SO In the road, the ground is so good and strong, that it is necessary tosight your anchor every 24 hours. The Climate of this place is superior to any other part of the Coast, that Invalids frequently go there to recover their health. The Natives at Accra are very superior in civilization, appearance, and manners, to any other on the Coast; their Town is clean and neat, and in their Houses they have all the useful and necessary household Utensils, arranged with as much order as in a Cottage in England; this is to be attributed to their having had, for many years, a free intercourse with the Ashantees and other Nations of the interior, and to their being naturally more industrious and fond of agriculture. There are now no English Settlements to the leeward of Accra, nor had I any communication with the shore. Several Spanish armed Vessels have lately appeared on the Coast, engaged in the Slave Trade; they generally carry from 14 to 20 guns, and about 80 men, and come out with the determination to fight any Vessel they have a chance with. These Vessels have committed several acts of Piracy: the Paz, of 14 guns, was taken by the Colonial Brig a short time since, with the Master and Mate of an English Merchantman on board, which they had taken some days previous. The Spaniards have taken off upwards of 1,800 Slaves, between Cape St. Ann and Cape Mount, within the last 4 months; and I am of opinion that the Slave Trade was never carried on with such system and dispatch as at this moment; and if some active measures are not taken, it will increase next Year tenfold. Should His Majesty's Government determine to suppress this vile Traffic, it cannot be done with Schooners, or dull-sailing Ships; for the Spaniards are not only completely equipped, and sail fast, but are generally commanded by active and enterprising men, either French or Americans. They are seldom to be found at anchor on the Coast. Their general plan is to make the land near where they intend to purchase their Slaves; if the Coast is clear, they immediately land their Cargo and Supercargo, and stand out to sea until they consider the Slaves are ready, they then stand in as before, and if the signal agreed on is given, take on board the cargo, and are off in a few hours, all their water and provisions being complete before they arrive on the Coast. They consider their capture, if met with, as certain; which appears to me very extraordinary, as they must know that our Government have not issued any orders against them, if really Spaniards. I am therefore strongly led to believe, that the principal part of their trade in Slaves is carried on with the funds, and for the benefit, of the Subjects of other Powers who have abolished it. I should enter more at large on the subject of the Spanish Slave Schooners, but I am aware that the Chief Justice at Sierra Leone has transmitted to my Lord Bathurst a detailed account of the numerous Vessels that have been, and are now expected on the Coast; with a full statement of the many atrocities they have been guilty of. Having now, Sir, endeavoured to give you, for the information of their Lordships, as correct and fair a view of our Settlements in Africa as my short stay in that Country would enable me to make, I beg leave to offer my opinion as to the means best calculated to improve the condition and civilization of the Natives, and at the same time open an extensive and profitable Trade to this Country. The continuance of the Trade appears to me to be the principal, if not the sole cause of the present neglected and barbarous state of Africa. All the Kings and Chiefs have for years maintained their power, dignity and riches by this Traffic; and as long as any Nation is allowed to carry it on, they will not give up a Commerce so easy and lucrative, to pursue that of Trade and Agriculture; which is not only precarious, and attended with much labour and difficulty, but it is as yet what they neither like nor understand. The first step, therefore, towards Civilization, as I have before observed, will be to abolish the Slave Trade entirely; but, at the same time, to open other sources by which the leading Men may derive the same advantages and emoluments which they have hitherto done by this vile trade. At present they are decidedly against you, nor is it a matter of surprise that they are so; for although the Abolition Act is in our opinion a very just and humane policy, it is considered by the Natives as a ruinous one to them. I have already given it as my opinion, that a free and extensive intercourse and trade could, with ease, be opened in the interior of Africa; to effect which, I would recommend cultivating the friendship and goodwill of the several Kings and Chiefs, by making them suitable Presents, and allowing them a participation in trade, for which they are all most eager, and would enter into with spirit, if effectually deprived of a Slave-market, and our Forts and Castles were in the hands of Government, so that a Merchant could receive benefit from their protection; the present system being incompatible with the interest of the separate and open Trader. The African is very superior in intellect and capacity to the generality of Indians in North America, they are more social and friendly to Strangers; and, except in the vicinity of the European Settlements, are a fine, noble race of men. It is only in a commercial point of view that I think Africa at present worthy our attention. Agriculture I would leave to the Natives, who would, if there was an extensive trade and consumption on the Coast, soon find it their interest to cultivate the ground. I am also persuaded that our West Indian Colonies might soon be supplied with abundance of live stock, whereas that profitable trade is at present in the hands of the Americans; our Government pay an enormous price, and our Islands are very ill supplied. When we were at Barbadoes, no fresh beef could be obtained, (though there is an Order in favour of purchasing for Ships from the Coast of Africa,) and the squadron on that Station had not any fresh beef for several weeks. To facilitate and protect our Trade on that Coast, I would strongly recommend our obtaining from the Portuguese Government 2 Islands, either St. Jago or St. Nicholas, off the Cape de Verd Islands, and St. Thomas on the Equator. The first would not only answer for a safe depot for our Merchants trading to that part of the Coast, but would afford pasture for the cattle; from whence they could be transported to our West India Islands, and supply our outward-bound Ships and Western Cruizers with refreshments. It would open the Cattle Trade to our Merchants, at the expense of America; and would prevent our Enemy making it their haunt in War, by which they are enabled to elude our Cruizers, and continue longer at sea. Several American Privateers refitted at these Islands, and also their Frigates, one of which remained at Brava upwards of a week. St. Thomas, on the Equator, is a very fine fruitful Island, about the size of the Isle of Wight; it abounds in cattle, goats, hogs, poultry, and fruit of every description; the sugar-cane grows in the most luxuriant manner, and the coffee is very superior to the West Indian. There is a very good Port for Merchant Vessels, and 2 good Bays for Ships of War; and it is so situated, that the Ships from the Gold Coast can fetch it from the starboard tack, the wind being in general from S. to S. W.; and it is the most desirable part for Ships to sail from, if bound up the Coast, to Europe or to the West Indies, as by keeping to the Southward of the Equator, you have the wind at South, and sometimes at S.S. E. The Inconstant went from St. Thomas's to Sierra Leone, a distance of 1,300 miles, directly to windward, in 10 days. If a Vessel attempts to keep nearer the Coast, she gets into the influence of the westerly winds, and a strong current always going to the eastward. The Brisk Sloop of War was weeks going from Cape Formosa to Sierra Leone, by keeping the coast on board. This Island is also well situated for a very profitable Trade to the Rivers Gaboon and St. John's, or River Danger. It would also be superior, as a Settlement for the captured Negroes, to Sierra Leone, not only from its climate, and being an Island, but from its being directly in the vicinity of where the Slave Trade is carried on; whereas, as I have before stated, Sierra Leone is in every respect the most unfit and worst situation on the whole Coast. This Island was formerly very flourishing, and in a high state of cultivation, particularly sugar-cane, until the Brazil Trade became so extensive, that it induced all the Planters, and most of the principal Inhabitants, to leave the Island and go over to that Continent. I beg leave to mention one other circumstance, which I think injurious to the mercantile interest of this Country, which is the prohibition of Arms and Gunpowder into Africa; as, however laudable the motive may be, the desired end is not obtained, and it has only transferred a very lucrative trade from our own Subjects into the hands of the Danes, Dutch, &c., who, by importing these very Articles, are enabled, as I have before mentioned, to undersell and monopolize the trade, to the great prejudice of our own Merchants, some of whom evade the Order in Council by clearing out for Madeira, land their Cargo at that Island, and procure a Certificate from the British Consul of having done so, which Certificate he is obliged to grant; it it is then re-shipped in the same Vessel, and proceeds to the Coast. I have the honour, &c., John Wilson Croker, Esq. JAMES LUCAS YEO. No. 2.- Commodore Sir James Lucas Yeo to J. W. Croker, Esq. His Majesty's Ship Inconstant, SIR, Off Cape Coast Castle, 12th March, 1817. I BEG leave to inform you, for their Lordships' information, that having landed the Specie at Sierra Leone, I sailed from that River on the 21st of January to visit our different Settlements on the Coast, and to look after an Armed Schooner under Spanish Colours, who had plundered an English Brig and several other Vessels, but without success; for though there is little or no doubt but most of the Armed Vessels under Spanish Colours, trading for Slaves, are guilty of Piracy, yet it is very difficult, if not impossible, to detect them in the act. This is neither the only nor the least evil our trade has and will suffer from so extensive a Slave Trade under the Spanish Flag, for now they feel their own security and do not fear any molestation; they do not hesitate to take their Slaves on board in the vicinity, and even between the British Forts; the consequence will be, that they will supply the Natives with every article they stand in need of, (Arms and Powder included,) at a much cheaper rate than our Merchants can afford to do, and will revive a Traffic, which is certainly most popular with every African I have seen. The Natives at our different Forts begin already to hope for a participation in the Trade. I am sorry to say that these Vessels receive great encouragement and assistance from the Dutch Governor in Chief, Daendels; and as Elmina is only 7 miles from Cape Coast Castle, it cannot fail to prove productive of most mischievous effects to our Settlements. Having visited our Forts, and run the Coast down as far to the Southward as the River Gaboon, I proceeded to the Island of St. Thomas's for refreshments and water; after a stay of three days, I sailed thence on the 7th, and arrived here yesterday, where I expected to meet the Cherub, but find that, being short of provisions, she had quitted the Coast for England 5 days before my arrival. Being aware that there are a number of British Vessels trading on the Coast, I deem it expedient to remain for their protection, until the rains are about to commence, which is the beginning of May, when I shall quit the Coast and proceed to England, agreeably to my Instruetions. I have the honour to be, &c. John Wilson Croker, Esq. JAMES LUCAS YEO. No. 3.-Commodore Sir J. L. Yeo to J. W. Croker, Esq. (Extract.) I AM happy to inform you, that a few days before my departure from Cape Coast, 3 of the Company's Officers had proceeded up the Country as an Embassy to the King of the Ashantees, one of whom is to remain there as a Resident Factor. I am convinced that this is the only way by which we can ever obtain, either a knowledge of the Country, or its Inhabitants, or hope to benefit the one or civilize the other; and though these Gentlemen will no doubt obtain very useful information, yet I am more certain in my own mind that, under the present system, there is no prospect, nay, no possibility, of our acquiring any great national honour, or commercial advantages in Africa. I do not wish or intend to convey any thing to the prejudice of the Company's Servants, either as Men or Merchants; but I do contend, that they have neither the talent, enterprise, activity, or inclination for such an undertaking: few of them ever leave their store or shop during the day, it is their natural occupation; nor can it be expected they will sacrifice their own interests and health for the general good. In order to form a plan of operations calculated to discover new sources of commercial wealth, and to direct them towards the Coast, it will be necessary to establish a Government that can secure property, and that care be taken to select proper Officers and others to be employed; who ought to possess information, honour, and moral conduct, without which, I will venture to predict, all will prove futile, and un worthy the British Nation. John Wilson Croker, Esq. JAMES LUCAS YEO. No. 4.-Commodore Sir J. L. Yeo to J. W. Croker, Esq. His Majesty's Ship Inconstant, Barbadoes, 29th May, 1817. (Extract.) I NOW proceeded off Cape Mount, and ran the Coast down as far as Cape Coast Castle; off the River Cavalley we visited 2 English Traders belonging to Liverpool, I of which had been plundered off Cape |