RESULTS OF THE FIRST VISIT 99 



In April an earnest appeal was made for money 

 to obtain a steam launch, to assist the Albert, by 

 visiting otherwise inaccessible places, and by towing 

 her in and out of narrow harbours. At the same 

 time preparations were being pushed ahead at Yar- 

 mouth. The Albert was once more recalled from 

 her work in the North Sea. She was victualled for 

 six months, refitted as far as necessary, and stored 

 with the clothing, woollens, and literature which had 

 been in the process of collection all winter. A crew 

 was shipped, and by the ist of May she was all 

 ready to sail. Our whaler had been knocked to 

 pieces last year, and we had to get a new boat to 

 replace it, or trust still to the money coming in for 

 a steam launch. 



Arrangements had been made for the Albert to visit 

 one or two English seaports on her journey out, in 

 order to solicit further help, amongst others Exeter, 

 Swansea, and Bristol, whence she was to sail direct 

 to St. Johns. Still the money had not come in. 

 While, however, we were at, Bristol, our boat still 

 unbought, the joyful news reached us, " Money neces- 

 sary for a launch has now come in." The Albert 

 touched last of all at Swansea, where a suitable 

 rowing boat, the Mary Grenfell, was presented to 

 her. In Chester we found the most suitable launch 

 for the money we had an oak-built, copper-fastened 

 boat, with simple 9-inch engine, six years of age, 

 though only little work had been done in her. She 

 was forty-five feet long. Her great defect was her 



