36 
LIMITED CREWS. 
Royal Highness, by Captain Trotter, on the quarter-deck 
of his ship. As another proof of the generous sympathy 
of this truly amiable Prince, we may here mention that 
he presented a handsome gold chronometer, by the best 
maker, to each of the three Captains. 
We were here unremittingly occupied in completing 
the fittings, stores, &c., from the dockyard; and the 
armament from the arsenal. The apparatus for venti- 
lation being still a source of considerable delay. 
On a trial in the Thames, with a draught of 5 ft. 
9 in. aft, and 4 ft. 11 in. forward, the ‘Wilberforce’ 
was found to have a speed, on an average, of seven 
knots ; which was considered as much as could safely be 
used in an unknown river. Such a rate was not, how- 
ever, to be expected with a greater draught of water, as 
it unfortunately proved. 
As the vessels could not carry fuel for so long a 
voyage, coals were sent to the Cape de Verd Islands, 
Sierra Leone, and Cape Coast Castle. A fast sailing 
transport was also hired to take further supplies of pro- 
visions, stores, and coals, to enable them to fill up at the 
mouth of the Niger, and also relieve them there of such 
things as would not be required in the river, but which 
were to be deposited at Fernando Po, to await our 
return. 
In sending vessels to a climate known to be fraught 
with so much danger to the European constitution, it was 
necessary to limit the white crews to the smallest possible 
number, consistent with efficiency. The regulation for 
