Orbis situm dicere, impeditum opus et facundiæ minime capax, constat enin fere ex gentium locorumque nominibus, et eorum perplexo satis ordine, quem persequi longa est magis quam benigna materia, verum adspici tamen cognoscique dignissimum, et quod sine ope ingenii Orantis ac ipsa sui contemplatione, pretium operæ attendentium absolvat.CHAPTER IX.
Orbis situm dicere, impeditum opus et facundiæ minime capax, constat enin fere ex gentium locorumque nominibus, et eorum perplexo satis ordine, quem persequi longa est magis quam benigna materia, verum adspici tamen cognoscique dignissimum, et quod sine ope ingenii Orantis ac ipsa sui contemplatione, pretium operæ attendentium absolvat.
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 bypersonal 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 themost 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 theformer, 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.