100 THE NIGER.

shall be much obliged to you for information concerning this river, particularly as to its termination, I suspect it discharges itself into some interior sea or vast lake, like the Caspian ; unless, like the Burrampooter, after various and extensive windings, it may return towards its source, and fall into the Atlantic.

You will have heard of the landing of a French army in Egypt, under Buonaparte ; the French are enterprising, and if they should penetrate from the eastward, while we advance from the west, the interior of the African continent may at length be laid open.

1 remain, my dear Sir, Your's sincerely, J. WILLIS.