Note 7 — MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN HUGH CLAPPERTON, THE AFRICAN TRAVELLER.

M‘Diarmid’s version of this important passage of Clapperton’s life is, that after he had by compulsion become a sailor on board a man-of-war, he wrote to Mr. Scott, banker in Annan, describing his situation and soliciting his interest; that Mr. Scott applied to General Dirom, and that the General applied to Sir Home Popham, while his lady applied to her cousin Captain Briggs of the Clorinde, and by the aid of these combined and powerful applications in his behalf, Clapperton was raised to the rank of a midshipman. This is the first time we ever heard that the youth was an object of interest to so many honourable individuals; but when they claim the merit of having been the means of promoting him to the rank of midshipman in the navy, they claim more than their due; because it can be proved by the date of documents still in the possession of a near relation of the traveller, that he was a midshipman long before he was known to Captain Briggs of the Clorinde.