small Creeks may be passed. Lightburn's Factory stands on a rising ground, at a little distance from the River. The house is enclosed in a large square, surrounded by a mud wall, with loop holes for musketry. We were received in a very kind and hospitable manner by Mr. Lightburn, who invited us to take up our quarters at his house, during our stay in the River. He said to me, "I think I have seen you before, Sir." On being undeceived in this, he said, "Well, Sir, I have to tell you that you are now among Slave-traders, and now, Sir, as you know all about it, you may make yourself easy." I thought this somewhat extraordinary; but, as I was directed to do, I made myself easy. At dinner the table was well supplied, but here, as at the other places that we visited in the River, we saw no wine but what we brought with us. Rum and water is the substitute in the family use of these Persons, unless when the Slave Ships supply them with some extraordinary luxuries. We dined in a large apartment, between 60 and 80 feet in length, one extremity of which was appropriated for our chamber at night. This great room was, as I conjecture, a general lodging place in the time of the Slave Trade. I had several conversations with Mr. Lightburn, on the subject of the Slave Trade: he always declared himself determined never again to engage in that Trade. He assured me that his trade in gold, ivory, black cattle, and horses, had increased very much, and he was confident of further increase, so as fully to make good any loss that he might have suffered by relinquishing the Slave Trade. He had, at this time, one very fine horse, which he valued at £50. besides others of less value. These he intended for the Sierra Leone Market, more particularly the one valued at £50.; but he appeared rather to wish that some person should come up to purchase him, and to take the charge of conveying him down to Sierra Leone. Mr. Lightburn expressed a desire to become a Planter, either in his present residence, or somewhere in the neighbourhood of Sierra Leone. Coffee, I conceive, would be the best article for such a plantation. Cotton also would probably be productive. While I was at Mr. Lightburn's, I understood that some Slaves had been brought to him for sale, but that he refused to purchase them. About 200 yards above this Place, the River terminates abruptly, receiving a small stream of very fine water, which runs from a chain of hills about four miles distant. The prospect from the top of these hills is very extensive. The Bar of the Rio Pongos, the Sangaree Mountains and the Isles de Loss, may be seen distinctly, as well as a long range of Coast on both sides of the River. The country in the neighbourhood of these hills presents large patches of sand, interspersed with irregular rocks of sand stone, which, at a distance, resemble ruined buildings. Similar appearances are found in various places on the banks of the River. The abrupt termination of the River and the smallness of the Stream that falls into it, when compared with the extent into which it is spread out farther down, and the number of creeks branching out from it, shew that in the larger part it is rather an arm of the sea than a river. The mangrove, with which it is surrounded, is found only where there is a mixture of salt water with fresh water. On descending to Mr. Ormond's Place, about seven miles lower down, the water is spread out into a very fine bason, but it is not deep. The anchorage, even for Vessels of a moderate size, is distant from the shore, and at low water there is a great extent of mud upon the banks. Mr. Ormond's Factory, called Bangalan, is very large. The situation is commanding, but, as it is surrounded with mangrove swamps, and mud banks, it is extremely unhealthy. The Factory is inclosed with a very high wall, built chiefly with mud. At regular intervals there are round towers, two stories high, with 2 brass guns in each. There are 33 guns mounted in the whole circuit of the walls. There is a kind of wharf, which is also built principally with mud, and continued by mud banks to some distance. I suppose that the walls and towers were intended as a defence against the Country People, and to suppress insurrections among the Slaves, who are often very unruly when shut up in great numbers in the Slave-trading Factories. When the boats of the Thistle lately visited the Place, for the purpose of getting possession of the Slaves belonging to the Spanish Schooner Rosalia, no thought of resisting the demand occurred to any body. The Person to whom these Slaves belonged, named Francisco Freire, late Master of the Rosalia, was still at Mr. Ormond's, at whose house we dined in company with him. He appeared to be in a feeble state of health, and conversed little even with his Slavetrading friends; probably he felt a little shyness in consequence of our presence. We were informed that he requires Ormond to replace the Slaves given up to Lieutenant Hagan. No opportunity had offered for him to leave the River since the capture of the Rosalia by Lieutenant Hagan. Mr. Ormoud told me that he had recently refused to purchase Slaves brought to him for sale, and that he took only such as he had previously paid for: that is, the Slaves that were due to him for goods given on credit, to be paid for in Slaves. He, at the same time, avowed plainly his intention to resume the Trade if favourable opportunities should offer. His reason for not purchasing Slaves at present, was, that he should have the charge of maintaining them too long without a chance of getting rid of them, as the Merchants of The Havannah would not venture to send their Vessels into the River for some time, in consequence of the recent Captures. He was also ́apprehensive of exciting unfavourable suspicions, and incurring unkind treatment from the Cruizers, if he should be found collecting Slaves in any considerable number. This man used no disguise in respect to his attachment to the Slave Trade. It is said that Ormond has some thousands of attached Slaves, who are employed in cultivating, in trade, and in other services. They are called his people; and, according to the custom of the Country, they are not to be sold: but as they may be seized in payment for debts, and may be given in payment, in cases of particular urgency, of which the Master is himself the judge, they are never secure from sale when a number of Slaves is wanted, at a short notice, to make up a cargo. I think the number of Slaves belonging to Ormond must be overrated when thousands are at all named; but they say five or six thousand. He has certainly the most considerable number. Lightburn, also, is said to have thousands. From Ormond's we returned again to Lightburn's. We came back to Ormond's on the 14th; but nothing occurred worth mentioning. We sailed for Crawford's Island on the 15th of May, and arrived on the 16th. We did not visit the branch of the River which we left on the right of Devil's Island as we went up. It is less considerable than the other for facilities of trade and navigation; but I am inclined to think, that the fresh water stream is more considerable, and that it extends farther into the Country. The termination of the other branch is not 60 miles from the Bar. On this branch, to the right of Devil's Island, as we entered, the Church Missionary Society had formerly an establishment at a place called Bashia. The River is sometimes called Bashia River. The principal resident at present is Paul Faber, an American. Lightburn and Ormond have places of trade on this Branch also, which has communication with the other by some of those creeks and channels which are so frequent. The Curtises retain the settlement of their family on this Branch; but their principal possessions are at a place called Kissing River, which has a separate opening to the sea to the northward of the Rio Pongos Bar: it communicates with the main branch of the river between Dominge, William Lawrence's Place, and Devil's Island. Two Traders, named Irving and Sterne, have Factories in the Kissing Branch. The Slave-trading Vessels generally came to anchor in the Bason in front of Ormond's Factory at Bangalan. There they discharged their Cargoes, and took on board their Slaves, which were generally brought thither by the Traders to be delivered to them. No. 6.-Messrs. Gregory and Fitzgerald to Mr. Secretary Canning. (Received May 16, 1823.) SIR, the intelligence of the lamented death of the Marquess of Londonderry, came to our hands by the same conveyance by which we had the honour to receive his Lordship's second Letter, dated the 16th of September, announcing that the King had been graciously pleased to appoint The Right Honourable George Canning to be His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. We had the honour to receive, by the same opportunity, your Letter, communicating the same Appointment, with your desire that we should address to you our Despatches on public business, to which desire we shall have the hoWe have the honour to be, &c. nour to conform. The Rt. Hon. George Canning. SIR, E. GREGORY. No. 7.-Messrs. Gregory and Fitzgerald to Mr. Secy. Canning.(Rec. May 16.) Sierra Leone, January 1, 1823. IN obedience to the directions received by us, under date of the 10th of March 1822, from the late Marquess of Londonderry, that we should transmit, at the beginning of each year, for the purpose of more convenient reference, a general Abstract of our Proceedings during the year just elapsed; we have the honour to inclose herewith Abstracts of the Proceedings of the past year under the Mixed Commissions established in this Colony.* The number of Cases adjudicated under the British and Spanish Commission in the year 1822 was six; they were all deemed to be Cases of condemnation; and the number of Slaves emancipated was 500. The number of Cases adjudicated under the British and Portuguese Commission was eleven; they were also deemed to be Cases of condemnation; and the number of Slaves emancipated was 1356. There was only one Case of adjudication and condemnation under the British and Netherlands Commission; 178 Slaves were emancipated under that adjudication. We beg leave likewise to inclose for your further information, a general list of Cases adjudicated under the Mixed Commission to this date. You will perceive, Sir, that the number of Cases adjudicated during the past year is 18; the number of Slaves emancipated, 2034: that the total number of Cases adjudicated since the establishment of the Mixed Commissions is 40; and that the total number of Slaves emancipated is 3716. We have the honour to be, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. E. GREGORY. *The Proceedings, of which Abstracts were sent in this Letter, relate to the Cases of the Spanish Vessels-Rosalia, Dichosa-Estrella, Joseph, Vecua, Icanam, and Josefa :-to the Portuguese Vessels-Conde de Villa Flor, Des de Fevreiro, Esperança, Esperança Felix, Defensora da Patria, Estrella, San Jose Xalaça, Nymfa del Mar, Commerciante, San Antonio de Lisboa, and Juliana; and the Netherland Vessel Aurora:-all of which will be found at length in other Letters from the Commissioners. |