ADAMS'S NARRATIVE. 
469 
examine him more minutely. Adams (for this was 
the sailor's name) was on the point of setting sail 
for his native country, and shewed at first a consider- 
able reluctance to remain ; but this was overcome 
by the application of powerful motives. He was 
afterwards repeatedly examined in the presence of 
persons of distinction, who took a deep interest in 
African affairs. The substance of his intelligence 
was then taken down in writing, and thrown into 
the form of a narrative. The arguments used by 
the editor, and by a very able writer in the Quar- 
terly Review, to prove the general authenticity of 
these statements, are so convincing, and have so com- 
pletely satisfied the public, that it is unnecessary 
to repeat them here. The want of all attempt, on 
Adams's part, to turn his information to account, 
its very discrepancy with all our preconceived ideas 
on the subject, afford the strongest presumptions 
in his favour. M. Dupuis, the British Vice- Con- 
sul at Mogadore, happening fortunately to be in 
London, confirmed the fact of Adams's shipwreck, 
his release from captivity, and the correspondence 
of his present statements with those formerly given 
to himself, and also with those of other credible 
persons who had been at Tombuctoo. It is cer- 
tainly unfortunate that this grand object of Eu- 
ropean curiosity should have been first viewed by 
eyes so little enlightened or curious ; and that the 
particulars thus gleaned should rather tend to sub- 
