The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-14 00:00:00

THE SLAVE TRADE.

The following is an extract from a letter written by an
officer on board the squadron en the west coast of Africa,
dated July 26, 1845 :
" Here we are, on the most miserable station in the wide
world, nigger hunting—attempting an impossibility—the
suppression of the slave-trade. We look upon the whole
aflhir out here as a complete humbug. You may make
treaties in London, and send the whole combined squadrons
of England and France to this coast, and then you will not
have gained your object. So long as a slave, worth only a
few dollars here, fetches 80/. or WO/. in America, men and
means will be found to evade the strictest blockade. The French
ships trouble themselves so little about the affair, that they
have never yet been known to take a prize. The sardity of
blockading a coast 2,000 miles in ex ter t must be obvious to the
meanest capacity. Even if successful, you must be prepared
to continue the force for ever and a day, or your labour is
lost ; for the moment the ships are removed the business
recommences. The market is the true centre to aim at; put
an end to that, and the supplies will not be required. The
loss of life and demoralising (fleet to our service are very
great, the climate and service being of that nature to pre-
vent the proper exercise of discipline, and ships are anything
but men-of-war; and many officers acquire habits neither
beneficial to themselves nor ornamental to the navy. The
best method of suppressing the trade we may leave to spe-
culative theorists; but the naked fact of our exertions in
favour of the African slave having increased his miseries to
an awful extent, with an immense sacrifice of life, is uncon-
tradicted by the best-informed advocates of the slave mea-
sures—l mean men of practical information employed on the
coast. I will cite one or two instances within my own know-
ledge. At the spot we are now blockading about 3,000
slaves have been collected by the agents for exportation, but
the difficulties to get them away have been so great, that
few have been known to be shipped for twelve months.
Provisions have been exhausted, and dreadful expedients,
if report be true, have been resorted to for subsistence.
Among others, and the least revolting, is driving them into
the woods every morning, like herds of swine, to pick berries.
Again, the slavers are obliged to make the most of any the
slightest opportunity that offers. Frequently the heavy surf
on the open coast beech prohibits the passage of ship's boats,
and sometimes also the native canoes; when this occurs, and
the slaver is anxious to run his cargo, tl-,e unfortunate devils
are dragged through the surf to th boats, anchored outside
by lines attached to their persons. Men, women, and chil-
dren are served in this way ; you may imagine what numbers
must be drowned in such an operation. Prior to our inter-
ference they could not afford to trifle with their lives in this
way, as the supply equalled the demand; prices were
low, and it was an object with the slaver to preserve all
his cargo; the loss of a few slaves carried off the cream
of his profits. Now a few survivors will give a hand-
some return. Some of the vessels, apparently not much
larger than our coasting vessels, have been taken with hun-
dreds on board. Seeing is believing, but nothing less could
have convinced me it was possible to stow so many in the
space ; the slave-deck where they are packed is not three
feet high, sometimes it is merely a space between the beams
and the water-casks. Who n a full vessel is taken we are
obliged to make use of the slaver's crew to pack them away.
At sunset this is done in the most clever manner, by the
Spaniards making them all lay on the same side and fitting
them in one by one, the projecting part of one body filling
up a corresponding hollow. Our men arc not sufficiently
skilful to do this. lam told long practice is required. As a
set-off to this we sometimes catch a few lucky rascals and
liberate them at Sierra Leone; but you may see by the Par-
liamentary returns that the per centage is very small. The
station is now and has been considered healthy, although the
few ships we have as yet communicated with have afforded
a dead list of nine officers since our arrival, and men, no
doubt, in proportion.

SMUGGLERS' REVENGE.—A letter from Harburg
(Hanover), dated the 25th ult , in the Gazette des Tribu-
naux, says :—" On the night of the 23d ult. the village of
Flehrsberg, situated near Harburg, was the scene of a dread-
ful act of revenge. A little after twelve o'clock six men,
dressed like Harburg sailors, each carrying on his back a
large parcel, landed in front of the Custom-house port, not
far from the conflux of the Seve and the Elbe. The
moment they landed they hastened to Flehrsberg,
and entered precipitately the court-yard of a house stand-
ing by itself. About a dozen of the Custom-house men
followed close at their heels, and they in fact entered the
gate together with them. The moment all were inside
the walls, the gate was at once closed, and a number of men
attacked the officers with sticks, beating them most cruelly.
They then tore out their eyes, and mutilated them dread-
fully, after which they made off. A patrol that happened
to pass, hearing their groans, entered the yard, and re-
moved them to the hospital of Harburg, where they had
been paid every attention, though no hope is entertained
of saving their lives. Two men have been since arrested,
and they without hesitation acknowledged that they formed
part of a great number of smugglers who determined to en-
tice the Custom-house officers into a snare, and take ven-
geance on them. They have, however, refused to state the
names of their accomplices. The packets were found in the
court-yard they were filled with sawdust."
Two MEN DROWNED IN A COAL PIT.—On Sun-
day evening last, two men, named Hugh Adam and William
M'Donald, lost their lives in the Wellington coal-pit, at
near Dalkeith. The pit, we believe, is about 4613 feet deep; and
being as yet unwrought, upwards of 120 feet of water had
been allowed to accumulate at the bottom. On the night in
question, the men whose names are mentioned above, along
with another individual named David Clunie, were sent down
the shaft for the purpose of stopping up an air-hole; and as
they did not calculate on being many minutes in accomplishing
this matter, they very carelessly and injudiciously descended
without their lamps. When they were about half-way
dt.wn, some derangement took place in the machinery at the
top of the pit, in consequence of which the bucket descended with
such velocity, that when it came in contact with the water it
canted over, throwing out the unfortunate individuals. Clunie
clung to the side of the pit, and got his head above the water; in
which position he remained till assistance reached him from above.
Adam and M`Donald were, however, instantaneously drowned.
The former had been 28 and the latter 16 years employed about
the works, and were respected for sobriety and steadiness of cha-
racter. We regret to add that each of them has left a wife and
seven children to lament their irreparable loss.—Caledonian
Mercury.
CAB ACCIDENT IN FLEET-STREET.--On Tuesday,
shortly after ten o'clock, as one of Fardell's Chelsea omni-
buses was proceeding up Fleet-street at a rapid rate, and
when near Bride lane, the near wheel came in violent contact
with the off-wheel of a cab No. 2,350, proceeding the same
way, a lady and gentleman being inside, nearly overturning
the vehicle, and so violent was the force of the concussion that
the driver was thrown off the box with considerable violence
on to the pavement, but fortunately he has not sustained any
extensive injury beyond a few bruises • the shafts were torn
off, and the horse, finding himself at liberty, took frig it, and
started at a fearful rate up Fleet-street, dragging the broken
shafts at his heels, the foot passengers retreating in all direc-
tions; fortunately he came in contact with part of the board-
leg at the opening of the sewers opposite St. Dunstan's
Church, the force of which threw him down, and he was ulti-
mately secured. Owing to the lateness of he hour and the
comparative clear state of the streets must be attributed the
fact that no serious accident occurred. The lady and gen-
tleman were got out of the cab without having sustained any
njury beyond fright. The omnibus was stopped and the
driver's number taken. _ _ _

AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH'. —On Tuesday Mr.
Baker held an inquest at the King of Prussia, Dean-street,
Gould's-hill, Shadwell, on the body of Richard Bayley, aged
33, a seaman. It appeared by the evidence of his landlady,
Mrs. Versan, of Dean-street, that he had but recently re-
turned from a long voyage. Oa Saturday Light last he ate
a hearty supper, and retire:l to rest in a good state of health.
On the following morning he complained of being chilly, and
said he would get a little rum and water; he went out for
the purpose; he returned in about ten minutes, sat down by
the lire, fell back a'most instantly, and expired without a
groan. Mr. Arthur, a surgeon, attributed death to spasms.
Verdict accordingly.
NEW IRON STEAM-SKIP.—A very fine iron steam-
ship has been just launched from Orchard-yard, Blackwall, and is
now lying in the East India Docks. She has been constructed by
Messrs. Ditchburn and Mare, to be propelled by the screw, and
when her engines are fitted will tale her placs as one of the vessels
of the British and Irish Steam-packet Company, on the London
and Dublin station. The proprietors have named her the Rose,
and it is anticipated that with engines of 50 horse poser she will
combine speed with the essential advan'age of great stowage room
for cargo, without at all interfering with the accommodation for
passengers. The following are her dimensions :—Len, oh, 125
feet; beam, 21 feet; depth of hold, la f.-et; tons, 2G2, builders'
measurement. She is to he rigged as a three-masted schooner, the
mizen-mast forming the funnel to her engines.
_,..s

The weather has again become cold, uncongenial,
and excessively wet, and we are yet scarcely in the middle of Oc-
tober. A cold spring, a backward summer, an early autumn, and a
long winter before us—such is the weather of 1745. The bad ac,
counts of the potato crop, we regret to state, are more than cotiq
firmed in this part of the country,—Brighton Herald.

CAPTURE OF SLAVERS.
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, JUNE 29.—Her Majesty's 611„
Ilekna, 16, Captain Sir Cornwallis Ricketts, Bart , and t
Mutine, 12, Captain R. B. Crawford, anchored in Simonz:
Bay, en the 14th of June. The Helena left Mozambique c
the 14th, and the Mutine on the 17th of Nay. . a to
Both ships have made captures and brought in slat e.,
the great benefit of the colony. It would appear
Helena captured an Arab vessel of about forty tons, V_tt.
eighty-three slaves, off Cape Delgado early in April. Thin
vessel was, however, destroyed, being altogether unadapw°
to encounter the Cape gales, during the winter mooths•
Gorr
Her Masesty's sloop Sappho, Captain the Hon.
Hope, had likewise captured and destroyed a small sirfer
about the same period.
The Mutine's cruise, although short, has been so even
that we think the leading facts worthy th at t.ll
have to express our regret,, that whilst vigorously prosecuft,
her duties, she had the misfortune to ground near the Qu'llee,d
mane River on the 26th of April last. This accident occult's,
in full pursuit of a large slaver, nor was the Mutine got of not ice : and
for the lapse of two hours, with the united exertions of el
individual on beard, all vying with each other for the Por
cot e,
servation of their beautiful vessel ; this, strict discipline,
bittedwith a hearty good-will, was at length happily effec eSs
not, however, without the loss of her guns, which were throw'
overboard, with the exception of one chase 18 pounderc.
On the slaver perceiving the accident which had
her adversary, her medley crew, comeesed of Brazilians
the °f all
shades, Poi tuguese. blacks, and Yankees, cheered °
lustily, and renewed efforts were made for escape, aegLes..
il
possible stitch of sail packed on. Nothing daunted, th
tines worked away; the water was started, and guns, shot,_4
and many heavy articles, immediately followed; round;y
struck on a falling tide, no time was left for looking
and, when at last the little brig was once more f_l!.
launched into deep water, the mainbrace was spliced ("pwlits
ever ensures Jack's wannest approbation), and all sag to
again ordered to be made in chase, instead of waiting•
ascertain damages. Three hearty cheers burst forth sP°,;t
taneously from the crew, and off she went a second dine (to
half-past ten o'clock, A.m.) after her friend—now rednees
a mere speck on the horizon, having had a clear start of fu y
twelve miles. slog,
The wind varying from two knots to an knoteight- " This,
—out boats and in again was the order of the dal. , here
not to throw a chance away, was often repeated; an,`'Snsde
it may be observed, the want of quarter-beats was ful Yd-esay,
manifest, the in-and-out system not only occasioning
but much inconveience and considerable risk.
With every disnadvantage, thanks to the recent ilnPillsirciez
ments in English naval architecture, the slaver was bouts
chase. up, and captured just before sunset, after a seven 'r tba
chase. The health of Mr. Fincham, the constructor °lt to
Mutine, was drunk with three-times- three, in comelintenwas
his talent for having built so fast a craft. The
found to be the Brazilian barque Princeza Imperial, ofol!a s;
400 tons, equipped, provisioned, and watered for 1,000 sample
she had, by an admission of her crew, already realised ss.soi
fortunes for her owners, having escaped from the Mozatn's':3oo
in the years 1842, 1843, and 1844, with upwards of ;
slaves, worth fully 200,0001, tofille
It has been ascertained that the Princeza had here sire
sailed under the American flag, with whale-boats on the Deed
sl O'er
out
ters, and so fitted in all respects as to pass for a vessel OP°
in a whaling expedition. found
.
On taking possession of the slaver, the masts were d 5
swinging to and fro, the wedges driven out, the lantarbeset
the rigging let go, two stanchions chopped away, it sorted
sawn across during the chase ; in fact, every measure r,e.-osoa
to to make her sail ; she has since been sent for adinwez
to Sierra Leone in charge of Lieutenant the 11°11*
P Captain Crawford speaks in the highest terms of t'-feerg
duct of the first lieutenant, George Mends, and all his ° old
and crew, in extricating the Mutine from the 511l'eser
bringing to a successful termination a chace which
m Mutine had the good fortune to make a second suo°
on the sth of May, whilst becalmed at the head of 11. der
Bay, where she was watering. A suspicious sail swaopg'
cried from the masthead, having a light breeze in tnesreadit
The boats were sent in pursuit, under Lieutenant ,`OlO.
Lieutenant the Hon. F. Curzon, and Mr. Furneso4
A spirited and well-directed chase of some hours d° Arsb
took place, which ended in the capture of a be. MO
vessel, having upwards of 220 slaves on board.
crew, 25 in number. were as savage-looking a set of IsS,Ssed
as one could desire to fall in with. They were 1°11,7;0
with Tower muskets, loaded to the muzzle, toge''soef,
formidable spears and creeses of every denominationtog
however, seeing our jolly tars nothing loth for s segsis lard
deemed it most prudent to jump overboard and trY '—ded;
at swimming for the shore, at the moment we boar,ssors
this experiment several, including the captain, was t'lsostsl
in the act of plunging, diving, and stabbing at thealb', bat
nine Portuguese slave-dealers were found in the dab,
be ats.;
neither colours nor papers of any description conk' d seed
covered. This prize, being found old and leaky", trot
for taking the slaves to the Cape of Good Hope, was """ „
by Captain Crawford's orders. of
. It further appears, that from 'information reee" Der.
slaver (with 350 slaves) having put in for water in tbe 003
heurhood of Boyanna Bay, the boats of the Itinit.ifiseteoltet
again despatched on the 6th of May, in charge of ts'e-offiCe"f
Mends and Mr. Furneaux, Admiralty mate. These sisve-
soon fell in with the object of their search, nor did WOO
perceive the proximity of the boats until within halowest
length distance, and actually fired into; she, ;say
promptly hauled to the wind made off, sailing assd to
sweeping in good style. This vessel was steered tißdsolg
ably conducted by a Senor Quemlae, a man of rektliewll7.,
and resources, said to have been an officer in tnenes fro'
navy, and to have had repeated hairbreadth oscgr
the cruisers on the western coast, as also off Cuutialleiss
this occasion the Spaniard led the boats fully & jie;
the land, and succeeded in getting clear about ntssanl
when the breeze increasing left the boats without tto tb
During this most exciting chase, it is painful to rele sea
slaves were actually thrown into the sea by thee there
This horrible alternative was, no doubt, resorted to for
55sed orel
pose of impeding the boats. One poor creature passd to ISIC
the oars of the pinnace, and many others are suppose, e, fors;
perished. Mr. Renaud, the Master of the 31011seePirs
nately coming up at the time in one of her boats, 13,,,1 oleo
seven negroes in the last stage of exhaustion. 11° xeedso,
little spit its, judiciously administered by that officer' pets
relieved them. As the Mutine, with nearly 4°s"astr"ed
including slaves and prisoners, was still employed reol" ortotbs
watering at the head of Boyanna Bay, the cutter vs sot. As
and sent off on the 7th, with a strony, party under seeSl-""f
Hon. F. Curzon, to examine the inlgetsof the coal, e°:
to Bembatooka Bay, in the hope of falling in t r .isas
ts
Quemlae, but without success; en reaching the inn iq
Lieutenant Curzon paid his respects to the king; °sec; oleo.
officer was received and saluted by a guard of -4,,striroi
white military costume, similar to that worn by thesrdresto
soldiery. His Majesty, who was attired in the ftneolore'S,
a post-captain of the British navy, spoke verY, ,`,eslsf's
English, and expressed his entire disapprobation of the
VIP;
trade, informing the Lieutenant that he had re being ea.
gaged rab captain who put into Bembatooka for sold
gaed in the traffic. Before the English officer wnsbrottl?ss
ted to t'epart, his Majesty insisted on discussing aiideram
excellent champagne with him, and also very COI
made a present of poultry, vegetables, fruit, Ike.
landed
bee,
The slaves brought in by the Mutine, and lanto'''
'
said to be in a very healthy state.
The Mutine is getting ready for another cruise, hot
saesdefy
•,a
iirinds
having been made good by her Majesty's ship Atom-
It has been ascertained that she received no
mage whilst on shore. CinVey,

PROSELYTISM IN RUSSIA.—The Russietavedd
meat, says the Journal des Debars, has just ac-Preptar,b;
religious conversions in the German provinces the re,t,
Livonia, and Esthonia, where the majoritY 1:400:410
bitants are Protestants. Those conversions hau,,,A SP;sl
cited some disorders in the provinces, but rn"ritiehhiott
clergy, seconded by the civil and military auto
and izies
decided to follow up the work with that violenceo-d WP 0
fanaticism which characterises Russian 1)(401,, ragcli}ol'
presents such a deplorable contrast to t'" The bi•
and tolerance of the other European states. fro Ix
lowing is an abstract of a private letter 0 The Derr
vonia, published in the Hamburgh Gazette:--- septclo for
vonian clergy met on the 6th, 7th, and Bth °f. f 4StY, ot
wLihviocnhia.at. pTrehseeynctammeant
in the small town of Walk, to the number ° in`ove°3„ ot
iofeastsdei
the purpose of deliberating upon the religious,,,bitaa""the
Government at St. Petersburgh B,,bjeo- onf
Golowin had replied to that remonstranceon that th: OlOr•ca;
ctseilofunatmoonrtgehinetloinesitnoo-, wito4 deel
or others who wished to enter into the orthoclolvvollieei
would be received at Riga, and in the other towns of b, for
for this purpose several temporary tit
opened. The peasants who wish to quit their revisbed ete,
the purpose of being received ought to be far fuse tb.oor
certificates from their landlords, who cannot re evdea‘ io.
The proprietors and clergy who should hinder trot tboeces.
to clster the peasantry from following the ft
clinations-would be liable to severe penalties.
elle, of we
sary to remark that article 10 of the treaty cf Pf coll.° piP
shalt is in the following terms :—" Liberty 0., 1,11 by
will be respected in all the provinces of Estbnuid: oil
.eirr
the island of CEsel, Carolia, and Impermaulsn,, be 0,1.ra•
Sweden to Russia. The evangelical church sb%iii Go ''''
tamed there, such as it existed under the Swa" erso
31
ment." ,0c Ole 110
ACCIDENT ON THE SHEFFIELD AND 0 stril e 911
RAILWAY.-- Owing to a cow having been :Mowed t. pi 'spe
above hpe, by a drover from Penis:one market, artie4 ',cellos
Monday night, an accident occurred which had weli:fro. 001,0
destruction of a whole train of passengers. Shortlf_,ot the 1101
had left Dunford.bridge, and while it was so dark ";,,o, fen,
could not see what was on the line, ashock wooottau OS
which threw both the engine and train oft' the litle; :000,08
juring both the engine and carriages, and Igen° ,st otta 'aei
guard to death. As soon as the passengers could befl_le iteetd
carriages, it was ascertained that a cow had got upentli.“ Theriot,
that the engine had come in violent contact With
...,no tk!dolft
animal was nearly cut in two, and of course killed. 14s snoco x
Information was immediately forwarded to the fin_":voisujoisv-bt
and a pilot.engine. promptly dispatched from thenc:,
.e*t
...0
at night, to the scene of the accident. It returner :eithflrcar,
with a portion of the passengers on the tender, ant! °_.°Dber °_, re
down immediately started again with a sufficien
0!"_. with roe
riages. returning to Sheffield about two in the rao.redilei Were os
mainder of the passengers. As might be exPeci ieocc* aof
noovee _A Di pt,
siderably alarmed, but bore the cold and i . „toga..
.is •
greatest fortitute, not a syllable of complaint ber,"hio.d all:( i
one of them. The servants of the Company We Kflbe colltr:a,o0
assisted by a number of men in the employ 1
l'ot tour o'l--
Messrs. Miller and Blakes, and by the time the fir_
_,,, the Pe' tbfl
Tuesday morning, every obstruction was cieared..,!,lnesclityto to
TROTTING AND GALLOPING: 101___.', the for l''_ off si
match between Mayer's pony and Cable's b_7,,,e_ calav i the
gallop and the latter to trot, two miles, for 10.1 14'; 'rad!
~ toe:
Wimbledon-common. The trotter receive': f.if A tOlfiletoll0;
starting. The horse maintained his vivant:Mt. ""'
i• 0,, of ike witi Deri
the pony gained upon him, and, at the coral' e !_,.„, pool. jo f
which occupied three minutes and five Wenn, *-
and tvotielbe rel
100 yards in the rear ; the horse continue:l.oBoolf
the goo
op,
~a
admirable style, but when within 400 ye
id broke t°6olCat'Se
came up to its opponent, which immediate
le
certaia,l 0
e
was puled in. The pony then had the raco3.o .
__
"" asp 0
in the winner, covering the ground in seven titltednes `gets
t
PIGEON FLYING 111ATCII. 00.0
...,atour
t/.
_lor ,c.
second match between pigeons decidedbelongingct""for a
thei adciaritti:
Brixton, named Pain and Armsted, was
breed, and tied in er,
aside. The birds were of the horseman
were
to _
be stlthe wintrioo'
to be flown was from Dover. The birdse e ~d
h consider— arid '1- 1, 0
air together, and l
ed for
home Ie
t 0 ,_. ratisvalitey toeff 0
They were conveyed to their destina i r.,
tcbeiL stle ' tit,
were &spa midi, Pi Ich
o'clock the" winged messengers"
ait*— *Solt,
0 per.
tour round, and then, having attained a great ratio bit
e. wot
00
twelve minutes before two o'clock.
opinion.lr state of 00,, 051,%,
nearly exhausted, owing to the unpre
._vin over illtes.
and was easily captured. The di,tanc
.oanue
to
108 I°
110
is about eight y.two miles, which was d
i ..d.,-.-1010814
other bird did not arrive.
1 Ito the he- d• trY far
[ADVERTISLAIL..T.
' ]----B o - .
__r
to.
.0
ith _A rt csf.r'° 1040 oOr
of blood.—Derangement of Hes,
et ired publican' dogef°., In§
Liolloway's Pals..—:%ir. Willts, a r
t;nually from a _ei, 100
tin-street, Pe ntonv:lie,sotiered ecn.t
~e_ onbed fadi;74., ;IP,
*rrnination of blood to the head, w.i
011,11to"a verlib the 5004
.limbs, health much implireil, the bin .
a the ben" ry inean'cis 0'
;heavy and drowq, with switnralug' 'cote. line!! tb°d9atrio tb.
/generally out of order, wi;h little ai)p
last he,
A rector 101'
cfaled to restore him to health, but at
; ated 3' ol 001,
others, has been completely invtg°,rs pill,. SO
0,0i:0 ~A,
highest state of health by Holloway
__o_..._,,,adio a Istogr•
loway's Oiwtment) at Profegoraaidibliwabirio, i
(where advice way be bad gratis),