rienced to keep off the noxious vapours that are steaming from the earth, arising from the exhalations that take place during the night.

The Harmattan winds blow from the north and east, are extremely cold, and absorb all moisture. They cool water, as if iced, parch the skin, particularly of the mouth and nostrils, shrivel papers, and split pens; yet notwithstanding many attendant annoyances they are considered bracing to the nerves of the weak, and recovering invalids, but are very trying to the African or old resident. Their visitations are in November and December, and the spring, lasting four or five days.

The tornado is sometimes frightfully powerful, driving ships from their moorings, rooting up trees of the largest size, unroofing houses, and not unfrequently demolishing them with "one fell swoop." Their approach is known by the gathering of a black murky cloud in the northward or eastward, vivid flashes of lightning with distant peals of thunder, the breathing becomes oppressed and overpowered with suffocating heat, then comes a gentle breeze, which immediately increases into terrific fury; a tornado! a tornado!" resounds from all quarters: doors, windows, and all apertures are instantly closed, when it bursts down with overwhelming rage, closing with a deluge, which lasts nearly an hour. When its madness abates, the atmosphere becomes fresh, pure, and invigorating, the heat is moderated and effluvia dissipated, and places which were not visible are distinctly seen, crews which have taken in their sails to save their vessels from being wrecked, now spread them out again to dry, and all is wholesome and calm that was so lately noxious and agitated, thus convincing us "that whatever is is right;" a truth that is discoverable even in the malignity of the climate, as stimulating man to strenuous exertion in the removal of the wild exuberance of nature, which, when fully effected, will render Sierra Leone, in time to come, as wholesome and desirable a residence as it is now baneful and disagreeable.

FEVER.

The Acclimating Fever and Mortality, &c.-The fever is the inevitable lot sooner or later of all who remain for any time upon the coast of Africa, and to which many (particularly the whites) fall victims. It is much better to have it soon after arrival, whilst the constitution is sufficiently vigorous to struggle against its violence, the chances of recovery being decidedly in an inverse ratio as the attack is delayed.

In the author's own case the fever commenced with violent pains in the head and back, and redness in the eyes; the blood assumes a high state of inflammation, until the patient is almost in a state of delirium, quickness and difficulty of breathing. The doctor is now called in, and the sufferer having been previously horror-stricken with the tales about salivation, prays the doctor not to prescribe calomel. "Oh! no," says "Signor Medico," whilst at the same time he doses you with the dreaded remedy, disguised in pills, draughts, and powders. If you are to live, the calomel continues you in a state of almost unendurable existence from fourteen to twenty-one days, when you are pronounced out of danger, and turned over to " kitchen physic." Yet even here all is not over; for no sooner is the patient recovered from salivation and all its offences, and is satisfied that he is an African, than the relapse gives a very significant hint that he is not quite seasoned; but this past, all is pretty safe, and would be completely so were it not for intermitting fever, ague, and debility, visitors which you must politely receive before you can feel yourself perfectly at home.

So suddenly does this fatal malady produce its effects that it leaves but little time for worldly arrangements or eternal considerations, depriving its victim of reason, and restoring it but to become momentarily conscious of dissolution.

To the new comer the frequency of deaths is startling and oppressive;

but, alas! for humanity, this very frequency creates callousness which is shocking, and almost all those emotions with which we have been taught to contemplate the last event, and the only reflection which generally occupies the survivor is, who is to step into the dead man's shoes! Death here is ambition's friend, for the death of a superior gives "ample room and verge enough" for official contest. Sic transit gloria mundi.

SLAVE TRADE.

It is impossible, unless located on the spot, to fully appreciate the spirited and truly national efforts that England is making to annihilate the traffic in man on the African coast, an example which even those nations most opposed at present to her glorious exertions will ultimately be proud to emulate. The historic page, which records this noblest amongst her many noble deeds, is too bright for other nations not to honourably struggle to have their names enrolled upon it; private cupidity may prolong the aggression, but public benevolence in every clime will be the conqueror.

It is an admirable trait in the character of the philanthropist to ameliorate the sufferings of his fellow beings, yet nobler still when a nation, at unequalled sacrifices, emancipates millions of men who have been bought and bartered for as articles of gain-God's creatures, whose cries for freedom, home, and friends, are drowned by the laugh of the captor and the clanking of oppression's chain.

"The flag that's braved a thousand years,

The battle and the breeze,"

was never more gloriously triumphant than whilst streaming to the free winds of heaven in pursuit of not only the enemy of its Sovereign, but of its God.

Some persons, in support of their venal arguments, have urged that a state of slavery is congenial to the African, and that he is unendowed with sufficient rational faculties to appreciate freedom; but this is thoroughly disproved by the mental agony evinced by many-nay, all—of these unfortunate creatures, when parting with their relatives, friends, and homes. It cannot be asserted that instances of refinement of feeling are equally common as in countries where superior education and more

civilised habits prevail, but nature, pure nature, with all its affections, asserts its right in the bosom of the black as well as in that of the white. Let the doubters witness the scenes of a slave market, and they will be sceptical no longer. Probably the negro may not have the art to make so dramatic a scene upon the occasion as an European could, but, nevertheless, they suffer as much; but, granting the contrary, does a lack of equal sensibility sanction so awful an outrage upon justice? Others, again, palliate their offence by saying that the slaves they purchase have in their turn, when victorious, been vendors of the captives. But who have encouraged them in this infamy? Those very persons who boast of a superior intellect. The tempters are the most powerful in every respect; and when the weaker yield to all the specious arts that ingenuity can devise, they despise the unfortunate instruments of their machinations, and ultimately put them, blood, bone, and sinews, into their pockets.

It may appear presumptuous in me thus to deprecate this most unholy system, when so many of the first characters of the age have anticipated almost all that can be expressed in its condemnation; but when the heart is full, it will find utterance.

There is much due to our Government, and to Englishmen individually, who have employed their untiring energies in this laudable cause. As surety for success, they have delegated authority for the consummation of the slave on the African coast to those who are no less determined to carry out this noble project. Nor does the baneful and deadly effects of the climate daunt their zeal, for their object is to convince the world that England is not guided by the mercenary motives of a trader in man, but by the lofty consideration of a benefactor of the African race, asserting at once the rights of the enslaved and freedom of mankind. Already has she forced from reluctant Portugal, faithless Spain, and Brazil, treaties by which she is more enabled to work out her purpose; and, notwithstanding all the evasions and infidelity of these Powers, she is enabled to strike a heavy blow against this colossus of iniquity.

The European settlements on the west coast are, to the northward, Goree and Senegal, owned by the French; Bissaô and Cachecô, by the Portuguese; Gambia, Bulama, and Sierra Leone, by the English, with Cape Coast, Prince's Island, and Fernando Po, to the south.