48 VARIOUS LETTEItS is 7iecessary than to take a fortified station upon the African coasts somewhere about the 9Qth degree of north latitude, near the confines of the Marocco dominions, to serve as a safe magazine or emporiumfor merchandize. From this station it would be easy to maintain a direct correspondence with the opulent merchants of Timhuctoo ; regular caravans might be established to depart at fixed periods ; the protection of the Arabs can at all times be purchased at stipulated prices, which may be considered as premiums of insurance, or as a tax for convoy, and thus in a little time these caravans might carry out merchandize, to and from Timbuctoo, with as much regularity and safety, and with less expense, than our fleets convey our goods to and from the West Indies.

The expense of such a fortified station as is here proposed, would be very moderate, in comparison with the advantages it would produce ; and it would be easy to draw out a plan for it ; but I do not think it would be proper to go into a detail here,— " non est hie locusJ' It has been well observed, that commerce is the key of Africa ; and I shall only add, that if the plan I have suggested were carried into execution, these interesting regions of Africa, that have heretofore baffled the attempts of curiosity and enterprise, and remained for so many ages a " sealed book" to the inhabitants of Europe, would soon be explored and laid open. This is an object that cannot be indifferent to a prince,