He had addressed a letter to these merchants some time before, hoping to persuade them to cooperate in expanding the trade of the river, but his letter had been ignored. He had opposed the blockade of the Upper River, drawn up a petition for signature, and called a public meeting of the merchants, but this too had failed. Since then, he had bought a United States ship to use as a trading post and store, which had given him much greater protection from the indigenous peoples than living on shore and provided better facilities in general for trade. He describes his trading venture as working, his plan for developing communications along the river by means of a steamship, penetrating further up the river when conditions permitted and making a settlement at Fanda. He mentions the stagnation in trade with a North African caravan caused by the intervention of the local indigenous people. He asks for Buxton's support in obtaining capital to purchase a steamer to further his plans, asking his opinion of the scheme. He provides estimates of what would be needed, the kind of vessel required for work on the river, the kind of trade, the advantages of a trading place so much further up the river, and the area for which it would cater. He explains why he would not follow the French example on the Senegal river of towing up smaller vessels for his trading venture, why he had not asked the local government to help him in this project, because of the Lieutenant-Governor's unfortunate experiences in treating with the indigenous people, and why he had not formed a joint stock company to back him, concluding that individual exertion was most likely to succeed. He offers his own houses, vessels, and his brother's house on MacCarthy Island (Janjanbureh Island) as security and a guarantee to repay within three years. He outlines the difficulties that would arise if his plan were made public before he had completed all his arrangements and therefore begs for secrecy. He asks for his opinion at the earliest possible moment.