The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-11-04 00:00:00

[COPY.]

" Consulate, Lagos, July 14, 1856.
" My Lord,—ln Mr. Consular Hutchinson's narrative of

the Niger, Tchadda, and Binue exploration, made in
the t'lelad steamer, occurs, page 254, the following ob-
servation But if the Government do not step in, to put
an end to the lawlessness of the. Felatahs, all ideas of a
successful trade with the Niger, Tchadda, and Binue
countries may be given up.' Having had extensive com-
mercial and frequent personal interec:urse with the three

large sections of the tribe of Foulahs, who have at various
epochs during the last two centuries emigrated from
Massina, near to Timbuctoo, and taken possession of the
countries they now inhabit and rule over, viz., the
country called Bonndoo, situate at the head of the Gambia
river,—that called Footah Torn, situate on the left bank
of the Senegal,—and that called Footah Tallon, situate
at the head or sources of the rivers Nunez and Pongo,—
I beg, with every respect, my lord, to submit my opinion
that any representation or appeal to the Felatah (Foulab)
chiefs and people to abandon their cruel predatory expe-
ditions against the Pagan inhabitants of the Soudan
countries would be of no avail, unless at the same time
commercial operations were commenced for legitimate
trade at points accessible to these troublesome and for-
midable people ; and that it could at the same time be
explained to them that the countries ravaged by their
fanatical energy possessed various articles of European
value, for which the commercial establishments were ready
to give in exchange those articles of European manufac-
turers they (the Felatahs) are in want of, and which they
highly prize.

It must be remembered that the accounts of Clapperton,
Lander, &c., represent a numerous portion of the Felatah
tribe inhabiting Soudan as a peaceful, pastoral, and agricul-
tural people; and if a large and mischievous portion of the
tribe have been for mere than 30 years past the great feeders
of the former extensive slave trade in the Bights of Benin
and Biafra, it was because they really found no other com-
merce existing in Soudan but that in slaves; the compara-
tively small quantities of ivory carried from the countries
of Soudan by the Moorish traders of Tripoli, Tunis, &c.,
on the backs of camels across the desert, and representing
but a minute portion of the valuable commerce the v Ist
interior regions of Africa are capable of yielding. To
develop this large neglected commerce of the interior, the
power of steam and the highways of the Niger, the Tchadda,
and their tributaries, must be made available.
" The influences which generated the virulent fever that
attacked the Niger expedition, under Capt. Trotter, and
which caused its failure, are now known ; and the result of
the last expedition up the Niger and Tchadda, in the
Fleaid, proses that those influences, fatal to health and
life, can be avoided.

" These offer now, but few and trifling obstacles to the
profitable employment of capital in those parts of the river
Niger and Tchadda which, while affording some security to
property, are yet within reach of the Felatah and other
interior people; and should some enterprising merchants
be willing to embark in a commerce offering every prospect
Of success, and her Majesty's Government be induced
to support such enterprise by its countenance and influence,
in sending a representative to treat with the relatah
chiefs, and to point out to them the advantages of
occupying themselves with peaceful and legitimate
trade, instead of their predatory excursions against the
unoffending Pagan tribes, I beg leave, my lord, to
tender myself for such service. Experience has proved
that the Mahometan Foulas, in all those centuries before
mentioned, of which they dispossessed the original occupiers,
have, after a time, settled down to the peaceful pursuits of
lawful commerce ; those of Boondoo have long since felt
the influence, and enjoyed the benefits of legitimate com-
merce with the settlements on the Gambia ; those of
Footah Toro have had the advantage and reaped the profits
of an extensive commerce with the French settlements on
the Senegal ; and those of Footah Sullon have shown how
highly they esteem a free commercial intercourse with Sierra
Leone, and with the commercial establishments of the
English and other merchants at Tbybrandy, on the Rio and
Nunez, and at the Rio Pongo, and other points accessible
to their enterprise; gradually, in all the countries above
named, they have abandoned marauding parties; as the
chiefs, the leaders of them, become rich, they felt no incli-
nation to risk themselves again in slave hunts, for such is
really their warfare, and preferred the more safe and peace-.
ful gains arising from legitimate commerce with the white
man.— I have, &c, (Signed) B. CAMPBELL, Consul."
Mr. Heath, gave notice of the following motion, to be
brought forward at the next meeting :
" That this chamber, having in view the interests of
commerce, accords its hearty approval to the declaration of
the Paris Congress, April 16th, 1856, concerning maritime
war, viz. :

" 1. Privateering is and remains abolished.
"2. The neutral Sag covers enemy's goods, except con-
traband of war.

" 3. Neutral goods, except contraband of ware, are not
liable to capture under enemy's flag.
"4. Blockade in order to be binding must be effective ;
that is, maintained by a force sufficient really to prevent
access to the coast of the enemy."
" That it also approves the additional proposition which
the government of the United States has made the condition
of its adherence to the declaration of the Paris Congress,
viz.:—
'' That the private property of the subjects or citizens of
a belligerent on the high seas shall be exempted from
seizure by public armed vessels of the other belligerent,
except it be contraband."

PRESENTATION OF THE LORD MAYOR ELECT

TO THE LORD CHANCELLOR.

At eleven o'clock yesterday, according to custom, the
Lord Mayor elect of the city of London was presented to
the Lord Chancellor for her Majesty's approval. The Lord
Mayor elect was introduced to the Lord Chancellor at his
mansion in Upper Brook street, Grosvenor square. The
Recorder in a brief address, set forth the services that the
worthy alderman had performed in his various offices of com-
mon couneilMani and deputy of the Tower Ward, for which
he was elected alderman on the death of Alderman Lucas, as
also his services as magistrate of the City of London.
The learned Recorder also entered into a brief statement
of the success of the commercial pursuits of the Lord Mayor
elect, which had raised him to the proud position of being
chosen Lord Mayor of the first city of the world. The
Lord Chancellor in elpressing on the part of her I.lajesty
her approval of the choice of the Livery, congratulated
the Lord Mayor elect on his elevation. The Lord Mayor
elect, Recorder, Sheriffs, and other civic functionaries, then
withdrew.