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I THE NIGER EXPEDITION. . — naron'r ‘bF carram TROTTER TO THE SECRETARY on THE ’ ‘ ADMinAixrv. _ ’

' Sin,—I have only time, on landing from the Warre merchant schoone? (in order to save a post), to beg you will inform the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty of my arrival from FernandoPo, which I left on the 23d of November, at the recommendation of the medical of- ficers, for the re-establishment of my health.

Although now almost entirely recovered, tendency to attacks of ague makes it advisable that I should not travel by night, but I hope to be able to report myself at the Admiralty the day after to-morrow at furthest.

I regret to be obliged to report the death of Lieutenant Stenhouse, Mr. Woodhouse, assistant-surgeon, and Mt.

- _ Wilmot, clerk of the Albert, and one seaman and a ma-

rine belonging to the same ship, since I last wrote to theirlordships, on the 25th ofOctober, besides a seaman ofthe Soudan, on the passage home with me from Africa; but the remainder of the crew of the Albert, I am happy to say, were all getting better, and are by this time, I hope, safely arrived at Ascension. .I am, sir, your must obedient servant, H. D. TROTTER, Capt.

Liverpool, Jan. 25.

Her Majesty's Steam-vessel Albert,

, Clarence Cove, Fernando Po, Oct.‘.25, 1841.

Snip-My last letter to you. dated the 18th September, from‘: the confluence of the Niger and Tchadda, would acquaint the Lords Commissioners ofthe Admiralty that fever had broken out on board the vessels of the expedi- tion, and that I had found it necessary to despatclf the Soudan to the sea with all the cases the surgeons deem- ed to require‘a change of climate, directing Lieutenant Fishbourne to take charge of her in the absence of Com- mander Bird Allen, engaged in his duty as commissioner.

'I also informed , their lordships, in the saute letter, that the Albert was about to proceed up the Niger, and the Wilberforce up the Tchadda, in prosecution ofthe objects of the mission. '

After the departure of the Soudan, however, two of the engineers of the Wilberforce were taken ill, and the crew had become so weakened by an increased number ofcases of fever, that Commander William Allen found it impossible t8 proceed up the Tchadda, and I accord- ingly ordered him to take his vessel forthwith to the sea, and, if necessary, on to Ascension.

As there was still one engineer quite well on board the Albert, and another convalescent, I considered the ship in other respects quite able to continue longer up the river; and asDr. M‘William, the surgeon, thought the fever, when we reached higher up the stream, might probably assume a milder character, and the change of air might soon restore the patients still remaining on board, who were not desirous of going in the Wilberforce to the sea; and it being of importance to reach Rabbah this year, to finish the chain of treaties with chiefs on the banks of the Niger, I deemed it my duty to try the experiment, and accordingly I weighed at the same time with the Wilberforce, on the 21st of September, and the Albert proceeded up the river while she moved down. _

The cases of sickness, however, continued to increase, till at ,Iength, when we got to Egga, on the 28th of Sep- tember, the only remaining engineer was taken ill, and no ofiicers, excepting Dr. M‘Williain, Mr. Willie, mate, and myself, were free from fever. We continued wooding and preparing to return down the river till the 4th ofOctober, when I was myselfseized with fever, and Mr. Willie a day or two afterwards.

On the 5th of October, Mr. Willie weighed and drop-t .ped down the river, but was seen prevented by sickness _ from carrying on duty; and Dr. M‘William, assisted by only one white seamau, lately recovered from fever, took charge ofthe vessel, not thinking it right, in my state of fever, to report Mr. Willie’s illness.

From want of en ineers, we should have had to drop down the whole len th of the river without steam, had not Dr. Stranger, the geologist, in the most spirited man- ner, after consulting Tredgold’s‘work on steam, and get- ting some little instruction from the convalescent engi- neer, undertaken to work the engine himself. The heat of the engine-room affected the engineer so much as to throw him back in his convalescence, and prevented him rendering any further assistance, but Dr. Stranger took the vessel safely below Eboe, without anything gotng wrong with the machinery; while Dr. M‘William, in addition to his enormous press of duty as a medical officer, conducted the ship down the river in the most able and Judicious manner. I may here remark, that the doctor steered the ship entirely by Commander Wil- liam Allen's excellent chart of the Niger, of the correct- ness of whichwe had a good opportunity ofjudging on ascending the river, and which proved eminently use- ful on the passage down; and Mr. Brown, Clerk, a na- tive ofAfrica, who had been up the river before, also rendered him considerable assistance in the pilotage.

When about 100 miles from the sea, Captain Becroft happily made his appearance in the [Ethiope steamer, havingbeen requested to ascend the river and communi- cate With us by Commander William Allen of the Wil- berforce; and it was realty a providential mercy that

I- he arrived when he did, for had any accident happened

to the engines, they could not have been worked any longer, as Dr. Stranger had no knowledge of the manner of rectifying it. Fever still prevented my going on deck, and there was no executive officer to take the Vessel over the bar, and only one convalescent sailor doing duty, and no black sailor who could properly take the helm. Captain Becroft, however, came on board with an engi- neer, and not only took the vessel over the bar, but brought her all the way across to this anchorage, (a distance of 160 miles,) where we arrived in safety on the 17th inst.

The assistance rendered by Captain Becroft, inde- pendent of the services of his vessel, the IEthiope, was,

can assure their lordships, almOst iudispensable'to the safety of the Albeit; and I consider it to have been so highly conducive to the preservation of many valuable lives, which might have been sacrificed had we run aground in the Delta, and remained there even for a fetv days, I shall present him with 1051., and his engi- neer with 101. 105., by bills on the Accountant-General ofthe Navy, and I trust their' lordships will sanction this expenditure when they take the circumstances of the case_and the highly meritorious conduct of Captain Becroft. into consideration.

The morning after our arrival here, the sick were all landed in.comfortable quarters, provided for the officers and men in the most kind and prompt mariner by the agent of the West African Company; and we have rea- son to believe the climate to be healthy at present. The air is cooler than the Niger about 12 degrees. .

I omitfid to mention that off the 'bar of the Nun we

‘ met the Soudan, about to rc-ascend the river, under the

charge of Lieutenant Strange, in the absence of Lieut.

Fishbourne, who had been sent sick to Ascension. “She was in a very inefi'icient state, and returned with us to this anchorage. Mr. Strange is at present in charge of the Albert, as well as thei‘Soudau, the officers of thIS ship of every’rauk being in sick quarters, with the ex- ception of Mr. Mouat, assistant-clerk, doing duty at the hospitah

I regret to state, that, in addition to the loss' of Mr. Nightingale, assistant-surgeon, and four seamen, as men- tioned in my letter ofthe 18th September, between the confluence and Egga, Mr. Lodge the second engipeer‘, threw [himselfoverboard in a fit ofdelirium, and was drowned; and that afterwards two seamen and 011,8 marine of this ship died, and Mr. Kingdon, seamens schoolmaster of the Soudan; and that Mr. Willie, mate,

rival; and it is my painful duty to add that the death of Commander Bird Allen, of the Soudan, has been this moment reported to me, and that Mr. D. H., Stenhouse, acting lieutenant of the Albert, is lying in a m0?l P'e' carious state. For several days after Mr. Willie was

““Wmtsl fireman;

and the purser’s steward, have died here since our ar-fl -.

I i '- ls . he number ofdeaths thathappened after the Ve‘Sse gilt‘hrough the Delta until the sailing ofthe Wilberforce, hence for Ascension, is shown in the enclosed paperw'l have no exact return of the number taken ill in the I- berforce, but I' believe it may be stated, that only five white persons escaped the fever in that vessel, ‘whllst there are only four who have not been attacked in the Albert up to the present time, and no white person in the Soudan escaped it; and when I add that Dr. M‘William is of opinion that few, if any, Will be fit to return to the coast of Africa who have had the fever, and that every lieutenant excepting Mr..Strapge, all the medical officers but Dr. Pritchett and Mr. I‘hompson, (it is,doubtful yet whether Dr. M‘William has the rivet; fever or not,) all the mates, masters, second-masters, an mike, the whole ofthe’engiueers and st kers-of the and the gunner of the Albert, (the only ves- 'liad an officer of that rank,) have been at- form an idea of the

rexpedition, sel that has tacked, their lordships will be able to paralysed state of the steam-vessels. _ ‘ It will be impossible for me to inform their lordships

taken ill, he insisted occasionally 'upou.gettiug out of his cot (which was on deck) and giving orders, and I fear the extra exertions ofthis zealous young officer con- tributed much to aggravate his case.

Iam happy to say there is ageneral imprnvement

taking place in the remainder of the sick; with the ex- ception of Dr. M‘William, and Mr. Woodhouse, asststant surgeon, who have lately been taken ill, the latter thh the “ river fever,” and Dr. M‘William, it is feared, may prove to be so likewise; but these cases, I trust, Will not prove severe, now that we are in a cooler climate. I hope all the patients Will be so far improved, and the engineers so much recovered, as in a short titne to be able to proceed with the Albert to Ascension. I call the disease the “ river fever,” because the sur- geons report it to he ofa nature that is not treated ofin any work oti the subject, and it has such peculiarities as they appear never before to: have witnessed either in African or West Indian fever.

The Soudan, as alluded to before, left the confluence, on her passage down the river, n'i the 19th ofSeptember, under charge of Lieutenant Fishbourue, with the master, a mate, and the second engineer able to do alittle duty; but on the following day these officers were too ill to afford Mr. Fishbourne any assistance. He had, hoWever, two stokers able to drive the engines, who were for a time well enough to do duty, and he reached the Non in the short space of two days afterwards. During the last 524 hours before reaching Fernando Po he was com- pelled to work the engines andfto do every other duty himself. Such exertions could not fail to hurt his health, and he was seized with fever at this place after his arriv- al, though I am happy to say he was doing well on board the Wilberforce when she sailed for Ascension.

I beg strongly to recommend the zeal and exertions ofthis officer for the favourable consideration of their lordships.

The Soudan opportunely met the Dolphin at the mouth of the Nun, and received prompt assistance from her commander, who embarked 35 patients,‘(all that were fit to be removed.) and sailed with them for Ascen- sion under the charge of Mr. Sterling, assistant-surgeon ofthe Wilberforce. ' .

Before the Soudan reached Fernando Po, Mr. Mar- shall,acting-surgeon, and Mr. Waters, clerk in charge, fell a sacrifice to the climate; and a stoker of the Son- dan, and the seamen’s schoolmaster of the Albert died after their arrival.

Mr. Thompson, assistant-surgeon of the Wilberforce, had charge of the sick on boardthe Soudan on her pas- sage down the river, and his exertions and fatigue, from which he is now suffering, were only equalled by those of Mr. Fishbourne.

The Wilberforce left the confluence on the 215t of September, but, owing to the necessity for cuttng fuel, did not reach the mouth of the Nun until the 25th, nor Fernando Po till the Ist of October. Dr. Pritchett, the acting-surgeon at that ship, had 26 cases under treatment when she left the confluence, and the number increased afterwards; and I can assure their lordships that the exertions of that officer were of no or- dinary kind, and his duties on the way to Ascension, now that he has no assistant, are likely to be still more arduous. This officer’s services, as well as those of Mr. Thompson, acting-surgeon of the Soudan, render them highly deserving of their lordships’ consideration for promotion. The inspector of fleets and naval hospitals will, when he receives their reports, be able to judge of their merits and arduous services on this expedition.

The Wilberforce, during her passage down to Fer- nando Po, had the misfortune to lose her purser, Mr. Cyrus \Vakeham, and Peter Fitzgerald, a stoker; also Mr. Harvey, acting-master of the Albert; and Mr. Cole- man, acting assistant-surgeon of the Soudan. ‘

I have before mentioned the exertions and judgment displayed by Dr. M‘William, the surgeon of this vessel, in bringing her down the greater part of the Niger in safety; but this would be considered the more remark- able ifit were possible to convey totheir, lordships the exertions and fatigue he had to go through in his at- tendance upon the sick. I cannot speak~too much in praise of this valuable officer, nor feel thanbfil enough that a man ofso much talent and energy was apppoint- ed to this expedition. ‘

I have already alluded to Dr. Stranger’s praiseworthy

gine, by which we were “abled to get down the river so much more speedily than we otherwise could have done; but thisigentlemaii was, if possible, still more useful in the medical assistance which be rendered to Dr. M‘William, who latterly had no assistant-surgeon to relieve him in his duties. I am sorry to say that Dr. Stranger is beginning to feel the effect of his exertions, Saving had fever (although slightlykwithin the last two ays. ' , ‘

1 must also mention Mr. Manat, assistant clerk, who having served several years with asurgeon in London, was able to tender great assistance in the medical dc: partment up the river, and is particularly of use at this moment, when Dr. M‘William and Mr. Woodhouse as- sistant-surgeonL are ill. I beg to recommend to their lordships’ consideration the propriety of remunerating this gentleman for his services, more particularly as his pay as clerk’s assistant is so very small. -

ln bringing before their lordships’ notice the admira~ ble conduct ofthe surgeon and acting-surgeon ofthe expedition, I wish by no means to disparage the exer- tions oer. Woodhouse, the assistant-surgeon ofthis ship, or of Mr. Sterling, the assistant-surgeon of the Wilberforce, or those of the deceased medical officers which were very great, though not 0st responsible a na: ture as those of Dr. M‘William and Dr. Pritchett or of Mr. Thompson, who, before he duscended the rivei-"with a large number ofsick in the Soudan, was for a length oftime doing duty in that vessel during the protracted

illness of the late acting-surgeon, Mr. Marshall.

conduct in his acquiring a knowledge of 'the steam-en- '

as to the efficiency of the expedition for future opera- tions until I can get to Ascension. I may, however. 05' serve, that it will be found scarcely posstble to officer and man more than one ofthe steam-vessels, unless as- sistance ’be sent from England,o: obtained from the strength of the African squadron. . _ ‘ r

As the {Ethiope will probably go home in April next, I have obtained the promise of Captain Becroft to leave his surgeon behind, if he can be spared, who. would take an acting order as assistant-surgeon, and willingly go up the Niger again, and if he can spare his blflCk engineer also, he will eudeavourto induce him to re- main out with a view ofjoiuing the expedition.

’ Could their ’lordships obtain assistant-surgeons and black engineers in England to volunteer for-the expedi- tion, it would be most desirable, as it is quite a contin- gency our obtaining the individuals alluded to belonging to the 1Ethiope.

Dr. M‘William is quite of opinion, as far as.he_can judge, that the Niger is not fit for white constitutions, and I shall take care to keep this in view when making arrangements at Ascension, so that the’fewest posuble number of white men may be continued in the steam- vessels. , _

Captain Becroft, whose knowledge of the river exceeds that ofauy other person, is of opinion (and Iqmte con- cur with him on the subject) that the Niger should not be entered before the beginning ofJuly, as it is‘doubt- ful whether the river will have sufficiently risen to in- sure the passage iip without detention, so' that their lord- ships may calculate upon the Albert and Wilberforce remaining at Ascension till the lst of June.

'It will be necessary for one steam-vessel to go. up the Niger next year, as I left the Amelia tender at the con- fluence of the Niger and the Tchadda, for the protection ofthe people of the model farm. Not thinking it right to leave up the river any white person, after the fatal sickness we had experienced, I placed the vessel in charge ofa trustworthy black, with twelve othe; natives of Africa under him, all intelligedt steady men.

.Their lordships will remember that they gave permis- sion for the utensils of the model farm to be carried out by the expedition, which were landed, at the desire of Mr. Can, the superintendent, at a spot which he select- ed for the site of the farm,'situated immediately oppo- site to the confluence; ‘and as Mr. Can made a request for naval protection to his people in the absence of the steamers, which I considered very reasonable, I obtain- ed volunteers to remain there in the Amelia before the Albert went to Egga; and on my return to the con- flueuce I was too ill to do duty, but Dr. M‘William, at my desire, sent nine months’ provisions on board, and cowries were~left to buy several months’ more. In our distressed state it would have been impossible to tow the Amelia down the river, but, independently of that con- sideration, it was, I conceive, necessary to leave a ves- sel for the protection of the farm people.

It is also desirable that a vessel should get up to Rab- bah, if possible, next year, not only to complete a series oftreaties which have been already commenced, but to show the people of Rabbah that a mau-of-war can get up to their town: and the presence of one of her Majes- ty’s vessels there might, I conceive, have a beneficial effect in their future treatment of the Nufi nation, whom we found much oppressed by the Felatabs, and also tend much to the extinction of the slave-trade in the upper part of the Niger. This, however, catiiiot be deter- mined upoii till I meet my brother commissioners at As- cension.

Shonld only ,one of the steamers ascend the Niger next year, I would prefer one‘ofthe larger ones to be selected, from their superior velocity and stowage. Under present circumstances,I would countermand the coals which I requested might be forwarded to Bonny, though, if already shipped, they will, doubtless, prove very useful; for it is more difficult to prooure wood in that than in most other African rivers, owing to the pre- judice of the natives against the Kroomen cutting it.

I conceive it will be my duty to go to England by the first opportunity from Ascension after my arrival, in or- der_ to lay the exact condition. of the expedition before smell“ lordSh'l)?. and I have every reason to think I shall be able to arrive in March, which would give me ample time to reyom the expedition, should their lordships re- quire my further services.

I may state, for their lordships’ information, that the Albert and Wilberforce could not proceed to England “’lth. safety, excepting in the summer months; and I conSider the Soudan as quite incapable ofreturning to Europe at all. I am preparing to leave the Soudan in this sheltered harbour, in charge of native ship-keepers; and as Capt. Becroft has promised to make his engineer light fires occasionally, and work the engine, and as Lieut. Bloom, ofthe Pluto, will be able to do the same whenhe comes into port, there is every probability of the machinery being kept in good order.

I_am in daily expectation of the arrival of the Golden Spring with fuel from England, of which there is scarce-

the Pluto having used a large quantity of our store. I hope a supply of fuel may have been sent to Ascension before‘ this time, so as to enable us to keep the machi- nery of the vessels in good order at this Island.—I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

H. D. Tnorjrsit, Captain.

CHRISTENING Exraaonnmxrw.—On Sunday, the 23d Feb., a lady, 65 years of age, was christened in the vil- lage church of Keddington, near Louth.—Lincoln Mar- cury. '

Persons in writing letters of business, and who use envelopes, should be careful to write the address of the party upon the letter, as the document cannot be made available in matters of legal proof Without this, which is

f ’ l i ' vflguent y the object of both the sender and the recei-