Acting Consul Phillips is feeling very confident about his knowledge of the state of affairs in Benin. He has had very productive meetings and feedback from Chief Dogho and other Itsekiri chiefs (31st October 1896). He has also met with a number of European traders in Sapele on the Benin River. All the evidence suggest that the King of Benin is blocking all trade. Phillips feels ready to act on his boast to lead an expedition to Benin. He had publicly boasted about this when he was on leave in London in September 1896. He must now make it happen (he has been in the protectorate since 24th October 1896).
Source: Robert Home City of Blood Revisited . A New Look at the Benin Expedition of 1897 Rex Collins, London, (1982) P32
Source: Robert Home City of Blood Revisited . A New Look at the Benin Expedition of 1897 Rex Collins, London, (1982) P32