his country, this honest quaker was equally minute and
indefatigable in his inquiries touching the commerce of the coast, as
well as the strength and situation of the French settlements on the
river Senegal; and, at his return to England, actually formed the plan
of an expedition for the conquest of Fort Louis. This was presented to
the board of trade, by whom it was approved, after a severe examination;
but it required the patriotic zeal, and invincible perseverance of
Cumming, to surmount a variety of obstacles before it was adopted by the
ministry; and even then it was not executed in its full extent. He was
abridged of one large ship, and in lieu of six hundred land-forces, to
be drafted from different regiments, which he in vain demanded, first
from the duke of Cumberland, and afterwards from lord Ligonier, the
lords of the admiralty allotted two hundred marines only for this
service. After repeated solicitation, he, in the year one thousand seven
hundred and fifty-seven, obtained an order, that the two annual ships
bound to the coast of Guinea should be joined by a sloop and two busses,
and make an attempt upon the French settlement in the river Senegal.
These ships, however, were detained by contrary winds until the season
was too far advanced to admit a probability of success, and therefore
the design was postponed. In the beginning of the present year, Mr.
Cumming being reinforced with the interest of a considerable merchant in
the city, to whom he had communicated the plan, renewed his application
to the ministry, and they resolved to hazard the enterprise. A small
squadron was equipped for this expedition, under the command of captain
Marsh, having on board a body of marines, commanded by major Mason, with
a detachment of artillery, ten pieces of cannon, eight mortars, and a
considerable quantity of warlike stores and ammunition. Captain Walker
was appointed engineer; and Mr. Cumming was concerned as a principal
director and promoter of the expedition.*

* On this occasion Mr. Cumming may seem to have acted
directly-contrary to the tenets of his religious profession;
hut he ever declared to the ministry, that he was fully
persuaded his schemes might be accomplished without the
effusion of human blood; and that if he thought otherwise,
he would by no means have concerned himself about them. He
also desired, let the consequence be what it might, his
brethren should not b