The Sun.
London, England, 1817-09-20 00:00:00

PARLIANIETA'RY PAPERS.

PAPERS RELATING TO THE SLAVE TRADE.
(Printed t!y Order of the House of Commons)

The tollowinv, are Extracts of Letters frorn Sir
Laeas Yeo and Captain Fisher, 8.. N. to J. W.
Croker,

From Sir J. L. Teo, dated Nov. 7, 1816.

I have :a ready given it 'as my opinion, that a
free and extensive intercourse and trade could
with ease be opened in the interior of Atria; to
effect which, I %vapid recommend cultivating the
friendship and good will of the several kings and
chiefs, by making them suitable presents, and al-
lowing theta a participation in trade, for which
they are all most eager, an:l would enter into with
spirit, if effectually deprived 'of a slave Market,
and our forts and castles were in the hauds of
Gove7'nment, so that a merchant could receive be-
nefit from their protection, the'presynt system be-
ing incompatible with the interest of the separate
and Open trader. The African is very superior in
hitellect and capacity to the generality of Indians
in North America, they are more' social and
friendly to strangers, and, except in the vicinity
of the European settlements, are a floe noble
race of men. It is only in a commercial- point
of view that I think Africa at present worthy our
attention. Agriculture I would le,ive to the na-
tives, who would, if there was an extensive trade
nil consumption on the coast, soon find it their
interest to cultivate the ground. lam dltm per-
suaded that our West India colonies might soon
be supplied with abundance of live stock ; whiei•e-•
as that profitable trade is at present iu the hands
of the Americans ; our Gervetionent pay anenorm-
ous price, and our islands are very ill supplied.
When we were at Barbadoes, no fresh beef could
be obtained (though there is an order in favour
of purchasing for ships from the Coast of Africa),
and the squadtoti"on that Station had not any fresh
beef for several weeks. To facilitate and protect
our trade on that coast, X would strongly recom-
mend our obtaining from the Portuguese-Govern-
ment two islands, either St. Jago or St. Nicholas,
off the Cape de Verd Islands ; and St. Thomas,
on the Equator. The first would not only an-
swer for a safe depot for our merchants trading to
that part of the coast, but would afford pasture
for the cattle ; from whence they could be trans-
ported to our West India Islands, and supply our
Outward bound ships and western cruizers with
refreshments. It would -open the cattle trade
to our merchants,- at the eapence of America ;
and would prevent our enemy making it their
haunt in war, by which they are enabled to elude
our cruisers, and oroatinue longer at sea. Several
American privateers refited at these islands, and
also their frigates, one of which remained at
Brava upwards of a week. St Thomas, on the
Equator, is a very fruitful island, about the size of
the I sleot Wight; it abounds in cattle,gOats, hogs,
poultry and fruit of every description ; the sugar
cane grows in the most luxuriant manner, and

EPRIC SEVENPENCE.

. .
the coffee is very superior. to the Wist
there is a Very good port for merchatit vevsrls,
and two good bays for ships of war ; and it is so
situated, thiir the ships 'torn tLeGold Coast can
fetch.ii.friim the starboard tack.. the wind bring
in general from S. to S. ; and it is the most
desirable part for ships to sail from, if bohnd tip
the coast, to EurtiAtm or the West Indies'; as by
keeping -to the iOntliward -of the Equator, yiet
haVe the wind at south, and sometimes at S. S• E.
The inconstant. went from St. Thomas's to Sierra
Leave, a distance of 1,300 Ira:les directly to wind,
ward, in ten days.
.11 a vc-ssel attempts to keep
nearer the coast she get's I. the influence of the
westerly winds, and a strong current always go-
ing to the eastward."

From Sir .frsIIIC3 L. Ye°, dated March, 1817.
'• His Majesty's ship ['constant, off Cape
Coast Castle, 12tli March, 1817.

" 1)e g, leave to into to you,— for their
Lordships ioformation,, that ioiving landed . the
specie at sierra Leone, .I sailed rota that river nu
th 21st 'df January, to visa our different settle-
ments cin the coast, and to look 'after an armed
scLooner Spanish colouts, who had plun-
dered an English brig and several other,vessels,•
but without success, for though there is 'late r
nn doubt but most, of the armed vi =sets under
Spank!) colours, trading for slave-, are guilty of
piracy, yet it is very difficult, t not impos., ,de
to detect them -in the act. This is ncithel the
only or the least evil our trade II anti s'.:ifer
from so extensive a" Slave Tra,'e uutoer the Spanish
flag, for now they feel ascii own h ecori. y, and do
not fear any molestation, they do not hesitate to
take their slaves on board in the vicinity and es en
between-the British forts ; the consequence will
be, that they will supply the natives with every
iclethey stand in need of (arms and powder
included) 'at a Much cheaper rate than our mer-
chants can afford to do, and will revive a traffic,
Waich ie certainly most popular with every
can I have seen,

The natives at our different forts begin al-
ready to hope for a participatiim in the trade.-
1‘ am sorry to say that these vessels receive great
encouragement and, assistance from the Du►clh
Governor in Chief Diendels ; And as Elmina is
only seven miles from Cape Cost Castle, it can.
not fail to•prove prounaive of most mischievous
effects to our settlements."

From Captain Fisher, dated 21st April, 1816.
"His Majesty's Ship Haln, Sierra Leone,
215.: Ai ril, 18V7.

" Sts,---1- beg leave to aceplit.t vim, for the in-
formation of their Loa,Mips, the 13,11 in captured
on the 1611, of AL:rcli off Prince's Island, the
Portuguese brig Sac. Antonio, from' ramaroon„,
huund to Bahia with early six hundred
To feed or ati end such a number in a ve,,sel of one
hundred and twenty tons was impossible, and
seldom has a.atore seer, been witnessed
than she prasenterl in a passage of eighty
leagues more than thirty hid wo!lst, at least,
an equal number appeared in a dying sure; amidst
a group of these nohappy creicures, in the last
stage, of misery and siarvatiOn, lay a neglected
corpse, in a state too dreadful for description ;
this, too, in a roost unhealthy climate,- at the
worst stason, whilst tornadoes - were frequent
and violent, and, the rains almost incessant,—
It is impossiMe in the compass of a public letter
to•descri'oe half the sufferings of these vicliais of
oppression:

By removing * large portion of them into his
Majesty's sh;p, by dies, cleanliness, and medical
attendance (.pf which they had hitherto been des-
titute), in short, by ex el ring .every means in my
power, and supplying thent as well as the ex-
hausted state of provisions permit:ed, being
warmly supported by the humanity of my officers
and men, I have- succeeded in towing her hither
with less loss than 1 had reason to apprehend. I
have the pleasure to add, I have not, during this
service, lost one of toy own men.
'' -1 trust their Lordships will approve my hav-
ing come tip •wiih her; it was necessary to tow
he up, or to a.bandon her to certain destruction ;
forty-three died on the 'passage, notwithstanding
all our care, and many more are still in a very. pre,
cartons state.

" I am completing my water, and taking on
board provisions, and shall proceed immediately
for Barb4does in compliance with my orders."

From Captain Wm. Fisher, 9f_ his Majesty's Ship Cherufb

dated Prince'. Febr-wdy, 1817.

to I it my duty to. state, that Govern-or.
Generiii Mendcls, of Fort Elmina, gives every en.
couragement to the Slave Trade ; two Portuguese
slave vessels have been stapplied with water anti
canvas there ; his connexion with the Spanish
ship is tn.questionable. This example has'alteady
had a serious influence upon the natives living un-
der our Forts.

The French slave vessels are numerous ; there
are now three at (Taboon."

A letter bas been received within the last week
from Mr. BoswosTut, late master of the Boston
Public School, who was sent by the British and
Foreign Bible Society to the Island of St. D 6.
mingo, for the purpose of establishing schools in
that part of it under the Presidency of PaTlnar.--
He arrived at Port..au-Prinee on _the 240, of June,
after a passage of 30 days from New York, Where
he had been inspecting the-schools formed on-the
of education. On the 25th-be was
introducedßiitis
system
tOPETION, who declared that he Would
have schools-erected in every place, for that it is
his wish to have all educated in his dominions ;
and be will give every facility to forward theypi,
dertaking.