ON AFRICA. 515 cording to the European phraseology of the day) of the Niger and the Nile.

This hypothesis founded on the opinion of Major Rennel, carries with it no evidence whatever, but the speculative theory of that learned geographer. The identity or connection of the two Niles, and the consequent water communication between* Cairo and Timbuctoo receives (supposing the Quarterly Review to be correct), as our intelligence respecting Africa increases, additional confirmation : and even the Quarterly Reviewer, who denominated the opinion recorded by me, the gossipping stories of Negroes, (vide Quarterly Review, No. 25, p. 140.) now favours this opinion ! The Quarterly Reviewer appreciates Burckhardt's information on this subject, and depreciates mine, although both are derived from the same sources of "" intelligence and confirm one another : the reviewer says, Mr. Burckhardt has revived a question of older date ; viz. " that the Niger of Sudan and the Nile of Egypt are one and the same river : this general testimony to a physical fact can be shaken only by direct proof to the contrary."

This is all very well : I do not object to the Quarterly Reviewer giving up an opinion which he finds no longer tenable ; but when I see in the same review (No. 44, p. 481.) the following words, — "we give no credit whatever to the ™Vide Jackson*s enlarged Account of Marocco, p. 310.

" i. e. Intelligence from natives of Africa.

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