The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-02-08 00:00:00

upon t

that, during the recess, the attention of the government
should be directed to maturing such measures as they might

deem it advisable to bring '‘fo.rward, and now they were fully
prepared to redeem the pledge then given. (Cheers.) As
soon as sufficient votes in supply had been taken to enable
the government to state their views on financial matters,
without detriment to the public service, they would at once
do so, without waiting for the period at which it was usual to
bring forward the budget. So far as regarded the conveni-
ence of the government they were ready at that moment to
state their views; but for reasons connected with the public
interest they deemed it advisable to postpone them until
after taking some votes in supply. (Cheers.)
Mr. VILLIERS soid he would take the sense of the house
upon the principle of taxing food at all, at the earliest oppor-
tunity.

Mr. EscorT said the agriculturists had sustained a severe
loss in the retirement from the councils of the champion, the
defender, and the friend of the farmer. They were not
averse to any change in the system of protection they en-
joyed, merely because it was a change ; but they were na-
turally anxious to know its extent, and he sincerely thanked
the right hon. baronet for fixing such an early day to relieve
them from their embarrassment on this head.

The address was then agreed to, and the house shortly af-
terwards adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS-FRIDAY

Lord MONTEAGLE gave notice that, on the l'ith instant,
he would move the appointment of a select committee to in-
quire into the late forgeries of exchequer bills, and to report
whether in the mode of preparing, making out, signing, and
issuing exchequer bills, there had been any neglect or viola-
tion of the established usages of the Exchequer, which either
produced or facilitated forgery or other fraud.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL, as lord steward of the household,
intimated to their lordships that her Majesty had appointed
one o'clock to-morrow (this day) to receive the address.—
Adjourned.
HOUSE OF COMMONS—FRIDAY.

Mr. BROTIIERTON gave notice that, on Thursday next, he
would move that henceforth no opposed motion should be
brought forward after twelve o'clock, unless there should be
100 members in the house.

In reply to a question from Mr. O'Connell,

Sir R. -PEEL said that the question which had arisen as to
the illegality of marriages which had been celebrated by
Presbyterian clergyme❑ between Protestants and Presbyte-
rians had been under the consideration of the government,
and it was felt that an immediate remedy was requisite for the
immediate evil. A permanent law respecting such marriages
would require much consideration ; and it was resolved,
therefore, to bring in a bill immediately to legalise such mar-
riages as bad hitherto taken place; and at as early a period as
possible afterwards, a bill respecting such marriages in fu-
tare.

Mr. CURTIS gave notice that on Thursday next he should
put a question to the Secretary to the Admiralty relative to
the case of Mr. Elton, a midshipman, who had been recently
tried by court-martial. If the answer should not be satisfac-
tory he should then move an address to her majesty, praying
that she would be graciously pleased to remit the sentence
passed on Mr. Elton.
In reply to a question from Sir John Easthope,
Sir R. PEEL said it was not in the contemplation of the
Government to bring in a bill relating to church-rates.

Mr. DONCOMBE asked if it was the intention of the right
hon. baronet to bring in a bill to put an end to the whole-
sale system of bribery to which he believed a vast majority
of that house owed their seats. (A. laugh.) He had inquired
of the noble lord (Lord J. Russell) if he intended to renew
his bill of last session on the subject, and understanding that
it was not his intention to do so, he wished to ascertain if it
was taken up by the Government.
Sir R. PEEL J aid he was surprised to hear that the noble
lord had abandoned his bill. It was not the intention of the
Government to take this matter up at present. Indeed he
felt strongly that, while such important commercial and
financial subjects had to be discussed, it would not be well to
distract the attention of parliament by bringing less import-
ant matters under its consideration. (Hear, hear.)
The Right Hon. BARONET then said, in reply to a ques-
tion from Lord John Russell, that he would fully state his
proposition respecting the corn-laws on Wednesday next, on
which day, as far as he himself was concerned, he was fully
prepared to enter upon the discussion ; this, however, might
be very inconvenient to others, and if it would better suit
the convenience of the members, he would fix the discussion
for the Friday or Monday ensuing.
It was arranged that the discussion should take place on
the Monday.

When Lord MARCH brought up the report on the address,
Mr. O'Connell took occasion to express his alarm at the
allusion in the speech to a new system of registration for Ire-
land, but in all other respects he concurred in the address.
The learned gentleman wore his chain of office as Lord
Mayor of Dublin.

On the motion of Sir It PEEL a motion of congratulation
to Prince Albert on the birth of a Prince of Wales was agreed
to.
Lord STAN LEY then moved for leave to bring in two bills,
one to amend the act 5 and 6 William IV. for regulating the
carriage of passengers in merchant vessels, the other for re-
gulating the survey and sales of land belonging to the Crown
in the Australian colonies and New Zealand. The noble
lord said that although there was no colour for the reports
which had been in circulation as to its being the intention of
the Government to propose an extensive system of emigra-
tion, yet he had felt it to be his duty to direct his attention
to two points respecting emigrants—one to make provision
for the security of poorer emigrants against the frauds con-
stantly practised upon them, the other to remedy the incon-
venience to capitalist emigrants arising from the constant
fluctuation of the system of the sale of lands. The noble lord
then entered into various details to show the growing im-
portance of these colonies, and the increase of voluntary emi-
gration to them ; from which it appeared that the number of
emigrants in 1838 was from 75,000 to 80,000, while in the
first three cparters of 1841 the number reached 106,460. To
force emigration beyond this point, he thought_would be im-
politic, and be thought it would be only advisable to adopt
measures to protect the poorer class of emigrants. He should
propose some alterations in the existing law, to the extent of
providing a larger space for passengers in vessels going to
tropical seas, and a larger quantity of water and of provisions
than such vessels were now compelled to provide. With re-
spect to the sale of lands, he confined his bill to the Austra-
lian colonies, because there the Government had a freer com-
mand over the land fund than they had in others. Hereto-
fore the systems under which lands were sold varied from
year to year, which gave rise to great disappointments to
persons who went out under one set of regulations and
found another in operation on their arrival. He proposed
to apply the same system to the whole of the Australian
colonies by act of Parliament. He proposed that a
certain quantity of land should be submitted to auction
every six months at an upset price, below which none
should be sold; if any remained unsold, it might be sold at
the upset price at any time prior to the ensuing auction.
The governor was to have a discretionary power of raising
the upset price, but neither he nor her Majesty in Council
were to have the power of lowering it; that could only be
done by act of Parliament. Many hon. gentlemen thought
the land fund should be made applicable to emigration, but
he could not go that length. It was requisite that a portion
of it should be applied to defray the expense of surveying;
and the rights of-humanity' called for a further sum towards
a provision of some kind for the aborigines. He therefore
proposed that one-half of the land fund should be devoted
to the purposes of emigration, and as much more as the
competent authorities might deem expedient, subject to cer-
tain specified conditions. He would not then enter into the
details further, but had to observe that the act was confined
to the life time of her Majesty, for the present Sovereign
had not the power of disposing of the property of her suc-
cessors.

Lord J. RUSSELL was happy to be able to concur in all
the general principles of the measures proposed. The fact
that in such a short space of time 106,000 persons had vo-
luntarily emigrated to Australia, was a clear proof that an
extensive system of emigration under the auspices of Govern-
ment was quite unnecessary. _

Mr. WARD concurred in the general principles of the
measure, which recognised nearly all the principles laid down
by the emigration committee.

Mr. V. SMITH asked if the order in council, which ap-
peared in a recent Gazette, relative to the emigration of Hill
information
beyond to the Mauritius, was founded on any
beyond what was before the house last session ; and, if so,
whether that information would be laid before the house.
Mr. ROEBUCK contended that the colonies did not belong
to her Majesty as property, but simply as part of her domi-
nions, and there was therefore no reason why the bill should
be confined to the life of her present Majesty. He looked
upon this bill as an additional clause to our poor law act,
and thought that the jobbing which the noble lord was en-
deavouring to guard against by this bill might be better pro-
vided against by leaving the colonies to govern themselves.
Sir G. GREY suggested the necessity of extreme caution
in fixing the minimum
price, for it was too apt to be taken
as the value of the land.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN thought the bill ought to be extended to
the Cape of Good Hope and New Brunswick, and indeed to
all the colonies of Great Britain.
Lord STANLEY said the governor of the Cape was of opi-
nion that the colony was not in a condition to receive a num-
ber of emigrants. With respect to the order in council, it
was quite true that it was found inexpedient to continue the
the prohibition to sending East India labourers to the Mau-
ritius, and it became requisite in doing away with the prohi-
bition to provide against the abuses which formerly pre-
vailed. To allow such emigration to take place, the. con-
current action of three bodies would be necessary ;—first,
that of her Majesty by an order in council, then the vote of
money by the colony of the Mauritius. and lastly the inter-
vention of the Governor-General of India in council.
Leave was then given to bring in the bills, and the house
adjourned.

The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. W. Reid
to the Church and Parish of Kettle, in the presbytery of
Cupar and shire of Fife.

This being the day appointed for the election, a large body
of the friends of Sir Howard Douglas met in their respective
wards at an early hour, and proceeded, with flags flying and
bands playing, to Rodney-street, to the house of our re-
spected townsman, Sir Thomas Brancker, whose guest the
candidate was, and which they reached shortly before nine
o'clock,—part of them filing off towards the top of Duke-
street, and part—to proceed in the van—occupying Leece-st.
By nine o'clock, the street became thronged throughout a
great part of its length, and the numerous flags in the street,
and banners, ribbons, &c.. displayed from the windows, pre-
sented a gay appearance ; though doubtless the assem-
blage would have been much more numerous but for the
piercing coldness of the weather.
At about a quarter-past nine, Sir H. Douglas, accompanied
by his son, Major Douglas, Sir. T. Brancker, and several
other gentlemen, made their appearance, and ascended an
open carriage in waiting for them, amidst the loud and re-
peated cheers of the assembled multitude, the nearest band
playing " See the conquering hero comes!" In a few mi-
nutes, all being in readiness, the procession moved onwards
from Leece-street, the carriage with the candidate and his
friends being nearly in the middle of the line. It was pre-
ceded by a large, handsome flag, inscribed " Sandon and
Douglas for ever!" followed by flags and banners from
Scotland Ward. Next came Jolliffe's band, playing ap-
propriate airs, and next gentlemen of the Conservative Cen-
tral Committee, and numerous friends of the gallant general.
Voters of St. Paul's Ward followed, also accompanied by
numerous flags and a band • and next, in like manlier, Ex-
change, Castle-street, St. and other Wards, each pre-
senting a respectable, but not very numerous array. Then
came Stuhb's military band, in their handsome uniforms
with brass helmets. Immediately behind, amongst numerous
other flags, was a small one bearing the arms and motto of
Sir Howard, and, preceding the carriage, a large and splen-
did new silk flag painted at the establishment of Mr. Trout-
heck, Hanover-street, also emblazoned with the arms of the
worthy baronet, surmounted by the crest--a boar under an
oak tree—with the motto " Look Sicker," the whole sur-
rounded by flags and warlike trophies.
The carriage was drawn by four dapple greys, caparisoned
in scarlet with blue, with postilions in corresponding uni-
forms. On each side, in front of the vehicle, was fixed a tree
of evergreens, tipped with branches of red and blue ribbon.
On the higher seat stood Sir H. Douglas, and on his right
Sir Thos. Brancker. On the front seat sat Major Doug-
las, Samuel Holme, and Nicholas Robinson, Esquires.
They were loudly and enthusiastically cheered at most of
the houses throughout the whole route to the Exchange, by
Bold-street, Church-street; the North Crescent, and Castle-
street, in all of which the flags and favours shown from win-
dows, balconies, and house-tops, and many of them waved
by the hands of " ladies fair," gave ample and gratifying de-
monstration of their respect for the candidate, and their
attachment to the redeeming principles of conservatism.
Sir H. Douglas responded to these continuous tokens of
attachment, by the most polite obeisance.
Amongst the flags were several altogether new, with ap-
propriate mottos, besides most of the handsome ward flags.
We noticed several inscribed " Douglas for Ever,"—"San-
don for Ever,"—" Speed the Plough, the Ship, and the
Loom,"—" Church and Queen," surrounded by the Crown,
—" Fair Trade; Live and Let Live ; Good Wages and Eng-
lish Comfort." We also observed, with allusion to the new
poor-law, " No Union Bastiles ; Those whom God bath
joined let no man put asunder." And on some small flags
were inscribed, " Plenty in the Land, and Loyalty in the
People,"—" Scriptural Education," &c., &c.
On passing establishments at which parties appeared with
flags, &c., to welcome the candidate, those in the procession
gave repeated cheers, whish were heartily returned ; and we
are proud to record, that the office of our journal was espe-
cially honoured by loud acclamations of friendship and
respect. _ _

The usual formalities having been gone through by the
mayor and town-clerk on the arrival of the candidate, they
proceeded at once to the nomination.

Sir THOMAS BRANCKER rose to propose Sir Howard
Douglas as a fit and proper person to represent the borough
of Liverpool in parliament. After a few remarks, which our
reporter could not hear from the distance at which he was
placed, Sir Thomas said that the gallant general had just
returned from one of the most important situations that
could be given to him by government, and he had not
only given the utmost satisfaction to his own govern-
ment but all the sovereigns of Europe have felt satisfied
with his conduct whilst administering the government
to which he was placed. He was a firm supporter of the
glorious constitution, a stern upholder of the crown, and a
firm supporter of the just rights and liberties of the people.
He would advocate those principles which supported all just
reforms, but not those which desired reform for the sake of
change. It wag so very cold that he would not detain them
longer, than just to propose Sir Howard Douglas as a fit and
proper person to represent the borough. _

•
NICHOLAS ROBIN SON, Esq. said it was not his intention
to enter into details of the qualifications of Sir H. Douglas.
He was satisfied that whenever he was called on he would
discharge his duties with satisfaction, and devote his atten-
tion to the utmost of his power to the interests of this town,
in conjunction with his noble colleague, Lord Sandon ; and
after an absence of ten years, it was gratifying that he would
be returned in sueh a triumphant manner. (Cheers)

The MAYOR asked if there were any other candidate to
propose. No one appearing,
The TOWN-CLERK declared Sir Howard Douglas duly
elected.

Sir HOWARD DOUGLAS Bart., M.P., next presented him-
self to the assembled crowd, by whom he was greeted with
the most enthusiastic cheers. He said, Gentlemen,—ln the
course of a rather long and difficult public career, I have al-
ways found till now that I could hold in subjection all my
finer and more tender emotions, and that I could call up the
" sterner stuff" of my composition to meet any difficulty,
however arduous, and to engage in the exercise of any un-
dertaking to which I might be called. I have only to add my
good friends, that if we bad been called upon to buckle
on our armour for a contest, I should have felt so upon this
occasion. (Cheers.) I most sincerely confess and lam not
ashamed to confess it, that I do for the first time in my
life feel overpowered at the stupendous and magnificent sight,
and at the glorious manifestation of spirit that I see before
me. I do so upon viewing them now at the moment.
(Cheers.) Upon viewing conservatism here in a state of
triumph, seeing positively what I see, all the emotions that
are possible to swell a patriotic bosom are now within mine ;
but when I contrast our present movement with periods
now gone by for ten and seven years, when I remember
the scenes in which I have acted here, I attended then
the defeated candidate, all the feelings of disappoint-
ment and mortification which I then felt, are washed, glo
riously washed away by this triumph now. (Cheers.) If any
personal feelings may mingle in those magnificent feel-
ings which actuate us all here, if an honest ambition
may have found indulgence, then I will say that no
public man, in any undertaking in the world, ever was
embued with, ever felt sentiments more powerful, more
gratifying to his personal feelings, and more so to his
fondest ambition. (Continued cheers.) You have assisted
me, with the triumph of conservatism here. Allow me to
congratulate you most sincerely upon that triumph, allow me
to congratulate you most sincerely upon the example that
this good and loyal town of Liverpool has held out to the
conservatives of Liverpool—upon the effect which that ex-
ample has produced upon the parliamentary representation,
and I am glad to say on the municipal representation
also. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, it affords me great and peculiar
pleasure that we here " walk over the course." We ought to
be very thankfel for the tender mercies of certain persons,
who in consideration of our morals and our pockets, forbear
to oppose us ; but, gentlemen, I do not mean to taunt them
with holding back,—(hear, hear,)—l do not mean to taunt
them with our proud triumph. (Hear.) It is not the prac-
tise of the procession to which I have the honour to belong,
to crow over a vanquished enemy, or to trample upon a fallen
foe. (Hear, hear.) I consider, by the position in which I
am placed, whatever the motive may have been, we have not
here " divided the house ; "—hear, hear.)—they had
not gone to the poll. (Cheers.) I do consider myself
therefore not the representative of a party, but the repre-
sentative of all the constituency of Liverpool. (Cheers.)
And I will faithfully and impartially do all in my power to
act in conformity with the position in which your favour,
and their forbearance has placed me. (Loud cheers.)
I feel convinced that it would be out of place to say one
word more of those principles for which my friends have
answered, and with which you appear to be satisfied. I
shall lose no time in taking that high place which you
have given me ; I hope to have it in my power to support
the conservative administration to which the now elected
House of Commons has given its confidence—(cheers)—to
the conservative administration which has ever possessed the
confidence of the other branch of parliament, and which is
in possession of the confidence of the Sovereign. (Renewed
cheering.) I shall do all I can to support—provided they
carry out those principles that we have every reason to be-
lieve they will—an administration that has to perform the
most difficult and important task of remedying all those
monstrous evils which the whig-radical administration has
brought upon this country. (Hear.) And God knows,
gentlemen, they will have need of all our confidence and all
our support. (Hear.) An exhausted treasury, a disbalanced
revenue, and wars—l would apply to them two phrases of a
great man—not only in themselves " little wars," but " un-
toward" wars—wars which, though they be little, are on
fields distant and difficult to manage (hear, hear) ; and
altogether they present two of the most difficult ques-
tions that the administration will have to deal with. Then
there is the commercial system of the country to revise, the
corn laws to settle, and all the other great questions upon
which lam happy to see they have already given notice.—
These will be the business of one of the most important
sessions that has ever been held, and to all these and to
every interest, local and general, of this great, mighty, and
important place, I will devote myself with fidelity, with un-
wearied zeal, and with a determination to exercise all the
faculties I possess, and to give all the time I have at my
disposal, in order to make some recompence, and to show
my grateful sense of the honour you have conferred
upon me. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Ido not know
that I have anything more to add—you have done your duty
as conservatives, most nobly, and most effectively—you have
now associated my name with your triumphs. I shall now
hasten to take that place to which you have elevated me, and
there, gentlemen, I will discharge my duties to you faithfully
and honestly. (Great cheering, during which the honourable
baronet retired.)
The proceedings then terminated.
The honourable and gallant member was then escorted in
procession by the accustomed route to Rodney-street, where
Sir Howard again addressed the assembled multitude.

UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE

(From the Oxford Herald.)

In a convocation holden on Thursday last the following
gentlemen were admitted ad eundem

- The Rev. James Henry Wilding, M.A., Trinity College,
Cambridge.

The Rev. Francis Vansittart Thornton, M.A., Trinity
College, Cambridge.
__

The Rev. Charles Mayor, M.A., Trinity College, Cam-
bridge.
In a Congregation holden at the same time the following
Degrees were conferred:—

MASTERS OF ARTS.
Rev. James Thompson, Lincoln College.
Rev. James Carthew, Exeter College.
Rev. James Ward, New College.
Rev. Robert Powell, Worcester College.
George Joseph Bell, Balliol College.
BACHELORS OFARTS'
William Savage, Queen's College
Isaac John Innes Pocock, Merton College.
Stenning Johnson, Merton College.
Frederic Bowes, Oriel College.
Charles Cavendish Clifford, Christ Church.
Edward Augustus Ferryman, University.
PROMOTIONS.
Rev. Henry Vivian Broughton, of St. Peter's College,
Cambridge, to the Vicarage of Wellingborough, Northamp-
tonshire; patron, L. Vivian, Esq.
Rev. Elijah Smith, Chaplain of King's College Hospital,
has been appointed to the Mastership and Librarianship of
Archbishop Tenison's Grammar School and Library, and
also to the Chaplaincy of St. Martin's Workhouse.

Of the undiscovered tracts and countries which form the
immense area of Interior Africa, though centuries have gone
by, and Romans, Arabs, Portuguese, and English have en-
deavoured to penetrate into their circuits, yet it is astonish-
ing how little at the present day is known to satisfy the in-
quiring mind. All that we know may be almost contained
in the description given by the mallam or learned priest of
the Sultan Bello, who, when Clapperton asked him, an-
swered, that " of the great river, we know not its source,
nor of any one who has seen it. It rushes and precipitates
itself through the country from left to right, and contains
many islands inhabited by fishermen, herdsmen, husband-
men, and settlers. As to the variety of its animals, birds,
and fish, it is only known to the Lord Creator."
Among the more formidable difficulties in this country to
travellers, there are none more alarming and insuperable
than those arising from climate. Imminent dangers arising
from the presence of savage men or animals are of a tran-
sient nature, and capable of being guarded against by vigi-
lance and strength ; but the secret and devastating operations
of a pestilential climate are too subtle and deadly to permit
in almost any shape of device for counteraction. The
treachery of the tribes of Africa has done little towards de-
stroying travellers and explorers, compared with the destruc-
tive and exterminating influences of her noxious clime ; and
it is almost solely to this that the slow progress of African
discovery is to be attributed. The banks of the Joliba,
Quarra, or Niger, seem invisibly sentinelled by an ever-re-
pelling power.
In the ensuing paper a brief recapitulation of all former
and modern attempts to discover the source of the Niger,
and the misfortunes, failures, and partial successes that have
attended upon the travels and investigations of inquirers,
will show the absolute fatality attending in some shape or
other all expeditions of a similar nature to what has just de-
spatched homeward its new addition to the catalogue of ca-
lamities which have already been its precursors.

The first notice in history on this point appears in Here-
dotus, who states, in his " Geograhy of Africa," that some
young Nassamonians, a people who dwelt on the borders of
the Mediterranean, travelled in a westerly direction from
Egypt until they came to a large river full of crocodiles, and
flowing towards the rising sun, and they were conducted by
the natives to a considerable city situated ou the banks. The
difficulty of determining the expression due west at this pe-
riod of time leaves the passage doubtful. Colonel Leake,
however, in a recent letter read by him in the Geological So-
ciety, considers that they travelled along the Niger, and the
city to which they were conducted was Timbuctoo.
Strabo speaks little of the Niger, but Pliny largely ; he
traces it through Mauritania, but falls into the error of He-
rodotus, who considers the Nile and Niger one river. Mela
was the most reasonable geographer, and coincides as to the
general opinion of the source of the Niger, but with proper
candour acknowledges that no one knew what became of it at
the centre of the continent. Ptolemy, whose account of the
Niger is very vague, closesall that the ancients knew of it.
From the Arabians some fuller accounts of the geography
of the country are to be gleaned. Abulfeda and Adrisi knew
it until it reached:the Atlantic Ocean, or " Sea of Darkness,"
and to distinguish it from the Nile, called it the" Nile of the
Negroes."

The maritime enterprise of the Portuguese led them early
into the interior ; but though they obtained a considerable
store of information respecting the Niger, they turned it to
but little account. In their maps a remarkable circumstance
is observable regarding the position of Timbuctoo. This city
is placed so near the sea as to excite suspicion of its being the
same as that on the Niger, and another place called Tambou-
cane, on the Senegal, is mentioned as answering their Tim-
buctoo.

The source of the Niger, however, as well as it course, re-
mained in obsurity till English geography and travellers took
the &lit. With Great Britian, a new era in the progress of
African geography commenced, and in 1788 a number of
wealthy and philanthropic individuals formed themselves into
a society for the express purpose of promoting discovery in
that country.

Mr. John Ledyard was the first person despatched under
the auspices of the " African Association" upon the mission :
he had already been round the world with Captain Cook, and
had undergone hardships and privations in a journey through
Russia, which, as the exploits of a single traveller, stand un-
rivalled. In June, 1788. he departed and reached Cairo in
the month of August following—when becoming impatient
and vexed by the delay of the caravan with which he was to
have travelled, his anximfg mind sunk under disappointment,
and death quickly terminated his career. His instructions
were, to have penetrated into Africa by way of Egypt, and to
traverse the continent in the latitude of the Niger.
Mr. Lucas was the next who went to explore the Niger.
The journey of this traveller is remarkable for the additions
he contributed to African geography, but he did not penetrate
further than to the south of Mesurata, five days' journey
from Tripoli. In his account of the Fezzan merchants, who
crossed the Niger at a ferry two miles south of Cassena, may
propably be discerned the ferry of Comie, below Boossa.
Major Houghton, on the part of the African Association,
next undertook the task. Travelling as far as Jarra, he was
plundered and deserted by the Moors who accompanied him,
and he died, after several days' wandering, from hunger and
exhaust!on.

Mungo Park, in 795, next took up this hazardous enter-
prise. The terrible sufferings that Park underwent are
related in his own journal. In his first journey he nearly
fell a prey. Having encountered all the horrors of the rainy
season, and being worn down with fatigue, his health had,
at different times, been seriously affected. But soon after
his arrival at Katnalia' he fell into a severe and dangerous fit
of sickness, by which he was closely confined for upwards of
a month. His life was preserved by the hospitality and be-
nevolence of Karfa Taura, a negro, who received him into his
house, and attended him with the kindest solicitude.
In Park's second expedition, arranged with the Secretary
for Colonial Affairs, the plan was to send him with a detach-
ment of soldiers, and a few seamen and carpenters, to con-
struct vessels for the navigation of the Niger. With these
thirty-five soldiers, their lieutenant, and the others, he ar-
rived at the wished-for point, ready to embark on the Niger,
but the rains destroyed his men with a fatal rapidity. He
lost the whole of his companions, except Lieutenant Martyn
and three soldiers, of whom one was in a state of mental de-
rangement. The death of his friend and brother-in-law,
Mr. Anderson, affected him most deeply. "No event,"
says he, " ever threw the smallest gloom over my mind, till
I laid Mr. Anderson in the grave ; I then felt myself as it
were left a second time lonely and friendless amidst the
wilds of Africa."

Of this melancholy affair, he writes to Lord Camden thus
—" Your lordship will recollect that I always spoke of the
rainy season with horror, as being extremely fatal to Euro-
peans; and our journey from the Gambia to the Niger will
furnish a melancholy proof of it. INre had no contest with
the natives, nor were any of us killed by wild animals,
or any other accident ; and yet, I am sorry to say, that of
44 Europeans who left the Gambia in perfect health, five
only are at present alive."
Dated Sandansing, Nov. 17,
1805.
At this most trying
moment, however, his habitual con-
stancy did not forsake him. Though about to embark on a
vast and unknown river, through the midst of savage nations,
gild a long succession of rapids and extracts, this voyage, one
of the most formidable ever attempted, was to be undertaken
by him in a crazy and ill-appointed vessel, which, principally
by his own labour, he had constructed of two old patched
and worn-out canoes, manned only by a few negroes and
four Europeans.
From Sandansing, Park embarked with the intention of
descending the river to its mouth ; but, on reaching Boossa,
was attacked by the natives and killed, after having previ-
ously suffered imprisonment more than three months.
The strong determination of Park to persevere in his de-
sign of tracing the course of the river to its termination, is
thus expressed in one of his letters from this place:—
" Though all the Europeans who are with me shall die, and
though I myself were half-dead, I would still persevere ; and
if I could not succeed in the .object of my journey, I would
at last die in the Niger."
H. Hornemann, a German traveller, was sent out by the
association, but be contributed little to the knowledge on the
Niger. At the same time, and by the same parties, another
German, M. Roeutzen, set out, but he is supposed to have
been murdered by his servant, a man of suspicious character.
The next person who is supposed to have visited Timbuc-
too was an American seaman, named Adams, but his narra-
tive throws no additional light on the course of the Niger.
In 1816 Captain Tuckey, of the Royal Navy, with an ex-
pedition under his direction, was sent out to penetrate into
Africa by the river Congou, and so to arrive at the Niger.
The fate of this expedition was the counterpart of its follow-
ers ; 280 miles from the coast was the extent of its progress,
and the question was as far as ever from being decided. At
the same time, another party, consisting of 100 men, were
placed under the direction of Major Peddie, to reach the
Niger by Park's route from the Gambia ; this party ascended
the river Nunez, but were equally unfortunate with the Con-
gou expedition.
Captain Clapperton's expedition was disastrous at its very
outset. Himself, Captain Pearce, and Dr. Morrison, had
the imprudence to sleep in the open air for two successive
nights, on the swampy and unwholesome coast, by which
they were all attacked with fever, and the two hatter fell vic-
tims in the course of a fortnight, leaving Clapperton to pro-
ceed alone. Clapperton, accompanied by Lander, visited
Boossa, the place of Park's death. He had imbibed a strong
aversion to descending the Niger, and made no secret of it
to Lander. His firm conviction was, that whoever attempted
to go down this river would fall by the attacks of the natives.
Clapperton crossed the river at Comiex, below Boossa, and
arrived soon after at Socatoo.

The successful progress of Clapperton through the interior
thus far is well known ; but, sad to say, the first lesson that
ought to have been taught him by his two friends was quite
disregarded. He lay in a damp spot in the open air, and his
disease becoming aggravated, he exclaimed, " Richard, I feel
myself dying." He then delivered his papers to Lander,
with directions for his guidance, and shortly after died.
M. Lacaille's safety, who, inspired by the premium pro-
posed by the French Society of Geography, has since pene-
trated to Timbuctoo, and thence to Morocco, appears to
have been insured by hiA' following the example of Hornemann
and Burckhardt, in assuming the character of a Mahometan.
Major Laing was another victim to these expeditions; and
he met with a more tragical fate than any of his predecessors.
The bigotry and rapacity of the Moors first put him in peril
of his life. Laing was first surprises in the desert by a party
of Tuaricks, who plundered him and left him for dead, hav-
ing inflicted twenty-four sabre wounds on him, from which
he almost miraculously recovered. At Timbuctoo be found
a kindly reception from the Sheik Boubokar, so long as he
had power to protect him, but the fortune of war had thrown
this city into the hands of another chief, to whom Boubokar
was obliged to act viceroy, and who despatched him an order
which compelled him to send off Major Laing as expelled
from the country. The good old chief accordingly put Major
Laing under the charge of Barbooski, an Arab chief, who
undertook to conduct him in safety as far as Arawan ; but
that traitor on finding Major Laing completely in his power,
murdered him, and took possession of his property.
The spirit of intolerance displayed by some of the African
tribes is not, however, unrelieved by instances of genuine
pity. Once, when Lander was lying at the foot of a tree,
almost expiring with fatigue and thirst, he implored nume-
rous passengers for a drop of water, but they said to each
other, " He is a Kaffer—let him die." Yet there was found
at last a good Samaritan, who, amid the reproaches of his
countrymen, relieved a suffering fellow-mortal.
The Lander expedition is of too recent date to need our
entering into particulars. The mournful assassination of
Richard Lander was coupled with strange circumstances,
" white man will never reach Eboe this time, was an excla-
mation that greeted his ears from King Jack, a relative of
King Roy, and one of the heartless and sullen chiefs who
ruled over the marsh country on the banks of the Brass
River, uttered while his eyes sparkled with malignity. The
subsequent ambuscades of the natives lower down the river,
and the murderous discharges of musquetry while the boats
were pushing off, fully showed the meaning of the threat,
and, from the effects of the musket-wound he received, Lan-
der died on his arrival at Fernando Po.
The last expedition, the lamentable accounts of which have
just reached us, adds to these records of fatality perhaps a
more frightful instance than any that have preceded it. In
former cases, a single and valuable life has been sacrificed,
or in cases where numbers constituted the expedition, the
largest average of lives sacrificed was in the second expedi-
tion under Park.; but when souls, exceeding more than half
a hundred, have been rashly hazarded and sacrificed, as in
the present case, it is to be feared that so appalling an in-
stance will, from its alarming nature, be the strongest pre-
ventive, both on the minds of individuals and the feeling of
this or future governments, towards attempting a similar un-
dertaking.

The Duke of Sutherland is about to erect a church at his
sole expense in the colliery district of the parish of Lilleshall.

LIVERPOOL DISPENSARIES

Number of new patients entered on the books of the Dispensarie
during the last week:—
North. South. Total

Received advice and medicine atthe Insti-
tution 352 2gg 651
Visited at their own houses and supplied
with medicine 259 201 460

Total at each Dispensary

. Gll 100 1111

visirons.
North—Rev. Dr. Tattershall, Mr. Macgregor, and Mr. C. Booth
South—Mr. Jordan, Rev. C. Morrall, and Rev. W. Parker.
R. WEDGWOOD, Secretary.
Dispensaries' Office, 1, Feuwick-street, Jan. 31.

SHarlitts.

WARRINGTON CORN MARKET, FEB. 4.
Total quantities. Total amount. Price per quarter.
Wheat, qrs. 131
Barley .... 0
Oats
8ean5...... 0