5225. You would think it a very material advantage, looking to the slave trade, if those sales could take place at the West Indies instead of on the coast of Africa?--No; the advantage that I was alluding to, is an advantage for the supply of labour in the West Indies, but not with regard to the supply of vessels, because the vessel might soon run across the Atlantic, and get into the hands of the slavers, as at present. 5226. If a person wished to obtain those vessels bought in the West Indies, for the encouragement of the slave trade, he would buy them at a great disadvantage as compared with the price which he now pays at Sierra Leone?--Yes; but notwithstanding the higher price in the West Indies, it is not likely to be such a price that the owner would not be able to get much more from the slave dealers than anybody else. 5227. If the sales of the prize vessels and the prize goods were made in the West Indies rather than at Sierra Leone, would they be less serviceable in the encouraging the slave trade?--Those particular goods would. 5228. Would the absence of that mode of supply be in any way an obstruction to the slave trader?--Certainly not. 5229. Are they got at those prize sales at a cheaper rate than they are directly from the merchants?--The price goods obtained at public auctions is much lower than you would buy them for in one of the shops. 5230. Then by so far as the prize sales in Sierra Leone do furnish a cheaper article to the slaver than the regular sale would do, so far they are an assistance to his trade?--The cheapness of goods sold at Sierra Leone is useful to all trades as well as to that. 5231. But if those sales did not take place at Sierra Leone, they would not be supplied so cheaply as they are?--It is a very small portion of assistance they receive; but so far as it goes it is an assistance. 5232. A vessel sold at Sierra Leone, is more easily convertible to the purposes of the slave trade, than if it were sold in the West Indies?--More easily, but not much more so, because the vessel might be run across at once. 5233. Is there not more demand for vessels in the West Indies than at Sierra Leone?--Certainly, and therefore the price would be higher. 5234. Captain _Fitzroy_.] Is there not also an advantage in having men disposable, ready to man those ships when purchased?--Yes. 5235. Mr. _Forster_.] Are not the cases very few in which they would man the vessels at once again?--I have known cases of that kind. 5236. But are not the cases comparatively rare?--Yes.