OUR COMMERCE WITH AFRICA. 389 



turies, and become useful and active members of 

 the great commonwealth of mankind ; and every 

 British station would become a centre from 

 whence religion and commerce would radiate 

 their influence over the surrounding country. 

 Who can calculate the effect that would be pro- 

 duced if such a plan were followed out, and 

 Africa, freed from her chains moral and physical, 

 allowed to develope her energies in peace and 

 security ? No parallel can be drawn, no compa- 

 rison can be instituted, between Africa enslaved, 

 and Africa free and unfettered : and will the Bri- 

 tish nation, after forfeiting the lives of so many of 

 her noble and intrepid sons who have perished 

 in discovering the highway into her very centre, 

 now stop short ? Will not the blood of Park, of 

 Clapperton, of Oudney, of Houghton, of Laing, 

 and many other gallant men chronicled on the 

 pages of African discovery as having fallen in its 

 cause — will not their blood cry shame upon them 

 if they do ? I will not believe that my country- 

 men are so dead to their interest or to their 

 duty as to neglect so favourable an opportunity 

 of following both. 



It has been said that Government having dis- 

 covered the embouchure of the Niger, may leave 



