The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-09-10 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE NEW NIGER EXPEDITION.
APPEAL IN ITS BEHALF TO THE FRIENDS OF AFRICA.

Considerable interest was recently excited amongst
those who are friendly to the cause of African ameliora-
tion, by means of a pamphlet, published by Robert Ja-
mieson, Esq., and entitled " Outlines of a Plan, by
which, it is believed, Commercial Intercouse with Cen-
tral Africa may be established " ; and the consequence
was, that the scheme, developed in the above publication,
was, in its principal features, approved of and adopted as
the plan of a new Niger expedition, commercial and ex-
ploratory, to be immediately sent out, and to be con-
ducted under the able superintendence, and by the sole
direction of, this distinguished friend of Africa, so well
known for his disinterested devotion to the cause, and his
great personal and pecuniary sacrifices in its behalf. Sub-
scriptions to the guarantee fund, included in the plan
promulgated by Mr. Jamieson, amounting, with those
obtained in the metropolis from Sir Powell Buxton and
other philanthropic gentlemen, to upwards of £6,000,
have been received, in sums varying from £3O to £5OO.
This was the amount said to have been received in sub-
scriptions up to about the end of last month ; since which
time I have not heard anything further of the proceed-
ings of the committee appointed to solicit subscriptions
in Liverpool and certain other large towns.
I trust that the plan will not lack a fair trial from want
of funds ; indeed, I think that if the public mind in this
great seaport were thoroughly roused to the consideration
, of the subject, not £9,000 merely, but £20,000, the sum
originally contemplated, or even moue, would be speedily
forthcoming ; and thus the philanthropic and enterprising
gentleman, who has so long devoted himself to the accom-
plishment of such a noble object, would be enabled to
carry on the undertaking upon a larger scale, and with
greater hope of speedy success. Why do not those mer-
chants who are engaged in the African trade come forward
and subscribe liberally to the fund, seeing that they are
so much indebted to the country for whose advantage it
is intended, and are likely to reap considerable benefit
from the success of the enterprise, which, it may almost
be said, is certain, if ample funds shall be contributed ?
Why, twenty of the wealthiest of them could easily raise
the whole of the larger sum. It would be only £l,OOO
from each. Let me entreat them, therefore, to come
forward immediately, for their own credit, the honour of
Old England, and of the good old town in particular,
which owes very much indeed of its prosperity and great-
ness to injured and benighted Africa.
Let a public meeting be called—let the Rev. Hugh
M'Neile be invited to preside—and the object will be
gained; for there cannot be a doubt, in the mind of any
man who has taken the trouble to examine the contents
of his last pamphlet, that evidence will be furnished by
Mr. Jamieson sufficient to satisfy any candid and reason-
able mind of the practicability of his plan, and the cer-
tatntyof its success, as far almost as any human enter-
prise is capable of such certainty. Let us have no more
hanging back, no flagging of the interest already excited;
but, on the contrary, let us arouse ourselves to renewed
andincreased exertion, with the indomitable perseverance
characteristic of our country, which, in despite of the
obstacles to be encountered, and the d'scouragements of
former defeats and disasters, will now, in all human pro-
bability, lead us on to victory.
Remember, the eyes of our French rivals are upon us.
Very lately, an article appeared in a French newspaper.
on the subject of this fresh attempt to accomplish what is
now generally considerA impossible ; and the writer can-
not help expressing his admiration of the indomitable
courage which enables us to persevere, notwithstanding
that the vessels of former expeditions were invariably dri-
ven back, swept of their crews.
A copy of Mr. Jamieson's last pamphlet, which con-
tains an outline of his plan of the contemplated expedi-
tion, should be in the hands of every person who takes
an interest in the temporal and spiritual welfare of the
poor benighted sons and daughters of Central Africa;
and may be had, gratis, by applying at his office, Colonial-
buildings, Dale-street.

A FRIEND OF AFRICA.
Liverpool, Sept. 7th, 1844.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SlR,—Some remarks were made in the Liverpool Jour-
nal respecting me as concerned in a report relative to the
ship Metoka.
The first inquiry I feel compelled to make in justifica-
tion of myself, is, did Lieut. Henry see the ship previous
to her going into the graving dock ? Did he, whilst that
ship was under repairs, see her the last of all, and will he
state the repairs that were given to the ship ? That done,
perhaps questions may be put that will not be very agree-
able. By insetting this, you will oblige
Your obedient servant,
JOHN ASKEW.