ST. HELENA 271 



January 13. St. Domingo (brigantine), Mr. W. Clarke in charge, 

 prize to H.M.S. Prometheus, captured off Congo, sent here for 

 adjudication. 



The issue of the St. Helena Gazette for the 24th January, 1846, says : 

 There are at present no fewer than fifteen condemned slavers in 

 this port. Two out of the above were full of slaves, prizes to H.M.S. 

 Cygnet (Captain Lay ton). The first, arriving on 25th December, 

 was a Brazilian schooner of about 100 tons, captured off Cape 

 Palmerinho, having on board 547 slaves. The other arriving on 

 the nth, a brig, name and nation unknown, had 542 slaves on 

 board, and was captured by the Cygnet on her return from St. 

 Helena to the coast in lat. IT' 38" S., long, i' 37" E. 



February 6. The Brazilian brig Eliza, a well known slaver, 

 has arrived. She was captured during a calm by the boats of 

 H.M.S. Flying Fish. She was considered the fastest vessel in the 

 slave-trade, and it is said she once sailed round the Pantaloon, fired 

 into her, and then got away. 



February 9. Arrived brigantine slaver, detained by H.M.B. 

 Wasp, and sent here for adjudication in charge of Mr. F. Clemen tson, 

 R.N., from Loando. 



March 12. Arrived H.M.S. Winchester, Admiral the Hon. Jocelyn 

 Percy, C.B., from Simon's Bay, twelve days. 



March 21. Arrived H.M.S. Larne (J. W. Brisbane) from Ascen- 

 sion, five days. 



March 23. Arrived the unknown brigantine, brought by Mr. 

 Carrington from off Benguela, detained by H.M.S. Cygnet. 



April 1 8. Arrived the Brazilian schooner Gaio, prize to H.M. 

 brig Wasp, on the 5th, in lat. 7' 18" S., and long. 2' 10" E. The 

 prize was observed making in towards main land when the gig and 

 whale boat of the Wasp, commanded by Lieut. Hocking and Mr. 

 Cave, midshipman, were sent in chase. The boats were fired upon 

 as they approached the steamer, and three men wounded. Upon 

 this the boats were ordered by Lieut. Hocking to return the fire, 

 which they did with effect ; and as soon as their ammunition was 

 expended, boarded and carried the prize, after some resistance, 

 in which the chief mate of the prize was killed. The master was 

 found severely wounded, the iron gun of the vessel having burst 

 in its last discharge at the boats, and carried away one of his legs ; 

 he was also wounded through the body, probably through the 

 firing from the boats, and died about two hours after his capture. 

 Three of the crew were brought up in the prize, as prisoners for 

 trial, the remaining ten removed on board H.M.S. Wasp, which 

 vessel is expected shortly to arrive. 



May i . Capture of a slaver. Arrived the Gal go, a smart Brazilian 

 brig of 320 tons, armed with three guns, captured by three boats of 

 H.M.S. Wasp, under the command of Lieut. Hocking, on the 2Oth 

 April, in lat. 7' 15" S. and long. 12' 28" E. The crew of the prize, 

 thirty-six in number, kept up a constant fire on the boats for an 

 hour and a half, and after the boarding party got on deck con- 

 tinued it from the tops of the vessel until shot down by the captors. 



