Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-09-19
RICHARD LANDER's EXPEDITION.
To the Editor Of Tie LITERARY Gazette.


CusTom HousE. LrvnarooI, 3lst July 1888.
Sir--knowing the lively interest you
take in my brothers welfare, and the sue :
cess oil the expedition Of which he ma .
the command. any news Of him will I
am quite sure. be highly acceptable -
you. Various reports Of discouraginx
but contradictory nature have been
recently circulated here in regard 10 the
expedition, which are pretty generally bs-
lleved; but | am happy to say, many of
these reports are destitute OF ali founds-
ton. and others are so grossly exaggerat-
ed, that the truth can with difficulty be-
discovered in the maze Of error and false
hood in. which it is entaDgled. MAY /.
therefore, be permitted TO inform YOU OF
all that is known at present OF the expcdi-
ton 10 the Niger, though the accounts
are so meagre as almost 10 require an n
zoology on my part for presuming 10 trou-
BILE you with recital Of them.
You are already appriscd of the de-
cease OF Captain Harris Of the Quowars.
and OF the arrival Of both steamers at the
Eboe country. You are also aware that
the sailing brig Columbine was to remain
at the mouth of the Nun River to await
their return. BY letter received from a
medical gentleman at Old Calabar, dated
April 10th, learn that "as q vessel called
the Martha Of this port was passing tho
Nun. on her destination to the Old Gala
bar River, she was hailed by a boats crew
from the Columbine. When received ON
board the men stated that the captain Of
their vessel had died three weeks previous.
"; that they had been reduced to great
distress from the refusal of the natives To
cell them provisions, from which extremity
they were relieved by an American vessel
which had happily just entered the rider;
and that they had themselves yentured o.
yer the bar to crave further assistance from
the Martha. When questioned about the
steamboats,. they declared they had re-
ceived no intelligence whatsoever, respect
ing them, though five months had elapsed
from the period of their departure"
In allusion to this letter. would VEN
ture to observe, that the people iDhabit-
ing the banks of the Nun River arc ex-
ceedingly poor and destitute, being them.
selves very frequently in want of the no
|cessaries Of life. Their alleged refusal 10
assist the crew of the Columbins must
have arisen from their utter inability 10
lido so, rather than from any display Of
|heartless indifference to the sufferings of
Jour countrymcn, though Heaven knows,
| the poor wretches are bad enough at times.
| In regard to the non-arrival ofinformation
from the steamers in the interior, thsn-
sand conjectures might be haxardcd. For
|my own part, | see no great reason to
wonder at this delay, chiefly because lam
convinced no intercourse is, or can, under
existing circumstances, be established be-
tween any part Of the interior and tho
|coast. This would be at variance with
the barbarous policy Of the barbarous
tribes inhabiting the country in the vicin-
lily Of the sea. They would not suffer a
messenger from the interior to escape their
vigilance. Were any one to attempt the
Journey, be would infallibly be captured
and sold: therefore, unless our countrymen
were themselves to descend the Niger, and
be the bearers Of their own dispatches, l
see no possibility of any communication
lbeing carried on between tho steamers
in the interior and the sailing brig on the
coast.
A letter has just been received by
gentleman at this port from young friend
in the Benny river, it is dated 18th May.
Adverting to tho expedition, the writer
says. "When we passed the river Num-
the Columbine was lying there, but no
thing had been heard Of the STEAMERS that
went up the country. was told this BY
the Captain Of the Curlew sloop OF war.
who was on board the Columbine about a
month ago. gave him al the letters
had for the expedition, as ne said he
would return 10 the Bras River Of the end
AZ two or three weeks: great many have
died on board the brig"
Still more recent accounts. which l
have been able to collect from individual
who have within these few days arrived
from Benny, confirm the accuracy Of