1808.] 
sitive assertion upon which Ptolemy lays 
the greatest stress, deducing from it very 
iinportant conclusions, viz. that the land 
stretches away to the westward and 
south-west, to an indefinite extetit. 
il, Itmay be affirmed, that the hypo- 
thesis now suggested, does not clear the 
illustrious philosopher of Alexandria from 
the absurdity of aftirming the ultimate . 
junction of the land which he describes, 
with the southern promontory of Africa ; 
although he must have known what He- 
rodotus relates concerning the circumna- 
vigation of Africa, by order of one of the 
Fgyptian kings. But to this it may be 
replied, that the narrative of Herodotus 
did not at that time obtain, nor has it 
yet obtained, universal credit; and Pto- 
jemy might be allowed as well as others to 
doubt its authenticity. However it is 
probable that he did not mean to impugn 
the authority of Herodotus; though he 
might chuse to take Hipparchus as_ his 
immediate guide im determining upon 
this question, which in the age of Pto- 
lemy was certainly a very obscure one. 
Tt was the opinion of Hipparchus, that 
the earth was not surrounded by one con- 
tinuous ocean; but that itis separated by 
different isthmuses which divide it into 
immense basons. The Egyptian squa- 
dron, if we admit the account of Hero- 
dotus as authentic, undoubtedly sailed 
through the Mozambique passage; and 
this was perfectly consistent with what 
appears to bave been the opwion of Hip- 
parchus and Ptolemy, that a vast southern 
continent extended from Asia to Africa, 
of which the isiand of Madagascar might 
be supposed to Constitute a part, and 
which might be imagined to approach so 
near to the southern promontory of 
Africa, as to form a strait communicating 
with the Atlantic; and perfectly compa- 
tible with the circumnavigatory voyage of 
the Egyptians, as related by Eferodotus, 
: Your’s, &c. 
Bedford, W. BeLsHam. 
February 8, 1808. 
ei EE 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
HE letter annexed to this, fell into 
my hands a few weeks since. 
Since it contains information that may 
please and interest your numerons rea- 
ders, | ofier it for a place in your valuable 
Miscellany; as a continuation of former 
communications from the same pen; 
which I[thave the pleasure of knowing 
have been truly acceptable to the pub- 
lic. Igive it you, except a few omissions 
Leiter fromthe Mississippi Territory. 
195 
of a personal and family nature, as it was 
composed, in the unadorned and artless 
freedom and simplicity of stile and maa- 
ner, of one brother writing to another bro- 
ther. Itis a natural dress, and authen- 
ticates a narrative, 
Your’s, &c. 
Birmingham, Josuua TOULMIN. 
February 22, 1808. 
Fort Stoddart, Mississippi Territory. 
MY DEAR BROTHER. April 28, 1807. 
Having long intended it, and having long 
intended that it should bea very long letter. 
Ihave just now all of a sudden, as dinner is 
just coming to table, determined to write to 
you, and to be contented with a short letter. 
I have taken several journies through this 
country since I have been here, and have al< ~ 
ways calculated on giving you a long account 
of them, During the last, | actually wrote 
to you, or rather memorandums to you, as the 
foundation of a letter, written on my knee in 
the open woods after night, with the fire of 
pinewood for my candle. For your nephew, 
Theophilus and I, (he being now ten years 
old)/took a long journey to the Mississippi, 
and back through the unexplored wilds of - 
West Florida, all alone, without seeing a 
human face, or human habitation, or any ef- 
fects of human industry for a considerable 
time; our journey homewards taking up a 
whole month, when we had the sun and a 
compass for our guide, and at last, wild roots 
for our food; and weré obliged to raft or swim 
over several water courses. 
My object, in this strange tour, was to find 
out a good and direct way for a ruad from 
hence to Natchez, and from thence to New Or- 
leans. 
Whilst in the neighbourhood of Natchez, 
Mr. Burr, the late vice-president of the 
United States, was there, and indeed boarded, 
some days, in the same house with us. You 
have heard,no doubt, of the alarm he has occa- 
sioned in America. I believe his ohject te 
have been, to occasion a separation of the 
Union, in conjunction with the Spaniards, and 
eventually to make himself emperor of a new 
despotism to be established in this country ; 
comprehending Mexico and Louisiana. But 
his schemes have proved abortive, and are 
universally detested, except among 
who had prepared themselves to go to all 
lengths with him, He wasat length obliged 
to flee; and was taken while passing in dis- 
guise through this settlement, by my son-in-= 
law Captain Gaines: and I have lately sent 
on his German secretary after him, to the 
city of Washington, as a witness on _ his 
trial. y 
I am living at the last house in the United 
States, on the Mobile river. at the Sist de- 
gree of north latitude. ‘The place was for- 
merly cailed West Florida; but is now above 
the Gist degree, called the Mississippi Ter- 
Tilory 5 
a few, 
