The Russians And Chinese Meet On The
Frontiers; Where The Furs, Linen And Woollen Cloth, Leather, Glass, &C. Of
Russia, Are Exchanged For The Tea, Porcelain, Cotton, Rice, &C. Of China.
This Intercourse Is Very Ancient.
There are also caravans of independent
Tartars, which arrive on the Jaik and Oui, and bring Chinese and Indian
commodities, which they interchange for those of Russia.
Tombuctoo is the great depot of central Africa: with it the maritime states
of Egypt, Tripoli, Algiers, Tunis, and Morocco carry on a very extensive
and lucrative trade by means of caravans. They take 129 days in travelling
to Tombuctoo from the borders of the desert, but only fifty-four are spent
in actual travelling. There is also another caravan which sets off from
Wedinou, and after collecting salt at West Tagossa, proceeds to Tombuctoo.
This goes as far as the White Mountains, near Cape Blanco, and is occupied
five or six months in its journey. The merchandize carried by these
caravans is German linens, Irish linens, muslins, woollen cloth, coral
beads, pearls, silk, coffee, tea, sugar, shawls, brass nails, &c. &c. In
exchange they bring back chiefly the produce of Soudan, viz. gold dust,
gold rings, bars of gold, elephants' teeth, gum, grains of paradise, and
slaves. There are also several caravans that trade between Cairo and the
interior of Africa, which are solely employed in the traffic of slaves.
There can be no doubt that caravans arrive at Tombuctoo from parts of
Africa very distant from it, and not only inaccessible, but totally
unknown, even by report, to Europeans, and even to the inhabitants of North
Africa.
What a picture does modern commerce present of the boundless desires of
man, and of the advancement he makes in intellect, knowledge, and power,
when stimulated by these desires! Things familiar to use cease to attract
our surprise and investigation; otherwise we should be struck with the
fact, that the lowest and poorest peasant's breakfast-table is supplied
from countries lying in the remotest parts of the world, of which Greece
and Rome, in the plenitude of their power and knowledge, were totally
ignorant. But the benefits which mankind derives from commerce are not
confined to the acquisition of a greater share and variety of the comforts,
luxuries, or even the necessaries of life. Commerce has repaid the benefits
it has received from geography: it has opened new sources of industry; of
this the cotton manufactures of Britain are a signal illustration and
proof: - it has contributed to preserve the health of the human race, by the
introduction of the most valuable drugs employed in medicine. It has
removed ignorance and national prejudices, and tended most materially to
the diffusion of political and religious knowledge. The natural philosopher
knows, that whatever affects, in the smallest degree, the remotest body in
the universe, acts, though to us in an imperceptible manner, on every other
body. So commerce acts; but its action is not momentary; its impulses, once
begun, continue with augmented force. And it appears to us no absurd or
extravagant expectation, that through its means, either directly, or by
enlarging the views and desires of man, the civilization, knowledge,
freedom and happiness of Europe will ultimately be spread over the whole
globe.
[6] Since this part of our work was written, the narrative of Lieutenant
Franklin has been published: from this it appears, that he was engaged
in this arduous undertaking during the years 1819, 1820, 1821, and
1822; that the route he followed to the Coppermine River was to the
east o the routes of M'Kenzie and Hearne; that he reached the river
three hundred and thirty-four miles north of Fort Enterprize; and the
Polar Sea in lat. 67 deg. 47' 50"; and in longitude 115 deg. 36' 49" west;
that he sailed five hundred and fifty miles along its shores to the
eastward, and then returned to Port Enterprize.
CATALOGUE OF VOYAGES AND TRAVELS.
_Preliminary Observations on the Plan and Arrangement pursued
in drawing up this Catalogue_.
It is obvious, that whoever undertakes to draw up a catalogue of books on
any particular subject, must proceed on one or other of these two
plans, - either to give a complete catalogue of all the works published on
that subject, or a select catalogue of what seems to him the best works. It
is scarcely necessary to point out the objection to the first plan, arising
from the impracticability of making any catalogue absolutely complete; but
it may be said, though not absolutely complete, it may, by sufficient
information and diligence, be rendered nearly so. Let us suppose, then,
that by unwearied assiduity and research, aided and guided by the requisite
knowledge, a catalogue is rendered as perfect as it practically can be
made, - is the utility of such a catalogue enhanced in a proportion any
thing approaching to the labour, research, and time expended upon it; or,
rather, would not such a catalogue be much less useful than one within
smaller compass, drawn up on the plan of selection?
On all subjects there are more bad or indifferent works published than good
ones. This remark applies with peculiar justice and force to modern works
of voyages and travels. A very extensive catalogue, therefore, must contain
a large portion of bad or indifferent books, which are not worth the
purchasing, the consulting, nor the perusing; consequently, if such works
appear in a catalogue drawn up for the purpose of guiding those who purpose
to travel in particular countries, to write on the subject of them, or
merely to read respecting them for the sake of information, it is plain
that such a catalogue cannot be trusted as a safe and judicious guide; as
if the persons consulting it select for themselves, there is an equal
chance of selecting useless books as good ones; and if they attempt to
peruse all, they must waste a great deal of time.
It may be said, however, that this objection can easily be obviated, by
distinguishing such works as are bad or indifferent from such as are good,
either by a short notice, or by a particular mark.
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