In the press, and will be published in May, in One Volume, 4to, (dedicated by permission to His Grace the Duke of Northumberland,) Pyrus Malus Brentfordiensis, a Descriptive Catalogue of the most valuable Sorts of Apples. By Hugh Ronalds. With a Coloured Figure to each. To which are added, appropriate Lists of different situations in which Apple-Trees are usually planted

Speedily will be published, the two concluding Volumes of the Tour of a German Prince, with a Portrait. Containing his route through Germany and Holland, his descriptions of the external aspect of England, and his Observations on the Society and Manners of the Metropolis, and of other places of fashionable resort.

Lady Sandford of Glasgow has in the press, "Stories from the History of Rome," addressed to a little boy.

In the press, and speedily will be published, in two closely printed volumes, demy 8vo, the Greek Testament, accompanied with English Notes, Critical, Philological, and Exegetical, by the Rev. S. T. Bloomfield, D.D. F.S.A. Vicar of Bisbrooke; Author of the "Recensio Synoptica Annotationis Sacræ ", and also of the new translation and the new edition of Thucydides with Notes. Of this edition the Text has been most carefully and critically formed on the basis of the last edition of R. Stephens (adopted by Mill), which differs very slightly from, but is preferable to, the common Text. From this there has been no deviation, except on the most preponderating evidence; such alterations only having been introduced, as rest on the united authority of MSS., ancient Versions and Fathers, and the early printed editions, (especially the invaluable Editio Princeps,) and have been adopted in one or more of the critical editions of Wetstein, Griesbach, Matthæi, and Scholz. The division of the Text is not into verses, (which, however, are expressed in the inner margin,) but into paragraphs, distributed, according to the subjects, on the authority of the most eminent Editors. The punctuation has been throughout most carefully corrected and adjusted, from a comparison of all the best editions, from the Editio Princeps to that of Scholz. To each verse is subjoined, in the outer margin, a select body of the most apposite parallel references. Under the Text, in closely printed columns, are copious English Notes, comprising whatever respects the interpretation, and tends to the establishment of the grammatical sense, the connexion, and scope of the writer; and in which, together with the greatest comprehensiveness, the utmost compression has been adopted, consistent with perspicuity; so as to form an epitome of exegetical and philological annotation.

In the course of April will be published, in one volume 8vo, the Life and Pontificate of Gregory the Seventh. By Sir Roger Greisley, Bart. F.A.S.

In the press, Instructions for preparing Abstracts of Titles, after the most improved system of eminent Conveyancers; shewing, I. The Points to be observed in deducing Titles to Freehold, &c.; II. The Title of the Abstract, and the Method of abstracting ordinary Deeds; and III. The Form of an Abstract containing every species of Assurance. In one volume 12mo.

In the press, a General Analytical Index to the Edinburgh Review, from Vol. XXI. to L.; comprehending in one alphabetical series, distinct References to all the Names of Authors reviewed, Titles of Books reviewed, Authorities cited or quoted, Public Questions discussed, and all incidental matter; with a separate Index of Books reviewed, and another of Authors reviewed.

In the press, a Treatise on the Preparation of Printing Ink, both Black and Coloured. By William Savage, Author of " Practical

Hints on Decorative Printing." In 8vo.

Shortly will be published, the Juvenile Philosopher, by T. Keyworth, exhibiting, in a familiar manner, the Principles of the SteamEngine, Orrery, and Tellurian, with illustrative Wood-cuts; adapted for schools and young persons.

Mr. Babbage is preparing for the press, a work on the "Economy of Machinery and Manufactures." It is intended to comprise, in a small volume, the results of his observations in the various mechanical processes used in the arts; and also to explain the domestic economy of the interior of our great manufactories, by which the cheapness of their products is insured. The latter chapters will be devoted to the political economy of manufactures; and the principles will be delivered in a form rendered popular by a continual reference to practical illustrations.

The Rev. Charles Eyre has nearly ready for publication, an Illustration of St. Paul's Epistles, inclusive of an entirely new and independ

ent Translation.

Early this month will be published, E'lisabeth, ou les Exilés de Sibérie, de Madame de Cottin. Arranged for students commencing the French language, with an Analytical Translation in the order of the text; the pronunciation indicated according to the best French autherities; explanatory Notes; and an alphabetical Reference to all the words made use of. Adapted to the use of schools, by S. B. P. L.

THE

ECLECTIC REVIEW,

FOR MAY, 1832.

Art. I. Journal of an Expedition to explore the Course and Termination of the Niger; with a Narrative of a Voyage down that River to its Termination. By Richard and John Lander. In three Volumes. Illustrated with Engravings and Maps. (Family Library, Nos. XXVIII-XXX.) 24mo. Price 15s. London, 1832. AT last, there is a rational prospect of turning to good account the fatigues, and perils, and fatal heroism of our African explorators. The secret of ages has been spelled out, letter by letter. Park first, by penetrating from the banks of the Gambia to Sego, in 1795, ascertained the course of the mysterious Niger (alias Joliba or Quorra) to be towards the east, and not, as had been supposed, from east to west. In his second and fatal expedition, he is now known to have descended the same stream as far south as Boossa, in lat. 10° 14′ N., long. 6° 11' E., where its course is S.S.E. Clapperton, attended by Richard Lander, in 1826, penetrated overland to Boussa, from the coast of Benin, and ascertained the geographical position of that town. And now, finally, these two adventurous and amiable brothers having pushed their land journey as far as Yaoorie, some miles above Boussa, have navigated the river to its mouth, or one of its mouths, in the Bay of Benin. By this means, the singular fact has been brought to light, that Liverpool oil-traders, as well as European slave-traders, have for years been in the practice of entering the Niger without suspecting it. The branch by which the Landers reached the sea, is not, indeed, much frequented, owing partly to its being so little known, and partly to a dangerous bar at its mouth. It is distinguished by the natives as the First Brass River,' and is the River Nun of Europeans, which falls into the Bay of Benin near Cape Formosa, in long. 6' 10' E. But

VOL. VII.-N.S.

S S

there is reason to conclude, that the Benin river itself, (the Rio Formosa of the Portuguese,) as well as the Bey or New Calabar, the Old Calabar or Bongo, and the Rio del Rey, are all arms of the same river; and that the whole country south of lat. 6' 30', between the meridians of 5' and 8' 30', may be considered as the delta of the Niger.

The consequence of this discovery cannot fail to be of some advantage to the trade of our own country; but to Africa, the benefit will be immediate and immense; and these two brothers, who have achieved this important service for her commerce and civilization, will hereafter rank among her greatest benefactors. It is no longer a romantic supposition, that the Niger may be made the inlet to the most secluded recesses of the negro world, for the trade, and civilizing arts, and religion of the whites, and that the slavemarket and the slave-vessel may be put down for ever by the loom and the steam-boat.

It is more than probable,' remarks Mr. Lander, as we have now ascertained that a water-communication may be carried on with so extensive a part of the interior of Africa, that a considerable trade will be opened with the country through which we have passed. The natives only require to know what is wanted from them, and to be shewn what they will have in return, and much produce that is now lost from neglect, will be turned to a considerable account. The countries situated on the banks of the Niger, will become frequented from all the adjacent parts; and this magnificent stream will assume an appearance it has never yet displayed. The first effect of a trade being opened, will be, to do away with the monopoly near the mouth of the river, which has hitherto been held by the chiefs of the lower countries. Steam-boats will penetrate the river even as far as Lever *, at the time of year in which we came down, and will defy the efforts of these monopolists to arrest their progress. The steam-engine, the grandest invention of the human mind, will be a fit means of conveying civilization among these uninformed Africans, who, incapable of comprehending such a thing, will view its arrival among them with astonishment and terror, but will gradually learn to appreciate the benefits they will derive, and to hail its arrival with joy.'

Vol. III. pp. 313, 14.

The experiment, if we may give credit to the statement that has appeared in the public journals, is on the point of being made. One of the brothers Lander has been for some time in Liverpool, making arrangements for a second expedition into Africa, for objects partly commercial and partly scientific. Two steam-boats, one much smaller than the other, have been purchased, which are to be freighted with British goods; and it is hoped

* A town of Borgoo, on the right bank of the Quorra, in about lat. 9° 30', above which the navigation is impeded by granitic cataracts.

that, with the smaller vessel, Mr. Lander will be able to make his way many hundred miles up the Niger, and to carry on an extensive traffic with the negro nations on its banks. When it is recollected, that the voyage up the Mississippi from New Orleans to Ohio, once occupied sailing vessels three months, and is now accomplished by steam-boats in fifteen or eighteen days, with a strong current against them, who can tell what wonders steam navigation may accomplish for Central Africa?

Before we proceed to give a regular account of the contents of the extremely interesting narrative before us, there is one point connected with the geographical discovery that has been achieved, which demands a few observations. We have always been slow to believe that the waters of Soudan, even although they might prove to have their main outlet into the Atlantic, (which appears to be the fact,) have no connexion with those of Eastern Africa; and this for reasons which we shall briefly recapitulate.

First. We have a remarkable concurrence of ancient opinion, Mohammedan testimony, and general native report, that between the waters of Soudan and those of Egypt, there is an actual communication; although how they communicate, it was impossible to infer from the loose and vague reports transmitted to us. It is seldom safe to treat as altogether unworthy of notice, the most fabulous statements or the most palpable errors, when they are found to prevail very extensively, and from age to age, since they generally point towards the truth. How came Herodotus, and after him, Pliny, to conclude that the Niger and the Nile were the same river? How came Edrisi, the Arabian Geographer, to imagine the Nile of the Negroes to be a branch of the Egyptian Nile, which flowed westward across the heart of Africa to the sea of darkness, or the Atlantic? And how again was Ibn Batouta led to believe, in the fourteenth century, that the Nile of Timbuctoo flowed to Yaour in Soudan, and thence to Sennaar, Dongola, and Egypt? How can it be explained, moreover, that Mr. Bowdich was told by natives of Haussa and Bornoo, whom he met with in Ashantee, that the following places occur along the course of the Joliba,-Sego, Sansanding, Timbuctoo, Cubbi, Yaoora, Boussa, Raka, Atagara, Sharee, Lake Tchadi, Bagarme, Foor, Waday, Sennaar, Massar, (Egypt)? * These conflicting accounts could not all, if perhaps any, be literally correct; and yet, they cannot have been mere hypothesis. Making allowance

Even at Yaoorie, the Landers were told by the Arabs of the place, and by all who passed through that city during their stay, and who had no connexion whatever with each other, that the Niger flows 'from a place called Musser (or Mesr), where silks and other fine ar'ticles are manufactured, and that the natives of that country trade to Timbuctoo, in large vessels, carrying thither their trade and manu'factures.' This Musser is no other place than Cairo in Egypt.