5144. From information so obtained, were you led to believe that the slave trade on the coast of Africa, taking both the east and west coast, had increased or decreased during the period you were there?--It had decreased in the bights, so as to be almost entirely destroyed at one time. 5145. The question refers to the coast on the south of the Line?--When it was suppressed to a great extent in the bights, it was driven both north and south of the bights; the old slave trade rivers in the bights were the principal places frequented by slave vessels, but the whole efforts of the cruizers were directed to that point, and the trade was almost entirely suppressed in those rivers, the Bonny and many others. 5146. You had no information which could enable you to judge whether the slave trade on the whole had increased or decreased during your residence at Sierra Leone?--I should say, that it decreased during the last two years I was there, from the immense number of captures that were made. 5147. It has been stated by a witness on the Committee, Captain Bosanquet, that in his belief, the slave trade south of the line, has increased materially during the last 10 years?--I think Captain Bosanquet refers to the eastern coast. 5148. Captain Bosanquet stated that he was, at two periods, on the coast, and that at the last period he found the slave trade going on with much more violence than at the first?--The effect of the suppression of the slave trade in the bights was to drive the slave trade both north and south, and it increased in the north and south, but I should say that the whole extent of the slave trade had decidedly decreased during the last two years. 5149. Do you think that it is a very material decrease?--I do. 5150. Do you know any particular places on the coast to which slavers have resorted, more especially since it has been so much checked on the west coast north of the Line?--It increased to the south; there have been many more Brazilian captures made in the rivers immediately south of the Line, of late years, than there were before; but the great diminution in the bights has not been made up by the increased slave trade either north or south. 5151. Mr. _Stuart Wortley_.] Will you explain what period you refer to when you use the expression, “of late years”?--In the years 1835 and 1836, it began to diminish, and in 1837 there was hardly any slave trade at all in the bights. 5152. Then, I understand you to say that there has been an increase of captures south of the Line since the years 1835 and 1836?--Yes, there has been. 5153. Could the capture of vessels under Portuguese colours have taken place till 1836?--It could have taken place if the same rule had been applied then as was applied in 1838. 5154. But in fact were there any captures made?--No, the rule was not applied till 1838.