he may have overlooked, that are worthy of preservation. And were this done, the necessity might be removed of resorting to those of our sister kingdom, to form a volume of respectable size. Let our English friends, if they think their political effusions of a similar kind deserve so much attention, form a collection for themselves. At all events, let Mr. Hogg prefer giving what may only be tolerably decent of the same species, rather than swelling out the work with what is equally indifferent of another and a distinct class.

To conclude:-though we have not found so much as might have been looked for in such a volume, that is possessed of positive merit-and but little that is valuable with which we were previously unacquainted-we do not say we have been disappointed. The present volume forms but a part of the collection

and we know the Songs respecting 1745, are always rated higher than those which preceded them. There is something peculiarly romantic in every thing which relates to the Pretender, giving to such compositions a defined, and more pleasing character. Besides, too much (we mean of a strict poetic value) ought never to be expected where so little assimilation exists between the subject-matter and the form which is assumed. This volume, on the whole, exemplifies (what we have no space left for entering on) the dissonance between poetry and party-feelings, of which ample proofs are to be found in the history both of our ancient and more recent literature. When employed on political themes, poetry seldom retains its pristine vigour, should it have to boast of more than an ephemeral existence. The invective, as well as the applause, to which such productions give rise, are alike speedily effaced, and those productions which may have blazed with a momentary effulgence, are, by losing their splendour, generally suffered to fall into obscurity, as if, by such neglect, their light were totally extinguished. But we approve the sentiments and generosity which bade and encouraged an individual to bestow his labour on this interesting field:-as independently of the poetical value of such relics, they have strong and powerful claims which ought not to be disregarded. And it is somewhat remarkable, that the present should have been the first attempt worth naming, towards collecting and preserving these, scattered, as they were, through every district of the land. Our gratitude is the higher when we think of their number and variety-their interest and importance-and how speedily and efficaciously time, design, or negligence, might hasten on their destruction Their having been partially incorporated into the almost numberless collections of our lyrical poetry, lessens not the editor's merit as the earliest collector and illustrator, of what forms, as we consider it, a national undertaking.

We had almost forgot to notice the look of the volume itself, so very creditable to the editor's taste-and to make some remarks upon the airs and melodies that judiciously accompany the songs. But these remarks, we think, may not improperly be deferred, till we shall have occasion to notice the completion of these relics in the forthcoming volume:-together with some observations we had to offer on the general nature, the peculiar interest, and the characterizing spirit and excellence of these compositions. We shall therefore stop, wishing Mr. Hogg all imaginable success and reputation, in what he has yet to ac-complish.

ART. III.-Travels in Nubia. By the late JOHN LEWIS BURCKHARDT. Published by the Association for promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa.

THE skill and enterprise of European navigators, continued for several centuries, has now nearly completed the maritime survey of the globe. The expectation of meeting with new continents, or new islands of any extent, has been long set at rest, and the faintly-revived hope of discovering a passage through icy seas between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is all that remains to keep alive the spirit of naval adventure. The mere task of surveying coasts already known, and of laying down in dry detail the relative position of capes and bays, however useful and meritorious, has nothing in it of that romantic interest which belonged to the early enterprises of navigation.

But the more important task still remains, of boldly and successfully exploring the interior of those countries with the outward conformation of which we are now so accurately acquainted, and of ascertaining their internal structure-the courses of their different rivers-the various nations by which they are inhabited—their character, manners, customs, laws, religion, and policy, the delineation of which is still necessary to complete the picture of which the outline has been so boldly and successfully sketched. Of the different countries which still remain to be explored, Africa, from various concurring causes, has of late become the grand scene of geographical discovery, and many circumstances connected with this interesting country render it unquestionably an admirable field for enterpri ses of this nature. The interior of America, both North and South, is occupied by savage tribes, with only such differences in their habits and character as necessarily arise from the diversity of climate, or from other physical circumstances. But Afrca presents a widely different picture-it is not overshadow

ed by any such uniform cloud of barbarism and ignorance, and if uncivilized hordes occasionally wander over its parched and desolate surface, it is in other parts overspread by communities who have attained to no mean degree of civilization. In almost every part of this widely-extended continent, more especially in north ern Africa, commerce flourishes, and between the most distant regions a constant intercourse is carried on by the different carayans, consisting of 100 and sometimes of 1000 camels, tra versing, with singular boldness and perseverance, the vast deserts of sand which interpose between the cultivated parts of the country. The manners of the people are frequently indeed rude and ferocious-the governments unsettled and despotic, and continually verging towards anarchy-but, amid all the violence and confusion incident to such a combination, we may still discern the elements of the social state, however imperfectly combined; we find human beings acting in concert for their mutual comfort and happiness; we find laws and customs established for the general good, and a state of things altogether different from that disgusting uniformity of barbarism which prevails throughout the American continent. Africa is, besides, the original seat of civilization, and is still replete with the most precious monuments of ancient art. It was from Africa that the light of science gradually spread into other parts; and its history is still connected with some of those important revolutions which have changed the aspect of a great portion of the civilized world. To these considerations may be added, the important discoveries connected with a knowledge of its interior. In all ages the geography of Africa has been involved in mystery, and the little that has been brought to light by modern travellers, so far from having dispelled the darkness, has only paved the way for new and more interesting inquiries. From the adventurous journey of Bruce, we are now acquainted with some of the sources of the Nile, which remained so long concealed; and Park has ascertained that the far-famed Niger runs, according to the testimony of the ancient geographers, from west to east, i. e. into the interior of the country. But the termination of this great river still remains unknown, and is the grand problem in modern geography, for the solution of which so many brave men have already sacrificed their lives.

In 1788, a society was instituted in London, consisting of many highly distinguished individuals, for the purpose of prosecuting discoveries in the interior of Africa. The result of their labours is well known. Under their patronage, and with their assistance, many enterprising adventurers have set out for the purpose of exploring the interior of Africa, most of whom,

after making discoveries more or less important, have perished in this honourable but dangerous service. About the year

1807, the association, discouraged by the failure of all their enterprizes on the side of western Africa, resolved to make a new attempt to penetrate into the interior from the north. Lewis Burckhardt, a native of Switzerland, whose life and character, together with his travels in Africa, form the subject of the present volume, being apprised of the intentions of the society, made an offer of his services, which were willingly accepted; and, on the 25th June 1809, he received his final instructions, having diligently employed the interval in the study of Arabic, and other branches of knowledge deemed necessary for his undertaking." He allowed," we are informed in the interesting memoirs of his life and character attached to this volume, "his "beard to grow, and assumed the oriental dress; he attended "lectures on chemistry, astronomy, mineralogy, medicine, and surgery; and, in the intervals of his studies, he exercised "himself by long journeys on foot, bare headed, in the heat of "the sun, sleeping upon the ground, and living upon vegetables "and water."

Mr. Burckhardt set out on his intended expedition on the 2d March, 1809, and arrived in Malta about the middle of April, where he employed himself in procuring further information which might be useful to him in his intended journey. He proposed to set out from Malta in a vessel bound for Cyprus. After various casualties he was finally landed at Mersin, about fourteen miles to the west of Tarsus; and again embarking in another vessel, he arrived at Antakia or Antiochia, from which place he made his way to Aleppo by land.

Mr. Burckhardt remained two years and a half in Syria, diligently improving himself in the Arabic tongue, and in the no less necessary knowledge of the eastern character and manners. The name of Ibrahim Ibn Abdallah, which he assumed at Malta, he continued to retain at Aleppo; but though he still wore a Turkish dress, he laid aside, for various reasons, his assumed character of an eastern merchant. From Aleppo he made occasional excursions into the neighbouring country, and in the year 1810, he was absent for six months, during which he visited Palmyra, remained three months at Damascus, and made several journeys into the neighbouring districts. In February 1812, he quitted Aleppo, and having made some stay at Damascus, he made a second journey into the neighbouring country, inhabited chiefly by the Arab tribes. In his journey from Damascus to Egypt, he visited Tiberias and Nazareth, and, having crossed the eastern side of the Jordan, he proceeded through the countries to the east and north of the Dead Sea, until arriving at Wady

Mousa, he discovered the remains of a large city, a circumstance which, joined to the testimony of ancient history, convinced him that he was on the scite of Petra, the capital of Arabia Petræa. Pursuing a westerly course from Wady Mousa he arrived at Cairo on the 4th September, 1812. His purpose, after resting for some time at this place, was to embrace the first opportunity of a caravan westward to Fezzan, and thence to endeavour, under the assumed character of a Mahometan merchant, to penetrate southward to the countries watered by the Niger, and thus to fulfil the great object of his mission, by ascertaining the course and termination of this celebrated river. But he found on his arrival at Cairo, that no caravan would set out westward for Fezzan before the following year, and the active spirit of Burckhardt could ill brook this tedious interval of inglorious repose. He accordingly proposed to undertake a journey southward along the Nile to Dongola, and thence, if any opportunity offered, to penetrate laterally into the Nubian desert. With this view he left Cairo on the 11th January, 1818, and on the 22d February, arrived at Assouan in Upper Egypt. He proceeded southward along the course of the Nile as far as Tinareh, a small castle in the country of Mahass, about 450 miles from Assouan, which was at present the limit of his journey northward. Seeing no prospect of penetrating farther with any chance of safety, he returned to Assouan on the 31st of March. He now resolved upon a second journey southward in a direction farther east, and having established himself at Esne, the last town of any note in Upper Egypt, he waited for the departure of the Sennaar caravan, which was to set out from Daraou, a small place about 66 miles to the north. After various delays, he began his journey with the slave caravan which sets out for the south of Africa on the 2d March, 1816, and having crossed the Nubian desert, arrived in 23 days at Berber on the Nile, nearly in the same route by which Bruce returned from Abyssinia 50 years before. After remaining for about a fortnight among the Arabs, and a fortnight at Damer, a small place on the Nile, two days journey south from Berber, he proceeded southward, and reached Shendy on the 17th April. He left this place on the 17th May, with the caravan for Souakin, a port on the Red Sea, where he arrived on the 26th May, and having set sail on the 8th July, he reached Djidda on the opposite coast, after a voyage of ten days. He remained here for about a month, endeavouring to procure a supply of money; in which having succeeded, he went to Mecca, where he spent the months of September, October, and November, and after recovering from a violent attack of dysentery, he performed on the 25th November the pilgrimage to Mount Arafat, in the company of more