The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-10 00:00:00

CAPTURE OF A SLAVE-SHIP.

The following is an extract of a letter from a young
gehtleman belonging to Ayshire, surgeon on board her
Majesty's ship Acorn, dated St. Helena, Sept. 1,1841.
" We sailed from Rio de Janeiro for St. Helena on
the 6th of August, and arrived to-day, from whence we
depart again on a six 'months' cruise. In a former letter
I think I mentioned our capturing the noted brigantine
Gabriel, with her cargo of slaves. I have-it now in my
power to apprise you of another capture which we made
on the 17th of August last—viz., the Anna, with 500
slaves on board.
"Apart from the satisfaction which the emancipation
from slavery of such a great number of our fellow-creatures
produces, it is gratifying to think that we shall have an
additional 501. each of prize-money to receive for our
trouble when we arrive at Devonport.
"I was ordered aboard the Anna to take a list of the
number of the captives, and to classify them under the
following heads—viz., males, females, sick, and healthy.
As soon as I set foot on her deck the tokens of the miser-
able condition of the poorcreatures met my eye in every
quarter. Filth of all descriptions was strewed around the
deck, and the stench arising therefrom was almost over-
powering. I have never encountered anything like the
miasmatic and unwholesome vapours which arose from
the dens where the slaves were huddled together, so close
as scarcely to leave. breathing room. In the after-park
of the vessel, called the cabin, a place measuring about
16 feet by 9, and which was allotted to the females, no
fewer than 217 of these miserable beings were packed-
When I looked down into the crowded mass, and saw
the manner in which they were wedged together, it put
me in mind of the celebrated black hole of Calcutta, una
the miseries endured by the poor prisoners there on a
particular occasion. To suppose that such 0t number of
human beings could be squeezed into such o narrow space
almost exceeds belief, but it was indeed the case.
" The women and children wore ornaments composed
of beads on the necks, wrists, and other parts of their(
bodies. Several of the females in this style had Infant'',
in their arms, which they tended and soothed wit'„ a
maternal affection which was quite exemplary: consi-
dering their situation and the privations thev 'were com-
pelled to suffer ; indeed, few civilise4"mOthers could
have done the same if placed in a 07..;i1ar situation.
"In the forepart of the r°*;el. reaching from the
mainmast to the forecastle about 300 males were con-
fined. This part of t.".te vessel was called the gaol, and
is about 50 feet iii length by 27 in breadth, the roof
being about 3i feet in height. In this place, which
was in a most,filthy and impure state, the above number
of human beings were huddled together, without as much
room as to lay themselves at length ; and forced to keep
in a sitting position from the lowness of the deck above..
"In this situation they spent the days and nights tbP t were to give place, not to freedom, but to the sly-ger-3r-
which the fiends, their masters, should find oppc
to entail upon them for life. It struck
me, her- .rtiMity
their general appearance, ever, in the 'ever, that
able circumstances in which iliey were ire u nctokornfe ort-
' be
the gee atest contentment,: some co' Placed,
cheerful and happy looking them were even
quite
—at nine o'cloek morn;--
"..i.bei• were fed twice a clay
afternoon. Their fun-' ag' and again at three o'clock
beans, in
which • in the morning consisted of boiled
containing, little flour had been mixed. A vessel
them,
- quantity of this stuff was placed among
P-
e,e
_ed every one might eat as much as he pleas-
The afernoon meal consisted of flour and warm
water, mixed together in the form of a thin gruel,
mhich was- also served ud libitum, with an allowance of
two ounces of beef to each. The males, who were from
four to twenty years of age, were what would be
called in the rin.r.cet a svendid lot. The females,
whose ages might run from three to twenty, with the
exception of three infants, were all well-looking, and
equally marketable with the men. Notwithstanding
their being cooped up in the manner described, only
twenty-six out of the whole were reported sick. We ran
the vessel and her human cargo into Rio de Janeiro,
where the latter would be taken on board the slave ship
there, and find good treatment. The Government allows
Si. for each slave captured, and a certain sum per ton
for the vessels, which, in many cases, are run ashore
and cut up and sold. As they are generally good sea
boats, the Admiralty occasionally purchase they for her
Majesty's service.

"The Bay of tit.. Helena, in which we have just now
anchored, comes up close to the town. The island appears
very barren; indeed, we can see nothing but precipitous
masses of rock, rising almost perpendicularly from the
sea. The heights are all ornamented with fortifications,
and the rocks near the bay.are covered with batteries."

STATE OF TRADE.
FOREIGN WOOL TRADE, LEEDS, JAN. 7.—The demand
for foreign wool this week bas been steady, but without
any very great improvement having taken place in the
trade. Prices remain firm.

ENGLISH WOOL MARKET, LEEDS, JAN. 7.—The sales
of English wool this week have not been extensive.
Prices are without any alteration from the quotations of
last week.

WAKEFIELD WOOL MARKET, JAN. 7.---The demand
for all kinds of long wool continues limited. Upon the
whole there is rather more inquiry last week, and prices
are firm, but not improved.—Clothing and Blanket wools
are without alteration, either in demand or price.
TRADE OF LEEDS.—It has generally happened in
former seasons, that.at the commencement of a new year,
there has been some improvement in the demand for
goods. This is, however, far from being the case at
present. The markets both on Saturday and Tuesday
were as dull as the few weeks previous, and with very
little prospect alloy material improvement. The stocks
of goods are very low, but there is no inducement for
the manufacturers to increase their operations, as it is
impossible to get remunerating prices in the present
state of the demand. Business is very dull in the ware-
houses, both buyers and sellers being engaged in taking
stock.—Leeds MerculY•
BRADFORD WOOL MARKET, JAN. 6.—Since our lass
report we cannot learn that any material change has.
taken place either in demand or prices. lhe deep staples
wether fleeces, anti matching continue most in request.
Colonial wools are still much neglected both in combing
and clothing sorts. Yarn—The Inquiries for Yarns are
rather on the increase, and perhaps on the whole quite
as much done as
.for several weeks past, but without
any improvement in prices. Piece—We had a very
numerous attendance at our first new market in the
year, which is usually of a rather animated character.
To-day has not been so much so as we could have
wished, nor are the purchases made extensive, being in
a great measure confined to fancy goods.—Bradford
Observer.

There is little alteration since our last. Four or lire
houses connected with this market have failed within
the last few days; but we believe the debts here are not.
heavy. The demand for Shipping goods is over for the
spring, and we understand the manufacturers are pro-
ceeding very cautiously. Prices remain the same.—
Leicestershire Mercury.

HASTINGS UNION.—At the last sitting of
Hastings Magistrates a man named James Cloake, late
relieving officer of the No. 2 District of the Hastings
Union, was charged with defrauding the Guardians of
several sums of money, by withholding it from the pau-
pers and charging it in his account as paid. There were
four charges against the defendant, rendering him liable
to a penalty of 201. for each offence. It appeared from the
evidence that the defendant had carried on an extensive
system of depredation on the unfortunate paupers to
whom he was directed to afford relief. The Guardians
had selected four cases for prosecution out of a great num;
ber which had been discovered, and evidence was takeff
which left no doubt as to the prisoner's guilt. He bad
nothing to say in answer to the charges, and the Magis-
trates, after censuring him severely for his conduct, con-
victed him in the full penalty of 201. on each charge, or
three months' hard labour. The defendant, who said he
had no means of paying the fine, was then committed to
Lewes House of Correction for twelve months. _

- -- - - -- • -----
An inquest, adjourned from -Friday, the 31st
the
river off thy!pTuebinlipcilte;
ult., on the body of a man, 'name unknown, about thirty
years of age, terminated on Friday at the Feathers,.
Temple-street, Whitefriars, beibre Mr. Payne, the City
Coroner. The evidence proved that the body of de-.
ceased was found floating in
gardens, by a water:nap, on Thursday week lacsotn.stoTueh
the exertions of theTs•thlca,rmeeielrn:
Coroner adjourned the inquiry in hopes that the
given to the case,' and
would be the means of disooverti.neg-tdheeee
jttusre:
:fist evening,.
the manner in which he . becamefora
drowned
tnhoefiunrcituheesrtetiv,aidse:gorrilaeyd