had lately arrived in Benin River, and had part of their Slaves on board. On my passage to that River, being in latitude 6 deg. 1 min. North, longitude 5 deg. 30 min. East, I seized after a smart chase, on the 29th ultimo, the Portuguese Brig Estrella, belonging to Bahia, having 298 Slaves on board, shipped at Lagos nine days previously. This Vessel was provided with the usual Royal Passport for Molembo. The small-pox having made its appearance among the Slaves, our own Crew much reduced by manning this Vessel, and being eight men short of complement, together with the Brig's total want of anchors and cables, I was obliged, although reluctantly, to abandon as impracticable the measures I contemplated for seizing the two Vessels already named, and returned to this anchorage, where I arrived this day. Commodore Sir R. Mends. SIR, I have, &c. R. HAGAN. No. 7.-Captain Thomas Wolrige to John Wilson Croker, Esq. I HAVE the honour to acquaint you (in the absence of Commodore Sir Robert Mends) for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that His Majesty's Sloop under my command, on the 19th instant, after an interesting chase on all points for twenty hours, came up with and captured the Spanish Schooner Josefa Maracayera, mounting a long 24-pounder amidships, and manned with 28 men, having on board 216 male Slaves: when taken she was only out of the River Bonny 24 hours, and bound to The Havannah. John Wilson Croker, Esq. I have, &c. THOMAS WOLRIGE. No. 8.-Commodore Sir Robert Mends to John Wilson Croker, Esq. H. M. S. Iphigenia, October 17, 1822. (Extract.) I HAVE to represent for their Lordships' information, that I have just received from Lieutenant Hagan of the Thistle, a Letter dated the 19th of last July, at Sierra Leone, acquainting me that he had captured two Portuguese Vessels in the Bight of Benin, whither I had ordered him, having, on board both of them, 328 Negroes. J. W. Croker, Esq. R. MENDS. No. 9.-Captain Grace to Commodore Sir Robert Mends. I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, that on my departure for Sierra Leone to cruize to the Southward, agreeably to your orders, I received information that the Trade in Slaves was carried on to a most serious extent in the Gallinas River. I therefore considered it my duty, and in obedience to the spirit of your Instructions, to commence my operations for the suppression of that Traffic as far to the Northward as I possibly could, after rounding the shoals of St. Ann; and accordingly on the morning of the 23d, when at a short distance to the Northward of that River, saw two Schooners in shore standing for this Ship; but on making her out they tacked and stood to the Southward; all sail was immediately made in chase, and after a run of seven hours with the wind from the Westward, we succeeded in preventing them from weathering Cape Mount, and took possession of the weathermost as it became dark; the leewardmost having tacked two hours previous in the hope of getting out to Sea. No time was therefore lost in taking the men out of the captured Vessel, and putting a party from the Ship on board, when we again made sail after her Consort, and I am happy to say, also succeeded in capturing her at 12 P. M. She proved to be L'Hypolite French Schooner of 95 tons, two guns and 19 men, and that which we had previously taken possession of to be the Aurora Dutch Schooner of 144 tons, four guns and 26 men, both well armed with muskets, pistols, cutlasses, &c. fitted out for Slaving in the most complete manner; had been upwards of two months on this Coast, and perfectly ready for receiving their Cargoes of Slaves on board, who I found were assembled at their Factories in the River, where were also the Masters and part of the Crews of both Vessels, with the irons, boilers and other appurtenances of Slaves, quite prepared for embarkation. This, with other information which I received, determined me to send to King Siaca, and request the liberation of those Slaves, who were purchased with part of the Cargoes of the captured Vessels. I accordingly anchored late last night off the mouth of this River, and at day-break this morning the Boats of this Ship, under the command of Lieutenant Courtenay, and fully prepared for any event, passed the bar through a tremendous surf, where they were immediately received with a heavy, but badly directed fire of musketry from the jungle on both sides, not a hundred yards distant, which was kept up as they passed up the River, till they opened the lower Factory Island, when they were met with a severe raking fire fron two long eighteen-pounders, and one eight-inch howitzer, and some hundred men with small arms. Nothing, however, could check the ardour and spirit of the Officers and Crews, who gallantly pushed on up a narrow River against a strong ebb tide and a most intricate navigation, having grounded seven times while under a heavy fire of grape and musketry, till they landed on the island, took possession of the guns, turned them against the covers on both sides of the River, and for a short time cleared them of their troublesome neighbours. Their attention was now turned to the houses on this and a neighbouring Island, where there was also a spacious Slave Factory, from all of which an annoying and incessant fire was directed. These were soon entered, and such of their opponents as were found in them were put to death, and the factories and houses burnt to the ground, excepting those occupied by Kroomen, which were spared in consequence of their staying by them and not joining in this wanton attack. As the Boats landed on the Islands, they had the mortification to see those unfortunate beings whom they hoped to liberate, through the influence of the King, hurried from the Factories, thrown into War Canoes, and carried out of sight higher up the River. This in addition to the attack that was made upon them, which precluded all hope of negociating with the King at that moment, and the Natives coming down with musketry in increased numbers, our ammunition getting short, and the islands not affording even shelter from the fire of the small arms, that was poured in on them from all sides, induced Mr. Courtenay, most judiciously, to determine on returning, and passing the bar while the water was high, which, after spiking the guns, and destroying them and the factories as far as it was practicable, he effected with as much coolness, judgment and skill as he displayed on entering; and am happy to say, that although the Natives assembled to the number of many additional hundreds with their muskets, lining the bushes on both banks of the River down to the very bar, and keeping up to the last a sharp fire, yet all was effected with the loss of one man mortally, and three slightly wounded. Inclosed is a list of the wounded; and while I deeply lament the loss of any individual from among my small Ship's company, I must at the same time express equal astonishment and satisfaction at its not being greater, considering the numbers that were opposed to us and the fire which was kept up, and can only attribute it to the bad direction of the latter, and the activity and good conduct which was displayed by all on this occasion. The loss on the part of our opponents was severe. Four Europeans and several Natives were killed on the islands and banks of the River, besides many who were wounded. I fear, Sir, that my account of this small affair may appear prolix and unnecessary; but I feel that I could not in fewer words do justice to the conduct of the Officers and men employed on this occasion, and otherwise justify the measures they were forced to pursue in self-defence, towards the Natives of a Country whose King has always professed friendship for the British Government, than by stating every circumstance which took place, arising out of this wanton act of aggression on their part. At the same time I must state for your further information and that of the British Government, that those acts originated through the influence which is exercised here over the Natives by several Europeans, to the number of eight or ten, the dregs of France, Spain and America, who have hitherto carried on the Slave Trade perfectly unmolested, and to an extent hardly credible, and who, I have since been informed, erected the battery with a determination of resisting to the utmost any force that might be sent to put a stop to their inhuman Traffic. On this occasion, however, they were ably assisted by Mr. Benjamin Liebray, Master of the Aurora, but formerly commanding a French National Corvette, and M. Louis Gallon, Master of the Hypolite, who with that part of their Crews who were on shore made so considerable an addition to the European Force, as to countenance and encourage the Natives. Although all that has taken place was unforeseen on our part, and brought on by the attack of those Europeans and the Natives, yet I trust that the measures which were afterwards pursued are such as will meet your approbation; as we have succeeded for a time in disturbing a nest of wretches who have lived by this most detestable Traffic, and who have for a long time been existing within little more than 100 miles from a Government formed solely for the purpose of its extermination. I have now only to add, that four days before my arrival a Spanish Schooner sailed from this place with 300 Slaves on board, and within the last month three other Vessels had departed with full Cargoes. Commodore Sir R. Mends. PERCY GRACE: SIR, No. 10.-Captain Grace to Commodore Sir Robert Mends. H. M. S. Cyrene, off Gallinas River, Nov. 2, 1822. I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, that since my Letter of the 25th ult. I have succeeded in opening a direct Communication with King Siaca, who, it appears, was some distance in the interior on that morning. He denies all previous knowledge of the attack which was made on our Boats, and accuses the Masters of the Captured Schooners of having served out rum, powder, shot, and arms, to the neighbouring Natives for the purpose of the attack, and as he states, exhorted them not to spare a single Englishman: which exactly agrees with the information I had previously received. He also appears so highly incensed against the French for being the cause of the destruction of the Factories and adjoining houses, that those Europeans who took a part in the transactions of that morning have been forced to fly for refuge into the Territories of some neighbouring Chief. King Siaca has very readily entered into my wishes for giving up those Slaves who were purchased with part of the Cargoes of the Captured Schooners, as well as such other things as were landed from them; and I am happy to say, that this morning we received on board the Aurora, 43 men, 21 women, and 116 boys and girls, the latter from the age of eight to thirteen, all of whom were purchased by the Master of that Schooner since her arrival on this Coast. They all appear healthy, are sensible of their change of condition, and quite happy at their release. I shall immediately dispatch her to Sierra Leone, for adjudication, and proceed in His Majesty's Sloop under my command to carry into execution the remaining part of your orders. I have, &c. Commodore Sir Robert Mends. PERCY GRACE. No. 11.-Commodore Nourse to John Wilson Croker, Esq. (Extract.) H. M. S. Andromache, at Sea, Jan. 5, 1823. ON my arrival at Zanzibar, I found the Imaum of Muscat had issued the most positive Orders, forbidding the Traffic in Slaves with any Christians whatsoever; and from all the intelligence I could obtain, these orders had been most strictly, attended to by the Governor of Zanzibar. J. W. Croker, Esq. JOSEPH NOURSE. No. 12.-Commodore Sir Robert Mends to J. W. Croker, Esq. (Extract.) Sierra Leone, March 27, 1823. It is with much satisfaction that I am enabled to acquaint you, Sir, that during my absence, the activity and success of the different Ships of the Squadron suffered no abatement, there having been 13 Vessels and 1,911 Slaves captured, as per list. It is but doing justice to Captain Phillips of the Bann, to mention him to their Lordships in a more particular manner, he having taken six Vessels and 811 Slaves, the greatest number ever yet captured by any Commander on this Station. J. W. Croker, Esq. R. MENDS. |