The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1842.

THE ROYAL CHRISTENING.
WINDSOR, FRIDAY.
OF THE STATE APARTMENTS AS THEY ARE
PREPARED AND EMBELLISHED FOR THE RECEPTION
OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA, THE DEJEUNE A LA FOUR-

CHETTE, THE GRAND BANQUET IN THE EVENING, &C.
1. The Grand Vestibule, leading to the whole suite
of State apartments.—ln this apartment, through which
the Royal visitors will pass to the banquet in St.
George's Hall, proceeding up the grand staircase, the
yeomen of the Queen's guard, under the command of
their Captain, the Marquis of Lothian, will assemble.
The angles of the vestibule
.(which is sixteen yards in
length, nine yards wide, and nearly fifty feet in height)
are occupied by numerous slender columns, supporting
a vaulting of richly-designed fan work, ornamented
with tracery, terminating with the Royal arms and the
date of its execution (1834), which are encircled with
the garter in the centre of an octagonal lantern. Upon
brackets, about twenty feet from the floor, there are
six suits of armour of the time of Elizabeth. Two com-
partments of the walls, and also one over the fire-
place, and another over the door leading to the Waterloo
Chamber, are ornamented with flags and trophies of the
same character.

2. The Grand Staircase, communicating with the ves-
tibule, contains, in a deeply recessed arch, a splendid and
most noble statue of the late George IV., executed by
the late Sir Francis Chantrey. In each o the spandrils
there are several specimens of ancient armour, beauti-
fully arranged. Around the stone railing, at the top of
the staircase, magnificent Gothic chandeliers are to be
placed. The ceiling and lantern, which are of wood, are
painted to imitate stone, and formed into panels by mas-
sive mouldings. The centres are filled with boldly-carved
shields.

3. The Waterloo Chamber.—This spacious apartment
(which is 98 feet long and 47 feet broad) has been appro-
priated for the music-room after the banquet. The two
galleries, at either end, will be filled with instrumental
performers. The portraits in this room (37 in number)
are those of the Sovereigns who reigned, the most cele-
brated commanders who fought, and the statesmen who
were at the head of affairs, at the period of the battle of
Waterloo. " This alone," observes Mr. Jesse, " will
always occasion this gallery to be viewed with feel-
ings of no common interest." Here his late Majesty
William IV. gave his dinners in commemoration of that
battle, surrounded by the warriors who had fought and
bled or their country. It was in this apartment that
that Sovereign lay in state. Amongst the portraits is
one of Frederick 111., of Prussia, the father of her
Majesty's illustrious visitor. The carpet, which is a
dark morone, is panelled and figured with the stars of
the Order of the Bath, encircled by the motto of the
order, " Tria juncta in uno." The five massive chande-
liers of ormulu have been embellished and enriched ex-
pressly for the occasion. This room contains some of
the most beautifully executed carvings by the celebrated
Gibbon. The panelling, doors, and chimney-pieces are
in Gibbon's first style. The galleries are formed of oak,
also richly carved. The various mouldings are embel-
lished with lions, masks, grotesque heads, &c. The fur-
niture, which is of oak, is covered with rich crimson
plush. In various panels, at each end of the chamber,
are stars, with the initials " W. R.," surrounded with the
rose, shamrock, and thistle. The whole of the portraits
with which the walls are decorated, with only five excep-
tions, are painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence.
4. The Throne Ante-room.—The furniture of this
apartment is of crimson damask, and the carpet of crim-
son plush. It contains a splendid cabinet of exquisite
workmanship.
5. The Throne Room.—The chair of State has been
eitirely re-gilt and embellished, and is placed on a
raised dais at the west end of the apartment. The back
and cushion, edged round with deep gold lace, are of
rich purple velvet, upon which is embossed the star of
the order of the Garter. Upon the drapery and canopy
of the throne are borne, in gold, the rose, shamrock,
and thistle ; the tassels and fringe are extremely mas-
sive. The carpet, which has been manufactured ex-
pressly for the occasion of the royal christening, is of
plush, with a deep purple ground, covered over with
medallions of a yellow colour, of the collar and star of
the order of the Garter, surrounded with the motto,
" Boni soft qui mai y pense." Four splendidly carved
and gilt candelabra, upwards of four feet high, have been
completed for this room. The base is supported by lions
claws, and each column by three lions beautifully carved.
The walls are chiefly of highly-polished oak, relieved
by carvings of fruit, flowers, &c., by Gibbon. The room
contains a: painting by West of the installation of the
Knights of the Garter, and portraits of George
George IV., and Willi:.-:n IV., by Gainsborough, Sir
Thomas Lawrence, and Sir M. A. Shee.

6. The Ball Room.—Magnificent French doors open
from this apartment into the Waterloo Gallery, St.
George's Hall, and the Throne Room. The furniture is
of the most splendid description, the chair:; and couches
being solidly gilt, and covered with rich crimson damask.
This room will be used for the assembling of the Knights
of the Garter upon the day of the installation of the
King of Prussia. A magnificent gothic window of plate
glass occupies nearly the whole of the north end. This
spacious apartment is 90 feet in length and 34 feet in
width. The room is in the style of Louis XIV. The
walls are hung with Gobelin tapestry, representing the
story of Jason and the Golden Fleece. This is said to
be the same tapestry which Louis XVI. sent to decorate
the room occupied by his unfortunate Queen, Marie
Antoinette, when she first arrived in France. It was
afterwards presented to George IV. Four splendid
chandeliers are suspended from the ceiling, of ormolu,
interspersed with cut glass branches and pendants. The
ceiling is enriched with ornamented scroll-work of the
most beautiful description, consisting of birds, the royal
arms, and over the two fireplaces and the doors the let-
ters "G. R." Other portions of the room are occupied
by splendid looking-glasses and costly carved work.
The North Corridor is occupied by eleven cabinets of
ancient armour, which have been fitted up with great
taste by Mr. Stacey, from the Ordnance Department in
the Tower. These cabinets contain a most valuable and
unique collection of swords, guns, battle-axes, match-
locks, helmets, &c. Amongst this collection are the fol-
lowing :--a large quantity of Asiatic swords, with mas-
sive silver handles of immense value, received as pre-
sents by George IV. ; Asiatic guns with curiously-
finished matchlocks, a sword, which belonged to Henry
Prince of Wales, in 1716 ; three beautiful swords, worn
by George 111. ; the sword presented by the Emperor
Charles VI. to the great Duke of Marlborough ; the
dress sword worn by the Chevalier de St. George, in
Scotland, in the year 1715, and also by his son the Pre-
tender, in 1746,—presented to the Prince Regent by
John Ewen, Esq., Feb. 17, 1811. The only portion of
,the armour, Sac., with which several of the apartments
and vestibules of the Castle have been embellished,
which have been sent from the Tower, are merely a few
spears, a small portion of the ancient armour, and the
flags and banners. This corridor is the communication
between the private and state apartments. Her Majesty
will proceed through the corridor to the Ball-room,
where the Queen will receive the Royal and illustrious
personages before entering St. George's Hall, to the
grand banquet on Tuesday evening.
The King's Drawing Room has been appropriated for
the reception of his Majesty the King of Prussia. A
splendid carpet has been expressly manufactured ; it has
a rich crimson ground, covered with medallions, in which
are the intitials V. R. The hangings and furniture are
of superb crimson damask. It contains some beautiful
japan and buhl cabinets, which were the property of
George IV. A large oriel.window, of beautiful tracery,
terminated the north end of the room. The sides are
ornamented with four magnificent pier glasses. The
silk hangings, it should have been observed, are elegantly
ornamented with the arms of England, encircled by the
collar of the order of the Garter. In this apartment is
placed the exquisitely-executed vase, which was pre-
sented by the father of the present King of Prussia tz
George IV. It was in this room that George IV.
lay in state. There are ten paintings, the whole of
which are by Rubens, and comprise the celebrated
portraits of himself and of his first wife.
The King's Council Room has also been appropriated
for the use of the King of Prussia, and a new carpet ex-
pressly manufactured of the same pattern as the one in
the King's drawing-room. The furniture and hangings
aro of crimson silk, ornamented with the crown and
sceptre; the rose, shamrock, and thistle; and with nume-
rous acorns and oak leaves. The ceiling is embellished
with the arms of Charles 11., which are on a circular
shield, encompassed with the Garter and the motto of
the order—the whole encircled with a palm wreath. Five
cabinets of exquisite workmanship have been placed in
this apartment, which contains 35 paintings by Corregio,
Leonardo daVinci, Guercino, and other esteemed master,

The King's Closet.—This room is designated to be
the private cabinet of the Prussian Sovereign. The car-
pet, which is new, is crimson, as are also the silk hang-
ings, into which are beautifully interwoven the initials
W. R., which are entwined with the rose, shamrock, and
thistle. Forty paintings by the old masters occupy three
sides of the room. In the centre of the ceiling is the star
of St. George, with oak branches, surrounded by a cable.
The anchor and trident, and other devices emblematical
of our naval superiority, form the most conspicuous orna-
ments of the ceiling.. Three cabinets in this apartment
are of marqueterie, and one India japanned.
The Queen's Closet.—This room, which is oblong
(the hangings of which are of light blue silk, upon which
are displayed, in damask silk, the initials A. R., and
the crown), has been selected as the sleeping apartment
of his Majesty. The bed and hangings formed a por-
tion of the splendid furniture at Carlton House. The
hangings are of blue silk damask, splendidly embroi-
dered and brocaded. The elegant and magnificent
canopy is surmounted by a plume of feathers. The
chairs are covered with blue silk, elaborately embroi-
dered. The carpet is new, and of colours in harmony
with the other furniture. This apartment is distinguished
by two immense-sized glasses, with massive silver frames.
The room contains 25 exquisitely-executed cabinet and
other paintings by the old masters.
The Queen's Drawing (or Zuccarelli) Room has been
set apart for the exclusive use of the personages forming
the suite of the King of Prussia. The hangings are of
crimson silk damask, upon which are wrought the arms
of the late King and the Queen Dowager. The new
carpet is also of the same colour. This room is deco-
rated with various shields, scrolls of foliage, wreaths of
flowers, all richly etched with gold. The walls are em-
bellished with seven landscapes of Italian scenery by
Zuccarelli, and three scriptural subjects. The ceiling
is of stucco, richly embellished with margins of oak
and palm entwined.
The State Ante-room, communicating with the King's
and Queen's drawing-rooms.—The principal decorations
of this apartment are several pieces of beautiful tapestry,
the subjects taken from heathen mythology, some splen-
did carvings, by Gibbon, of fish, game, flowers, fruit,
&c, ; and on the ceiling a painting of the banquet of the
gods. There is a recess over the chimney-piece, inwhich
is a painting on glass of George 111., in his coronation
robes, after Sir Joshua Reynolds.
The Guard Chamber.—ln this apartment will assem-
ble the Knights of the Garter, and also the honourable
band of gentlemen pensioners. The four whole-length
figures, clothed in armour, with their lances, standing on

brackets, are worthy of particular notice. The coats of
mail in which they are clothed, are amongst the
earliest and most perfect specimens in this country.
The ancient armour with which this chamber is
decorated includes that worn by Charles Prince of
Wales, in 1620 ; Lord Howard, in 1588 ; Duke
of Brunswick, in 1530 ; Lord Essex, in 1596 ; and
Prince Rupert, in 1635. At the south end, on a
portion 'of the mast of the Victory, stands a splendid
colossal bust of Lord Nelson, executed by the late Sir
F. Chantrey. There are also busts of the Duke of Marl-
borough and the Duke of Wellington, with the tributary
banners, over the head of each, from Blenheim and
Strathfieldsaye. In a glass cabinet,, over the mantel-
piece, is the beautiful silver shield, inlaid with gold, exe-
cuted by Cellini, and presented, by Francis, the French
monarch, on the Field of the Cloth of Gold, to Henry
VIII. The gentlemen pensioners, after'first assembling
in this chamber, will then proceed to the grand vestibule.
St. George's Hall.—ln this magnificent apartment,
which is 200 feet in length and 34 in width, the grand
banquet.. will take place on the evening of Tuesday. The
gallery at the west end will be occupied by the bands of
the Royal Horse Guards and the 72d Highlanders.
An entirely new carpet, of velvet pile, has been
manufactured expressly for the occasion, which will be
laid down to-morrow. The ' covering of the seats are
of crimson plush damask. The new ceiling is
in the Gothic style—viz., a flat Gothic arch, the ribs,
or mouldings, which divide 'its compartments, spring-
ing from corbels on the walls. The entire ceil-
ing is divided into thirteen bays, each of which is sub-
divided into twenty-four smaller ones. Each of these
contains two shields, emblazoned with the armorial bear-
ings of all the Knights of the Garter, from the institu-
tion of the order. On each of the corbels are two
knights represented in a complete suit of armour. The
two at the east end represent the founder, Edward 111.,
and his son, the Black Prince. On the north side are
full-length portraits of the last eleven Sovereigns of
England, from James I. to George IV. In panels along
the sides of the hall are numerous shields, upon which
the arms of the late and present Knights are emblazoned.
In the spaces between the portraits there are large brass
shields, with the cross of St. George, encircled by the
garter and motto of the order. Beaufets, upwards of
15 feet in height, • 36. feet long, and 18 feet wide, have
been constructed at each end of the hall, upon which
will be exhibited the most magnificent collection of plate
ever perhaps witnessed in this or any other country at
one time. It is expected that 120 guests will dine in the
hall on Tuesday.
The dejeuner, after the ceremony of the christening,
will take place in the three following rooms:—

The Vandyke Room, containing some of the most
finished productions of the artist whose name it bears.
The ceiling is of stucco, formed into lozenge-shaped plu-
mb, the margins composedof the shamrock. The royal
arms, surrounded with palm, branches, are in the centre.
The chairs are of crimson damask.

The Queen's Audience Chamber.—On the ceiling of
this apartment, Queen Catharine, personified as Britan-
nia, is represented sitting in a triumphal car drawn by.
swans, and attewled by Flora, Ceres, Pomona, and other
goddesses. This room contains several curious cabinets
and richly-ornamented sideboards.
The Queen's Presence Chamber.—The walls of this
room are decorated with four large and splendid speci-
mens of Gobelin tapestry, the subject from Queen Esther,
viz., the " Banquet," The Intercession for the Jews,"
" Mordecai's Obstinacy," and " Haman's Downfal."
The hangings and furniture of this room are of crimson
damask silk.

This list includes the whole of the state apartments
which will be used by the distinguished guests of her
Majesty.
The two regiments whose attendance was counter-
manded, in consequence of the anticipated review having
been postponed, as stated yesterday, were the 13th light
dragoons and the 11th (or Prince. Albert's) hussars.
The rocket brigade, under the command of Major
T. F. Strangways (who was in charge of that brigade
at the battle of Leipsic on the 16th, 18th, and 19th of
October, 1813, and who, for his eminent services, had
conferred upon him the Swedish order of the Sword),
will accompany the horse artillery from Woolwich. The
rocket brigade and.artillery are to form part of the arma-
ment at Windsor which will be here during the visit of
the King of Prussia to her Majesty. They will be quar-
tered at Staines, Colnbrook, and their environs.

The display of these rockets will take place before the
King of Prussia and her Majesty's illustrious visitors in
the Great Park.

It has not yet been determined upon what day the
presentation of colours to the 72d Highlanders will take
place. The day will not be known until after the arrival
of the King of Prussia.

at present sent. A moderate fixed duty on their I
flour, by opening a safe, market for a portion of their
surplus produce, would supply them with the means
of obtaining this increase—would give employment
to the artisan now unemployed and dependent on the
rates or on charity, and furnish him with the means of
purchasing that food which now he must either beg or
steal : while the merchant, the manufacturer, the artisan,
and the rate-payer, would thus be benefited. I know no
class amongst us that could be injured. As a rate-payer,
the farmer would derive a large share of the benefits, nor
need he be alarmed at its effect on prices; as long as the
English farmer canna supply his countrymen with a suf-
ficient quantity of foods it must be obtained elsewhere, or
the people must starve; and surely it is as much the in-
terest of the farmer as any one else, that this supply
should come from a nation who will give it in exchange
for the labour of our artisans, rather than from those parts
of the world whose rival manufactures are doing mach to
throw them out of employment. The interests of the
landowner being identical with those of the farmer, he
would, of course, be benefited by the same policy. The ex-
pense of bringing flour from America is in itself a great
protection to the English farmer. The expense on the flour
above referred to was 38 per cent. on the selling price, but
as an unusually high freight was paid in this instance
it would not be a fair criterion, neither have I any data
whereby to judge accurately of the average expense of
bringing American flour here, but I do not think it can
podsibly be less than 20 per cent., probably 25 per cent.
would be near the mark, or it may reach 30 per cent. I
find that the expense of importing wheat from America,
is estimated in ' Mr. M'Culloch's Dictionary of Com-
merce,' page 435, at about 37 per cent. on the cost. The
average price in New York being one dollar and twelve
cents the bushel, it would cost the importer in London
495. 90. per quarter free from duty. I would observe
that in the session of Congress which has just com-
menced, the question of duties on our manufactures
necessarily comes before them, as the law imposing the
present rates expires on the Ist of June, 1842; and there
can be no doubt that the future rate would be in a great
measure regulated by the course our Government may
pursue in reference to the Corn-laws." In corroboration
of these views, Mr. Cripps read extracts from the New
York Weekly Herald of the 18th December, as follow:
" The western banks in the interest of the millers and
flour speculators have been obliged to curtail their circu •
lation very rapidly, to sustain themselves against the re-
turn of drafts from this city, caused by the fall in flour.
The millers and their organs resorted to the most despe-
rate expedients to force up the price of flour, in order to
save themselves and the banks, but they havel thus far
been ineffectual. The supply of produce in all the Atlan-
tic cities has been far greater than the demand, notwith-
standing
the ridiculous twaddle about ' the banks not
being able to assist the forwarding of produce to market.'
The fact is the contrary. The banks of Western New
York have endeavoured to prevent flour from coming to
market, in order to keep up the price to protect the paper
they have discounted for the speculators. They have
discounted no business paper, the wants of flour specula-
tors absorb all their means, and but a, short time must
elapse before a general explosion. The last arrival has
caused a further fall in the price of flour. * * *
" This country is an agricultural one, and must for
years continue as such. That is, its agricultural pro-
ducts are greater than can be consumed by its own in-
habitants. Of course the surplus must be destroyed or
exported. If they are exported payment must be re-
ceived in the peculiar products of the country which pur-
chases them. If France buy 100,000 barrels of flour
per annum, silks and wines must be taken in exchange.
England and colonies took last year 1,000,000 barrels of
flour, valued at 6,000,000 dollars. Payment was re-
ceived in British manufactures at less prices than those
fabrics could be made for in this country, with the addi-
tion of 30 per cent. duty. If these fabrics had been
excluded by high duties, not only would the farmers
here have had to pay double price for what they bought,
but their means of buying would have been diminished,
by 6,000,000 dollars. This purchase of flour for goods
is actually made a cause of complaint by the high tariff
men, who seek to exclude, by high duties, the medium
of payment for our produce. In the same proportion
they seek to deprive the great agricultural interests of
their markets. *

" The same principles are spreading rapidly through-
out the United States. The Governor of Indiana, in
his message, admits that that State cannot pay now, but
hopes that it will be able to pay hereafter.

This is undoubtedly tile- truth. The people are
small farmers, and never can spare thirty dollars per
annum in cash for each voter. The produce of these
farmers is rejected from the English markets by prohi-
bition laws to protect the landed interests of those who
are mostly holders of these stocks.
" There is one way, however, in which the debts,
might be paid beneficially to all parties ; that is, by
taking payment in kind, at fair market prices. For in-
stance, the joint debts of' Indiana and Illinois are
37,000,000 dols. ; of this, 30,000,000 dols. is held abroad.
The interest is about 2,000,000 dols. per annum.
Now, let the holders have a meeting, and appoint
one agent to receive pork, lead, corn, wheat, and
flour, in payment, and obtain a dispensation from the
English Government of the produce so collected. In that
shape interest and principal would be paid regularly, and
the profits on the transaction would yield to the land-
owners more than sufficient to pay the expenses of col-
lection and transportation. The interest of the two
States would amount to 250,000 quarters of wheat,
which would realise in the English markets 3,750,000
dollars, or nearly 100 per cent., which would cover the
expenses, great as they necessarily would be, and yield
a profit beside.
" If the Federal Government really wishes the States
to pay their debts, let it exert itself to extend the
markets for their produce, instead of hoping that they
will be able to pay.' If foreign Governments wish to ob-
tain payment, let them facilitate the means of getting it.
Unless some change in our commercial relations takes
place, not a dollar will ever be paid."
Having laid before our readers a report of this inter-
view, they will immediately see that the most vigorous
measures are necessary to induce the Government to
carry out the views of the Deputation.

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.
TIMES.—We transcribe, in another column, from a
Morning Contemporary, what it justly calls " the afflict-
ing intelligence" respecting the Niger Expedition, and
which is considered to be the official anti-slavery account
of the matter. The result of that enterprise has been
sadly correspondent with what all reasonable men must
have augured, and what we ourselves have alway pre-
dicted. Three vessels have gone about 320 miles up the
Niger and Chadds, and have come down again. A mo-
del farm some 300 miles from the coast has been bought,
stocked, and abandoned ; treaties hate been made with
the two negro Princes of Eboe and Iddah for the aboli-
tion of the slave trade and of human sacrifices, and then
they have been left to their own practices ; and this
at an expense of health and life which is not indeed dis-
tinctly stated, but may well be divined from the account
given by our Contemporary, to whose statements we will
add an extract from a letter written on board the Ethiope
on the 21st of October:—
" We entered the Nun onlthe 10th:inst., and proceeded
up the river the next morning, and fell in with the Albert
on the evening of the 13th inst. at Stirling Island, about
24 miles below Eboe. We found her in a worse state
than the Wilberforce ; all hands down with fever but Drs.
Al' William, Stanger, a scientific gentleman, a marine, the
boatswain's -mate, and a servant. Captain Trotter very
weak, Captain Bird Allen (who is since dead) very low ;
no engineers; Dr. Stanger was endeavouring to work the
engine the best way he could. We sent our head engi-
neer on board, and the Albert followed the Ethiope to
the coast. Capt. Becroft then went on board the Albert,
and took her to Fernando Po. The people at the model,
farm, including its manager, Mr. Carr, were all sick, and
have been brought down by the Albert."
So it would appear that, had it not been for the gene-
rous assistance afforded them voluntarily by the vessel
of a private merchant—an assistance which the planners
of the expedition had not provided, and on which they
had no right to calculate—it is but too likely that we
never should have seen again either the Albert or any
part of its enterprising crew. Such would have been—
rather such has been—the end of this unhappy affair,
projected and announced with so much Exeter-hall en-1
thusiasm, among speeches from Prince Albert, Sir
Robert Peel, Lord Howick, and Sir Fowell Buxton ;
letters of sympathy from Illustrious and Right Re-
verend personages ; promises of civilisation, and
trade, and agriculture, and alliances with native
c-hie&, and missionary success, and pride, and in-
dignation. It has ended in nothing strange or unex-
pected—nothing but what might have been and was
foretold, if its projectors would have listened to reason
—nothing but the sacrifice of the lives of our country-
men. We are far from wishing to cast any slur on the
generous feelings of those distinguished personages who
gave the support of their names to this enterprise. They
had other things to think of than to examine its imprac-
ticable details. It had a generous object, and came to
them supported by respectable names ; and so they lent
it the weight of their characters ; yet still it does sug-
gest feelings not favourable to the slap-dash, rhetorical,
showy meetings to which the people crowd to be amused,
and to clap their hands, and to hear fine sentences, and
to give their guineas for objects which neither they
nor any of the fluent gentlemen who entertain them
know anything about. Good enough amusements to
them, but death to others, on whom it falls to carry out,
at their own risk, and at the expense of their own
proper lives, what these Societies talk of so glibly, and
listen to so complacently. We confess it is with little
patience that we hear smooth gentlemen, borne luxuri-
ously along on the easy gale of popular enthusiasm,
taking full advantake of the opportunity given them to
display in full dress their costly sensibilities, but mean-
while quite forgetting to enquire what is the real worth of
the scheme they advocate—what the dangers to which
they are are urging other less ornamental, butperhaps not
less valuable, members of society than themselves—what
prospect of advantage,what are the warnings ofexperience,
what the opinion of those practical men whose opi-
nion is really worth having. But this is the order of the
day, and must be borne, it seems, in spite of its quackery.
Everybody must have a finger in everything ; and
everything must appeal to and be managed by every-
body ; and the consequence is, that instead of sober
forethought and knowledge, and calm chastised deter-
mination, our undertakings have to be recommended by
eloquent appeals and piercing statements, and fluency
and clap-traps for the ladies. Instead of a scheme quietly
calculated by one or two or three sober and earnest men,
prepared themselves to take part in the dangers they re
commend, and unfettered by any necessity of approving
it to the imaginations of an audience, we have such wild,
ill-considered, showy projects as everybody can embrace
at a glance, with nothing but novelty and a popular ob-
ject to recommend them. Is it wonderful that those who
heedlessly employ their talents in supporting such
schemes should find now and then, what we hope they
will now realize, that they were taking shares in a most
heavy responsibility, affecting the lives of their fellow-
creatures, while they thought of nothing more than

making an impression on the fair auditory which sur-
rounded them ?

HERALD.—The Niger Expedition is at an end. Sir
Fowell Buxton has had his say; his philanthropic scheme
has been fairly tried ; Government has "led and felt
the way," as Lord Brougham recommended, into the in-
terior of Africa by its great natural highway ; 100,000/.
more have been expended by the British nation on what
is-termed 11 frican civilisation ; and the establishment of
factories and the acquisition of land have been attempted;
the result is sad and mournful disapointment. On the
20th of August last the three fine steamers, the Soudan,
the Wilberforce, and the Albert, built for the pur-
pose, commenced the ascent of the Quorra ; ere six
days had elapsed they received warning of the fate
which impended over them ; death was already
hovering about his victims. Before a month had
closed, one vessel—the Soudan—was converted into
an hospital for the sick, and compelled to descend from
the regions of disease to the open sea. Two more days
had not gone by until one—the Wilberforce—of the re-
maining ascending steamers had likewise to turn its
head down the stream with a dying cargo ; thirteen
days longer did the Albert persevere, but in vain ; the
" belt of malaria,"—the boulevart of death is perhaps
the more appropriate description—Lord Btougham's in-
genious suggestion—was not to be passed through ; and
after forty-six days of dreadful suffering from the
commencement of the ascent, the Albert' was also
compelled to return, and the expedition was baffled
by disease and death. The three steamers, with the
surviving commanders, officers, and men—how small
a minority of those who left England we do not stop
to detail—are now gasping and inhaling the purer at-
mosphere of the Ascension Island and Clarence Cove.
They will doubtless, in due course, record the melan-
choly detail of this last sacrifice to the schemes of
dreamers,—to the worst, because the most injudicious,
friends of Africa. The Albert, under Captain Trotter's
gallant command, ascended between 50 and 60 miles
beyond the confluence of the Chadda and the Niger, and
about 320 miles from the sea. The ascent to that point ;
the selection of a spot for a model farm, never to be cul-
tivated, a little above the confluence ; the purchase of
treaties with the rulers of Eboe and Iddah for the suppres-
sion of the slave trade, which legitimate commerce had
previously driven from the Bight of Biafra and the months
of the Quorra; and the abolition of human sacrifices—
treaties which will be implemented, so far as the inter-
nal traffic is concerned, only by the pressure of personal
influence ;—and a better acquaintance with the course
of the Quorra and the countries through which it flows
—such are the costly achievements of this ill-fated expe-
dition, to which continental extravagance had assigned
the subjection of the African continent to British domi-
nion. Entirely failed the expedition has not, because its
precise objects it would be difficult to state—it was, per-
haps, to be regarded as a pioneering attempt—though in
that respect the equally disastrous enterprise of Laird
and Oldfield had rendered it unnecessary. The know-
ledge gained will, doubtless. be a contribution, however
small and infinitesimal, to the information of Europe.
But that the expedition is a disappointment in the most
mournful and desolating shape, cannot be denied by its
promoters, and their dupe, Lord John Russell. Malaria
and death have practically refuted the scheme of the
African Colonisation Society. If the civilisation of
Africa depend on European expeditions up the Quorra,
that great continent is destined to remain In darkness, in
desolation, and paganism.