a knowledge of
this important quarter of the globe, and to introduce civilization among
its numerous inhabitants; by which means, our enemies will be excluded from
that emolument and acquirement, which we supinely overlook and abandon to
contingencies.

The island of Goree lies between the French settlement of the Senegal and
the river Gambia, and therefore is a very appropriate local station to aid
in forming a general system of operation from Cape Verd to Cape Palmas,
subject to one administration and control. The administrative authority, I
would recommend to be established in the river of Sierra Leone, as a
central situation, from whence evolution is to proceed with requisite
facility, and a ready intercourse be maintained throughout the whole of the
Windward Coast; and as intermediate situations, I would propose the rivers
Gambia, Rio Noonez, Rio Pongo, and Isles de Loss, to the northward; and to
the southward, the Bannana Islands, the Galinhas, Bassau, John's River, &c.
to Cape Palmas; or such of them as would be found, upon investigation, best
calculated to promote the resources of this extensive coast.

The supreme jurisdiction in the river Sierra Leone, with auxiliaries
established to influence the trade of the foregoing rivers, form the
outlines of my plan, to be supported by an adequate military force, and
organized upon principles which I have hereafter to explain in the course
of my narrative.

Having an opportunity to sail for England, in his Majesty's sloop of war
the Eugenie, commanded by Charles Webb, Esq. as it was uncertain at what
time the Lark was to proceed, I availed myself of that officer's kind
permission to embark, accompanied by surgeon Thomas Burrowes and his lady.

The Eugenie had been dispatched for England to convoy the Crescent
transport brig, with Mr. Mungo Park on board, to the river Gambia, upon his
late mission to the interior of Africa. Captain Webb did not conceive it
prudent, nor indeed was it expedient, to proceed higher up the river than
Jillifree, and dispatched the Crescent as far as Kaya, about 150 miles from
the capes of the river, where Mr. Park landed with his associates, viz. his
surgeon, botanist, draftsman, and about 40 soldiers, commanded by an
officer obtained from the royal African corps at Goree, by the order of
Government.

Nothing could have been more injudicious than attempting this ardoous
undertaking, with any force assuming a military appearance. The nati