa, where no power in Africa could tear it up, a trifling land carriage would then give this nation all the advantages of an open navigation, and by such a natural barrier, place the Niger completely under her control. Firmly planted in central Africa, the British flag would become the rallying point for all that is honourable, useful, beneficial, just, and good. Under the mighty shade thereof, the nations would seek security, comfort, and repose. Allies Great Britain would find in abundance! The resources and energies of Africa would be made (under a wise and vigorous policy) to subdue and control Africa. Let Britain only form such a settlement, and give it that countenance, support, and protection, which the wisdom and energy of British counsels can give, and which the power and resources of the British empire can so well maintain, and central Africa will remain a grateful and obedient dependancy of this empire. The latter will become the centre of all the wealth, and the focus of all the industry of the former. Then the Niger, like the Ganges, would acknowledge Great Britain as its protector, our king as its lord." P. 179.

"The extent of country and population, the improvements, labours, and wants of which would be dependant upon, and stimulated to exertion by a settlement on the Niger, is prodigious, and altogether unequalled and incalulable. Fifty millions of people would be dependant on it." P. 179.

"The French nation have long looked towards Africa, as a means of repairing the losses which revolution has produced in their colonies. They have established a college for the teaching of the Arabic, a travelling language of Africa, on an extensive scale, as a necessary preliminary towards the colonization of that continent. Let us not suffer that powerful, enterprising, and ambitious rival to step before us, and fix herself securely in the lower Niger, and give Great Britain reason to repent of her supine disregard of this favourable opportunity to effect a great commercial establishment in Africa." P. 181.

The abolition of those human sacrifices, under the name of customs, at the death of any person of note; the civilization of Africa; its gradual conversion to Christianity, from the most degraded barbarism, through the medium of a regular and well conducted commercial intercourse, are the laudable objects which the author of this Geographical and Commercial View has in perspective, and for which the author really appears to have discovered an eligible and a practicable path.

* Denominated L'Ecole Royale des Langues Orientales vivantes à Paris.

"The exertion, on the part of Great Britain, to accomplish all this, would be small the climate opposes some obstacles; the population of Africa none. The smallest gun-brig in our navy would lay the natives dwelling on both banks of the Niger, from Bammakoo to its mouth, from Bornou to Benin, prostrate before us with obedience and respect. Coming as their friend, overthrowing superstition and whatever is evil; rearing up, encouraging, and protecting what is just; we should teach the natives in these extensive regions to assume their rank among the sons of men. To accomplish this we have, by means of the Niger, a safe and an easy road. Let no other nation pre-occupy it."

We now take leave of Mr. M'Queen, thanking him for his suggestions. We have omitted many ingenious observations of our author, not wishing to detain the reader on a subject already exhausted, African discoveries; a subject which has become of late unpopular, from the repeated disasters of our various enterprising travellers. The philanthropist, however, and every individual interested in the improvement and civilization of the millions of Pagans of this interesting continent, now sunk into the lowest depth of ignorance and idolatry, cannot fail to be interested in the perusal of Mr. M'Queen's pages.

SHAKSPEARE'S BERTRAM.

"I cannot reconcile my heart to Bertram; a man noble without generosity, and young without truth; who marries Helen as a coward, and leaves her as a profli gate; when she is dead by his unkindness, sneaks home to a second marriage, is accused by a woman whom he has wronged, defends himself by falsehood, and is dismissed to happiness."-DR. JOHNSON,

THIS is a hard sentence, Doctor,we wish you had never written it. There it stands, in all the modern editions, at the beginning of the play, damping our pleasant anticipations by a solemn assurance that the principal dish at the feast is unwholesome. Just as the reader is hastening among the dramatis persona, the great moralist pulls him back, and bawls in his ear," Beware of a bad character!" He spreads a wet blanket over the poet's work, and, like Lady Macbeth, forbids "Heaven to peep through it." Few are at the trouble to raise it, and those few may be tempted to throw it in the face of him who put it there. We, however, have no love for human retribution; nor would it be, in this case, just. Happily there are many proofs of unaffected kindliness and compassion in Johnson's heart, though his doctrine often sounds harsh and unforgiving; and had he been better acquainted with Bertram, we think he would not have "made night hideous," by aggravating those faults, for whose pardon Shakspeare had so eloquently pleaded, into crimes which admit of no allowance. The truth is, his edition of Shakspeare was undertaken as a job, and executed with as much speed as his bookseller enjoined. He wrote a preface in his best style, and seemed to think that was nearly enough. His notes, in many instances, are careless, and even strangely blind; and his observations, though sometimes pithy and admirable, betray errors which an attentive perusal of the text must have obviated. As for the inferior plays, and "All's well that ends well" has always been considered one of them, he willingly showed neglect where the world would scarcely have thanked him for care and study.

If we cannot "reconcile our hearts" to Bertram, the play is altogether intolerable. If at any time his conduct is such as to provoke our contempt, or if we did not perceive, among his errors, the germs of a good and honourable mind, the interest of the story would be at an end. The hopes and fears of the other characters, their efforts to reclaim him, and the happiness of Helen, would be all despair the instant he became unworthy of our sympathy.

Shakspeare appears to have adopted this tale, and conceived the character of its hero, for the purpose of portraying those moral evils, frequently interwoven with the privileges of nobility,-prejudice, arrogance, and wilfulness; and to point out how they may be corrected in the discipline of the world. Let it be borne in mind, that a nobleman in the days of Queen Elizabeth differed widely from one of our present House of Lords; and, in this instance, the scene being laid in France, we may suppose him invested with the rights of a feudal lord to their fullest extent. Bertram is, by nature, generous and affectionate. His vices are factitious as the heraldic records of his ancestry, and, like his inheritance, belong to him by legitimate descent. His father, we suspect, was not a jot better in his youth. Among his many virtues

VOL. III. No. 18.-1822.

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