Today the partnership between the Coast and Liverpool is not dissimilar to the organisation established by John Holt when he returned to Britain from Africa in 1874. In Nigeria John Holt's creation, which now trades as John Holt Pic and is quoted on the Lagos Stock Exchange, has over fifty thousand Nigerian shareholders and approximately 2800 employees. The name John Holt is known and respected throughout the federation. Indeed, a local folk song includes the line, “It happened a long long time ago before John Holt.” From that nearly every Nigerian would know the period reference.

I am sure this new edition of The Diary of John Holt will interest many people in Nigeria and England, as well as readers around the world. I would like to thank Professor Davies and the International Maritime Economic History Association for arranging this new publication of what in my view is a fascinating historical document.