You have been appointed the agents of the “board of managers of the American Society for colonizing the free people of color of the United States,” for the purpose of visiting England and Africa on a mission of inquiry.

     The object which you will keep in view while engaged in this mission is, to obtain that information which will enable the board to concert their future measures with a prospect of succeeding in their design.  Your general conduct will be governed by the following instructions:

     1. You will make the necessary preparation for leaving this country, and embrace the first favorable opportunity which shall present, for England.

     2. Upon your arrival in London, you will present your instructions and letters to such gentlemen as shall be named by the board, and to others to whom you may have letters of introduction.

     3. You will endeavor to procure information from those gentlemen relative to the state of the west coast of Africa, the best means of prosecuting your inquiries when you arrive there, and to obtain letters of introduction from the proper persons to the governor of the Sierra Leone colony, and to any other gentlemen on the coast who may probably aid you in your object.

     4. When you have made the necessary preparations, which you are requested to do with the least possible delay, you will embark for the coast of Africa. You will make the Sierra Leone colony, with the approbation of the governor thereof, your principal station, while you remain on the coast.

     5. You will make yourselves acquainted with the Sierra Leone colony, particularly of is history, progress, improvement, and prospects, with a view to furnish such information as may be useful in forming a colony on the coast.

     6. You will visit the coast above and below the colony of Sierra Leone to as great an extent as shall be deemed expedient, and give a description of that part of the coast visited by you, and endeavor to procure as much information as possible of other parts of the coast and of the interior. And we would particularly direct your attention to the climate, soil, and healthiness of the country, and its fitness for agricultural improvements, as it is in contemplation to turn the attention of the new colonists mostly to agriculture. As connected with this object, you will procure all the information in your power as to the extent of the rivers on the coast; their sources, and how far navigable; the mountains, and general face of the country; and, finally, every thing that may be considered interesting and useful to the society, to enable it to form an opinion as to the most eligible spot for the colony, and the prospect of success, when established. It would be particularly desirable to ascertain the character of the different nations or tribes on the coast, and more especially of those in the neighborhood of the place you may recommend as a proper situation for the colony.

     7. You will direct your attention particularly to the Sherbro country, which country it is expected you will visit. By means of native interpreters, you will endeavor to consult with the native chiefs of the different tribes, and explain to them the design which the board have in view. Should circumstances permit, you will obtain from them a pledge that they will promote the designs of the colony, should one be established; and that, as far as they have the possession of the country, a section of it shall be given up to the Government of the United States, or the society, at a fair price, should Congress or the board hereafter make the request, for the purpose of colonizing the free people of color, as the board propose.

     8. After you shall have completed your inquiries, and as far as possible attained the object of your mission, you will return to America direct or by the way of England, as shall be deemed proper. It is desired that you would return direct to this country, unless the inducements to revisit England are strong.

     9. You will obtain as particular and accurate an account of the territories, and their limits, claimed by the different European nations, on the west coast of Africa, as possible, together with the character of the different nations on the coast and in the interior, and the boundaries of their territories. On your return, you will present to the board a full account of your expedition, and of the information procured by you, and improve every opportunity which may present to inform the board of your progress.

     10. You will keep an account of your expenses, for the inspection of the board.

     In addition to these instructions, you will be furnished with copies of the constitution of this society, and of the memorial of the board of managers which was addressed to the Congress of the United States during their session of 1816-’17.