5186. You do not think it unfair that the bounty should be diminished by those expenses, not being extravagant expenses, in your opinion?--The bounty granted by Act of Parliament is not diminished. Cases do happen sometimes, as the case of the Passos, where the expenses exceed the proceeds, and in those cases the Government pays the difference, leaving the bounty perfectly free to the captor. None of the expenses go in diminution of the bounty given by Act of Parliament. 5187. But this is a sort of premium given beyond the bounty?--I suppose it was given to enable them to pay the expenses, but they get something beyond the expenses, and the bounty comes to them entire, not suffering any diminution from the general expenses, and the proceeds go in payment of the expenses. 5188. Mr. _W. Patten_.] Do they get the bounty in all cases?--Yes, in all cases captured under the treaties. 5189. If the vessel has no slaves on board, do they receive the bounty?--Then they get the bounty on the tonnage of the captured vessel. 5190. Mr. _Stuart Wortley_.] You have been speaking of cases in which there are slavers captured on board the prizes; in cases where there are no slavers captured on board the prizes, is there any charge made on the proceeds of the vessel on account of the crew?--The crew of a slaver brought into Sierra Leone never consists of more than three, therefore the expense cannot be very great; the adjudication generally takes place on the eighth day after arrival, and there is a regular sum which is given day by day in money to each man; as far as I recollect it, the captain and mate get 3_s._ a day, and the other man 2_s._ 5191. Whatever the amount of that charge is, it is made against the proceeds of the vessel?--Yes. 5192. Sir _T. D. Acland_.] Do you recollect sending a despatch home in December 1838, giving your opinion upon the state of the slave trade?--There is a despatch here upon the subject. 5193. Does that despatch refer to the subject of this country retiring from the contest which it has so long carried on?--Yes, I think it does, but I can find the passage. 5194. Can you state what the opinion was?--The opinion expressed was, that unless more effectual means were taken for the suppression of the traffic, that perhaps more harm than good was done by the exertions that we had made previously; but since that time a very great alteration has taken place; I expressed my opinion with regard to an increase of the force on the coast, and the occupation of British territory that belonged to us, where we were supplanted by the slave traders, at Bulama especially, and also as to the punishment of the crews engaged in the slave trade. 5195. Have any of those measures which you recommended been carried into effect?--The Portuguese have been driven from Bulama, and a much more effectual method of cruizing has been followed; very superior vessels have been employed.