ST. HELENA 263 



shipping fraternity. Thinking the accounts would interest 

 the descendants of those who so gallantly gave their lives 

 to stamp out the curse of slavery, I have made extracts 

 from Government papers between the dates 1845 to 1850. 

 For many years — in fact more than ten years — the slavers 

 were continually arriving and discharging their human 

 freight, and the whole account would be voluminous. 

 Sufficient, however, is given to show what kind of work was 

 done at that time by our " Handy Men " for their country. 

 The first Africans sometimes gave trouble, for we find 

 that £2 reward was given for the whereabouts of one, as 

 under : — 



Whereas an African negro has absconded from the Establish- 

 ment at Rupert's, and is supposed to be secreted in the neighbour- 

 hood of Peak Hill ; the above Reward will be paid by me to any 

 person or persons who shall apprehend and deliver the said African 

 to the Police Sergeant in Jamestown. 



The African above alluded to has already been committing 

 depredations, and the Public are hereby cautioned in the event 

 of his being found trespassing. 



John Young, Collector. 

 Custom House, St. Helena, 

 11th Jan., 1849. 



But the majority were very grateful and well-behaved, 

 as will be seen from the following address to His Excellency 

 Sir Patrick Ross, Governor, received from the Liberated 

 Africans located in this colony. 



To His Excellency Major-General Sir Patrick Ross, G.C.M.G. and 



Governor, etc., etc., etc. 

 May it please your Excellency, — 



We, the Liberated Africans residing at Saint Helena, do beg 

 to return our most hearty and sincere thanks for the care that 

 has been taken of us since our arrival in the British Dominions, 

 and we have become the subjects of our beloved Queen, Victoria, 

 Defender of the Faith, etc., etc., etc. We likewise return our 

 most hearty thanks and praises to God for His merciful guidance 

 in bringing us into the hands of Christian people from whom we have 

 been taught to love and serve God, and who have been instru- 

 mental in bringing us to return those thanks which we cannot 

 find words to express for our feelings towards our most Gracious 

 Queen ; and it is the prayer of us all that she may obtain a Crown 

 in Heaven when this life terminates. We were poor, forlorn, 

 friendless and ignorant beings, and did not know there was a God, 

 from whom we derived our being. We cannot return the thanks 

 we wish, but if we were called upon to defend the rights and posses- 



