268 ST. HELENA 



escapes. A breeze having sprung up, they were joined by the 

 Pantaloon, which was saluted with four guns from the prize which 

 had been captured at such a terrible sacrifice. 



The following General Order was issued just after the above 

 resistance : 



By William Jones, Esq., Commodore of the second class, and 

 senior officer commanding Her Majesty's ships and vessels employed 

 and to be employed on the West Coast of Africa. 



General Order. Whereas several instances have recently oc- 

 curred on the station of piratical resistance on the part of vessels 

 engaged in the slave trade to the visits authorized by Treaty with 

 the powers whose colours such vessels were sailing under, and 

 many of the Queen's servants having been either killed or hurt in 

 the performance of their regular duty. 



And whereas it is necessary to check such lawless proceedings, 

 which there is reason to impute to the too great lenity hitherto 

 shown on our part towards the dealers in slaves, I have thought it 

 right to order, and I hereby direct : 



1. That in every case of armed resistance to the lawful visits 

 of her Majesty's boats, the crew of vessels so resisting and taken 

 by assault shall be rigorously dealt with according to the laws of 

 war. 



2. The Commanding Officer on every such occasion is enjoined 

 to bear in mind the necessity of having two or three witnesses 

 belonging to a vessel which may be brought before the Courts 

 of Mixed Commission ; and he will therefore be careful to spare 

 and to take alive at least three of the crew of such piratical vessel, 

 if colours be shown. 



3. All the survivors are to be strictly confined until their cases 

 shall be finally adjudicated ; and in no case of armed resistance 

 is any part of the crew, passengers or other persons on board the 

 prize, to be landed or disposed of, except at the port where the 

 vessel may be tried. 



Given under my hand on board H.M.S. Penelope, at Sierra Leone, 

 this 26th June, 1845. 



(Signed) W. JONES. 



To the respective Captains, Commanders and Commanding Officers 

 of H.M. ships and vessels on the West coast of Africa. 



The following, although not connected with the slave trade, is of 

 interest : 



The brig Comet was captured at St. Mary's, Madagascar, on the 

 1 9th August, by H.M.S. Conway, Captain Kelly, as she was not 

 able to produce the papers required by Act of Parliament. The 

 master of the Comet stated that he was from St. Helena, at which 

 place he had transhipped a cargo of guano on freight to England ; 

 that, having been driven out of the St. Helena roads, he was then 

 bound to an island known to himself only, where he expected to 

 find an abundance of that valuable manure. In the meantime 

 however he was disposing of all the brig's stores, which in itself 



