The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1843-11-18
HORRORS OF THE SLAVE TRADE IN ls4s.

HORRORS OF THE SLAVE TRADE IN lS43.
The New York Tribune contains a letter from
on board the U. S. ship St. Louis, dated Rio de
Janerio, Sept. ID, from which we extract the
following:
Yesterday slave prize arrived from Africa IN
charge Of two English midshipmen, who cap
tured her in small boat with crew of ten
men, and brought her safe into port. The cap.
tain OF the SLAYER was shot while in the act OF
repelling the English boat, and his body falling
overheard, could not be recovered; the seamen
of the vessel however, surrendered without firing
shot, and they are now safely deposited ON
board OF an English man-of-war. After the
slaves are rescued by the humane endeavors OF
the English Government, they are resuscitated
on board Of vessels provided for the purpose !;
and as | have just returned from visiting the
late arrival on board of the Crescent, shall at
tempt TO give you some idea of the state in
which | found them. The SLAYER is scarcely
larger than one of our coasting schooners, and
yet she sailed from Africa with four hundred
and ttty negroes on board, out of which but
three hundred and fifteen arrived in port, the
balance having died Of confinement, starvation,
and disease, during the voyage. On board OF
fifteen who have escaped the horrors of slavery,
tor many have died since their arrival from the
effects Of bad diet and confinement; and ! must
confess never saw a more lntering, and yet
more touching scene, in the whole course OF my
life. happened to get on board when the poor
creatures were all on deck dancing and singing
their native songs, and breathing the pure air Of
Heaven, which had been denied them SO long,
and the happy faces and cheerful voices plainly
indicated that they were aware OF their being at
liberty again. But such annotated beings ne
yer saw before. Scarcely one Of the men had a
limb larger than boys arm, and the little chill
dren-for two-thirds of them are very young
were nothing but skin and bones, while the wo-
men, with the exception OF those who had been
tavorltes OF the crew, were in no better condition..
Through the kindness of the officers, we were
allowed 10 visit the sick; and during our stay in
the apartment saw FIVE sable skeletons carried
out for burial, while several in which the spark
OF life was scarcely visible met my eye in every
corner of the room. On one bed saw little
fellow Keeling upon the lifeess body of his COM
panion, and 50 entirely exhausted and ENACT
ated was he, that he was unable to quit his icy
pillow indeed, he was almost unconscious Of
every thing. Near by was group of some half
dozen others who were fearfully watching the
almost lifeess form Of little brother, perhaps
or following the humane doctor with wistful
eyes, as if he possessed the power of restoring
their dying associate In another part of the
room the wasted figure Of a tall well made man
was stretched upon mat, and his piteous
means, his unintelligible words, and continual
pointing to his breast, evidently proved that he
had been confined in STOPPING position for the
greater part of the voyage; indeed, they all COM
planned Of pains in the breast, as well as of star
walton, and the medical officers informed me that
In dissecting them the most loathsome sights are
presented One Of the subjects that saw was
SO much diseased, that large and disgusting
worms made their appearance through his nose,
an occurrence not rare, am told, for it seems
that the intestines are often filled with them in
consequence of the bad diet and water they get
on board