From The Spectator.

FOOTE'S AFRICA AND THE AMERICAN

FLAG.*

Of the author of the volume before us, Capt. and it deserves a fuller exposition than it fell Erskine, we have only to add, that in his inter- in our author's way to give. The idea of an ourse with the natives, he appears to have African state consisting of civilized free men aken Captain Cook as his guide and model, of color was practically carried out in a small ind that in our judgment that great traveller way by one John Kizell. He had been a slave could not have a worthier successor, whether of South Carolina, and joined the English duras a man in authority or as a navigator. In a ing the Revolutionary war, and on its terminalong cruise, and an intricate and often un- tion was sent to Africa with many others. He known navigation, his frigate of deep draught formed a settlement at Sherboro, about sixencountered no accident. He mixed fearlessly ty miles from Sierra Leone; prospered in and unarmed with cannibals and savages, yet trade; built a church, and inducted himself without a single collision to interrupt a friendly preacher. On this foundation the American and beneficent intercourse. societies that aimed at Christianizing Africa by removing free men of color from the States erected their superstructure. There was much, however, to be done. A more extended district than Sherboro was required; and when with difficulty it was obtained, the bargain was repudiated by some of the native chiefs, after THIS quaint-looking title indicates the con- they had received the purchase-money; and tents of the volume exactly. The book con- the philanthropists had to go to war, by way of tains a geographical and historical sketch of showing their love to man. Through difficulAfrica, or rather of Negroland, and an account ties not very dissimilar to those which beset the of the doings of the American squadron on the founders of Virginia and other colonies in the Slave-coast. It is the result of much African olden time, Liberia struggled on till the White experience, which infuses into the volume liv-governor could be superseded by the Colored ing knowledge, definite ideas, and a certain man. The topic, however, which requires exdegree of vigor. A good deal of the matter position-and it can only be given by an acis drawn from books; and even when the au- tual observer-is the working of Republicanthor is narrating his services, the composition, ism and universal suffrage in such a society. (mainly abridged from his own official corres- It is true that there was little room for destrucpondence,) wears the air of compilation, rath- tion or oversetting, as with the accumulated er than the results of direct observation, be- wealth or the various institutions of the old cause compilation is the turn of the author. In the rapid sketch of the early periods of African history, before the slave-trade, during its growth and in its palmy days, the materials must of necessity be drawn from books, and pretty common books too; but the seaman has added hints of the pirates the trade drew to the African coast, and the piracy in which the each adult male." The Negro institution of trade itself often merged, that perhaps only a the "palaver" had indeed prepared the peoseaman acquainted with the coast could have ple for the debating part of the business: and written. The story of the proceedings since perhaps their very ignorance of an assembly's this country took up the suppression of the power might contribute to the success of the slave-trade in earnest, and the success which experiment. That it has thus far succeeded, has attended it, is also freshened by personal seems certain; but a knowledge of the actual knowledge, though upon the whole it is the working of the sxperiment in its details would least vivid part of the book. The geographi- be desirable, if it could be obtained, not only cal sketch of Africa is a condensed summary as a curiosity, but as a rare example in politics. of the natural and social features. The two This is the picture of the chief people and the other subjects have more interest, and more capital, as drawn by Captain Foote. of actual experience. They are the history of Liberia, and of the proceedings of the American squadron on the coast, especially while the author was on the station.

The early struggles and essential success of Liberia will have novelty for many readers;

*Africa and the American Flag. By Commander Andrew H. Foote, U. S. Navy, Lieutenant Commanding U. S. Brig Perry on the coast of Africa, A.D. 1850-51. Published by Trubner, London; and Appleton, New York.

states in Europe. Still, it was a bold proceeding to combine into a federation several districts occupied by native Africans in a state of crass ignorance and superstition, with a sprinkling of Colored men from civilized countries, where they were looked upon as a degraded race; bolder still to give a vote to

Notwithstanding the heterogeneous population of Liberia, a commendable degree of or der, quiet, and comparative prosperity prevails. With such men as President Roberts, Chief-Justice Benedict, Major-General Lewis, Vice-President Williams, and many other prominent persons in office and in the walks of civil life, the government and society present an aspect altogether more favorable than a visitor, judging them from the race when in contact, with a white population, is prepared to find. The country is

theirs they are lords of the soil; and in inter-display of a foreign ensign and papers, even had course with them it is soon observed that they she slaves on board. And on the other hand, are free from that oppressive sense of inferiority she might the same day fall in with a British which distinguishes the colored people of this cruiser, and by displaying her flag, and presentcountry. A visit to Monrovia is always agreea-ing the register or sea-letter, vindicate her American nationality. This illustrates the importance ble to the African cruiser. of men-of-war, belonging to each nation, cruising in company for the detection of slavers.

Monrovia, the capital, is situated immediately in the rear of the bold promontory of Cape Me The papers of the second slaver captured by surado, which rises to the altitude of 250 feet. The highest part of the town is eighty feet above the Perry were in form, excepting the crew list the level of the sea. The place is laid out with which showed but one American on board, who as much regularity as the location will admit. was master of the vessel. And in a letter of inBroadway is the main or principal street, run-structions from the reputed owner, he was rening nearly at right angles with the sea. Besides quired to leave whenever the Italian supercargo The town directed him to do so. This shows how readily this, there are twelve or fifteen more. contains not far from two thousand inhabitants. the nationality of a vessel may be changed. Many of the houses are substantially built of brick or of stone, and several of them are hand-Perry stated that had he not supposed she was somely furnished. The humidity of the climate an English cruiser he would have been prepared has greatly impaired the wooden buildings. The with a foreign flag, and otherwise to have eluded State House, public stores, and the new Aca- search and capture; and that on a former occademy, are solid, substantial buildings, appropriate sign he had been boarded by an English cruiser, to their uses. There are five churches, and these when, to use his own expression, he "bluffed off are well attended. The schools, will compare John Bull with that flag,"-referring to the Amefavorably with the formal district schools in this rican ensign. country [America]: which is not saying much in their favor.

The master of the first slaver captured by the

The Lucy Ann, when captured, was boarded fifty or sixty miles to leeward or North of Loanda. She had an American flag flying, although her papers had been deposited in the Consul's There is a good deal of matter to be gleaned office at Rio. The English boarding-officer, who was not allowed to see any papers, suspecting from the account of the American squadron and the author's own doings. Captain Foote lays it her character, prolonged his visit for some time. down broadly, that unless the American squad- As he was about leaving the vessel, a cry or ron is efficiently kept up, the slave-trade will stifled groan was heard issuing from the hold. become as active as ever, under the American The main hatches were apparently forced up flag. The best mode of proceeding is for a from below, although a boat was placed over British and an American ship to sail together, so them, and the heads of many people appeared. as always to be within easy communication. In Five hundred and forty-seven slaves were found this way everything can be overhauled; the in the hold, almost in a state of suffocation. declared the vessel to be Brazilian, and gave her American taking vessels sailing under the The master then hauled down the American flag, American flag-the British, ships of her own or any other nation with which she has right of search treaties; for the American only meddle with her people. The following rather disjointed extracts will show how business is done. The Perry was Captain Foote's own ship.

A list of American vessels, which had been on the coast during the preceding year, was procured. Many of these vessels came from Rio and adjoining ports, with two sets of papers. A sea-letter had been granted by the Consul in good faith, according to law, on the sale of a vessel in a foreign port; the cargo corresponded with the manifest; the consular certificate crew list, port clearance, and all papers, were in form. Several of these vessels, after discharging their cargoes, changed their flag; the American captain and crew, with flag and papers, leaving the vessel, and she instantly becoming invested with Spanish, Portuguese, or Brazilian nationality.

up.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, a large ship

with two tiers of painted ports was made to windward, standing in for the land towards Ambriz. At four o'clock the chase was overhauled, having the name "Martha, New York," registered on her stern. The Perry had no colors flying. The ship, when in range of the guns, hoisted the American ensign, shortened sail, and backed her main-topsail. The first lieutenant, Mr. Rush, was sent to board her. As he was rounding her stern, the people on board observed, by the uniform of the boarding-officer, that the vessel was an American cruiser. The ship then hauled down the American and hoisted Brazilian colors. The officer went on board and asked for papers and other proofs of nationality. The captain denied having papers, log, or anything else. At this time, something was thrown overboard; when another boat was sent from the Perry and picked up the writing-desk of the captain, containing sundry papers By this arrangement, as the United States nev-and letters, identifying the captain as an Amerier has consented, and never ought to consent, even on the African coast, to grant to Great Britain or any other power the right of search, a slaver, when falling in with an American cruiser, would be prepared to elude search and capture by the

can citizen; also indicating the owner of threefifths of the vessel to be an American merchant, resident in Rio de Janeiro. After obtaining satis factory proof that the ship Martha was a slaver, she was seized as a prize.

The captain at length admitted that the ship pendence combined with a look out for damawas fully equipped for the slave-trade. There ges of their skippers, and the over-zeal of were found on board the vessel one hundred and British officers, not always free of a desire to seventy-six casks filled with water, containing make prizes. The last, when detected, should from one hundred to one hundred and fifty gal- be promptly put down. The zeal is not so lons each; one hundred and fifty barrels of farina for slave-food; several sacks of beans; slave- easy to deal with, for in checking that we may deck laid; four iron boilers for cooking slave- damp activity. The vulgar bluster of Ameriprovisions; iron bars, with the necessary wood-can merchantmen may be disregarded when work, for securing slaves to the deck; four hundred spoons for feeding them; between thirty and forty muskets; and a written agreement between the owner and the captain, with the receipt of the owner for two thousand millreas.

There being thirty-five persons on board this prize, many of whom were foreigners, it was deemed necessary to send a force of twenty-five men, with the first and second lieutenants, that the prize might be safely conducted to New York, for which place she took her departure that evening.

the amende is made. The promptness to take offence, the disposition to stand upon dignity, the tendency to magniloquence and to "fending and proving," which appear to characterize some of the American officers, must be left to time. When an American is more satisfied at heart with his country's greatness, and the dignity it reflects upon himself, he will be less disposed to cavil about trifles and pick quarrels to assert his importance.

The writing-desk thrown overboard from the Martha soon after she was boarded, contained sundry papers, making curious revelations of the A SCHEME is talked of for a Ship Railway agency of some American citizens engaged in the from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea; and slave-trade. These papers implicated a number news has come that the laying down of the teleof persons who are little suspected of ever having graph cable to Corsica-half way from Europe participated in such a diabolical traffic. A citizen to Africa-has been successfully accomplished, of New York, then on the African coast, in a letter and in water more than three hundred fathoms to the captain of the Martha, says: "The French deep in some places. It was thought that very barque will be here in a few days; and, as yet, deep water would present an insurmountable difthe agent has no instructions as to her taking ficulty; but here is the difficulty overcome, and ebony [negroes, slaves] From the Rio converted into an incitement to new exertions. papers which I have seen, I infer that business is The electric telegraph, too, is now complete from pretty brisk at that place. It is thought Bombay to Calcutta-the beginning of a great here, that the brig Susan would bring a good scheme of physical improvements, which will deprize, as she had water on board... Cmonstrate more and more the folly of having so an American merchant, has sold the Flood, and long left the resources of India undeveloped. As she was put under Brazilian colors, and gone Dr. Royle has said: "It is a country of such vast around the Cape. The name of the brigantine extent, so diversified in soil and climate, that we in which B- came passenger, was the Sotind: may readily believe it capable of producing eveshe was, as we are told, formerly the United States ry kind of natural produce;" and we are glad to brig Boxer." Other letters, found with this, observe, that the conviction is spreading in quar stated: "The bark Ann Richardson and brig Su-ters where it may promote enterprise. Irrigation san, were both sent home by a United States crui- on a grand scale, next to roads, is what India reser. The Independence cleared for Paraguay; quires; and with these combined, there seems no several of the American vessels were cleared, possibility of setting a limit to her productiveness. and had sailed for Montevideo, etc., in ballast;It has been shown, on the best of evidence, that and, as I suppose, bound niggerly; but where in irrigation in India yields a profit of from seventy hell they are, is the big business of the matter. to a hundred per cent., and thus pays better than The sailors, as yet, have not been near me. I shall give myself no trouble about them. I have seen them at a distance. I am told that they are all well; but they look like death itself. V Z-tells me they have wished a hundred times, in his presence, that they had gone in the ship; for my part, I wish they were in hell, Texas, or some other nice place. B only came down here to take in,' but was driven off by one of the English cruisers; he and his nigger-crew were under deck, out of sight, when visited by the

cruiser.'"

gold-digging in Australia. Incredible as this may appear at first sight, it is easy of proof. The value of water to Indian cultivators is already well known: they purchase it willingly at one rupee, or two shillings, for 500 cubic yards; and any person or company undertaking to form reservoirs, or dig canals, would be sure of success, while at the same time contributing, in the best possible way, to the welfare of the country. Great good has already been effected by the building of dams and weirs across some of the rivers; and a project is now on foot for a canal of 180 miles long, from Sukkur to Hyderabad, which will fertilize at least a million acres. So much is involved in this question, that we cannot forbear directing attention to it.—Chambers's

Indications frequently turn up of the delicacy required in dealing with American vessels, and of the difficulties springing from the techiness of their naval officers, the low inde-Journal.

From the United Service Magazine.

THE FATE OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN.

ven to earth, bringing down angel truths, and carrying back heavenward yearnings. Will our admiration for the star-besprinkled midTHE desire of knowledge which an omni- night sky be lessened by an acquaintance with scient Creator has impressed upon the mind the laws that govern the transmission of light? of man, though often misdirected by an abuse The astronomer who patiently watches these of his free-will, is one of those attributes which distant worlds, till, reasoning from analogy, he pre-eminently distinguish him from all the peoples them with beings, bright as their own other beings that share his earthly habitation. beams, is surely as essentially a poet as the It is upon this spirit of inquiry, and the power effeminate Assyrian, who, looking into the which the children of each succeeding gen- deep innane, beheld the thousand orbs of eration possess of benefiting of the experi- night, and, turning, compared them with his ence of their fathers, that the social progress Myrrah's eyes. of man depends. The truths discovered or After offering our humble tribute of thanks the theories put forth by one man of science to the astronomers, who nightly watch the serve as stepping stones to others. Newton rising and setting stars, who mark the moment demonstrated what Kepler had propounded, when they culminate, and note down their inand the discovery of the planets lying between creased or diminished refulgence, to these Mars and Jupiter verified Bode's assumption men, to whose patient investigation we are inof a scale of distances. The discovery of one debted for so much, we acknowledge our obligreat law has been productive of the know- gations, and turn, with an equally grateful fedge of numerous truths in its application feeling to the adventurous travellers and darthrough the universe. The power which New- ing mariners who have traversed this "orbed ton recognized as the cause of the apple fall- earth” of ours, and brought back accounts of ing to the ground is the same that retains the climatic differences in the various zones, of the planets in their orbits, and, as in the works of wonderful diversity which nature presents in Infinite Wisdom, the greatest results are pro- the flora and fauna of the countries they saw. duced by means the most simple, the compu- To these men we are indebted for the highly tations made upon a principle well-established civilizing influences that commerce exerts; are infallible. The weight of the planets, from them we have learned the condition of their distances from the sun, and from each our fellow-men in other regions. And the other, with the extent of their orbits, have poet, and historian, and philosopher, have been ascertained by calculation based upon found new materials on which to exercise known principles. It was this conviction of their genius in following those who first traced the obedience of matter to certain fixed laws a way across the seas, or over the mountains which enabled Le Verrier to assert that some and plains, which had before been deemed imdisturbing cause affected the periodical return passable barriers. All these discoveries are of Saturn, and which led to a discovery that the result of that spirit of inquiry innate in must render his name for ever illustrious. the breast of man. First, individuals venturThe men who have so skilfully read the page ed on these enterprises; afterwards governof God's works will be ever esteemed the ben-ments, either avaricious of commercial advanefactors of their race, because, in demonstrat-tages, or anxious for glory, sent forth expediing so closely the laws which govern the uni- tions on voyages of discovery. That we are verse, in expatiating upon the harmony which deeply indebted to those who unlock for us pervades the entire, in dwelling upon the un- the stores of scientific knowledge, and point erring certainty with which results may be out the way to commercial wealth, there can calculated, they teach the rest of mankind to be no doubt; but mankind is proverbially unlook up to the "great first cause." And there grateful, and nations, like individuals, are can be no doubt but that an extensive ac- stained with the crime. Like improvident quaintance with the truths of science will in- fathers, we incur debts, which we leave to our duce a knowledge that rather tends to hum- children to pay, and it is posterity which is ble than "puff up," leading, as it does, to the generally expected to do justice to those, the contemplation of the Eternal Truth, in whom first fruits of whose labors have been reaped there is no 66 change or shadow of alteration," by us; and posterity, in paying the debts of or, as some translators have it, "no parallax." its predecessors, generally incurs new ones on Some there are who dread that science will its own account. How often have we heard chase poetry from the earth; but surely such it mentioned, as a gross injustice, that the fears are groundless. What inspiration can continent that Columbus discovered received be so deep as that which the knowledge of truth inspires, what aspirations so lofty as those which ascend in security that mystic ladder that science has reared, and which, like that in the vision of the patriarch reaches from hea

its name from another. We speak with warm indignation of the exiled Dante, the persecuted Tasso, the starving Otway, and we forget Sir John Franklin.

But let us not leave it to posterity to paint

this picture, let us portray it ourselves, and which may be yet available, or, that we had let us now do what posterity will say we ought not even endeavored to ascertain their fate. to have done. Sir John Franklin and crew Sir John Franklin was sent out by the Adwere sent out by a department of the legisla- miralty. He received positive instructions as ture, whose acts are recognized by the nation. to the object he was to endeavor to attain, and There can be no doubt but that these mari- the course he was to pursue. He was spoken ners were fully impressed with the difficulties with, two months after he left England, but of the enterprise, but animated by mingled has not since been heard of. Rewards have feelings of pride and hope, they did not shrink been offered to those who should find any from the danger. If they returned triumph- traces of the crew or ships; and we may ant, they should be received with rewards and here remark that Lady Franklin, with the congratulations; if they perished in those dis- clear sightedness of affection, fixed upon a tant seas, their names should be embalmed in better mode of distributing the rewards she undying remembrance in the breasts of their offered, than the government had thought of countrymen. These thoughts lifted their in apportioning theirs. No traces have been hearts to a steady enthusiasm, and helped discovered of the ships, and it is therefore asthem on through many a hairbreadth escape. sumed that they have been lost. This appears But let us follow them into those dreary re- a most extraordinary mode of reasoning, pargions, when the night of many months comes ticularly when there are many possibilities on. They have been searching for a passage that the ships under Sir John Franklin may through ways gorged with ice, the impedi- have entered the Polar Seas, and are in a poments are becoming daily greater, and at sition from which they cannot be extricated length hewing, with great difficulty, a dock in without more help than their present crews the ice, they prepare to winter there; but can afford. blinding snow storms come on, fierce winds A pamphlet written by Mr. John Murray, blow, separating huge masses of ice, and drift- civil engineer, has powerfully re-wakened our ing them along. One of these great icebergs sympathies for Sir John Franklin, and the is drifted towards the spot where the ship has party under his command. Mr. Murray is of found an icy haven. The crew and officers opinion that the Palar Basin is an open sea. see the impending danger, they feel that their His reasons for holding this opinion are foundsupreme hour is come. And what does their ed upon the direction of the currents in these commander? He tells them that they are to regions, the changeable position of the magdie in the service of their country; he re-netic poles, and their coincidence of late with minds them of the Christian's hope. Calmly the points of greatest cold. The action of the he awaits the shock that will plunge his ship beneath the waves, and, communing with himself, he ponders on his fate. His last sigh will be to his Creator, his avant dernier to the land of his birth, to the home of his affections. He commends his soul to God, his memory to his country. With the calmness of a Christian and the generous self-devotion of a hero, he awaits the impending death. But let us suppose that by a merciful interference the danger is averted, the ships are extricated, a pas- We find a principle of compensation persage is opened through the ice, and the ves- vading the entire economy of nature. The sels steer homewards. How high are the hopes, air of the tropical regions becoming rarified how fond are the anticipations which fill the by the intense heat received from a vertical breasts of the long absent mariners. With sun, ascends to the higher regions of the atwhat satisfaction will they not be received. mosphere; and the colder air from the temWith what honors will they not be loaded by perate and frigid zones rushes in to supply the the nation in whose service they have risked void, whilst the warm air, displaced at the their lives. Let us imagine such feelings ani- equator, is wafted towards the poles. The mating their breasts, and then let us picture same principle obtains in the ocean. By means the damp, the darkness, that dim these warm of currents the warm waters of the equatorial effusions on hearing that they have been not regions are exchanged for the icy waters of alone unsought, but actually pronounced offi- the frigid zones. The most extensive system cially dead. Let us not give posterity a right of currents is that formed in the Indian to draw such a picture of us. Let it not be Ocean, under the influence of the trade winds, said that the lives of our fellow countrymen and which, doubling the south of Africa, reshould be of so little importance in our eyes, ceives the name of the Lagullus current, from as that we should neglect to send them aid the cape and bank of that name. This stream,

sun's rays during the long polar summer is supposed to be sufficient to dissolve the ice. Besides this, the many Russian adventurers who have traversed the coast of Siberia, have perceived, or fancied they perceived, an open sea beyond. If this be the case, it is evident that a more direct and better route to the Pacific would be found by sailing in a northeasterly, than in a north-westerly, direction to Behring's Straits.