ollowing action took
place:

Whereas, Dr. Martin R. Delany, Commissioner to Africa, having presented
the names of Messrs. Robert Douglas and Robert Campbell of
Philadelphia, Pa., U.S., requesting that they be appointed
Commissioners, the Board having made him Chief Commissioner with full
power to appoint his own Assistants, do hereby sanction the appointment
of these gentlemen as Assistant Commissioners.

A paper was then laid before the Council, presenting the name and scheme
of the party, which was received and adopted.

Dr. Amos Aray, surgeon, a highly intelligent gentleman, and Mr. James W.
Purnell, also an intelligent young gentleman, bred to mercantile
pursuits, having subsequently sent in their names and received
appointments by the Chief Commissioner, the following document was made
out:

AFRICAN COMMISSION

The President and Officers of the General Board of Commissioners,
viz: William H. Day, A.M., President; Matison F. Bailey,
Vice-President; George W. Brodie, Secretary; James Madison Bell,
Treasurer; Alfred Whipper, Auditor; Dr. Martin R. Delany, Special
Foreign Secretary; Abram D. Shadd, James Henry Harris, and Isaac D.
Shadd, the Executive Council in behalf of the organization for the
promotion of the political and other interests of the Colored
Inhabitants of North America, particularly the United States and
Canada.

To all, unto whom these letters may come, greeting: The said
General Board of Commissioners, in Executive Council assembled,
have this day chosen, and by these presents do hereby appoint and
authorize Dr. Martin Robison Delany, of Chatham, County of Kent,
Province of Canada, Chief Commissioner; and Robert Douglass, Esq.,
Artist, and Prof. Robert Campbell, Naturalist, both of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, to
be Assistant Commissioners; Amos Aray, Surgeon; and James W
Purnell, Secretary and Commercial Reporter, both of Kent County,
Canada West, of a Scientific Corps, to be known by the name of

THE NIGER VALLEY EXPLORING PARTY

The object of this Expedition is to make a Topographical, Geological
and Geographical Examination of the Valley of the River Niger, in
Africa, and an inquiry into the state and condition of the people of
that Valley, and other parts of Africa, together with such other
scientific inquiries as may by the