y, 6_.--Our tender, the Horatio, sailed this week for Sierra
Leone. Among other supernumeraries sent in her, were a serjeant and two
privates of the Royal African Corps. The conduct of these men was so
notoriously bad, that Captain Owen apprehended their example would
corrupt the black soldiers with whom they were associated. I cannot
avoid again calling in question the policy of our Government in sending
out condemned soldiers to the Colonial African Corps; for nothing tends
more to degrade the general character of our country, in the opinion of
the native Africans, who are too apt to form their estimate of our
morality, from these specimens of their masters.

_Friday, 7_.--The unloading of the transport which came with us from
England was completed to-day. Among other stores, she brought out the
frames of a block-house; six large and ten small dwelling-houses; six
long eighteen pounders, and two long nines.

_Saturday, 8_.--Lieutenant Caldwell, of the Royal Marines, died this
morning, and was buried at four in the afternoon. He had never been in
health since our departure from England, or even been on shore,
excepting for an hour or two at Sierra Leone. He was to have returned by
the first opportunity to England, and, with that view, had, previously
to his death, been removed from the Eden to the steam-vessel.

_Monday, 10_.--Our fishing party took to-day no less than ten turtle in
their seine. The native prisoner having now been confined six days out
of the seven awarded him. Captain Owen thought it better to inflict his
intended punishment of thirty-nine lashes to-day, in order that his
immediate rage might have time to subside, before being set at liberty
on the morrow. It was accordingly carried into effect; and, although he
made a most lusty bellowing on the occasion, the whip-cord appeared to
make very little impression on his thick skin. I believe he deemed
himself peculiarly fortunate in coming off so well, as, judging from his
signs, he expected, at least, to have had his throat cut. During his
confinement, he roared and blubbered frequently, particularly whenever
he was sensible of any canoe approaching the ship. His countrymen,
however, appeared to care little about him; on the contrary, they
frequently mimicked his noises, as if in ridicule. His father, indeed,
and one or two other relatives, took some interest in his fate, and
offered ransom for him.

_Tuesday, Dec. 11_.--Captain Owen, at an early hour