264 



ST. HELENA 



sions of Great Britain, we will, one and all, endeavour to defend 

 it with our last breath. 



Benjamin Vemba, 

 John Marsch, "| ., . 

 James George. J A f ncans - 

 The above-signed Africans inform His Excellency that their 

 .countrymen have requested them to forward this as a respect due 

 to the British Government. 

 St. Helena, 



August 18th, 1848. 



An account of the prize money, etc., of H.M. brig Espoir 

 (Commander Arthur Morreli) is interesting, consisting of 

 " A moiety of the proceeds and of the bounty money for 

 slaves captured on the Helena, a Brazilian brig, on Novem- 

 ber 29, 1843, to be paid to them or their representatives 

 duly authorized to receive the same, on and after the 

 25th June, at Messrs. Chard's, No. 3, Clifford's Inn." The 

 amount was above £2,000, and the proportions due to each 

 class were as follows : — 



Her Majesty's Bark " Cygnet " (H. Layton, Esq.), 1845 



On the 5th April last, H.M. brig of war Cygnet, while oruising in 

 the neighbourhood of St. Paul de Loando, about thirty miles from 

 coast, fell in with what appeared to them in the distance to be a 

 canoe, but which proved to be a raft on which were seven men, 

 who were taken on board in the last stage of exhaustion. They 

 proved to be Lieut. Wilson and six men belonging to H.M.S. Star, 

 who had been put on board a slaver prize. They said they had got 

 on all right till the 16th of the previous month, when at about 

 three p.m. the prize was capsized in a white squall, the unfortunate 

 crew had no boat, but lashed thirteen spars together with the main 

 hatch and some sails. They were able to pick up a barrel of pork 

 and a little rum, but not water. The vessel sank and they tried 

 for the nearest land, Cape Threepoints, 200 miles distant, but 

 could not keep their course. Having only sun and stars to guide 

 them, they drifted for twenty days, but fortunately caught a few 

 sharks and flying-fish. Their sufferings were from want of water, 

 as they got none from the slaver prize. For nine days after leaving 



