(Vol. v., p. 261.)
I do not know why, because a man publishes maps of Africa at Gotha, they
should not be "fancy portraits," any more than why a man's book should
be a good one, because it is printed on a composition which nobody but a
German would have the effrontery to call paper.
I had seen Spruner's Map a few weeks after it came out, and the
conclusion I came to about it at the time was, that it was certainly a
fancy portrait. I shall be glad to be shown that I am in error; and, as
I am more sure of the fact that I did come to this conclusion after some
examination, than I am of the argument whereby I arrived at it--for my
memory is singularly gifted in this way--I should be obliged by E. C.
H., or any of your correspondents, informing me what grounds there are
for believing Spruner, or any one else, to have produced a map or maps
of the north coast of Africa between long. 5° west, and 25° east of
Greenwich, or any portion of the said coast,--said map or maps being the
result of actual survey. Moreover, if I further inquire when any survey
whatever took place of this coast at any time, and profess my utter
ignorance of the history of our present _North_ African maps, and my
great doubts of their credibility, let not your correspondents imagine
that this is one of a _few_ things that I ought to be acquainted with,
and really know nothing whatever about.