Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Notes on the Slave-Trade, With Remarks on the Measures Adopted for Its Suppression: To Which Are Added, a Few General Observations on Slavery, and the Prejudices of Race and Colour, as Affecting the Slave-Trade; And Some Suggestions on the Means by Which It May Be Checked
It need scarcely be remarked how extremely different is the service performed by the Squadron from that of blockading. No blockade has been declared or notified of the ports of Africa, except on one occasion at Gallinas, when a partial blockade was imposed by Sir Charles Hotham on account of a breach of contract of the king. Possibly the slave-dealers found that for their illegal traffic the ports were, in fact, to a great extent, block aded, and their use of the term proves the efficacy of the Squadron. In Parliament the term, however, has become conventional. It only misleads those who are not con versant with the subject, and sometimes the press of foreign countries has been deceived bv the misnomer.
Athly, Great expense entirely thrown away, loss by mortality. From the language held by some zealous opponents of suppressive measures, it might be inferred that the money employed in them was actually cast into the sea and lost to British interests. Yet it pays for our own ships, it goes to our own officers and seamen. The prize money received and spent, bv and among British subjects, is agreat incentive to exertion and smart seamanship. Is it of no advantage to have constantly the very best sort of experimental squadron, on a war footing, ready for immediate actual service, - nay, in some degree, daily employed in it? In fact, it is, when well commanded and organised, as it was, for instance, under the late Com mander-in-chief, Commodore Sir C. Hotham, an excel lent school for the navy, waging a constant quasi-warfare against the hostes humani generis affording oppor tunities for distinction, and calling into play the gallantry, experience, and skill of our officers and men, especially m boat service, ' and when, as often happens, the slavers are at the same time engaged in other piratical pursuits. Whoever, like myself, has taken frequent passages on board of Her Majesty's ships in latitudes where slave vessels are met, must have witnessed the constant and admirable vigilance, the excitement and alacrity, of the men when in pursuit of slave-vessels. The sharp look out, the prompt and artful manoeuvres, all the expedients that seamanship can suggest for quickening the rate of sailing, and for surprising or overtaking the chase every faculty is sharpened and consummate skill exerted in this object. It is, in truth, the best possible school for active service. Let it not be said that it is proposed to keep the Squadron on a sort of permanent experimental serv1ce, and solely with this object.
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