In 1829 he was promoted to ship's ensign, and served in the Morea expedition. In 1830 he was part of the blockade and capture of Algiers, followed by the blockade of Antwerp. Made Lieutenant in 1834, he was attached to the naval post at La Plata, from where he was sent to Senegal. In 1836 took command of the steamship "L'Africain", with which he traveled 200 miles inland, up to the Félou Falls ("les Chutes de Félou") in upper Senegal. He was the only Westerner to return alive, the others having succumbed to disease.