The Sun. — 1847-03-05 (London, England)

THE COAST OF AFRICA. The following is an extract of a letter from a corre. spondent:-- . _  "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 almost the whole of her fresh water; however, the Hydra was taken up 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 fell in with the Acteon, Captain Mansell, when she found herself in fur 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 fora pilot. Captain Becroft, the Governor of Fernando Po, offereallto 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 fur slavers. " Whilst up the Bonny it was discovered, although the kings on both sides of the river did nut 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 2,000 slaves brought down to the beach at Palma, near the river Lagos, to be shipped into the two vessels captured last September by the Hydra. Not having enough provisions to last until the arrival of other vessels, they took their slaves down to the beach, murdered them all, and stuck their heads on poles. Provisions were very scarce on the coast, and must be brought from a great 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 Devastation, with the broad pendant of Sir C. Hothem ; the Acteon, 26, Captain Mansell ; Sealark, 10, Capt. Gooch, were then here. The Devastation, with Sir C. Hothem, and Acteon, left Ascen.9iun the same day for Sierra Leone and the West Coast. The Sealark left this place about a week since, with dispatches for Sir C. Hotham, brought out by the Haddington, a large merchant-steamer, bound to China, and the Grappler, steam-vessel, Lieut. Commander Lysaght. " Captain Hutton took command of the island of Ascension last Monday, so that Captain Morrell at present remains a supernumerary, until we hear from the commodore. The Grappler leaves this place also to-day, for Sierra Leone, to meet the commodore.  •' The Sealark left her captain behind at the hospital dangerously ill from repeated attacks of epilepsy, in fact, he is expected to die hourly. " The turtle are rising very fast, which promises a good season.  " The Eurydice, 26, Captain Anson, touched here on her way to the Cape. " The Wanderer, 14, Commander Sommerville, has lost her second lieutenant and ten men from coast fever, owing to her commander sending his pinnace twice up the Rio Pongos. The lieutenant stated that himself and boat's crew were completely exhausted from their first trip. " A vessel is expected in about a fortnight from the commodore, with orders for the Hydra to proceed home. She will probably be in England about the first week in May."