LIFE OF CAPTAIN CLAPPERTON. 
IX 
lost him his life. One night he was so exhausted, that he could scarcely make the people 
on board hear his cries : they got a boat ready, and, as he was on the point of sinking, 
they picked him up, and took him on board ; but he never tried the same method of 
getting on board again. 
About the end of 1816, Sir Edward Owen returned to England, and was the means 
of Clapperton’s commission being confirmed by the Board of Admiralty. And in the 
year 1817, when our vessels on the Canadian lakes were paid off and laid up, Lieute- 
nant Clapperton returned to England, and, like many more, was put on half-pay. He 
went then to Edinburgh, where he remained a short time, and was introduced to the 
amiable mother of his beloved friend, Mr. Mackenzie, who died at Bombay. He after- 
wards retired to Loclnnaben in 1818, and lived with an aged sister of his beloved 
mother’s, at the abode for many years of his grandfather. Here he continued to amuse 
himself with rural sports until 1820, when he went to Edinburgh, and there became ac- 
quainted with Dr. Oudney, who mentioned to him the offer that had been made to 
employ him in a mission to the interior of Africa. This was an opening, to Clapperton’s 
enterprising mind, not to be resisted ; he immediately entreated that he might accom- 
pany the doctor, and his offer was accepted. Dr. Oudney was told by a friend that 
knew Lieutenant Clapperton well, that, in all varieties, and under every circumstance, 
however trying, he would find him a steady and faithful friend, and that his powerful 
and athletic form, and excellent constitution, had never been surpassed. This person 
was a medical man, and w r as so confirmed in the opinion that Clapperton, from the 
strength of his constitution, could not fall a sacrifice to disease, that, until the arrival of 
Clapperton’s servant, Richard Lander, from his last and fatal expedition, he would not 
(like many more who knew Clapperton) believe the report of his death in any way but 
by accident. 
In the highest spirits, Lieutenant Clapperton left Edinburgh, where he had been 
for a short time with his sister and other relations. Before his departure, he was intro- 
duced by Lady Seaforth (the mother of his friend Mackenzie) to a distinguished coun- 
tryman, the author of the Man of Feeling. Clapperton’s spirits were elated, and he 
left Edinburgh and his relations with the highest hopes. He returned to England, and 
was made a commander in June 22, 1825 ; and before he could finish for the press an 
account of his former journey, he was engaged again, by Lord Bathurst, for a second 
mission, by the w r ay of the western coast of Africa, near the Bight of Benin. He sailed 
from Portsmouth in his Majesty’s sloop Brazen, commanded by Captain Willis; and 
was accompanied by Doctor Dickson, Captain Pearce, and Doctor Morrison. They 
called at Sierra Leone ; from that to Benin, where they landed ; but Dr. Dickson landed 
near Whida, and proceeded by the way of Dahomy. Captains Clapperton, Pearce, 
and Dr. Morrison, pushed their way up the country ; but they were soon attacked with 
disease, and Captain Pearce and Doctor Morrison died, as did also Columbus, the former 
