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

ras 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

ray 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