Ix 



of Surgeon, and was appointed to H.M.S. 'Scout/ stationed on 

 the west coast of Africa. On that unhealthy station, so trying to 

 young naval surgeons, he devoted himself most earnestly to his 

 duties, and obtained the distinction of the Gold Medal instituted by 

 the late Sir Gilbert Blane for special merit in the medical service of 

 the navy. 



On returning to England, after the ship's term of service had 

 expired, Dr. M 'William took advantage of his temporary liberation 

 from duty to improve himself in professional and scientific know- 

 ledge, and more especially to make himself well acquainted with the 

 principles and practical methods of ventilation, heating, and other 

 arrangements for the preservation of health. This species of know- 

 ledge, together with the information he had acquired on the coast of 

 Africa, peculiarly qualified him to superintend the fitting up of the 

 three ships which were destined to proceed on a voyage up the 

 Niger. His sound judgment, intrepid character, and medical ex- 

 perience of a tropical African climate, had already led to his being 

 appointed chief medical officer of the Expedition. 



This Expedition was undertaken by benevolent individuals, sup- 

 ported by a considerable Government grant, to plant an English 

 colony in Central Africa, and to promote agriculture and honest 

 trade among the natives, in the hope thereby to reclaim them from 

 trafficking in slaves. The chief incidents of the ill-fated voyage are 

 well known. In the summer of 1841 the three ships proceeded to 

 the African coast, under the command of Captain Trotter, and, 

 ascending one of the mouths of the Niger, reached the confluence of 

 that river with the Chadda, 270 miles from the sea; but in the 

 mean time malignant fever had broken out in the ships, and in a 

 short time had prostrated both officers and crews to such an extent 

 that first one of the vessels, and soon afterwards another, had to be 

 sent back freighted with the sick of the expedition. The remaining 

 ship, the ' Albert,' of which Dr. M'William was surgeon, continued 

 her voyage fifty or sixty miles higher up the river, in the hope of 

 reaching some less unhealthy region j but the sickness did not abate, 

 some of the ship's company had died, and many more, including the 

 commander and most of the officers, were lying helpless under the 

 malady ; so that Captain Trotter, confirmed as he was in his judg- 

 ment by Dr. M'William, determined to abandon the enterprise, and 



