66 IMPEDIMENTS TO OUR already travelled from Galam to that city, I believe on a commercial speculation, and he has returned safe.

Catherine Hutton.

Impediments to our Intercourse with Africa, When we consider the maritime strength of Great Britain ; her command of the ocean ; the vicinity to Europe of West Barbary, one of the finest countries in the world ; the rich and valuable produce which is cultivated in this country ;—when we consider that our garrison of Gibraltar is in its vicinage, and but a few hours' sail from it, we are naturally astonished that our communication with this country is so limited. That we have less commercial communication with Barbary, than we have with countries that do not open to us any thing like the commercial advantages that this country offers, though they are thousands of miles from us. It appears relevant, therefore, to inquire, whence originates this impeded intercourse? There are two great impediments to our free intercourse with Sudan through Marocco : viz., a general ignorance of the Arabic language, as spoken in the latter country; and the repugnancy of the Muhamedan religion to that of Christ. With respect to the first of these impediments, it is remarkable that this learned language is so little known in Europe, — this language, the most prevalent in the world, a language which