446 SIR RODERICK I. MURCHISON'S ADDRES&- AFRICA. [May 25, 1857. 



renewal of our intercourse witli the more civilised and Mahomedan 

 tracts of Central Africa, which, in addition to the acquirement of 

 important geographical and natural history knowledge, has in view 

 the object so dear to all philanthropists, of encouraging the natives 

 to exchange their natural productions for the manufactures of Europe, 

 and in abandoning their warlike predatory habits to take to the 

 pursuits of agriculture and commerce. 



Having taken a deep interest in that former expedition, which, 

 under the command of the same meritorious officer, returned without 

 the loss of a man, I have on this occasion prepared instructions for 

 the geological examination of a region which I apprehend may be 

 found to contain much mineral wealth. 



In fact, if the survey be completed in the manner devised, tho 

 whole western side of Central Africa will have been so traversed, as 

 to yield two important sections, which cannot fail to give us the 

 knowledge we desire. The Niger, or Kwara, flows in a gorge 

 across such thick ribs of rock as must surely enable the travellers to 

 read off a clear lesson ; whilst an excursion from the upper part of 

 tho Chadda to the sources of the Calabar on the one hand, and to 

 tho heights of Aed Hamarrawa on the other, will also afford an 

 instructive parallel traverse of no less importance. 



Eejoicing that Mr. May, the Master, of the Eoyal Navy, who laid 

 down the soundings and defined the banks of the Chadda, should 

 have returned from Canton, where he has been serving, during the 

 capture of the forts under Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, to rejoin 

 his old companion Dr. Baikie, and confident that they will both of 

 them do all in their power to make geological observations, I must 

 express my regret that there should not have been some one person 

 in this expedition, whose special duty it was to ascertain the true 

 condition of the substrata. For, inasmuch as one great feature of tho 

 enterprise is the discovery of sources for future trade, so surely must 

 it be of paramount value to be made acquainted with sites of coal, 

 iron, copper, lead, and gold. 



Hoping, however, that the zeal and ability of the explorers may 

 remedy the only deficiency which is observable in the project, 

 I cannot terminate the subject without reminding you of our deep 

 obligations to the Earl of Clarendon for his judicious and liberal 

 support of an exploration which, carried out as it will be by the 

 efficient orders of the Admiralty, must not only advance our favour- 

 ite science, but will also, I trust, prove a blessing to the natives, 

 and a boon to the commercial world. 



