May 26, 185G.] AFRICA. 155 



and, from the extent of the work and the care bestowed upon it, we 

 may expect to derive an enlarged knowledge of the country through 

 which he passed. 



From letters communicated by the Foreign Office, we learn that 

 Dr. Vogel was at Gujeba in January last, and had thence proceeded 

 to Yakoba. His last letter is from Gomb^. It appears that, in 

 attempting to reach Adamaua, he had crossed the Binue, at a point 

 where the steamer under Dr. Baikie had stopped, and that he there 

 left letters in expectation that another steamer would be despatched 

 up the Chadda. We learn with regret from Dr. Vogel that his 

 health had suffered, but, on the other hand, we have cause to be 

 thankful that his life had been saved through an accident, which 

 prevented his joining a party of fifty persons going to Yola, all of 

 whom, except two, were murdered the same day. 



Our associate, Dr. Baikie, has recently published an interesting 

 and instructive description of the voyage of the * Pleiad ' steamer up 

 the Niger and Chadda, including a map from the original survey by 

 Mr. May, r.n., and much general information respecting the nations 

 and countries of that important part of Africa. In the mention of 

 this work, which reflects credit upon its author, I must not omit to 

 notice an oversight which I am sure Dr. Baikie will, with his u&ual 

 candour, acknowledge. In alluding to the origin of the Expedition, 

 Dr. Baikie does not mention the persevering part taken by the 

 Council of this Society, and particularly by Sir Eoderick Murchison, 

 in promoting it ; and he has entirely omitted to connect the name 

 of M'Leod with the great and novel feature of the plan which 

 rendered this Expedition so successful in all respects, and will 

 govern the operations, in regard to season, of all future expe- 

 ditions. It will be seen in our Journal that, early in 1852, a pro- 

 ject for ascending the Niger with the rising waters, was laid before 

 the Council by Lieut. Lyons M'Leod, who had been employed for 

 some years on the African coast. Having been referred to the 

 Expedition Committee, attention was directed to a clause in Mr. 

 Laird's mail contract with the Admiralty, which provided for the 

 ascent of one of the African rivers, by steam, at a small expense ; 

 and the Committee recommended Lieut. M'Leod to communicate 

 with Mr. Laird and adapt his plan to this arrangement. Other steps 

 were also taken and communicated to the Society by Sir Eoderick 

 Murchison, in his Presidential Address of that year. In 1853 the 

 Expedition having been brought under the notice of the Govern- 

 ment by Sir Eoderick, as President of the Society, some progress 



