The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-19 00:00:00

COAST-GUARD.

APPOlNTMENTS.—Lieutenants—John Kiddle, to command
the Harpy ; William Fuller, R.N., to command the Dolphin,
vice Goldsmith, to the Shamrock ; C. Baker, to command
the Vulcan, steamer; Charles D. O'Brien, R.N., to the New-
town Station, vice Gray, appointed to the Penelope, steam-
frigate ; Henry Crocker, to the Prince Albert ; Charles Blyth,
R.N., to Balh-halbert station, vice Fuller.

WtX)LAVICII, SATURDAY.
The Government has resolved to adopt the most active
measures to put an end to the traffic in slaves on the African
coast, ant the French Government has also determined on
the same course. The Penelope, 22, steam-frigate, Captain
W. Jones, and the Prometheus, Lieutenant-Commander W.
M. J. G. Pasco, and two or three other steamers, are about
to be dispatched to the coast of Africa, which they will scour
in those latitudes where this nefarious traffic is carried on.
The smaller steamers will go up the rivers and examine every
inlet and creek where it is possible for any slaver to be con-
cealed, and the search along the coast will be so minute that
it will be impossible for any vessel to escape the vigilance of
the squadron. Three French steamers are being equipped
for similar service on the African coast, and there will be the
most cordial co-operation between the French and English
cruizers in every plan resorted to for the effectual suppression
of the slave-trade. Six iron steamers, of 250 tons each, are
being built by contract for the use of Government, as dis-
patch-boats. Messrs. Ditchbourne and Mare, of Blackwell,
are constructing three of them, and the remaining three are
being constructed by Messrs. Robert Napier and Co., of
Glasgow.
The Albion, 90, Captain Lockyer, is now lying at Cork,
with the flag of Rear-Admiral Bowles. The statements that
have been published in some of the papers respecting the
capabilities of this ship are altogether at variance with the
facts as officially reported to the Admiralty. The following
account may be relied on as authentic :—Her armament on
the main and lower deck consists
of 12 68-pounders and 52
32-pounders, long guns of 56 cwt. each. On her qaarter-
deck and forecastle she carries two 68-pounders, and twenty-
four 32-pounders, 81t. Gin., making in all 90 guns actually
mounted. She has five months' provisions on board, and
could easily carry six, having filled up the vacancy with
wood. She has 407 tons of water, with twelve months' stores
and necessaries, and ten months fuel. Her draught of water
is twenty-three feet six inches forward, • and twenty-
four seven inches aft. When at sea her speed, stability, and
quickness in working and steering, were fully and most sat is-
factorily tested. On a trial by the wind, with as stiff a
breeze as her masts could bear, under double-reefed topsails,
top-gallant sails, and courses, with her head within six points
of the wind, she went ten knots, and never heeled more than
four degrees and a half during the whole time. In a mode-
rate breeze, with single-reefed topsails,
. courses, and top-
gallant-sails, she went 9 6, as close as' she could lay,. and
stayed without either jib or spanker, and had the fore-sheet
aft within two minutes. The height of her mid-ship lower