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appeared on board. The port chanced to be visited at the time 
by H.M.S. “ Blonde,” commanded by [ Captain, afterwards Sir 
Edmund and Lord Lyons (commander-in-chief of the fleet during 
the Crimean war), then cruising in tbe Black Sea. Captain Lyons 
alone was allowed to land at the quarantine station, when be 
naturally communicated with bis fellow-countryman. On tbe 
departure of tbe “ Blonde,” Sir James Alexander was immediately 
arrested by tbe Russian authorities, on suspicion of being an 
emissary of the British Government. He was arbitrarily confined 
two months in Sebastopol with other prisoners, and finally, in tbe 
depth of winter, sent under guard to St Petersburg, where, after 
undergoing further confinement and hard treatment, he was at 
length, by the intervention of the British ambassador, released, but 
without compensation for the unjust usage he had received — only a 
slight apology from the Emperor Nicholas in person. 
He returned to England by Sweden and Denmark, and in 
recognition of the valuable information, plans, and reports he was 
enabled to furnish with regard to Russia and Turkey, he was 
promoted to an unattached captaincy. 
Sir James was now selected by the Colonial Office to undertake 
an important commission of inquiry into the state of slavery in 
North and South America, receiving from the Secretary of State 
letters and credentials to the various governors of provinces, &c. 
On the conclusion of this mission he was examined before a 
committee of the House of Lords, by whom his able report was 
highly appreciated. 
He shortly afterwards returned to full pay, and joined as a 
captain the 42nd Highlanders (Black Watch). While serving with 
this regiment, he was invited by the Royal Geographical Society 
to make explorations in Africa, and readily accepted a duty so 
congenial to his active and enterprising character; but the British 
expedition then being in the field against Don Miguel, he took the 
opportunity it afforded him of seeing further active service and 
acquiring further geographical knowledge by joining the expedi- 
tionary force. His effective service was rewarded by receiving from 
Don Pedro the rank of lieut. -colonel. He then proceeded on 
his mission in H.M.S. “Thalia” round the west coast of Africa, 
visiting the different settlements. 
