John Clarke, Ford Forge, [Berwick], Northumberland, to Joseph Angus, 6 Fen Court, Fenchurch Street, London, 29-30 December 1842.

Ford Forge, Northumberland
Decr 29th 1842

My very dear Bro,

   I have just replied to Mr Tucker's Note, and shall tomorrow, I hope more fully answer yours—Mrs Clarke on our return to Berwick will send the Specimens which you request to Mrs Angus  I have no idea of our little Steam Boat costing much annually, as our voyage will be so short—our rigging of the Vessel so simple—the sea except in Tornadoes so smooth—and every river we visit, at the first, so well known  If we can obtain two men who understand sailing, and engineering, we shall be able to obtain black men at Fernando Po to work the Vessel under their directions. The wood for firing will cost us the price of the labourer generally, and seldom much more—

   I hope it will prove no great annual expense to the Society compared to and the facility it will afford for our establishing Missionary Stations in many parts of the adjacent coast will I trust be very great—

   I give on the opposite page a few observations on the necessity of having a Steamer, & hope to say more on the same subject, if time will allow, tomorrow  I remain

                           your affectionate Br

John Clarke

Observations on the Necessity of having the means of conveyance to, and from, different parts of the Island of Fernando Po, and the Rivers on the adjacent Continent.

   1st  It is an unnecessary exposure of life to go to any distant part of the island in a small Canoe, or in an open boat. Tornadoes are very common—frequently, when a strong sea breeze sets in, the sea is too rough for such craft—the danger from exposure in them, to sun and rain, is always great.

   The canoe in which I sailed was once upset. Twice (from the danger of going out from the shore) we struck upon rocks—For hours I have been compelled to continue wet[ting] my umbrella in the sea, to prevent a "coup de soliel"—Four Towns can be gone to, from Clarence, by land  these contain about 1200 Inhabitants—all the others must be gone to by sea—so that in order to be able to visit from 15 to 20 thousand Aboriginees, we must have the means of going by water to the different landing places

   2nd  There are no regular Traders from Fernando Po to the Continent—Vessels calling at Fernando Po on their way to the Rivers are few in number and uncertain  In most of these it would be unsuitable for Missionaries to go on account of the common practices of many African Traders—In the first Voyage to the Continent, made by Dr Prince and myself, we ventured to cross to the River Cameroons in a small Boat. We were exposed to the sun and rain, and to a sea almost too high for our little vessel—Fever followed as a consequence, & we believed that for us to think of a repetition of such a Voyage would be nothing short of a tempting of the Lord God—

   The Dr next went in a Schooner—The Captain was constantly in a state of intoxication—the Vessel was not seaworthy; and on her next voyage was wrecked; & several of the crew were drowned; and the rest were exposed to savage men near the Mouth of the New Calebar   In consequence of the state of the Vessel; and the bad accommodation, in the rainy season, the Doctor got fever; and, but for his speedy return to Fernando Po, must have fallen a sacrifice to his zeal—

   3rd  Missionaries should be placed in Fernando Po for "acclimating;" and when accustomed to the climate of Africa, some should be sent to Cameroons, Bimbia, Bonny, & Calebar—The coast near the Amboises, & the Rio del Ney, should be explored; as the land is high the country populous, and easy of access from the Island

   Missionaries placed at the different stations shd be visited frequently with supplies—a sea voyage, and a change, should be practicable, when ill health requires them—and advice from Br Missionaries, it should be possible to obtain

   A regular communication is, I think, absolutely necessary for the comfort of the Missionaries; & for the speedy, & permanent, success of the Mission To supply this a Steam Boat of about 50 Tons would be required; and by means of this, at all seasons, we could visit the different stations—impart aid by advice, encouragement, etc.—Remove a sick—or unsuccessful, dissatisfied, or captious Missionary—and so prevent quarrels with the natives; and do all that could be done for the quiet, & peaceful extension of the Gospel of Jesus—

   The expense of such a Vessel, both original & permanent, would, I believe, be amply repaid by the great facilities it would give for the spread of the Gospel in Africa. The Engineer, should, if possible, be also a Missionary.

   4th  Missionaries should be kept entirely free from Trade, & Traders; and should, on first visiting a place, not be compelled to apply for a lodging or Board and a ship, the Captain of which may have rendered himself obnoxious to the people on shore by his extortion, or cruelty—

   We met with one who had fired upon a Canoe, and killed two black men in it—another, who tied those who brought him bad oil, up to the rigging; and flogged them nearly to death—almost all are Sabbath breakers, adulterers, swearers, and with such, I need not say, your Missionaries should have nothing to do, in the way of receiving hospitality; or introduction to the Natives upon the Coast—

   5th  Missionaries should not be landed from a Canoe or Boat, at a Town, & cast upon the King, or Headman, for shelter, and food. Such was our situation when we reached Cameroons—we had not a small boat, or canoe, in which to land—we stood in our boat until a Captain took pity upon us, and came with his small boat, and took us on shore—another Captain introduced us to King Bell—we were cast upon him for lodging, & for food—The most horrible things soon reached our ears—and we found out afterwards that we had been the guests, for a week, of a man who had murdered his fellow men to obtain a character as a King—whose courteousness, and voluptuousness were excessive—who received the hire of harlots—and those were among his own women & sisters—whose wives for the most part had before been the wives of his Father—who prayed, and made offerings, to his departed Parent & who in the pride of his heart, blasphemously, said that "he and God were all the same!"—

   A steam boat, with moderate accommodation, would afford a sleeping place at first visits—our clothing & articles for barter, would be more secure on board our own Vessel; and in every point of view this means of conveyance would be economical, and useful—

   To withhold this means would be to shut up Missionaries in Fernando Po; or to desert those who might occasionally obtain a passage to the Main Land—I could hope for no considerable success, unless the means of communication be afforded; and the various Stations, we hope to establish, be regularly visited, and watched over with devotedness, tenderness, and care.

                                                   John Clarke

Berwick Decr 30th 1842—  

Text: Timothy Whelan, Baptist Autographs in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, 1741-1845 (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2009), pp. 282-86  (annotated version); also MAW, Box 39 (BMS 2280), John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Clarke’s letter above was read before the BMS Committee on 19 January 1843. See BMS Committee Minutes, Vol. I (Jan. 1843-May 1844), f. 9. Clarke's “observations” appeared in the Missionary Herald (August 1843): 435-436, as part of a promotional account of the work at Fernando Po.  Portions of the letter above were altered and additions were made to the printed letter. See Missionary Herald (August 1843), 443-445.