The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-02-19 00:00:00

THE NIGER EXPEDITION

THE STEAM-SHIPS WILBERFORCE, ALBERT, AND SOUDAN.
Our readers are, no doubt, aware that three iron steam-
ships have recently been built at this port by Mr. John Laird,
of North Birkenhead, for the intended expedition to "Western
Africa ; and, as some accounts of them have recently appeared
in several of the London and provhicial newspapers, founded
on inaccurate data, and, consequently, to a considerable ex-
tent incorrect, we supply a brief description, from authentic in-
formation,---now that the expedition is on the eve of starting
on a mission which (whatever difference of opinion may exist
as to the plan of operations), contemplates an object, in the
success of which every friend of humanity must feel deeply
interested ,—that object being the redemption of an immense,
a prolific, and populous, but lengthened continent, from moral
and physical debasement, to the humanizing influence of
civilization and christianity.

The expedition, we may promise, has resulted out of the
proceedings of a society which originated in a meeting of
noblemen and gentlemen, (of all parties,) held at Westmin-
ster, in July, 1839—namely, "The Society for the Extinc-
tion of the Slave-trade and the Civilization of Africa."—
Amongst those present were the Bishop of London, the Earl
of Chichester, Lord Ashley, Lord Sandon, Sir R. H. Inglis,
W. E. Gladstone, Esq., M.P., the Right Honourable Ste-
phen Lushington, M.P., and other individuals of eminence
in and out of parliament. The primary object of the institu-
tution was the extinction of the slave-trade, (which previous
means had failed to effect,)—and the means proposed were
" the civilization of Africa, and the encouragement and pro-
tection of the soil, and of legitimate commerce."
A committee was appointed at the original meeting ; their
application to government tl equip an expedition to ascend
some of the principal rivers of Western Africa was acceded
to ; and in June, 1840, the parliament voted a sum of money
for the purpose, and the construction of the vessels was im-
mediately proceeded with. The committee instantly took
every possible means to obtain such information from former
navigat,rs to the coast, and travellers in. the interior of the
country bordering on the Niger—the great outlet of that part
of the globe—as might be available to those employed in the
•
expedition ; and the result has been the acciimulation of a
fast body of useful and fateresting iliforinatidn. They have
also engaged the services of a number of nautical, scientific,
and professional gentlemen of high standing, many of whom
have before visited Africa ; and as every possible appliance
has been resorted to in the fitting up and ventilation of the
ships that can conduce to the health, safety, and comfort of
all on board, the expedition, it may be said, will start on the
enterpriae armed with the experience of the past, and pre-
pared, so far as human foresight can avail, greatly to lessen,
if not, indeed, to overcome, those perils and obstacles which
have hitherto beset former exploratory of that continent, the
climate of which, particularly within the line of confluence of
the sea and rivers, is proverbially inimical to European con-
titutions.

In June last the first public meeting of the Society was
held at Exeter Hall, on which occasion his Royal Highness
Prince Albert occupied the chair ; and a most numerous and
anxious audience gave ample testimony of the deep interest
felt by the public at large in the cause of African civilisation.
The chief intention of the nommittee (as stated by themselves)
has since been directed to " co,operating with her Majesty's
government in the equipment of the expedition ; in selecting
and engaging the services of scientific men, in every depart-
ment of natural history, to accompany the expedition ; in
preparing vocabularies, (so far as can possibly be done in
this country,) of the principal languages of western and cen-
tral Africa; in procuring the most accurate information as to
the state of the countries bordering on the mighty waters of
the Niger; and otherwise in carrying out to the fullest ex-
tent the preparatory views of the Society." For a detailed
account of these proceedings we refer to a small occasional
publication, by the committee, entitled The Friend of
Africa," an interesting and intelligent periodical of which
the two first numbers have appeared within the present year,
—and proceed to a brief description of the marine to be em-
ployed.

- Two of the vessels, the Albert of the Wilberforce, are of
equal tonnage, steam-power, and equipment ; the third, the
Soudan, is of a smaller capacity, being calculated for the na-
vigation of small rivers and inlets. The following are their