EYARDLEY WILMOT, Commodore to of the Admiralty, October 29, 1864

Commodore Wilmot to the Secretary of the Admiralty.

Sir: I have directed that the masters and crews of captured slavers be detained on board the captors, for the purpose of finding out their nationality and delivering them over to the government to which they belong.

2. It is the practice to land the master and others who form the crew of a captured slaver at the nearest convenient spot, for the purpose of getting rid of them; they are thus enabled to resume at pleasure their former occupation, and make fresh bargains with the slave dealers for future services.

3. If their governments are pleased to sanction this step, we shall place the dealers and others concerned in this traffic in a very uncertain position, because they will experience great difficulty in obtaining a proper master and crew for their vessels; as not only will there be a scarcity of masters and seamen, in consequence of those captured being sent out of the country and punished for their offences, but because they will be afraid to risk their lives and liberty, knowing that if captured they will be handed over to be dealt with by their own government.

I have, &c,