4 INTRODUCTION. 



of raw material to be exported to England in return 

 for British manufactures ; and it was hoped that, by 

 encouraging the natives to occupy themselves in the de- 

 velopment of the resources of the country, a considerable 

 advance might be made towards the extinction of the 

 slave-trade, as they would not be long in discovering that 

 the former would eventually be a more certain source of 

 profit than the latter. The Expedition was sent in accord- 

 ance with the settled policy of the English Government ; 

 and the Earl of Clarendon, being then at the head of the 

 Foreign Office, the Mission was organized under his imme- 

 diate care. When a change of Government ensued, we 

 experienced the same generous countenance and sympathy 

 from the Earl of Malmesbury, as we had previously received 

 from Lord Clarendon; and, on the accession of Earl 

 Eussell to the high office he has so long filled, we were 

 always favoured with equally ready attention and the 

 same prompt assistance. Thus the conviction was pro- 

 duced that our work embodied the principles, not of any 

 one party, but of the hearts of the statesmen and of the 

 people of England generally. The Expedition owes great 

 obligations to the Lords of the Admiralty for their 

 unvarying readiness to render us every assistance in their 

 power ; and to the warm-hearted and ever-obliging hydro- 

 grapher to the Admiralty, the late Admiral Washington, 

 as a subordinate, but most effective agent, our heartfelt 

 gratitude is also due; and we must ever thankfully ac- 

 knowledge that our efficiency was mainly due to the kind 

 services of Admirals Sir Frederick Grey, Sir Baldwin 

 Walker, and all the naval officers serving under them on 

 the East Coast. Nor must I omit to record our obligations 

 to Mr. Skead, K.N. The Luawe was carefully sounded 

 and surveyed by this officer, whose skilful and zealous 

 labours, both on that river, and afterwards on the Lower 

 Zambesi, were deserving of all praise. 



