There is a long dissertation in our manuscript, on Bruce’s theory of Solomon’s voyage to Ophir, and perhaps it may be an object of regret, that it is too long for insertion. The conclusions which Bruce drew from his premises are not conceded, nor does he appear to have had a very clear conception of the subject on which he was writing, and has failed altogether in proving that Sofola is Ophir.
To conclude this article, it appears, from the concurring testimonies of succeeding travellers, that Bruce was never appointed to the government of Ras el Feel, nor indeed to any government at all.
It may not, perhaps, be impertinent to subjoin, that among Bruce’s manuscripts is a Coptic manuscript on Papyrus.
It was found among the ruins of Thebes, in Egypt. It is written in the Sahidic or Theban dialect of the Coptic, that is of the language of the Pharoahs. The above manuscript has been described by Dr. Woide.
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.
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.