On the Ring Money of the Celte. 93 
**On the subject of the schooner Magnificent, which was lost some where near 
Cork, some time since ; she was bound to the river Bonney, or New Calabar, which is 
not far from the kingdom of Benin. The trade to these rivers for palm oil and ivory, 
is cotton goods of a great variety, gunpowder, muskets, and an extensive number of 
other articles and manillas, both of iron, and copper mixed, which is the money that 
the people of the Eboe and Brass country, and all the natives in that neighbourhood, 
go to market with. On Wednesday next, I will send you a manilla of each kind. 
This vessel did not belong to me, but the master of her was named Tobin, and had 
been.a master of one of my vessels. 
‘If at any time I can give you any information of the West Coast of Africa and 
its inhabitants, and their customs and habits, I shall have great pleasure, having in 
early life seen a good deal of these people. 
** T am, dear Sir, yours, &c. 
“J. Topix.” 
On the 28th of December, 1836, the day after I received Sir John Tobin’s letter, 
which I have just read, I received the parcel containing the books which I had the 
pleasure of presenting just now, from my learned and valued friend Dr. Hibbert, of 
York, (late of Edinburgh,) in which, among other things, he was kind enough to send 
me the following :— 
“ Extract of a letter from Edward Jones, Esq. Captain of the Ist Regiment of 
Royal Lancashire Militia, to Dr. Hibbert, dated 9, Bridge-street, Manchester, 16th 
November, 1836— 
«<The annexed two sketches are taken from a cast of the species of money now, 
at the present day, passing current among the Africans. It so strongly resembles 
what we saw in Ireland, that I thought you might be interested in a copy of it. A 
Mr. Dyson, who was for some years surgeon on board an African merchantman, 
brought it with him; and the first opportunity I shall make inquiries respecting this 
coin, and other sorts in use among the natives. 
««< J am told that in the country they are made of solid gold as in Ireland, but that 
they are now counterfeited in England, and sent out to Africa in large chests, espe- 
cially from Liverpool. 
** «Do you think this will throw any light on the antient Irish relics, &c. &c.’ 
“I wrote to Captain Jones, in reply, that I believed Sir William Betham had pub- 
lished some remarks on the gold relics found in Ireland, and that I would communi- 
cate to him the information given me. 
“S. Hippert.” 
Thus has corroborating information and evidence crowded upon me, in a very re- 
markable manner, from different quarters and in appropriate season. 
Mr. J. Bonomi, who travelled with Lord Prudhoe in Egypt, Nubia, and Sennaar, 
writes to my friend T. C. Croker as follows : 
