5323. Mr. _W. Patten_.] Is it your opinion that the law can be altered upon this subject for the better?--I think not; any alteration would, I think, be for the worse. In the next paragraph Dr. Madden states, that he considers it would be desirable that the men-of-war vessels on the coast should only be employed two years. I do not think that any naval officer would agree with him in that respect; it is not till they have been two years on the coast that they become acquainted with the arts of the slave dealers, and thoroughly efficient in the suppression of the slave trade. 5324. In short, it requires considerable experience to ascertain the best means of capturing the slavers?--Certainly; but on all questions relating to service on the coast I would recommend that a naval officer should be examined. 5325. _Chairman._] Dr. Madden suggests, “that instead of head-money, or the bounty of 5_l._ paid for the capture of each slave, the pay of men and officers should be doubled, and the promotion of the former advanced in proportion to the time of service required for it on any other station in a double ratio.” Are you of opinion that any inconvenience arises from the present system of head-money?--I do not think any inconvenience has been found to arise; it was supposed at one time, and stated rather positively in the House of Lords, that such an effect had been produced, but a refutation of the statement was given the same year, for instead of full vessels being taken, there was not one out of 20 that was taken with slaves on board. 5326. You think that the remuneration to the officers is put upon the best and fairest footing now?--I would not say that, because I think the officers are not remunerated sufficiently for empty vessels at present; the sum received for the capture of an empty vessel is so very small, and the sum received for the capture of a full vessel so much larger, that there is no comparison whatever between the two cases; and there is more good done by the capture of an empty vessel, and the service is just as arduous. 5327. Have you ever thought of any other system that could be adopted?--I have suggested an alteration of the bounties on this scale. It appeared that about three times as many vessels were captured under the equipment treaties, as were formerly taken, when only vessels full of slaves were allowed to be captured; and I thought that the remuneration for an empty vessel should be so calculated, that it should amount to about one-third of what the officer would receive if he took a full vessel with the average number of slaves on board. There would be no difficulty in making the calculation, and it would be only fair to the officers to give them that advantage. 5328. No such alteration has been made?--No. 5329. Mr. _W. Patten_.] You would not diminish the head-money to officers when they captured a vessel full of slaves?--No; it has been diminished very greatly the last 12 years, from 10_l._ to 5_l._ a head.