Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1832-11-08
MISCELLANEOUS.
From TIC taitsd Strpice ydaraat.
NEW AFRICANEXPEDITlON.

MI w 2aF hit A.N faN fi'i ~.
The most interesting armament ever dispatch co
from the shores of Bcitan has lust been equipped
nj the exnenco of few prncrv merchants ofl.,v-
crpool. It's objects to eXploso and to open n,
commercial intercourse with the heart OF Africa. by
means OF the mighty waters Of the Niger flVer
which has ocessioned the loss OF more ink, ana
more lives to ascertain its course, than any stream
that geogrophers have attempted 10 dellneate.
Richard Lander, however nnlettered neniai
servant, ut length discovered the Niger ~ have ~
termination bv several mouths IN the Atlantic.
This most important discovery has, : al one he'll
swoopp with piticss gertrude, annlhltaaed ihou-
sand elaborate theories. Interesting "a must be
the result 81, The expedition now on lis way Ia Al
RIGA vet is quite amazing how little public notice
has been bestowed upon the subject a lew ing
tive paragraphs in the newspapers, indeed, an
nounced that the squadron had sailed hut ~ d
tailed account has yet appeared respeellng e'ie'
rs objects or It's efficiency The Unitod SftNiee
! Journal therefore, 10 all appropriate medium ioF
the publication oi such pertlcuiats and we are
mistahen ii the enpte Al large w n9t ieci lhdeet'
cd for communication 50 important.
II has already beou Observed that Richard Ian
der an obscure aud unednra'cd but cntcrprlsing
and intelligent Cornish servant oil Capt Clappe1-
ton at length asrtltaiucd that the Niger below
Epussa, after wandering for four or i've hundred
miles through the heart Of Yestcrn R.rica, and re-
coiving the contributions Of macy nuNisablo
streams empies itself into the oceto, by several
cmbouchuros, 10 tat immense bay OF the Atlantic
called the Gulf o, Guinea. 1he Nun river, by
which Lander and his brother descended 10 The sea,
Jise,nboguos lis waters near Cape Formosa, Ii pro-
montory separating HE Blight OF Biatra from The
| Blight OF Benin. From settlement, mt fefhan-
do 20 to the Nun river, does not exceed one hun-
,ircd and fifty miles so tina, the Importance III our
maintaining footing uI.,n ina, island IS manifest
| Tor, In ali probability, tho Nun Is the principal
cinboucurc OF the Nigef, though this point Is not
! yet decided. Thus much, howerer, appears Ger
ain, that, cntu!ng BY ths Channel, the Niger Is
gable for the whole toar o. i've hundred miles
between bousSa and the sea E; that though above
! Bo,ssa the chanec! Is obslructed by barrier 81
rocks vet lutte doub, exists Of It's hevng comnu-
ncation With Ilnbuc,oo and, which Is OF greater
consequence in compescial point OF view, that
lhrous l,ont its whole majestic course, the Niger
rolls through a fruitful. cultivated, and tnckiy pop
! ulated country, studded with towns AVID villages,
hitherto un, siicd by Europeans; aud having no
o,her trade with civilized nations than S'eh ilhner-
! cct barter TO could be carried OH aefoss burning
deserts by the agency OF slave dealers aud pei iod
| cal caravans What a field is here displayed for
!nCFSa1tc adventure VI ithihSN 'o' '''' $50
gushing manufactures What means otsir'-
king .t the hca,t of The slave trade by INTRODUCING
| civilization ard industry the very route o.
the Caililas What a harvest for scosrephe'.
and other science, in exploring the Niger and lls
many tributary streams VIVA, oa opportunity
for our missionaries spread the ltht oi the COS
| pei in the focus otldoa,,y and superstition What
glorious chance Of converting niyrads OF hea'hen
nations; and OF substituting for ignorahce, cruelty,
and barbarsm the blessed doctrines OF peace sood
! Will, and oternal salvation
/, 1t with prospects like these, and WIN u we"
TO secure the advantages IN question 'oI our own
country ,that proposals were nadc 70 liis Majesty
| Government, to take Immediate possession OF Ian
! dcr's newly discovered river. Why tAS Atejeei
was not ca gcrly adopted II IS difficult 10 detefeiite
Is it that our nation is now ruled by that mlser4-
bic kind OF ECONOMY, which, placing iarihhs o.
yer each eye, is prevented from seeing guinea nj
| a distance BE this as il may, 1t Is clearly ou1
best policy that strongly fortified settlement
should instantly be tonned al some comhihndihS
point in the healthy country above The sw"TPsoi INC
Delta TO preventive intru Of vtssf's hJt under
English colors We should thus hold He hlys OF
Africa in our grasp, and is yas, resources VIII he
open 10 us alone Five neglect tbs, the prlzc VIII
soon be snatched by America, Fsance, Spain iof-
Britain Surely, should even the Ministry persist
in their nconprahenspe apathy, this matter must
soon attract the notice OF Parliament slHce 10 sub
ect Of greater national Importance could occupy us
consideration.
Finding no disposition on the rart OF GoTeth-
ment 10 as-st in nppropriatins The commerce OF
Africa hr. Laird and some othcr merchants 81
Liverpool determined 10 III out an expedition al
their own expense; and so itt!c encourage dld
cy receive, that the Treasury actually refused t.
permit the vessels, their return TO land their ear
goes duty free Yet no sooner had Nj, Lard, Jun.
accomplished The equipment OF his squadron, thah
the admiralty requested perm ssion 10 SEND cut
surveyor of their own 10 take observations, deter
mine laitudes longItulos, &c. fortunately Tor
the nation at large, Mr. Laird did not object TO tins
appointment, and Lieut.. Allen, l.. y was seiec-
ted by the Admiralty Us photographer an ofhcer
whose conclliatory. anlublc, and gentetnany ran
ners soon secured him the personal regard OF AIR
Laird, and every person on board. Every thihS
being at lei,gth prepared, and Mr. Londcr having
promised to accompany the expedition, the three
vessels composing ii assembled in Milford Haven,
us follows;
Qu0rru--steam vesse.-hayins on board Mi
Lard junior of Liverpool, as director, and super
cargo OF the s1uedron,
Sailing commander, Mr. Harrcs Master Of the
ROYAL Navy an officer well acquainted wiilthc
coast OF Africa
Lieutenant Allen, surveyor, furnished with M
merous instruments tor observing the dip, lattudes,
lorgtudes, &c.
Iichald Lander African traveller. and dIseov~
ercr of the termination of the Niger, acting guide
adviser, and partly as Interpreter to the expedition
Also gentleman of ability, who has volunteer
cd to accompany the squadron as surgeon ard nat
uralist.
,rhe Qrnrrn i LIZ fect in lenoth over al.