The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-18 00:00:00

TRAM ES.

Mr. Robert Pride, the master of the ship Governor
M'Donald, was brought before Mr. Yardley, charged
with assaulting and falsely imprisoning David Isbaster,
a seaman, at Camaroon, on the west coast of Africa,
in May last.
Mr. Vessey appeared for the defendant.
The case was one of a most extraordinary cha-
racter. It appeared from the lengthened statement
made by Isbaster that he and another seaman, named
Bainbridge, were charged with plundering the cargo
and broaching a cask of rum at Cameroon, and they
were ordered to prepare to go on shore. Expecting
very horrible treatment from the natives, they refused
to leave the forecastle, and were hauled up. A black
chief called King Bill was on board at the time, and
he promised Isbaster and Bainbridge that they should
not be flogged. They were forced into a canoe and
taken on snore by some Kroomen and others, King
Bill's subjects, and put into a miserable hut, and
confined until next day, when the chief mate came on
shore with a pound of bread for their subsistence,
but no water was served out, not withstanding
they were suffering from a dreadful thirst and the
intense heat of the climate. The chief mate,
who said he was acting by the master's orders,
directed the natives to take Isbaster to another
old hut, with the side of it knocked down, and
he was chained to a tree in the middle of the hut
by the leg, the chain having about three fathoms
drift, to enable him to walk. In this state the sea-
man was kept for about five weeks, and his sufferings
were dreadful. He had nothing but the damp earth
to lie en by night, and he was exposed to a burning
sun by day ; his feet were burnt and bitten by mus-
quitoes and other insects, his legs were severely cut
by the chain, and he' was compelled to exchange a
portion of his daily allowance of bread for water, of
which he had a very scanty supply. Some of his
clothes were also disposed of to the natives, to obtain
a few necessaries. He was frequently taunted by the
blacks, and threatened that he should be eaten. Bain-
bridge was told more than once, by the chief mate,
that he would be permitted to return to the ship, if he
would ask the captain's pardon, and admit his guilt;
but as he had not done anything wrong except drink-
ing some rum which another man gave him, he re-
fused to do so, and he was kept in confinement until
the ship was ready to sail, when he was taken on
board. He had never entirely recovered the effects of

the horrible treatment he met with on the coast of
Africa. A great portion of the bread was stolen by the
natives, and by his sable Majesty King Bill, on its way
from the ship to the hut. Bainbridge, who was also
treated and chained in a similar manner, fell sick; and
about four days before Isbaster was taken on board
his chain was taken off his leg, to enable him to at!end
on his afflicted shipmate, who never rallied, and he
died five days after he was sent on board. The hut
where Bainbridge was confined was described to be a
very stinking place, filled with cobwebs. The old
king, and father of the monarch, King Bill, had died
in it, and it had been inhabited by no ono but the two
sailors since his death.
James Taylor, a seaman, confirmed the statement of
Isbaster as to what occurred on board, the sufferings
of Isbaster, and the death of Bainbridge.
The defence set up by Mr. Vessey was, that Is-
baster and Bainbridge had been plundering the cargo,
getting drunk, and committing acts of insubordina-
tion, and
Mr. J. Farmer, the chief-mate, was examined on
the captain's behalf, and endeovoured to make out that
the African (King Bill) was a most important per-
sonage, and was on board with his guards (six black
slaves), and there being no place to confine the men
on board, King Bill was consulted, and said he would
take care of them on shore. The complainant and his

shipmate said they would not go on shore, unless they
were compelled, and threatened to knife him; and
during a struggle on deck he was cut with some sharp
instrument. He visited the two seamen every morn-
ing on shore. They were chained by their legs, but
they appeared to be in good health ; and the first day
he saw them they were playing at draughts. The
seamen abused the witness, and when he reported it
to his Majesty King Bill and the supercargo, his
Majesty ordered them to be separated.
Mr. YARDLEY—Majesty, indeed l stuff and non-
sense. What sort of a place was the but where the
two men were confined ? Mr. Farmer—The king
lived up one pair of stairs, and one man below.
Mr. YARDLEY—They were confined in the King's
palace, then.
After some further evidence, and a long discussion,
from which it appeared that Isbaster and Bainbridge
were chained up from April 18 to the 4th of June,
and that both stood in great danger of being killed
by the savages,
Mr. YARDLEY said this was a very extraordinary
occurrence indeed, and deserved a grave inquiry. He
should not decide upon the case himself. He wished

DIE.O. °t
On the 14th inst., at Levant-house, Sussex, Maria, wife
Major-General James Cloud Bourchier. wells,
On the 16th inst., aged 23, Alfred, second son of Mr. "
of Surbiton-road, Kingston, Surrey. „,.. ohil'
On the 1 4th inst., at Hanger-lane, Tottenham, P. -
ston, Esq., aged 61. „nee4
On the 13th inst., at Brighton, aged 3°, Agnee, ic)-4'
daughter of the late D. Cannan, Esq. - rg •
On the 10th inst., at College-place, Catnden-tovrot
William Rookby, age 36. Thomas
On the Bth inst., at Heysham Tower, Lancashire, --
J. Knowles, Esq., aged 47.

of
London: Printed and Published by INIURDO Y 0 lI
No. 112, &rand, Printer, at The Sun Office,
Strand, in ths Precinct of the Savoy, in the Clow
Bliddlefox, Friday, October IS, 1850/