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Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 121, 30 April 1853, Page 7

. Expedition to Africa.—We are in receipt of private intelligence, derived from the most authentic sources, to the effect that our government at Washington has completed arrangements for despatching a scientific and exploring expedition to Central Africa, with a view of finding a healthy position some distance inland, fitted for the purpose of colonization. The command and entire management of the expedition is entrusted to Commander Lynch, of the navy, whose Dead Sea explorations have rendered his name celebrated, and point him out as eminently fitted to undertake this mission, and carry it out to a successful issue. If the results of Commander Lynch's investigations be favourable to the objects had in view by our government, his report will be submitted to Congress ; but, on the contrary event, nothing will be officially said about the matter, and the project will be abandoned. The Secretary of the Navy will not at present permit the letter of instructions to Commander Lynch, to be made public, nor was it desired by him that any notice of the expedition should get abroad ; but we have been enabled to get at its leadingfeatures, and knowing no reason why the people of the United States should be kept ignorant of a matter promising to be of so much magnitude and importance in our present and future history, we will endeavour to cast as much light upon the matter as our information enables us to do. The U. S. ship Constitution, under the command of Capt. Mayo, has been detatched for the service, and is to .land Commander Lynch and his party on any part of the African coast he may select. Commander Lynch has sailed for England, and has-probably made arrangements as to the time and place of his joining the Constitution. Beside his instructions as to seeking for a district suitable in all respects for colonization, a search for the sources of the Niger will form part of his duties in Africa; and other views important to the commercial interests of this country, and from which great results may be destined to flow will not fail to attract his very particular attention. In conjunction with the vast movements now taking place in Australia, this expedition to Africa must be regarded as a great and important feature of the present age. The interior of that vast continent, containing a surface of more than twelve million square miles, is entirely unknown, except through the very partial and meagre accounts given of some portions of it by the missionaries, and occasionally by some slave dealer or traveller. Its inhabitants are supposed to number some hundred and twenty millions, who, with the exception of the semi-civilized Arabs scattered over the north-western part of it, exist in the most debased condition of savage life, and who have supplied the slave markets of South America and the West India islands for the last two and half centuries, furnishing, within that space of time, it is computed, forty millions of adult male slaves.— Neiv York Herald.