1840. RETURN TO ENGLAND. 513 know when they set foot again on the solid earth, tossed, as they have been, I fear, and sick and sad, and at their wit's end. I am glad they wandered to Mars Hill; it will be a pleasure to each of them all their lives. Would, however, that you were all at home again.” The last in the series of Mr. Buxton's letters, is dated from Havre de Grace: "My dear A. & C. 66 May 15. 1840. "We are going to start to-night for England. The wind is fair, the sea smooth, and we hope to breakfast to-morrow at Southampton. I was exceedingly amused with your letters from Ancona; I know you put in all that Greek to puzzle me, but there you were mistaken, for I made it all out. While I was at Paris, Madame Pelet was most kind to me, and introduced me to many persons whom I wished to see, and especially to some good abolitionists. I called on M. de St. Antoine, and was much pleased with his heartiness. I think he is more likely to be useful than any of them; he has so much heart in the work. It was, I think, this day seventeen years ago that I first brought forward the slavery question, and on Wednesday thirty-three years, I was married; the two chief events of my life." CIATION.- VENTILATION OF THE SHIPS. - 66 AGRICULTURAL ASSO SIR FOWELL BUXTON'S HEALTH BEGINS TO FAIL. THE FRIEND OF AFRICA."— PUBLIC MEETINGS. LETTER TO THE REV. J. W. CUNNINGHAM. — DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE EXPEDITION. PRINCE ALBERT'S VISIT ΤΟ THE VESSELS. THE EXPEDITION SAILS. LETTER TO The MR. BUXTON arrived at his son's house in tolerable health, and full of impatience to resume his African labours. To these he at once devoted himself, with all the ardour that might be expected after the period of relaxation he had enjoyed. In order to bring the whole case effectually before the public, a meeting was held on the 1st of June; at which, to the high gratification of all those interested in the welfare of Africa, H. R. H. Prince Albert consented to preside. meeting took place in Exeter Hall, and formed, say the contemporary papers, "a most grand and magnificent display of national feeling." At eleven o'clock His Royal Highness entered the hall, which was already crowded with an audience of the highest respectability. Among those present, were the Duke of Norfolk, the Marquis of Breadalbane, the Marquis of Northampton, the Earls of Ripon, Howe, Chichester, Euston, Devon, and Morley; Lords Ashley, Sandon, Mahon, C. Fitzroy, Worsley, Monteagle, Teignmouth, Seaford, Howick, Eliot, Calthorpe, 1840. PUBLIC MEETING. 515 LIVINGSTONE. Nugent, R. Grosvenor, &c. &c.; M. Guizot, and the Bishops of Winchester, Exeter, Chichester, Ripon, Salisbury, Hereford, and Norwich. V UNKNOWN, WAS THERE Prince Albert opened the meeting, and Mr. Buxton moved the first resolution, concluding his address in these words: THEN "I do not forget the military triumphs which this country has achieved, but there is a road to glory more noble, more illustrious, purer, and grander, than the battles of Waterloo or Trafalgar; to arrest the destruction of mankind; to pour a blessing upon a continent in ruins; to send civilisation and the mild truths of the Gospel over a region, in comparison with which Britain herself is but a speck upon the ocean; this is the road to true and enduring renown: and the desire and prayer of my heart is, that Her Majesty may tread it; and that, crowned with every other blessing, she may 'Shine the leader of applauding nations, To scatter happiness and peace around her, He was followed by Archdeacon Wilberforce (the present Bishop of Oxford), by Sir Robert Peel, the Bishops of Winchester and Chichester, the Marquis of Northampton, Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Sir George Murray, Dr. Lushington, Mr. Samuel Gurney, the Rev. Dr. Bunting, Rev. J.W. Cunningham, and several other noblemen, clergymen, and gentlemen. At one period an interruption was caused by the entry of Mr. O'Connell, and the clamours of part of the audience for a speech from that gentleman; but, altogether, the meeting passed off with the most triumphant success. Shortly after this meeting of the African Civilisation Society, it was intimated to Mr. Buxton, by Lord John Russell, that it was her Majesty's wish to confer the rank of baronet upon him. After some deliberation, having ascertained that the idea had not been suggested to the Government by any of his friends, but was a spontaneous mark of her Majesty's approbation of his conduct, he accepted the title with much gratification. The summer was spent in active preparation for the Niger Expedition, for the service of which three iron steamers, the "Albert," the "Wilberforce," and "Soudan," were fitted out; and to the great satisfaction of all who were interested in the subject, the command was given to Captain Henry Dundas Trotter; Commander William Allen was appointed to the "Wilberforce," and Commander Bird Allen to the "Soudan." These gentlemen and Mr. William Cook were the four Commissioners empowered to make treaties with the native chiefs for the abolition of the Slave Trade. ** The African Civilisation Society also engaged several scientific gentlemen to accompany the expedition ; Dr. Vögel as botanist, Mr. Roscher as mineralogist and miner, Dr. Stanger as geologist, and Mr. Fraser, Curator of the Zoological Society of London, as naturalist. Mr. Uwins a draughtsman, and Mr. Ansell a practical gardener or seedsman, were also appointed; and the Church Missionary Society was allowed to send the Rev. Frederick Schön and Mr. Samuel * Well known as the Captain of the Cambria, which saved the crew of the Kent East Indiaman. 1840. * OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION. 517 Crowther to examine into the practicability of establishing missions on the banks of the Niger. The object of the expedition was, to explore that great artery of Western Africa, the river Niger; to examine the capabilities of the country along its banks; to enter into treaties with the native chiefs for the abolition of the Slave Trade; to clear the road for commercial enterprise, and to afford that enterprise the security which alone seemed necessary for its development. Sir Fowell Buxton and his friends were also extremely anxious that this opportunity should not be lost, of putting the natives in the way of cultivating the soil, and drawing forth its varied and immense resources. It will be remembered that, in 1839, an Agricultural Association was proposed. To its formation, Mr. Buxton had devoted much of his time during the summer of 1840. The expression recurs again and again in his letters, "There is nothing to which I attach more importance, than to the Agricultural Association." "I am firm in the conviction that, next to religion, the Agricultural Association is the means on which we ought chiefly to rely." To Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Bart. "August, 1840. "This consideration has presented itself to me with great force; we never shall have again so favourable an opportunity *The Rev. S. Crowther (who is an African Negro) having been ordained by the Bishop of London, is now zealously labouring as a Missionary, at Abeokouta. An interesting account of his deliverance from a slave ship, will be found in App. III. of Messrs. Schön and Crowther's Journals of the Niger Expedition. |