Sir,

Edinburgh, May 3. 1818.

I have lately been favoured with two communications from you:--the
one a letter to Mr. Napier, editor of the Encyclopaedia Britannica,
on the subject of the article _Africa_, of which I was the author,
and which Mr. Napier, therefore, put into my hands; the other, a
letter direct to myself, on the subject of my edition of "Leyden's
Discoveries in Africa." I fully intended to have answered them
before now, but the pressure of other business, with the wish to
bestow upon them the leisurely consideration which they merited,
has hitherto prevented me. I feel much gratified by the favourable
opinion which you express of what I have done on this subject, and
much obliged to you for your communications, and offers of further
information. I experienced very much the disadvantage arising from
a want of knowledge of the languages of North Africa, with which
you appear to have a _very extensive acquaintance. Indeed, several
of the etymologies which you have given, are very interesting_. I
was particularly pleased to receive that of the term _Ba Sea
Feena_, though I cannot conceal that it tends to strengthen the
doubts which I have entertained of its applying to the sea on the
Gold Coast. The distance, the direction southwards, the Christians,
the motion one way and another, and even the ships, are all
514 circumstances which would agree. There are arguments, however,
against it; and it is certain that Park did not so understand it.
Do you think there is any chance that the Bahr Soudan could be the
Gulf of Guinea?

If you are acquainted with any circumstances which could tend to
confirm or refute the narrative of Sidi Hamet, as given by Riley,
or throw light upon Riley's general credibility; or if you have
ever heard any report of such a city as _Wassanah_, I should feel
particularly obliged to you for communicating such information: and
whenever I find myself at a loss, I shall gladly avail myself of
the liberality with which you show yourself disposed to impart the
knowledge of which you have become possessed.

I shall communicate this letter to Mr. Napier; and it is but fair
to mention, that, from the circumstances already stated, I am
solely responsible for the too long del