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into a bay, near Cape Barfleur, where she was destroyed by her crew on the morning of the 25th, to avoid capture^[1].

At the latter end of 1811, we find Captain Irby proceeding to the coast of Africa, as senior officer of the squadron employed there for the suppression of the Slave Trade. In June 1812, he received information that the natives of Winnebah had treacherously seized on the person of Mr. Meredith, the Governor of a fort by which they had often been protected, and that the unfortunate man had fallen a victim to their barbarous treatment. This intelligence being accompanied by an application from the Governor-in-Chief of Cape Coast Castle and its dependencies for Captain Irby’s assistance, he lost no time in proceeding to the relief of Fort Winnebah; and having anchored off that place on the 2d July, landed his marines, and a small detachment of the African corps under Mr. Smith, Governor of Tantumquerry, who immediately destroyed the town, from which the natives had fled on the Amelia’s approach. The possession of the fort, under these circumstances, presenting no advantage to the Company’s trade, and it being no check whatever upon the slave dealers, a consultation was then held as to the propriety of abandoning the place entirely; and the whole of the officers present agreeing on that subject, every thing was embarked on board the frigate, and the works entirely demolished^[2].

On his return to Cape Coast, Captain Irby received the following letter from the Governor-in-Chief and Council, dated at the Castle, July 8, 1812:

“Sir, We request you will honor us with the acceptance of our grateful thanks for the prompt and effectual aid you have given us in the affair at Winnebah. We are certain you will be gratified in being assured, that your interference has restored peace and confidence in the minds of the While residents in this part of the globe; at the same time that it has

1. The Berwick 74, Niobe frigate, and two sloops of war, were in company with the Amelia on this occasion.
2. It should here be remarked, that the Winnebahites had ever been a most refractory set, and had, in many previous instances, grossly insulted the British governors. They were constantly at war with the surrounding tribes; and a few months previous to the murder of Mr. Meredith, that gentleman had paid a considerable sum of money to prevent their town being destroyed by the Ashantees. An account of the horrible cruelties practised toward Mr. M. will be found in the “Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Papers relating to the African Forts.