greater energy been shown from the
first, during some of the opportunities which occurred, the whole affair
might have been concluded in a more dignified manner, at a much earlier
date. I will instance one occasion. Having one day got leave from the
delegates of our ship, while we lay off Sheerness, to go on shore, I
landed at the dockyard. I found, as I passed through it, that I was
followed by the whole body of delegates, walking two-and-two in
procession, Parker and Davis leading, arm-in-arm. Just as we got
outside the gates, the Lancashire Fencibles appeared, coming to
strengthen the garrison. As soon as the seamen got near the soldiers,
they began to abuse them in so scurrilous a manner, that the officer in
command halted his men, and seeing the admiral and superintendent, close
to whom I at the time was standing opposite the gates, he came, and,
complaining of the insults offered to himself and men, asked permission
to surround and capture them. So eager did I feel, that I involuntarily
exclaimed, "Yes! yes! now's the time!" The admiral, on hearing me,
turned sharply round, and demanded how I dared to speak in that way?
"Because there they all are, sir, and we may have them in a bunch!" I
replied, pointing to Parker, Davis, and the rest. The admiral told me
that I did not know what I was saying; but I did, and I have no cause to
suppose that I was wrong. When the truly loyal and heroic conduct of
our ship's company became known, it was intended to raise a sum in every
seaport town in England to present to them. From some reason, however,
the Government put a stop to it, and the only subscription received was
from Ludlow in Shropshire, from whence the authorities sent 500 pounds
to Sir Harry Neale, which he distributed to the ship's company on the
quarter-deck.

CHAPTER TEN.

ORLO AND ERA.

A TALE OF THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.

There exists an extensive district on the west coast of Africa, about
forty miles to the north of the far-famed river Niger, known as the
Yoruba country. Sixty years ago it was one of the most thickly
populated and flourishing parts of equatorial Africa, the inhabitants
having also attained to a considerable amount of civilisation, and made
fair progress in many industrial arts.

Then came those dreadful wars, carried on by the more powerful and cruel
chiefs, for the purpose of making slaves to sell to the white traders,
who carried them away to toil in the plantations o