§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, What vessels of the Navy it is intended to send to the East Coast of Africa to reinforce those usually engaged in the suppression of the Slave Trade; and, what is the number, the description, and the speed of those vessels at present so engaged?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)The Squadron in the East Indies is composed of 12 vessels, to which the Agamemnon has recently been added for temporary service. It is not intended to further reinforce it from other stations. The number of vessels usually maintained on the East Coast of Africa, when circumstances admit of it, is four. There are at present with the Admiral on that division of the station six vessels, which the arrival of the Agamemnon, will increase to seven. This Squadron consists of the Boadicea, flagship, cruiser, second class, with a speed of 14.7 knots; the Garnet, cruiser, third class, 13 knots; the Penguin and Reindeer, sloops, 11.5 and 11 knots; the Algerine and Griffon, gun vessels, 10.5 knots; and the Agamemnon, battleship, 13 knots. There is also on the Aden division of the station the Osprey, sloop, 11 knots. The work of slave suppression is principally carried out by the boats of the ships, the ships themselves forming the centres 767 from which the boats start on their cruises in search of slave dhows.