To determine what are the principal topics of the week, when not half the usual supply of newspapers has arrived, is. very difficult; but we might perhaps imagine from the attractive extra number of the Graphic, which has come, that Stanley was still the great attraction. Who we come to look through this Stanley Number, the conviction gradually asserts itself that the Stavley excitement is played out. There isa terrible similarity about these pictures of African exploration, and it is a little hard that we should be asked to interest ourselves again in the meeting of Stanley and Livingstone, and in other reprints from the Graphic of 1872 and 1878. Sir Samuel and Lady Baker are worthy people, and there is a certain picturesqueness in the cottage where Mr. Stanley was born, but there is really more ancient history and more advertising in this Stanley Number than we ought to expect; nor is Dr. Felkin's concluding paragraph untinged with doubt. He says:—''It is impossible to estimate the results of the Expedition with regard to. the future of Africa, Time alone, that great revealer of secrets, will prove. when ther or no the trials and losses and disastrous events which have throughout beset the Expedition have. been suffered in vain, Itis fervently to be hoped that such heroism will ultimately result in good for Africa and the Africans." It would be very interesting if, after Stanley and his force had been through a district, fighting their way and provisioning themselves as. best they could, we could get the opinion of the natives on the value and conduct of the expedition. But the poor Africans are mute and inglorious, and perhaps it as well for our self-complacency that they are, and that Stanley isn't. In euch a matter
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.