The departure of the Niger Expedition from the shores of England left Sir Fowell's mind comparatively disengaged. Nothing now remained but to await the issue of the undertaking; and his broken health imperatively demanding attention, he stayed for some weeks at Leamington, under the care of Dr. Jephson. From thence he writes:—

To the Rev. Dr. Bunting and Rev. John Beecham, Secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society.

“My dear Friends,

“Leamington, April 26. 1841.

“I regret much that I shall be prevented by indisposition from attending your annual meeting. Do me the favour to accept the enclosed very small and inadequate token of my interest in your missionary operations, more especially those connected with Africa and the West Indies. May God's blessing rest upon all the labours of your Society: may He raise up for you multitudes of new and generous friends; for never was there a time when a greater necessity existed that your hands should be strengthened, and that you should he furnished with the means of embracing other and hitherto neglected fields within the range of your exertions. I must not lose this opportunity of expressing the deep sense I entertain of the benefits which our Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade and Civilization of Africa has received from the active and cordial co-operation which each of you has afforded.”