INSTALLATION OF THE GOVERNOR. 345 



of the steamer, which was far more disagreeable 

 than ordinary pitching and tossing whilst making 

 way through a head sea. Whenever I awoke I 

 heard the sullen, monotonous roar of the surf 

 breaking on the bar, which music a year after- 

 wards was my constant lullaby. The next morn- 

 ing at 7*30 a.m. Mr. M'^Coskry's steam-tug the 

 "Advance " was seen ploughing her way amidst the 

 white horses and broken waters of the bar, and 

 shortly afterwards she anchored a couple of cables' 

 length from us. The troops, baggage and military 

 gear were transferred to her by the steamer's boats, 

 and I accompanied Governor Freeman to take 

 possession of his new government, and to see him 

 installed in the house from which two dead consuls, 

 his predecessors, had been carried in less than a 

 year. Lagos had then only been annexed to the 

 British Crown a few months by Commander Be- 

 dingfield, of H.M.S. " Prometheus;" and Freeman 

 was appointed Governor as well as Consul of the 

 Bights of Benin and Biafra; and a few months 

 later I was appointed Colonial Secretary and 

 Lieutenant-Governor. 



