The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-19
[ Correspondence If ths Salem Rsgister.l
From tho African Squadron.

PoRTo PRAYA, !. March 81. 1851.
The United States ship Portsmouth, Commander
Peck, bearing the flag OF Commodore Gregory;
the United States ship Dale, Commander Pearson,
and the brig Porpoise, Lieutenant Lardner COM
mandng, are ut anchor in these roads, awaiting
the arrival of the new Commodore, Lavaletts, in
the Germantown. The John Adams has not yet
arrived, although hourly expected. The brig Per-
~, Lieutenant Foote commanding, sailed hence on
cruise to the south coast about tho middle ofFeb
ruary. The Dale and Porpoise have recently re-
turned to this port from four month"; cruise in
the bights of Benin and Biafra. There were no
American vessels in the bights, and the slave trade
there seems to be pretty well broken up. 1t said,
however to very active on the south coast ltcan
not be expected that squadron should be very e
ectve in its suppression there long depot Of
provisions continued at Porto Praya, it consuming
nearly the whole time for which they can be provi
stoned To make the passages to and fro. The Island
OF st. Helena or Ascension, or st. Paul do Loando on
the coast, would seem, either OF them, to be moro
desirable and convenient places for storehouse.
The greatest need for the efectual suppression OF
the traffic il q fast steamer. The extent to which
our flag Ia prostituted in it calls for the most ener
Retic action on the part Of the Government and it
10 not doubted but that the recent representations
made by the commander in chief will ensure it.
Al an instance Of the ineectveness of vessels,
caused by tho remoteness of tho depot from their
cruising grounds, would mention that in the last
four months cruise Of the Porpoise in tho bighta,
Jorty.seuen days were consumed in making the
10 anu ana from l00nTOU10 0k0Ug, owing W
continued succession Of light winds and Gains,
which always prevail in the attitudes through
which ships have TO pass between the two places.
These long passages leave but little time for YES
sells 70 cruise where their presence 10 actually
needed.
Tho health of the squadron IL generally pretty
rood, few cases Of virucnt fcvcr having occurred;
But among the cases OF the ships that have been
on the station tho longest, marked falling of
in their healthy appearance is 70 be observed
Where they escaped fever, the facilitating effects
of tho unwholesome climate manifest themselves
in general feeling of languor, and in enervatcd
systeins. When once . man il taken sick on tho
coast there il hope for his complete restoration
but in change Of climate. This il 20 well under
stood by medical officers that. after an attack,
they always invalid them home. Hence it VIII
be seen, that late estimate Of the heathiness OF
this station, in comparison with others, based
upon the actual number qf deaths, emanating
through the public prints, was founded on erro-
neous data, no mention having been made OF
those partially and completely Proerated. of which
every homeward- bound ship carries large num-
bers and Of those living or dying, after their re-
turn home, tho necessary data cannot DO procured
The strict sanitary regulations recently enforced
ON board all the vessels has had a very beneficial
effect; but no constitution. that Of the blacks,
can long maintain itself unmpaired. The fact 10.
our vessels are continued out here too long. No
cruise this coast should extend beyond eighteen
months At the fdrthssf, nor does there seem TO be
any cogent reason why Il should. The Govern.
rnent has plenty of vessels, officers, and men, and
Il Il but fair that all should SEQ fair proportion
of this service Eighteen month"; service on this
coast 10 deemed by all who have performed it
ysore than squivoienf 10 three gears cruise any
ofksr citation, and should Be regarded At the
Department. The time required for = vessel to re-
turn 70 the OLited States and be reofhcered and
manned afresh would very little exceed, II any,
that which under the present system 10 taken up
in = cruise among the Windward islands, and
which has always been thought absolutely neces-
cary for re- establishing the health of ships COM
pany after cruising any length Of time on the lee
ward coast These remarks apply more partcu-
larly 70 small class vcssels, where tho crews are
coA6nsd, during the long rainy and most unhealthy
periods, to an overcrowded berth-deck, badly ven
iilatsd and where. coming dripping wet from their
watch ON the main deck, they are steamed and
almost suffocated by the heat from the ships
galley.
Ofthe destination of the several ships can say
but little, a. 1t will depend on Commodore La
valette, who has not yet arrived. IL IL supposed
that the Dale will be sent around the Cape to NADIA
Rascar, to inquire into certain outraees and re-
strictions said TO have been imposed upon some o.
our merchant ships there. Tho Porpoise having
been actively cruising for the last eight months u
lseward. II Il thought will DO sent to Madeira OF
sorne other Of the Windward islands. for the pur
pose of refreshing and giving liberty 70 her crew
The Portsmouth (nag-ship) 70 awaiting her az
pected relief, the Germantown, on whose arriva
- will sail with large number Of invalids from
the squadron for home, having bssn, within few
weeks, three years In commission on this station,