The Expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido | Page 5

fully convinced me that it was necessary to form
men to my purpose, and, by a line of steady and kind conduct, to raise
up a personal regard for myself and attachment for the vessel, which
could not be expected in ordinary cases. In pursuance of this object, I
was nearly three years in preparing a crew to my mind, and gradually
moulding them to consider the hardest fate or misfortune under my
command as better than the ordinary service in a merchant-vessel. How
far I have succeeded remains yet to be proved; but I cannot help hoping
that I have raised the character of many, and have rendered all happy
and contented since they have been with me; and certain am I that no
men can do their duty more cheerfully or willingly than the crew of the
Royalist.
"I may pass over in silence my motives for undertaking so long and
arduous a voyage; and it will be sufficient to say, that I have been

firmly convinced of its beneficial tendency in adding to knowledge,
increasing trade, and spreading Christianity. The prospectus of the
undertaking was published in the Geographical Journal, vol. viii. part
iii., of 1838, when my preparations for sea were nearly complete. I had
previously avoided making any public mention of my intentions, for
praise before performance is disgusting; and I knew I should be
exposed to prying curiosity, desirous of knowing what I did not know
myself.
"On the 27th October, 1838, the Royalist left the river; and, after a
succession of heavy gales, finally quitted the land on the 16th
December. I may here state some farther particulars, to enable my
readers to become better acquainted with her and her equipment. The
Royalist, as already noticed, belonged to the Royal Yacht Squadron,
which in foreign ports admits her to the same privileges as a
man-of-war, and enables her to carry a white ensign. She sails fast, is
conveniently fitted up, is armed with six six-pounders, a number of
swivels, and small arms of all sorts, carries four boats, and provisions
for four months. Her principal defect is being too sharp in the floor,
which, in case of taking the ground, greatly increases the risk; but I
comfort myself with the reflection that a knowledge of this will lead to
redoubled precaution to prevent such a disaster. She is withal a good
sea-boat, and as well calculated for the service as could be desired.
"Most of her hands had been with me for three years or upward, and the
rest were highly recommended. They are, almost without exception,
young, able-bodied, and active--fit in all respects for enduring hardship
and privation, or the more dangerous reverse of self-indulgence, and
willing to follow the fortunes of the Royalist and her commander
through all the various shades of good or evil fortune which may betide.
A fine, though slow passage took us to Rio Janeiro, which presents
features of natural beauty rarely equaled. The weather during our stay
was hot in the extreme, and very wet, which marred, in some degree,
the satisfaction I should otherwise have enjoyed in wandering about
this picturesque country. I passed ten days, however, very agreeably,
and departed with some regret from this brief visit to America and from
my friends (if they will so allow me to call them) on board H.M.S.

Calliope. I must not omit to mention that, during my stay, I visited a
slaver, three of which (prizes to our men-of-war) lay in the harbor. It is
a most loathsome and disgusting sight. Men, women, and children--the
aged and the infant--crowded into a space as confined as the pens in
Smithfield, not, however, to be released by death at the close of the day,
but to linger, diseased and festering, for weeks or months, and then to
be discharged into perpetual and hopeless slavery. I wish I could say
that our measures tended toward the abolition of this detestable traffic;
but from all that I could learn and observe, I am forced to confess that
the exertions made to abolish slavery are of no avail in this country,
and never will be till harsher means are resorted to.
"There are points of view in which this traffic wears a more cheering
aspect; for any one comparing the puny Portuguese or the bastard
Brazilian with the athletic negro, cannot but allow that the ordinary
changes and chances of time will place this fine country in the hands of
the latter race. The negro will be fit to cultivate the soil, and will thrive
beneath the tropical sun of the Brazils. The enfeebled white man grows
more enfeebled and more degenerate with each succeeding generation,
and languishes in a clime which nature never designed him to inhabit.
The time will come when