ON AFRICA. -51; TO JAMES GREY JACKSON, ESQ.

Sir, Edinburgh, May 3. 1818.

I HAVE lately been favoured with two communications from you : -r- 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/liave 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 tlie 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 ijohich you have given, are very interesting. I was particularly pleased to receive that of the term Ba Sea Feena, though 1 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 circumstances which L L