Before describing fully the evils inflicted on the slave cargoes it seems but an act of justice to give here some of the ills endured by the old-time slavers. We must consider the condition of the conscientious slaver captain when there were "7 sails of us Rum men' in one port anxious to buy slaves—the slaver captain whose "Case is Desprit"—with such degree of sympathy as we can summon for his benefit, if we are to see the trade as it was. Captain Griffen was one of the Newport slavers. Very likely he was in the trade when Captain Lindsay was making fame and wealth; certainly everyone who knows the sea, and how the time drags while waiting for a cargo in an unhealthy, unattractive port, far from home, will sympathize with Captain Hammond, who had been on the slave-coast for six months and had less than half a cargo in his hold.
Another letter from the captain, George Scott, already quoted in connection with Captain Lindsay will show still more clearly how troubles came upon the slavers. The letter related to the voyage previously mentioned, and it runs as follows:
