 In 1612, an attempt by the French to settle in the Gambia ended disastrously due to sickness spreading among the settlers.Letters patent conferring the right of the exclusive trade with the River Gambia were subsequently granted again in 1598, 1618 and 1632 to other English adventurers, but no attempts were made by the English to explore until 1618.An expedition that year was commanded by George Thomson and its objective was to open up trade with Timbuktu.