British and Foreign State Papers

and Captain Henry Lyster, of this ship, who both were volunteers on the occasion, and entrusted the detail and execution of the service to Captain Jones, seconded by Captain Lyster; and their Lordships will see, from the accompanying reports, the complete success with which the enterprise has been crowned.

I am at a loss to do justice to the chivalrous bearing and devoted bravery of these 2 officers: Captain Jones, who commanded the expedition, was no less conspicuous for his gallantry and firmness than for his judgment and energy; and Captain Lyster, who, finding himself by unavoidable circumstances exposed in the Teazer, to be summarily destroyed by the enemy's guns, made a noble rush into the midst of armed hosts on shore, and, with his undaunted followers, spiked the obnoxious guns, and turned the fortune of the day at that point. It is to be borne in mind that our people could expect no quarter; nor did they get any.

I should come short of my duty did I not bring before the notice of their Lordships the ardent and devoted gallantry exhibited during this very severe affair by officers and men. The responsible post which Captain Lyster filled cost him a severe wound, happily not dangerous: Commander Hillyar, of this ship, who charged with him, is severely but not dangerously wounded; Lieutenants Edward Marshall and T. D. Rich, each in command of a paddle-box boat, exhibited heroism and firmness never surpassed; Lieutenant John Corbett, in command of Mr. Beecroft's iron boat with rockets, with his own hands spiked the guns, receiving a shot in his arm after doing so, and had 5 severe wounds before the affair ended. Lieutenant Williams, R.M.A., was dangerously wounded; and Mr. Frederick Fletcher, midshipman, commanding one of the cutters appointed to guard the boats when on shore, defended them to the last, and fell with 2 balls in his forehead. With the other division, Lieutenant Saumarez, of the Sampson, received a dangerous wound while encouraging his men; and Mr. Richards, midshipman of that ship, got his death-wound.

The conduct of Lieutenant Patey, commanding the Bloodhound, and Lieutenant Leckie, commanding the Teazer, and the success attending their efforts is beyond all praise. Besides their annihilating fire, their vessels were a rallying point for the respective divisions of boats, and were conspicuously instrumental in the attainment of victory, reflecting infinite credit on all belonging to them. Commander Coote, of the Volcano, and Commander Gardner, of the Waterwitch, with their detachments, contributed, as soon as they arrived, to the labours of the hour with an energy and zeal well worthy of them.

Nothing could exceed the devotion of the officers of the medical staff to the exigencies of the day: Mr. Richard Carpenter, Surgeon ;

Mr. Walling and Mr. Sproule, Assistant-Surgeons of this ship; Dr. Barclay, Acting Surgeon of the Sealark; and Mr. Morgan and Mr. Pendrith, Assistant-Surgeons of the Sampson. Wherever a man was struck in the boats, a medical officer was immediately by his side, setting their own lives at nought when compared with the wants of their brave companions in arms. Mr. Walling and Mr. Sproule landed at the charge with their comrades, under Captain Lyster.

Mr. Beecroft during all the operations was on board the Bloodhound, and gave every assistance that his advice and experience could afford.

I cannot withhold the expression of my regret for the very severe loss which has attended this achievement, but in which I trust their Lordships will feel that the dignity of England has been asserted and the honour of the flag gloriously sustained.

The inclosures with this despatch will afford all further information.

The Secretary to the Admiralty.

I have, &c.

H. W. BRUCE.

No. 202.-Commodore Bruce to the Secretary to the Admiralty. (Received February 24.)

SIR,

Penelope, Ascension, January 17, 1852. THE recent operations in the Bight of Benin which were undertaken in compliance with instructions from the Lords of the Admiralty will, there is every reason to suppose, be the means of stopping the Slave Trade in that portion of Africa. The expulsion of the white slave-dealers from Lagos, the deposition of its barbarous chief, Kosoko, and the establishment of a friendly and comparatively civilized ruler in his place, has opened out a field for legitimate commercial enterprise to an extent difficult to define.

Lagos, lately an excellent and well-built native town, situated near to the sea-coast, on the bank of a river, which is accessible to vessels drawing as much as 10 or 11 feet, and having water communication far into the interior, beyond Abbeokuta, and for hundreds of miles along the coast, appears to be the natural magazine for such of the produce of the surrounding country as is intended for exportation. The natives are a brave and intelligent race, and more desirous of partaking of the comforts and luxuries consequent on an intercourse with European traders, than most of the adjacent tribes. Their exports of palm-oil and ivory under the late Government were very considerable; and now, when they perceive that their favourite occupation of slave-dealing must, from the strict blockade which is kept up by the British cruizers, be relinquished, and are made to understand that their topographical position enables them to become the carriers of merchandize to and from the inland

nations, it may be supposed that they would, with a proper degree of management, turn their attention to lawful pursuits, and before long be the wealthiest and most considerable people in Western Africa.

But, unfortunately, the traffic in slaves is of all descriptions of commerce the one most congenial to the habits and disposition of the African: the marauding expeditions undertaken at certain seasons for the capture of slaves, establishes his character for enterprise and courage among his brethren; the boundless and cruel control he exercises over his captives in the barracoons, is gratifying to his savage temper; and the readiness with which he finds purchasers for them satisfies his cupidity. Experience shows us that he will never voluntarily abandon this vile traffic.

At this moment our negotiations with Dahomey are progressing to a favourable termination: the petty chiefs in the Bight of Benin will be governed by the result. Lagos, the greatest slave emporium, is in our power, and the people are ready to accede to any terms which we may propose to them; but the difficulty is in keeping them to their engagements. The Slave Trade requires no organized system for its support; it might cease for a century, and be renewed in a week; remove the blockading squadron, and to-morrow, if the Spaniards or Brazilians were willing to buy slaves, the chiefs would be ready to sell them, notwithstanding their pledges to the contrary. Still there are, in my opinion, means, by the adoption of which the squadron might, to effect all that is required of it on this point, be reduced to a number only sufficient to watch over the interests of legitimate traders, namely, by establishing Consuls and Agents at different places, whose duty it should be to ascertain whether or not the native Chiefs to whom they are accredited, faithfully observe their engagements for the abolition of the Slave Trade. They should be instructed to foster legitimate commerce, to keep up a constant communication with the officers commanding Her Majesty's ships; to impart at once any intelligence they might obtain of a breach of Treaty, and the offending Chief should be summarily punished for the same by the stoppage of trade and the destruction of his coast town. It should be their duty to report to the Senior Naval Officer, for the information of Her Majesty's Government, once a month at least, the state of affairs within the limits of their respective consulates or agencies; they should be strictly forbidden to interfere in the political concerns of the countries in which they are residing, and prohibited from entering into commercial speculations, either on their own account or on account of other parties. The persons best adapted for these situations would be intelligent and fairly-educated Creoles of the West Indies, or natives of Sierra Leone, as they alone are capable of withstanding the effects of the climate. I would

suggest that on the respective Chiefs entering into anti-Slave Trade engagements, Consuls be appointed at Lagos and Whydah, and Agents at Elmina Chica, Fish Town, Ahguay, Great Popo, Appi, Porto Novo, Badagry, Jackuah, Jaboo, and the Oddi.

If the Consuls at Lagos and Whydah were to be paid 3007. a-year each, and the Agents at the other ports above mentioned 2007. a-year each, the charge would amount to 2,600l. a-year, being one-fourth less than the expense of a 6-gun brig. Three cruizers would be sufficient, instead of 7, the number now required; and thus a saving would be effected of nearly 20,000l. a-year, and the objects of Her Majesty's Government more likely to be accomplished than by an adherence to the present system.

The trade in the Bight of Biafra is so considerable, that I am sure Mr. Beecroft would be fully and most usefully occupied in confining his attention to British interests in that quarter; and I should therefore recommend his being relieved of the duties arising in those parts of his consulate which are situated to the westward of the River Benin.

I request you will be pleased to bring this despatch under the notice of their Lordships.

The Secretary to the Admiralty.

I have, &c.

H. W. BRUCE.