The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-11
NAVAL INTELLIGEN CE.

PORTSMOUTH,. Sent.

PORTSMOUTH, Sept. %.
The Bonetta brigantne, Lieutenant Command
or F. +. Forbes, arrived at st. Helen's in the
night of Friday, and came up 10 Spithead yester-'
day forenoon from the coast OF Africa. She sailed
from Sierra Leone on the Sd of August, and has
encountered some very foul weather. The squad
ron was thus distributed when the Bonetta left. In
the Bights The Gladiator, Hecla, Jackal, and
Wolverin. On the south coast: Cyclops, Rather,
Waterwitch, Pluto, Flying Fish, Phpnix, King
fisher, Philomel, and Snap. On the north coast ::
the Hound and Ranger. The commodore was on
his way to Zangatanga The Archer had arrived
at Ascension, and was ordered to the Bigbts. The
Pluto steam-yesscl will be the next vessel home,
and may be expected in about week. The Hecla
steam sloop has been highly successful i'll making
prizes She sent her ninth into Sierra Leone about
three weeks before the Boneta sailed, which latter
has made seven during her stay on the station.
The Bonetta has been two years and eleven
months in commission, is now ordered 10 be paid
of at Chatham, for which post she sailed this morn
ing. The commander, Lieutenant Forbes, has
been employed, during the past year, in negotiat-
ing with the King of Dahomey, in the endeavor to
establish treaty for the abolition Of the slave trade
throughout his territory, but which failed. His
majesty reviewed his troops during Commander
Forbes soiourn with him, and they spoken of
well disciplined, though four thousand out Of
ten thousand Of the soldiery arc women clothed as
men, who perform their military duties in every
respect as we'll as their male companions in arms.
His majesty, n mark of his especial favor, pre-
scented Commander Forbes with juvenile prin-
GEES aged seven years, whom Inc has brought TO
England to be educated. At the Customs" Ga
of religious rite) thirty human sacrifices were
offered 10 their deity, two of these (soldiers from
Atapahme, aged respectively forty and hfty) Conn
mander Forbes purchased for one hundred dollars,
and sent to Fernando Pc 10 be liberated. The slave
trade was very brisk, and the squadron very
healthy.
Rear Admiral NJ. F. Fitzhardinge Berkeley, C.
B., one of the Lords Of the Admiralty, and Cap
tain Sir Baldwin Walker, X. c. b., Surveyor of
the Navy, visited Woolwich Backyard TO day,
and were accompanied by Commodore Henry
Eden, Lieutenant Robertson, Mr.. Mcdonald, Mas.
er-Attendant MIR. Laing, Master shipwright;
Mr.. Henry Chatfield, and MIR. James Pealte, assist
ants 70 the Master Shipwrght; Mr.. Edward Hum
phrys, Chief Engineer and Mr.. John Irickett,
assistant 20 the Chief Engineer; while they minute
ly inspected the steam vessels fitting for service nj
this yard il being intended TO have ~ steam vessels
constantly employed for the suppression OF the
slave trade on the coast of Africa of these
sells being ordered to proceed about the let Of every
month with the mails, and relieve another from
duty the coast. The sailing vessels at present on
the African station are TO be Withdrawn as soon
steamers ready 10 replace them, and no sailing
vessels will in future be employed for tho suppression
Of the slave trade. The Alecto steam sloop Of 500
tons, with engines of 200 horse power, buf lit ut
Oh ATTAIN in 1889, from design by Captain Sir
William symonds, and fitted with paddle-wheels
was the first vessel visited by his lordship and the
Surveyor of the Navy. The Alecto was recently
condemned unfit for further service, but che Is
in the east dock having new planking put
on, and other repairs effected and may yet be ca
paDlc of heightened period of service.
After a short visit TO the San Forenzo so, build
ing the slip at the east end of the yard, they
turned TO the basin at the west end, and went on
board the FREELY steam vessel, Commander George
A. Seymour, commissioned during the present
month, and 20 take out the October mails for the
coast of Africa. The FREELY is $50 tons burden,
with engines Of 800 horse power by Maudslay, Sons
and Field, and fitted with paddle wheels her Jas
service was on the coast Of Africa. Tho Wasp
steam sloop, fitted with propeller; the
Geyser steam sloop, fitted with paddle-whcels and
ngines of $50 horse power, by Seward nd Camel.
and the Buzzard, fitted with paddle wheels and en-
pines Of 800 horse power, by John Penn and Son
and the Volcano, $50 horse power, engines by
Rennie were alec infinitely inspected in the basin
and are all in an advanced state nearly ready for
service. The Geyser is ready ms an advanced war
steamer. and the Wasp will be ready for commits
sion by the LIST Of next mon tn The factory was
visited after the vessels and bis lordship aud Sir
Baldwin Walker then left for town, when they CON
cluded their inspection, which occupied upwards
of three hours.
The Teazer steam vessel, Lieutenant Comman-
der J. n. Sclwyn, arrived here to-day from the
coast of Africa and last from Cork, where she
obliged 60 put in Commodore Henry Eden in
spectcd her in tho afternoon; the crew were mus.
tered aud went through their exercises In highly
croditabc manner, and appeared active body Of
men. Tho Teazer had taken four prizes during
the short period she the coast. She
Principally employed in conveying parties OF
troops and Royal Marines up the rivers, and has
brought homo piece Of brass ordnance from the
Gambia, which bears the date 1885, although IL is
two hundred years old, and of Dutch make, IL ia
loaded Mt the breach and tho charge and shot kept
in their proper position, inside the gun, by quoin
nearly similar to the plan Of the gun Submitted 10
the select committee at Woolwich by Major Ca
valh, Of the Sandman service, and now AT Shoe
buryness, having experiments made with H. The
| gun brought home in the Teazer belonged to one