272 ST. HELENA 



Of the Wasp three men were slightly wounded and two dangerously ; 

 on the part of the crew of the slaver thirteen were killed, viz. Captain 

 Joaquin Antonio Perreira, the mate, and eleven men. With the 

 Gaio the Wasp had three wounded, and the fearful massacre of her 

 prize crew on board the Felicidade has left the crew of the Wasp 

 in an exasperated state, while the escape of the murderers of their 

 companions from justice has no doubt added fuel to the flames. 



May 14, 1846. — Three vessels were condemned for being equipped 

 for and engaged in the slave-trade, viz. Brazilian brig Gabriel, taken 

 by H.M.S. Waterwitch (Commander Birch); the schooner Gaio, 

 taken by H.M.S. Wasp (Commander Ussher), after considerable 

 resistance, in which three of the Wasp's crew were wounded, and 

 three of the Gaio killed ; and a brigantine, name and nation un- 

 known, taken by H.M.S. Actaeon (Captain Mansel). 



The Emprehendedora was detained by the Alert, but after trial 

 before Vice-Admiralty Court, His Honour decreed the restoration 

 of the vessel. 



The following account of a trial by Vice-Admiralty Court 

 will show how, after a hard struggle with the enemy, the 

 officers and men of our Navy found themselves placed in 

 the wrong : — 



Admiralty Sessions. 

 24th June, 1846. 

 A session of the Court of Commissioners for the trial within this 

 colony of offences committed on the high seas was holden on 

 Wednesday, 24th June, for the trial of the sessions of the crews 

 of the Brazilian slave-vessels Gaio and Galgo, for resisting the boats 

 of H.M.S. Wasp, and wounding several of the men on the occasion 

 of their seizure. 



The Court having assembled soon after ten o'clock, the Letters 

 Patent under the Great Seal, by which the Commissioners are 

 appointed, were read, and the oath of Qualification was taken by 

 His Honour, Mr. Wilde, Esq., Chief Justice of the Colony ; James 

 Everard Home, Baronet, Captain of the Royal Navy, commanding 

 H.M.S. Star, then in the roadstead of Jamestown ; the Honourable 

 Major Henry E. O'Dell, Saint Helena Regiment, member of the 

 Legislative Council ; and George Summer Hand, Esq., Commander 

 of H.M.S. Espoir, then in the roadstead. The Grand Jury, consist- 

 ing of the following gentlemen, were then sworn, viz. : — 

 William Carrol, Esquire, Foreman 

 Geo. W. Alexander, Samuel Hopewell, 



Thomas Alesworth, William Mason, 



Thomas Charlett, Isaac Moss, 



George Chadwick, Matthew O'Connor, 



Thomas Cole, Thomas Rote, 



John de Fountaine, John Scott, 



W. K. Doveton, John K. Torbett, 



W. O. Kennedy, John Wright. 



