Glasgow Courier. — 1847-03-06 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE COAST OF AFRICA. The following is an extract of a letter dated Ascension, Jan. 22, 1847 :  " The Hydra steam-sloop, Captain Young, went up the river Bonny on the 29th of October last. She attempted to go up the day previous, but grounded inside the bar on a sand-bank for four hours. She was got off after great exertions by throwing the aftermost 68-pounder overboard, also a 321 b. carronade, and Omoot the whole of her fresh water; however, the Hydra was takeit tip the river the following day by one of the captains of a merchant-vessel at anchor, trading for palm oil. Captain Young went up to inquire into the merchant captains' -complaints against the King of the Bonny; but they could not substantiate them, for it appeared that the King told them on their arrival, that he could get no palm oil for trade, owing to his being at war with the King of the Calebar River. The merchant captains had subsequently supplied him with powder, shot and muskets on tick, but as his memory was rather forgetful, they thought a little music from the Hydra's 68-pounders would refreshen it. She proceeded from the Bonny to Lagos, where she felt in with the Acteon, Captain Mansell, when she found herself in for another squabble with the King of the Bimbia, he having been reported to the commodore as committing, or having committed, a breach of faith. Accordingly the Acteon, in company with the Hydra and Styx, steam-sloop, Commander Chads, proceeded to the River Bimbia, calling at Fernando Po for a pilot. Captain Becroft, the Governor of Fernando Po, offered to pilot her. She arrived on the 18th November, and took up a position , within range of her shells, when it was found out that the information was false; in fact, the Baptist missionaries have a large settlement at the entrance of the river, and this would be the last place for slavers.  when The had laic did not had bee  "Whilst up the Bonny it was discovered, although the Kings on both sides of the river did not sell slaves, yet they murdered all prisoners in cold blood, roasted, and ate them, and one of the Kings assured an officer that a little girl, with plenty of salt and pepper, was very nice. So much for the suppression of slavery, to say nothing of the expense and loss of so many valuable lives and those who escape being rendered unfit for further service. There were 2000 slaves brought down to the beach at Palma, near the River Lagos, to be shipped into the two vessels captured last ~221,..112y the Hydra. Not having enough provisions to last ival of other vessels, they took their slaves down to ;731:7017: 'murdered them all, and stuck their heads on poles. Prorlslons were very scarce on the coast, and must be brought from a good distance Inland. From the Bimbia, the Hydra proceeded to Fernando Po, Princess Island, and arrived at Ascension on the morning of the ' 26th December, "The Devastatiou, with the broad pendant of Sir C. Hothani ; the -Acteon, 26, Captalu Mansell; Sealark, 10, Captain Gooch; were then here. The Devastation, ebb Sir C. 'Witham, and Acteon, left Ascension the same day for Sierra Leone and the West Coast. The Realark left this place about a week since, with despatchA for Sir C. Hotham, brought out by the Haddington, a large merchant-steamer, bound to China, and the Grappler, steamvessel, Lieut.-Commander Lysaght. " Captain Hutton took comuaand of the island of Ascension last Monday, so that Captain Morrell at present remains a supernumerary until we hear from the commodore. The Grappler