§ CAPTAIN PECHELLreferred to the statement made by the hon. Secretary for the Admiralty in bringing forward the Navy Estimates. He wished to hear some statement made with respect to the progress which had been made in the abolition of the Slave Trade At present we had thirty-four ships with 4,000 seamen on the coast of Africa, and yet no statement whatever had been made as to the distribution of the squadron, and the degree of success attained in the object for which those vessels were employed. We had more vessels on the coast of Africa than on the Brazilian, West Indian, or North American stations. On the West Indian station we had diminished the number of our cruisers so much, that only eight were left; on the Brazilian station, including the River Plate, we had only thirteen. When so large a squadron was maintained on the coast of Africa for a particular object, in co-operation, as they were told, with the ships of the United States and France, it did seem most extraordinary that not one word had been said, or one document ever produced, 731 to give any information as to the manner in which this object was carried out. France had no treaties for the abolition of the Slave Trade with any foreign Power, except perhaps with Sweden or Russia; and the United States had none at all. He could not understand how British ships were acting with ships of those Powers against vessels of nations with whom we had treaties. How did we manage, in company with a ship of France or the United States, when chasing or capturing a vessel of Brazil, or Spain, or of any other Power with which we had a treaty? The hon. and gallant Member then complained that the prize money of the officers and men on the African station was absorbed by the enormous charges of Vice Admiralty courts; and he instanced the case of a vessel called the Diana, condemned at the Cape of Good Hope, having been captured by Her Majesty's ship Mutine. The proceeds of the sale were 539l., and the expenses of condemnation and sale were 273l., leaving for the captain and officers only 285l. Amongst the items charged was one of 60l. for breaking up the vessel, and there was a charge of 5l. 11s. for handing over the balance to the Admiralty. He hoped the Secretary for the Admiralty would note these facts.
§ MR. WARDsaid, that no intimation had reached the Admiralty that any case of difficulty had arisen out of the operations of the three squadrons—British, French, and Americans, employed on the African station. No joint captures, he believed, had taken place. The squadrons were employed at different points, and each was guided in stopping slavers by treaties separately made with various Power. With respect to the proceedings in the Admiralty Court relative to the condemnation and sale of prizes, not a single complaint had reached the Admiralty; and in confirmation of his declaration on that point, he would refer to his hon. and gallant Friend near him. If any case of hardship should be brought under the notice of the Admiralty Board, every pains would be taken to insure the officers and men employed on the African station—of whose conduct it was impossible to speak in terms of too warm commendation—to the fullest extent the reward to which they were eminently entitled for their exertions. The Admiralty had done everything possible to render the service on the African station lighter and less dangerous than it used to be. No ship could now remain on the station longer than two 732 years; and the average period of service was eighteen months. Steamers, also, were constantly occupied in conveying to the squadron supplies calculated to promote the health of the crews, and to mitigate the severity of the service. Still further to protect the health of the crews, which had been found to suffer, particularly when vessels proceeded up the African rivers, Sir Charles Hotham had issued a stringent order to prohibit our men from being employed in that manner except in cases of extreme emergency.
§ House in Committee.