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fatal soul-destroying barrier against the influence of the Gospel.

The cause of Temperance continues to extend and mul tiply its triumphs, notwithstanding the machinations of Satan, and the madness of, the multitudes who are striving to demolish the only barrier which can secure them from destruction. The testimony of our churches as to the signal success which has crowned the efforts of the friends of this cause, the astonishing effect which has thus been produced upon public sentiment, and upon the habits and customs of the higher classes, especially as to the unquestionable connexion between total abstinence from ardent spirits and the success of the Gospel, is of the most decided and gratifying character. The formation of a Temperance Association in each congregation has taken place extensively with the happiest results. While, therefore, in view of these things, the friends of temperance are called upon to thank God, and take courage; let them remember, that much, very much, remains to be done. Let them not remit their vigilance and activity, for their foes never slumber. All the powers and resources of the kingdom of darkness are vigorously employed in opposition. Much, indeed, has been done, in staying this plague among the more intelligent and elevated orders of society; but all the energies of Christian benevolence are demanded to stem the torrent which is spreading misery, and guilt, and ruin, through the dwellings of labour and poverty.

The

gently-stimulating liquids, like coffee, it will not be difficult, with some attention to the early habits engendered by social northern customs, to conquer intemperance. Comfort, in the most extended sense of that word, will prove the most powerful antagonist of intemperance and best auxiliary of the Temperance Societies. Where that is wanting, lec turing will be of small efficacy; and hence the great success of these associations in America. In this country, the true promoters of temperance should set themselves, in the first place, to improve the condition of the people. Secure to labour its just reward, in a steady and sufficient supply of the necessaries, and a share of the comforts of life, and with the removal of distress and mental anxiety you withdraw from drunkenness its strongest temptation.

COLUMN FOR THE YOUNG.

STORIES OF BIRDS."

THE ROBIN,

Art thou the bird that Man loves best;
The little bird with the crimson breast?
Art thou the Thomas of German boors,

And the Peter of Finland, and Russia far inland ?

A great work is still to be effected in the Church. sons of Levi must be purified. The accursed thing must be removed from the camp of the Lord. While professing Christians continue to exhibit the baneful example of tasting the drunkard's poison, or, by a sacrilegious traffic, to make it their employment to degrade and destroy their THERE is a charming little book, containing descriptions fellow-men; those who love the Lord must not keep silence, but must lift their warning voice, and use all law- and familiar stories about song-birds, and giving lively ful efforts to remove the withering reproach from the house coloured representations of the more delightful of our com of God. Let all our congregations become efficient Tem- mon warblers, which we like so much, that we have often, perance Associations; let all our ministers and elders be for the sake of our young friends, wished it cheaper. It is united, consistent, and persevering, in this cause; and we written, and very delightfully written, by Mr. PATRICK may derive from experience a full persuasion, that the ravages of the direful wo will be arrested; that the rising SYME, an artist (we believe) in this city. From it we race will be rescued from his deadly grasp, and thus a purpose to tell of the "sweet, social" Robin ;— most formidable obstacle to the success of the gospel will at last be removed.

This delightful little warbler, equally sacred to the cot tager's hearth, the farmer's hall, and the squire's mansion, is well known through the popular and piteous: story of "The Children in the Wood." Its confidence in man has

rendered the redbreast a general favourite; and its familiarity has procured for it, in most countries, a peculiar namo ; such as might be given to some welcome annual visitor : with us it is called Robin Redbreast in Germany, Thomas Gierdit-in Norway, Peter Ronsmad 5...and in

Sweden, Tomi Liden.

But this is not all. The Government of the UNITED STATES have taken up the cause of tem perance, happily having no debt or expenditure requiring that an Excise Revenue should be fed, at whatever expense to the health, morals, and happiness of the people. On the 2d of November last, the American Secretary for the War Department issued the following order, which, perhaps, The plumage of the redbreast, though harmonious, 'is goes too far; as so sudden and arbitary a change plain; and it is rather remarkable that all our finest must provoke men into the temptation of evading songsters have but few showy colours Though the redit : 1. Hereafter, no ardent spirits shall be is-breast is so well known to man, yet maturalists are still sued to the troops of the United States as a comdoubtful whether to consider it as a migratory or stationponent part of the ration, 2. No ardent spirits ary bird. Buffon says, that it migrates singly, not in will be introduced into any fort, camp, or garrison flocks: many, however, remain with us through the winof the United States, nor sold by any suttler to the ter; but these appear, (at least such is our opinion,) to he troops, nor will any permit be granted for the pur-all males. During severe storms, when the ground, is co chase of ardent spirits. As a substitution for the ardent spirits, formerly issued, eight pounds of sugar, and four pounds of coffee, will be allowed to every one hundred rations." In the British Navy, coffee has been substituted for part of the former allowances of rum; not at all, we dare say, to the immediate contentment of the seamen; though there is no doubt that, wherever men can easily obtain regular and sufficient supplies of warm comfortable food and clothing, with hot, refreshing, and

vered with snow, this bird approaches the habitation of
man, with a confidence and winning familiarity which al
ways ensure to the tiny stranger kindness and protection.
He has been known to come to a window, to tap, and
it be opened, to enter, to eye the family in a sly manner;
and, if not disturbed, to approach the board, pick up crums,
hop round the table, and catch flies, if any remain; then
perch on a chair or window-cornice; and, finding his sit
ation comfortable, is often seen, in this familiar way, to in-
troduce himself to the family, and to repay, with seeming

gratitude, their hospitality, by the melodious warbling of his little throat; and this daily throughout the winter.

We know a gentleman who, last summer, (1822,) caught & young redbreast, one of a brood just flown in his garden. A short time after, the bird was lost, several days elapsed, and robin did not appear; when the gentleman, walking in the garden with a friend, saw a bird of this species, which he thought very like his, hopping among four or five others, that seemed to be all of the same age. He requested his friend not to move, and returned to the house for a few crumbs, which he held in his hand, and calling" Robie !" the bird appeared to recognise the name it had been accustomed to, perched upon his finger, and was instantly secured.' 'The bird is now, May, 1823, in full plumage, and singing delightfully; he ranges at liberty through the room; for though he has a large, light, and airy cage, the door of which stands open, he seldom enters it. In the same room is a chaffinch, still more tame than the redbreast; also a titmouse and a mule bird; but the moment they are out of their cages, the redbreast pursues, attacks, and drives them from place to place, so that he remains cock of the room. If his master takes a seed of hemp, and calls “Robie !" he instantly flies at it, picks it from between the finger and thumb, darts off, and this so rapidly, that one cannot detect how he extracts the seed. He is a fine healthy bird, in full feather, though only fed on hempseed, loaf-bread, and what flies he can catch, with now and then a spider.

His manner of feeding is rather curious-a slice of bread is put down, which he pecks at from one point, generally near the centre of the piece, until he has made a hole through it; he then begins at another place, and does the same. He is very inquisitive, and it is amusing to observe him when any thing is brought into the apartment, such as books, paper, &c. At first he advances with great caution; but, finding the object motionless, he ventures nearer, hops round it, but never appears content till he has got upon it, and never quits it unless disturbed, until he has examined it with the eye of a curious inquirer.

One morning, a roll of paper, more than two feet long, being laid on the table, Robie instantly saw it was a new object, flew to it, hopped roundand round it several times; and at last, finding it impossible to satisfy himself without a narrower inspection, he hopped in at the one end and out at the other.

We have heard many anecdotes of the redbreast, but what we have mentioned will suffice to show its manners in a state of domestication. This bird may be taught various pretty tricks, and even to articulate words. We know that a lady in Edinburgh possesses one who very distinctly pronounces," How do ye do?" and several other words. Her method was, early in the morning, before giving it any food, to repeat very often what she wished it to learn.

might be near, we were anxious to see if they built in so exposed a situation as the way-side. After much trouble, and careful examination of both sides of the road, we at last discovered it by the hen flying out, when we were within a foot of the nest; had she not been on, it was so curiously concealed, we might never have perceived it.

As we are not sure about the propriety of caging birds, especially of the species which are so difficult to feed as are Robins, we take leave to pass Mr. SYME's directions for rearing the young, (though we willingly follow his guidance for a quiet peep into the nest,) and come to his description of this pet warbler:

In a garden at Canonmills, for several years, a redbreast, (we believe the same bird,) has built its nest; once in à bower, another time in a laurel close by a wall, and last year artfully hid amongst ivy on the trunk of an old wil

low-tree. It was found by observing the cock going in with nest, the bird flew boldly down from a tree, and struck at food; and, just as our hand was at the hole which led to the our fingers.

This winter, (1822-3,) the same redbreast watched when the servant went at dusk to shut up a greenhouse in the garden, entered with her, and coming near, pecked the night, and was ready in the morning for the same fare. crums which she held to it from her hand,-remained all When she returned to open the door, he usually came out with her, (unless in very bad weather,) and flew to the garden; and, as she repaired to the house, poured forth a strain of grateful melody: and this he did regularly almost every day during this very severe winter.

OF THE NEST AND EGGS.

and other fibrous substances, mixed with moss, and lined The nest is composed of bent, dead leaves, grass-roots, with thistle-down, hair, and feathers. The eggs, four or five in number, are of an orange-coloured white, freckled, particularly at the large end, with pale orange-red spots, in. clining to brown.

TO FIND THE NEST.

It is desirable to know how to look for the nest, it being of consequeuce to get the birds young, if we wish to tame, or teach them any pretty tricks. When you see a redbreast, observe if it has any thing in its bill: do not frighten it, and it will soon go to the nest; but its instinct is so great that it sometimes flits about before entering the times from the same place; when in, steal upon it quickly, nest wait therefore until it has gone in and out several otherwise the opportunity may be lost of scaring it, this being the best method of discovering the nest; for, if you do not see the very spot from whence the bird springs, its all, be able to find it. The same rule holds for taking the mossy mansion is so artfully concealed, you may not, after nests of nightingales, 'wrens, black caps, and most of the soft-billed species, which, being the shiest birds, display the greatest ingenuity in concealing their nests. The redbreast builds in April, May, and June, and has sometimes two broods in the year.

DESCRIPTION AND PLUMAGE.

The redbreast is between five and six inches in length, bill slender, and of a horn-colour. Eye black, large, full, and mild, with a small orange-red circle round it. Upper parts of the plumage, viz., head, back, and wings, pale umber-brown inclining to olive, in some lights appearing as if tinged with yellowish-brown. Forehead, throat, and breast, rich orange-red; lower parts, greyish-white, with a mixture of dull cream-yellow; legs, clove-brown, passing into umber-brown; claws black.

In a wild state, these birds are very pugnacious. Each cock seems to have certain bounds, which he considers his own, and within which he will allow no other bird of the some species to range. The redbreast builds its nest in different situations according to circumstances: we found one at the edge of a rocky bank near Roslin, but so hid by grass and ivy, that, had it not been for some wild flowers for which we were looking, (the hen sits so very close,) we might never have found it. Last year, (1822,) at CraigThe hen is very like the cock; but neither so large or Lockhart, near Edinburgh, we saw a cock-bird rather agi-cock-bird, let him be large and sprightly, having a full full of spirit, nor so bright in the plumage. To choose a tated, with something in its bill; and, thinking the nest sparkling eye; the brown on the back, rich, glossy, and

dark, and the red on the breast, large and bright; this last is 'he best criterion to judge by.

The r.dbreast will learn the notes of other birds; but his owa being so fine, it is a pity to spoil it by teaching him to imitate other warblers. His song is rich, full, melodious, melting, and tender; it is very various, at one time having a deep melancholy tone, broken with sprightly turns between; theu mellow and plaintive. The spring and autumnal notes are different: in spring his melody is rich, but quick, softly-meiting, and dying away in harmonious cadences; in autumn they are plaintive, but still more rich and sweet,—as if he sung the dirge of summer, or walied the departing year.

SONG.

TO A REDBREAST.

Little bird, with bosom red,
Welcome to my humble shed!
Daily, near my table steal,
While I pick my scanty meal.
Doubt not, little though there be,
But I'll cast a crumb to thee:
Well rewarded, if I spy,
Pleasure in thy glancing eye;
See thee, when thou'st eat thy fill,
Plume thy breast, and wipe thy bill
Come, my feather'd friend, again!
Well thou knowest the broken pane.
Ask of me thy daily store;
Ever welcome to my door!

COLUMN FOR THE LADIES.

PRINCIPLES OF FEMALE DRESS.

THE philosophy of female dress is a subject that has often engaged the attention of poets, metaphysicians, and artists; hither.o, we are sorry to confess, with little perceptible advantage to its leading principles, whether of beauty or utility. A fashionable French milliner is still able to put to rout a whole college or academy. One of the most profound modern disquisitions on this interesting subject has proceeded from Mr. Christopher North, who cnters elementally into its discussion. His analysis, which we may one day lay before our fair readers, has furnished the leading ideas of the essay subjoined. We need scarce say that it is also the production of a masculine jen.

"The inferior priestess at the altar's side, Trembling begins the sacred rites of pride."-Pope.

A MAN of the name of Thomson, who wrote a poetrybook about the four seasons, which some persons who lived in the eighteenth century are thought to have tried to read, was foolish enough to say or sing somewhere in a story about a country wench called Lavinia, that

ed beautiful, is the obvious one so often remarked, that whatever is fashionable in dress is, for the time, pleasing. Yet, if we examine the dresses of the classic nations, who are still our masters and instructors in all the finer arts, we shall find no instance of any thing that revolts sound taste in their attire, a test from which we fear many of our modern modes would shrink, if subjected to examination two thousand years after their invention.

The greatest beauty in dress is that which is most simple, and at the same time gracefully adapted to exhibit the natural beauty of the female form. This simplicity should be observed even in colour; a profusion of tawdry and glar ing colours bespeaks a tasteless and vulgar mind, even if the wearer were a duchess. Colour should also always be adapted to complexion. Ladies with delicate, rosy com. plexions, bear white and light blue, better than dark colours, while on the contrary, sallow hues of complexion will not bear these colours near them, and imperatively require dark, quiet colours to give them beauty. Yellow is the most trying and dangerous colour of all, and can only be worn by the rich-toned, healthy-looking brunette.

It is difficult to make the bonnet of any shape picturesque or becoming. The hat, with the large leaf and feather, is always so.

Yet the large hat, we fear, might be found inconvenient in a small or close carriage; it would condemn the wearer to solitary imprisonment, or at least prevent her from enjoying (with ease) the society of a fair companion, suppes. ing her head-dress to be of equal dimensions. Against this evil we would provide by suggesting a different mode of coiffure for the carriage, from that used in the promenade. What could be more elegant or becoming for the former than an ornamental cap, made of some light material, and which might, by lining, be rendered equally warm with the bonnets often worn in summer? A veil, always an elegant and appropriate appendage to female attire, might be thrown over or attached to the cap, and would add much to its graceful appearance. An adoption of this head-driss world avoid the bitter complaints we have so often heard some of our fair friends utter against the narrow doors of their carriages, which, not exceeding half a fathom or so in width, render an awkward lateral mode of ingress indispensable to the fashionable head-piece.

And now for the mode of dressing the hair. We have often observed that ladics, instead of regarding the hair a designed for an ornament to the face, reverse the kind intentions of nature, and consider their foreheads as horti culturalists do the plants constructed for a flower exhibition, namely, as platforms on which to display to the best advantage a goodly array of shining curls, ranged in successive rows, "each above each aspiring," till we are at a loss whether most to admire, the skill of the fair artiste. or the beauty of the materials she has had to work upon Now be it understood, that we wish not to say any thing disrespectful of the said glossy circlets, au contraire, we they are deserving of all praise, cruel crere-cours though admire them à merveille, and think that in themselves they be; but we can by no means consent to countenance the undue sacrifices our "fairest of womankind" are wil ling to make in their behalf; we protest warmly against the total eclipse, or even occultation of the open, ivory fore Said Thomson was a sheepish clown of a Scotchman' witness the late unwarrantable intrusions upon the softlyhead, and the delicately arched eyebrow; and we cannot and therefore knew nothing whatever of the matter. ple talk of a ship in full sail, or a waving field of golden aloud for justice. rounded check, without asserting its rights, and crying grain, but commend us to a beautiful and splendidly dressed from invasion, even in these piping times of peace; and we The eyes themselves are scarcely safe woman, entering a ball room, with "grace in all her steps," as the crowning climax of Nature's best and love-ing the threatened evil, and establishing an equitable balmust entreat the active co-operation of the ladies in avert

- loveliness

Needs not the foreign aid of ornament,
But is when unadorned adorned the most."

l'est gifts.

Pec

We are inclined to look on dress, of course we speak of and tresses, though we have never before ventured to advoance of power between the respective claims of features ladies' dress, as one of the most beautiful, and, in common cate the holy alliance system; and even this we think life, the most important of the fine arts. We are, there. fore, of opinion, that it ought to be uniformly regulated by Still we should observe that no one uniform Laode of dress should rather be considered an instance of la belle alliance. the principles of true taste. One of the many reasons ad-ing the hair can be recommended as superseding all others. duced to prove that there is no fixed standard of beauty, but In this, as in every other part of the details, each lady that whatever appearance is associated in the mind with what is considered dignified and agreeable, is also account-figure, and "snatch a grace beyond the reach of art," must consult the particular style of her own face and

Again, as the art of dress is to enable the individual to conceal the defects of nature, as well as to exhibit her beauties to advantage, thin persons should take care, let the fashion be what it may, to dress with a certain fulness of drapery; while, on the other hand, fat or round persons should on no account puff themselves out artificially, unless they wish to appear ludicrous. Thus, the lady with no hips may bustle; but if she who has sufficient breadth does so, she will disfigure herself. In like manner, the lady with high, square shoulders should wear sleeves commencing a little below the shoulder; but the lady with a finely formed bust should dress au naturel.

Ladies with thick legs or ancles (soit dit en passant) should not wear white stockings, but black or dark colours, which, by presenting a smaller mass of light, diminishes the size of objects.

Осса

As property is property, even in an egg, to distinguish each
urchin's share in the joint stock, boiling became a matter
of no slight difficulty; but Mary's gemus was equal to the
task. By the application of her finger to the bottom of the
pot, and certain other ceremonies not so easily defined, she
produced a sort of hieroglyphic mark, which was as final
as the court of last resort, although, it must be confessed,
nobody knew the key to the cypher but herself.
sionally certain side-long looks revealed pretty plainly that
the gazer would have preferred the biggest egg in the pot
to his own; and it was always with reluctance that honest
Mary asserted the rights of equity, and insured subordina-
tion, by applying, or flourishing vigorously, the pluff—a
sort of substitute for a pair of bellows. But her strokes fell
gentle, "as from parents' hands;" nor did her acts of be-
nevolence end here. When rains flooded the plains, and
the burns ran wild on their way to the sea, or when frost
and snow crisped every wood and fell, honest Mary was
always at her post, displaying her Meg Merrilees-like figure
to advantage, in handing the scholars over an intervening
stream, often in threes and fours at a time. Indeed, there
are persons still living who have been honoured with a seat
on Mary's shoulders. Latterly, she was supported almost
entirely by what she called "her boys," who are now scat-

Finally, all monstrosities should be avoided, nothing squeezed or puffed out to extravagance should ever appear. The unnaturally contracted waist, on which so many of the fair sex unfortunately pride themselves, is not less offensive to good taste than injurious to health; and the sufferer who makes such an exhibition has not even the satisfaction of having the sympathy or pity of the spectators to console her for her self-inflicted sufferings. We should be sorry to see any approach to a quakerishtered over various parts of the globe, and all of whom will livery, but in the present age of enormity in bustles, and licentiousness in sleeves, something must be done to check the tide of depravity (in taste) which is setting in with so strong a current. The subject is one of far too great importance to be left with any propriety, as it now is, to the silly caprice of milliners and ladies' maids. Ladies! the eyes of Europe are upon you. Vindicate the cause of skirts fashioned for defence or conquest in a manner worthy of yourselves. Forget not that

"True art is Nature to advantage dressed.'

FAREWELL.

BY BISHOP HEBER.

When eyes are beaming

What never tongue may tell;

When tears are streaming

From their crystal dell;

When hands are linked that dread to part-
Oh! bitter, bitter is the smart

Of them that bid farewell.

When hope is chidden

That fain of bliss would tell
And love forbidden

In the breast to dwell;

When fettered by a viewless chain,
We turn and gaze, and turn again
Oh! death were mercy to the pain
Of them that bid farewell.

MARY LINDSAY.

BY JOHN MACDIARMID, ESQ.

DIED at Duncow, in the parish of Kirkmahoe, on the 3th ultimo, Mary Lindsay, at the advanced age of 85. This singular and useful woman, during the long period of threescore years, evinced the most marked and disinterested affection for little children, and voluntarily took upon herself the duties of a protectress. These chosen buds of promise, during their daily attendance at the village school, made greater progress than by the master's lessons, in availing themselves of Mary's goodness of heart; and hence her humble cot became the common depot of plaids, coats, Josephs, and that most necessary and valuable appendage the scrip, stored, we shall say, with a couple of scones and a solitary egg-the sweet, though frugal elements of their mid-day refreshment. In an olden pot, of curious dimensions, more than twenty eggs were boiled every day; and not unfrequently the benevolent woman banned the parish hens for not laying them a "wee thoucht bigger."

heave a sigh, or drop a tear, when they learn that their early protectress is no more. One of her proteges requested Mr. Allan to put forth all his strength in painting Mary's picture, no matter at what cost; and the artist produced a correct likeness, which the owner, much to his credit, says he would not barter for the portrait of Mary Queen of Scots. Another friend, in consideration of the miserable hovel in which his early acquaintance wonned, pressed on her acceptance the best of his numerous cottages in Duncow; and the answer he received was quite characteristic "Na, na, Sir, my mither leeved here, an' de'ed here. I mysel' hae leeved here, an' I'll dee here; and for as little as ye may think o' the bit, I wadna chang'd for the bonniest gilt room in a' Dalswinton."

VERSES FOR THE YOUNG.

A LESSON FOR AN INFANT SCHOOL
BY J. MONTGOMERY.

Sun, Moon, and Stars, by day and night,
At God's commandment, give us light;
And when we wake, and while we sleep,
Watch over us, like angels, keep.

The bright blue sky above our head,
The soft green earth on which we tread,
The ocean rolling round the land,
Were made by God's almighty hand.
Sweet flowers, that hill and dale adorn,
Fair fruit trees, fields of grass and corn,
The clouds that rise, the showers that fall,
The winds that blow,-God sends them all.
The beasts that graze, with downward eye,
The birds that perch, and sing, and fly,
The fishes, swimming in the sea,
God's creatures are, as well as we.
But us he formed for better things:
As servant of the King of kings;
With lifted hands, and open face,
And thankful hearts, to seek his grace.
Thus God loved man, and more than thus:
He sent his Son to live with us;
And invites us, when we die,
To come and live with him on high.
But we must live to him below:
For none but such to heaven will go;
Lord Jesus, hear our humble prayer,
And lead the little children there.

TRADE WITH THE COUNTRIES ON THE
NIGER.*

WE arrive now at the important question, what prospects this great interior communication opens to British commerce. Its branches in Africa, since the abolition of that dark one, which Britain has so justly proscribed, have been limited; and high authorities have even doubted if they could admit of any great extension. But it must be

observed that the intercourse has hitherto been almost exclusively with the coast; the territory along which is comparatively unproductive, and its inhabitants idle and miserable. It has always been found, in proportion as travellers penetrated inland, that they came to a superior region and people; that, contrary to what takes place in other continents, all the large cities, all the valuable and prosperous branches of industry, were at a distance from the sea. This has been imputed, and not without some reason, to the demoralizing influence of the European slave trade. But there is, besides, a physical cause which must have a powerful influence. A much greater extent of the surface of Africa, than of any other continent, is situated between the tropics, and even immediately under the line. Sterility is there produced by the scorching rays of the sun, to which the coasts, from their low level, are pecularly liable, and by which many tracts are rendered parched and arid. Others, by the same low situation, are exposed to the inundation of the great rivers, which, swelled by the violent tropical rains, spread often into wide pestilential swamps. But the interior territory becoming always more elevated, enjoys a more temperate climate, and is diversified by hills and mountain ranges, the streams from which supply copious moisture, without deluging the territory with any permanent inundation. The countries rendered accessible by the Niger and its tributaries, are undoubtedly the most productive and industrious in all Africa; and their population, notwithstanding the difficulty of forming any precise estimate, can scarcely be rated at less than twenty-five millions. It seems impossible that British enterprise can find access to such a region, without drawing from it very considerable results. The two questions which call for consideration are the articles of British produce, for which a vent may be found in this quarter of the world; and the commodities which may be procured in exchange. Under the first head, we may at once refer to that manufacture in which Britain most excels, and has carried to the greatest ex

tent. Cotton fabrics are alone suited to the climate of Central

Africa, and, in fact, clothe her entire population. It is true, they are manufactured with skill within the country itself; but the example of India, where Manchester and Paisley

have supplanted, in their native seats, the superb muslins

and calicoes of Dacca and Masulipatam, leaves little doubt

that the less brilliant products of the African loom would be unable to withstand the competition. There is even no need of recurring to so distant an illustration. Manchester clothes Bonny and Eboe at Kiama, more than two hundred miles inland; her robes, of course and gaudy patterns, formed the favourite ornament of the Negro damsels, though their moderate original cost had been raised by a long land-carriage to an almost ruinous height. The navigation of the Niger seems hitherto to have been little instrumental in diffusing commodities through the interior. The communication is almost entirely between city and city; the chief of Damuggo did not know the existence of Eyeo or Youri. It was only at Egga, the limit of the more improved and industrious districts, that European commodities began to appear. Besides cotton stuffs, arms, it is to be feared, would be a prominent article: but not to mention their use in hunting, perhaps the exchange of the European for the African mode of warfare, would, on the whole, rather advance civilization. Jewels, toys, every gaudy and glittering object, is suited to the rude taste of the African chiefs; and, as they have not yet learned to distinguish the real value of these commodities, high prices might, for some

We beg our readers to peruse this in connexion with Mr. Pitt's speech on the civilization of Africa, in our 1t7h number,

time, be obtained, though experience and competition would doubtless open their eyes. The returns claim our next attention, and form rather a more difficult subject. At the head of the exports we place manufactured cottons, and at the head of the imports we are disposed to place the raw material. This is produced abundantly; and, if we may trust the report of travellers, of excellent quality, over the whole of tropical Africa. European commerce seems never to have reached the cotton-growing districts, which are all considerably in the interior. The demand in Britain is immense, the annual imports being valued at nearly eight million sterling. This demand, too, would be aug mented, if Africa, like India and the United States, after supplying the raw material, took back the manufactured produce. Indigo, moreover, the most valuable of dyeing stuffs, and which Britain imports sometimes to the value of L.1,000,000, is produced in these countries plentifully, and, it is said, also of excellent quality. Hides and skins, and some gold, would be the only important additional ar ticles; for palm oil, at present the most extensive one, being produced in the countries near the coast, is probably fur nished to the full extent of the demand. After considering what are likely to be the objects of the trade on the Niger, the mode of conducting it presents another question equally important and difficult. The obstacles are indeed such that, according to the ordinary resources of river navigation, they appear altogether insuperable The pestilential atmosphere along the shores of this delta, and its lower estuaries-the

violent and turbulent character of the native tribes, who would doubtless regard the British as rivals and enemiescould scarcely be surmounted, unless by some peculiar agency. This, however, seems to be found in steam, which gives such an entirely new character and power to river navigation. Propelled by it, the vessel could be carried to one day and night from the ocean to the head of the delta, and thus pass swiftly through the region of the pestilence; it could also penetrate, and leave behind it, hostile fleets of armed canoes. Practical skill and experience must decide whether the steam-vessels should be brought direct from England, or be stationed on the coast, where the goods brought out by sailing vessels, could be transferred into them. The first of these plans, if practicable, would avoid the cost of transhipment, and the dangers to health incurred during such an operation on a coast, every spot on which is insalubrious. It may be worth suggesting, whether the Formoso, or Benin branch, might not be the most advan at once reach the head of the delta, above Kiree, avoiding tageous for ascending the river. The navigator would thus the dangerous bar at the mouth of the Brass river, and the fierce rivalry of the natives, which would be encountered be presumed, however, that the trade can never be carried both there, and still more in the Bonny channel It may on with facility, or to any great extent, without a station on the Niger itself, where a depôt of European and African goods could be formed; whence smaller vessels might as cend the inferior rivers, or those parts of the great stream of which the navigation is difficult or obstructed. There would be an obvious convenience in endeavouring to obtain by purchase one of the numerous islands by which the channel is in one place diversified. The only danger might be, of their being rendered unhealthy by a low and damp situation; in which case a salubrious and defensible posi tion might be found on one of the heights by which a great extent of the river course is bordered. It remains only that we inquire what connexion can be traced between these new discoveries, and our previous knowledge of Africa whether any, and what anticipations have been formed by ancient writers of that lower course of the Niger which has now, for the first time, been navigated by Europeans. These will, we believe, be found extremely limited. Ptolemy, who delineates the river as entirely inland, and without any branch flowing to the southward, evidently had no idea of its termination. The case may be somewhat different with regard to the Arabian writers, who describe their "Nile of the Negroes," as flowing westward, and falling into the Atlantic. We have endeavoured to show, in a former article, (June 1826,) that their settlements were all

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