The steamer Maid of Islay sailed from Liverpool in December, on a trading voyage to Africa, and continued actively engaged on the coast until the 12th May, [1848], occasionally exchanging civilities with the men-of-war, and when able, furnishing them with fresh provisions. It appears, however, that on the night of the 12th of May, while on her return to Sierra Leone, she was suddenly hailed from Her Majesty's sloop Alert, and ordered to heave-to ; but before the captain could give any orders to that effect, a thirty-two pound shot from the sloop struck her stern-post, entered the cabin, and wounded the captain with the splinters. This was immediately followed by a couple of volleys of grape. A boat from the Alert then pulled alongside, and the officer in charge said she had been mistaken for a Spanish steamer known to be on the coast slaving.

In the mean time, the captain of the Maid of Islay had brought his vessel to an anchor, but the shot causing her to leak considerably, the crew abandoned her. The Alert sent a full contingent of hands on board, and by dint of hard labour at two pumps, kept her afloat till they got her into Sierra Leone. The owner of the vessel, who was on board at the time, finding he could obtain no redress from the government authorities at Sierra Leone, returned home to seek it at head quarters. The captain and crew also came home at the same time. Thus all evidence, on the part of the steamer having left Sierra Leone, the commander of the Alert sought to have her condemned ; but the judge decided that the steamer was not engaged in the slave trade, nor otherwise aiding or abetting that traffic, and decreed her, with the cargo. &c., to be restored to the owners, and condemned the seizers in the costs. Liverpool Albion.

SG & SGTL Vol 6, page 60.

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