THE WESTERN COAST. 
281 
the American war ; but, as it was judged expedi- 
ent, as a preparatory step, to explore Western 
Africa, the Association entered into engagements 
with the mercantile house of M. Chauvell of Havre 
de Grace, to conduct an expedition of discovery at 
their joint expence. In this expedition embarked 
Wadstrom, who was an enthusiast with respect to 
colonization ; Sparrma?i and Arrhenius, who were 
enthusiasts in natural science ; while the enthusi- 
asm of their joint employer M. Chauvell, coincided 
entirely with the financial views of his Swedish ma- 
jesty, who loved gold much better than any other 
natural production. These adventurers left Sweden 
in May 1787* on their journey to Paris, where, 
through the representations of Baron Stael von 
Holstein, Swedish ambassador, they, after some de- 
lay, procured from the Mareschal de Castries, mi- 
nister at war and of the colonies, orders to the su- 
perindendents of all the French factories, as well 
as to their consuls on the coast of Barbary, to af- 
ford them every possible assistance at the expence 
of government. They sailed from Havre de Grace, 
in August 17^7» and arrived at Goree about the 
end of the rainy season, where they were received 
by the Chevalier de Boufflers with the utmost po- 
liteness. His departure to Europe, soon after their 
arrival, rendered abortive their expectations of as- 
sistance from the agents of the Senegal Company^ 
who refused to furnish them with those goods which 
