The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-10-16 00:00:00

THE LATE MR. JOHN HOUMA:

(From the Mawlierter Gazetfel
We regret to announce the demh of our [0%761DV, Mr. John
Iloutson. On his voyage toCape Coast, from whence he intended
to proceed to 11:nin, there to complete a cargo for Bahia. after tt:•
disposal of which he intended to return to his native land, he had

an attack of dysentery+, and went on shore at Accra, a British co-
lony, about a hundred miles front Cape Coast. tor medical assist-
ance, but unfortunately none could be procured. On the 13tit
Nay, tite days after be had landed, he expired, and was buried on
the I ttli, on which day he would have completed Ilia 311th year.
Mr. Boutson had arrived at Badagry on the 12th April, ..11+r
having been absent more than four months, during which time be
had been etttployed in conducting Captain Clappetton and his party
to Katungo, the capital of Eyco. For his services to the Mission
we think his family have some claim on Government. The last
time we saw Mr. Howson was in compsny with his particular
friend, Dr. Hardie, whose death we have had the melancholy duty
to record.

r. Munson sent to his telations here many valuable commtmi.
cations concerning the interior of Africa, ftom which they have
obligingly given us permission to make e!tracts. In the mean
time, we lay before our readers some particulars, communicated
in a letter to a friend, of 11r. lloutson's mimics, and of his at.
tendahce on that enterprising traveller, Belzoni, in his dying

moments.
" You may possibly have heard that it fell to my lot to attend
the late 31. Belioni, at limb, during his illness, and at his un-
timely death—an event which, I am sure, must have been deplored
by every ore to whom he was petsnnally known, Of who had read
of his great exertions, and his enthusiastic devotion to the promo-
tion of those branches of science which are so universally esteentel
by civilized society.
" It is probable you may have eeim in the public papers extracts
from my letters to his ngenta in London. giving an account of his
illness and death. I shall, therefore, only say in explanation,
that I herewith send you a S:11311 box, containing a beautiful ame-
thyst ring, which, as a dying request, Mr. 11. desired me to take
front his linger, and deliver to Mrs. Belzani on my retain home.
His clothes, books, pistols, &c. I shipped by the Liverpool shin
Fletcher, and gave the ring in charge to my friend, Mr. Fell, sue
percargo of the brig Castor, then trading in Benin, and bound
home. flowerer, it appears that he received subsequent instruc-
tions to remain oil the coast for an indefinite period. l'l'hen 1 met
him afterwards, in Cameron's River, in August last, I resumed
the charge of the ring, with the Intention of delivering it personally
on my return home, in January last. Circumstances having in.
duced me to make another voyage to the coest of Africa before I
visit old England, I cannot thins of toner detaining a relic of so
sacred and affectionate remembrance. You will, therefore, parte-
ceilarly oblige me by receiving this small package, and delivering
it into the hands of Messrs. Briggs, Brothers, and Co., 13, Arne.
rico-square, London. and excuse the trouble 1 have thus given yo
" dle. Belzoni was of a noble form, and a height approaching the
majestic; a countenance indicallog deep thought and determined
nurpose,—ot the most winning manners: aid his conversation intel.
ligent and luminous on almost every subject within the reach of
human inquiry. His relation of his researches into the Pyramid.,
and other antiquities of Egypt, wart extremely interesting and in.
structive ;—but on these subjects he wa3 only communicative with
those who, he conceived, were capable of appreciating the value
and interest of his discoverins. Ile was intro lured to me, by letter.
from Sir Charles IPCarthy, and my friend Mr. George Alexander
Robertson, of Cape Coast, requesting my services with the King of
in Ben, in fits favour. fls remained with me from the 30 li October
until his death, Dec. 3d, 18'23, 1 succeeded in getting the King of
tneuteng.r to arcompany hint as far as HUO)S3-.-tO wait
there his return from Titobuetum and return with letters tiir myself
and his friends in Europe; en the receipt of which, the King was
to receive a handsome present, and the messenger paid agreeably to
Mr. B.'s report of his deserts. Had he lived, I have no doubt of
his reaching Houses in perfect safety—beyond that country the
King of Benin's power does not extend.
" The prainicability of penetrating into the central parts of Africa
from the (lull of Guinea, I am convinced. is much more certain
than from the shores or the 3leiliterrane en, the coast o:' Ito teary, ur
the river Zabir, or Congo. There are three or tour points of dr.
;nature which are presented to the traveller, vie.:—From Sierra
Leneee—fmm Cape Coast, through Ashartee—from Dahomey,
tit:tug:l Eyeo and Tappo-aand Prone Benin, through Jaboo, Byre.,
Tappo, Nyfta, anti thence to lloussa. The latter was the route I
recommended to Mr. Be'zoni, Lecause he would have had the King
of Benin's protection be the gives of Houssa. From Sierra Leone.
the traveller in a few days gets into the kingdoms professing the
Mahamtnedan religion, which presents innumerable diflintities
and suhjecis of dispute to an European traveller. From Cape Coast
it is impossible to proceed while the Ashaniee war is continued.
Dahomey Is the most direct road ; but the influence of the Portu-
gorse with the King would prevent his givieg protection to an
Kniifeth traveller. In Inal, 1 had arranged with the King of DJ.
for his protection into the interior, as tar as Tappa (twelve
der.' journey only front Houssa), hut the'Portuguese interfered, and
petsuaded the King that it was my object to ?recent him front get-
ting any more slaves, by telling the people in the ihttrior to send
their plans to the Great Water, on the other aide of Africa ! where
the English ships would be ready to receive them ! To Benin
none of these objections apply. The King is most anxious to cid-
ti vVC a good understanding with the English traders, and his word
is, when once given, a sacred and inviolable security. His power
extends over all the countries through which the traveller must
pass, until his arrival on the banks of the Niger. Jaime), Eye°,
passe until iii. arrival on the banks 0y the Niger. Jattoo, Eyco,
i'appa, and Nyffa, are all subject to him s tributaries and vassals:
and Houssa is friendly. though not subject.
" I left England in October, 11119, without a shilling of my own.
My leiends, and my knottier, assisted in fitting tree with clothes,
books, &c. for stalong a voyage. The adventure in which I errs_
barked for Africa proved extremely unfortunate. I, however, stuck
by it while it hail a leg to stand upon, and in 1822 left it in search
of better fortune, without a cent. in my pocket. 1 went to Benin—
was fortunate in my trade—yntrchased a !chimer, and have her
trailing on the coast of Afebrair one Sierra Leone to Cope Lanier,
since that time, with ratio-its sieccese, but increasing experience and
know ledge of the trade. I cart get a living in any part of the
world. 1 have friends in Africa-1 have good friends in South
America, and also in the United States; hut an exile's life is eh
beat but a weary one. The man who has passed the fuss thirty
years of his life in Old England, surrounded by the:Q.lolloa of his
rude and the companions of his manhood, cannot on anon intet.
nire with the brawn Brazilian, the republican .l ,ltd much
- 'the-