'164 Scientific Reviews. 



ing, and Djenne, at which latter place Caille again joined the 

 Dhioliba, while Jomard fills up the curve from Courassaj which is 

 really lengthening Major Laing's researches as far as Dhjenne, 

 placing Boure, Sego, and Sansanding, on this arbitrary course of 

 the river^ which he further supposes Mungo Park to have navi- 

 gated in his last journey. 



Caille, in his journey, in 1827, to Time, revolved round the 

 whole of this space, and yet obtained no additional information ; 

 and the greatest errors may still exist in laying down the true di- 

 rection which he took on leaving this latter town. 



We now take leave of the geographical part of this journey. 

 The materials on which the new truths are founded are of the 

 highest importance, how they were obtained we shaU not discuss, 

 because no attacks should be made without being borne out by 

 the strongest proofs. A celebrated writer in the Quarterly Review 

 has not been prevented openly calling their authenticity in ques- 

 tion ; and though, lately, before the Academy of Sciences, Mr. 

 Coquebert-AIontbret has stated that nothing legitimates these at- 

 tacks, and that the review in question will make even little impres- 

 sion on British readers, we have that opinion of the reviewer, 

 .that we think he would not trifle upon so disagreeable a theme. 

 We certainly think the most honourable and proudest manner in 

 which the Geographical Society, or the French as a nation, could 

 answer these unjust attacks, would be to command the ex-consul 

 Rousseau to clear away the heavy imputations that lie on his cha- 

 racter, throwing off their apparent carelessness of the late transac- 

 tions in Tripoli, and instituting an immediate and public inquiry 

 into the foundation of such attacks. 



When to these unpleasant circumstances under which the work 

 made its appearance, were added many circumstances of peculiarity 

 in the reports of scientific bodies, and in the work itself, the most 

 inexperienced critic must be excused a little scepticism, even 

 though that scepticism might have originated from a want of know- 

 ledge of the French character. 



We wish to make no invidious comparisons ; we have proved, or, 

 if we have not yet, we will prove, that we are neither stupified by 

 the fogs of our national air, nor dazzled by the brilliancy of foreign 

 colours. Without the slightest prejudice, there is much diflference 

 between sincerity and enthusiasm. Our continental neighbours 

 boast of bearing no resemblance to their anti-revolutionary ances- 

 tors. They have become staid, judicious, honourable, and proud — 

 in opposition to inconstant, thoughtless, dissembling, and vain. And 

 certainly the revolution did efl^ect a great change in the intellec- 

 tual and moral character of the many tribes of men which consti- 

 tute the French nation ; and most of whom were, until that period, 

 unable to tear themselves from the enervating influence of bigotry 

 and superstition, or unyoke the thraldom of a latent feudalism. 



Yet so slight an occurrence as the successful expedition of a 

 traveller, has been characterized by a degree of national feeling 



