Whether the person next named in our notes, properly comes under the head
of celebrated travellers, may, perhaps, be disputed; but every one will
allow, that as far as geographical knowledge is connected with voyages
and travellers, there are few, if any, of modern times, to whom science
is more indebted, than to Major R.
Before his time, we of this country, hardly knew any thing of the
scientific construction of maps, and some individuals here were termed
geographers to the King, who were totally ignorant of the principles of
their profession. The Major, however, gave a notable example of what
might be effected by personal observation, acting in conjunction with
real science. The obligations which his country men owe him in this
particular, cannot easily be explained, but he may be considered as
the father of the English geographical school; and we now accompany a
traveller in all those parts of the world, which he has undertaken to
illustrate, with confidence and security.
The map of the peninsula of India is beyond all praise, and the elaborate
dissertation by which it is accompanied, is perhaps the most perfect
thing of the kind in our language.
How little did we know of Africa, till within the last twenty years, and
how imperfect were the best geographical delineations of that region, not
excepting that of D’Anville! How little also should we still have known
even from the well-conducted, expeditions of Hornemann, Brown, Park, and
others, if the same skilful hand had not assisted in the illustration of
their several journeys.
The great question of all, however, whether the Niger has any
communication with the Nile, still remains undetermined; the learned
subject of this article is decidedly of opinion, that these rivers do not
meet.
Like many other personages of distinguished merit and superior talents,
the notes of our manuscript, represent this eminent geographer, as of
the most placid and unassuming manners, communicating his knowledge with
a modest diffidence, and listening to the suggestions, even of the less
informed, without the smallest degree of ill-humour. The great work,
however, by which his name will go down to posterity, is perhaps his
illustration of the geography of Herodotus.
This too is announced in the Preface, to be only the first division of a
larger work, which was intended to comprehend the whole of the ancient
geography, as improved by the Grecian conquests and establishments, with
such portions of military history, as appear to want explanation.
None of this had appeared when the manuscript, from which these extracts
are made, was written.
The next character which presents itself in our manuscript annotations,
is that of a very eccentric and whimsical Irish traveller. He also
published a book of travels in Spain and Portugal, by no means
uninteresting, or ill-written in itself, but which was bought up and
rendered scarce on account of the great beauty of one of the plates, with
which it was embellished.
He was the son of a Dutch merchant, who retired from Holland with
a considerable fortune, to spend the remainder of his days in this
country, and with this view, purchased property in one of our largest
provincial towns. This traveller was his eldest son, and every thing
he undertook or did, his studies, pursuits, habits, and acquaintance,
were chosen with the most extraordinary waywardness. His characteristic
principle was “_fari quid sentiat_,” without any very nice regard to
time, circumstance, or persons. This was particularly obvious in all he
published, and in a neighbouring island, involved him in no trifling
perplexity or disgrace. By some thoughtless expression, he offended the
females of the place which he visited, and they, to mark their contempt
and indignation, thought proper to call a dishonourable utensil after his
name, and had a striking caricature of his person visible at bottom.
He published, however, one standard work, upon chess, which will always
be quoted with respect by all who are engaged in this particular pursuit,
the varieties, chances, and labyrinths of which he well describes, and
which any indifferent reader may peruse with satisfaction and amusement.
What his ultimate situation in life was, or whether he yet survived, when
these notes were written, was apparently unknown to the Sexagenarian. All
that appears on this head is in the form of a query, thus:—Did he not
afterwards engage unsuccessfully in business of a speculative kind, and
lose the wreck of his fortune?
The traveller had a brother of some waywardness also, but who was very
amiable, and, unlike the former, of the most unoffending manners. When
young, he had not a mere liking, but an absolute passion for theatrical
amusements. He in a manner attached himself to the provincial company of
the place where he resided, accompanied them to whatever place they went,
never absented himself from any of their performances, assisted them with
his countenance on all occasions, his advice, and his purse.
This passion remained for a considerable number of years without the
smallest abatement, till he finally formed a connection by marriage
with a family, the heads of whom were distinguished by the very highest
degrees of theatrical excellence, and not more deservedly popular for
their eminence of this kind, than for their general accomplishments. This
gentleman also was an author, but of a peculiar kind. His knowledge was
indeed principally confined to his own language, in the literature of
which, and more particularly in that which related to the Drama, he was
remarkably well skilled. The performance which he produced had relation
to the greatest ornament of our country, and which, if it was not
entitled to the praise of genius, might reasonably claim that of care and
diligence, of accuracy and usefulness.
Nam doli non doli sunt, nisi astu colas
Sed malum maxumum si id palam provenit.