1846-Jan.-16: An unidentified newspaper published a letter from a British officer serving on the “African Station” who criticized the naval blockade as a “co…

1846-Jan.-16: An unidentified newspaper published a letter from a British officer serving on the “African Station” who criticized the naval blockade as a “complete humbug.” The officer argued that as long as a slave worth a few dollars in Africa could fetch £100 in America, men would always find means to evade even the strictest blockade. He described the station as the most miserable in the world and posited that the only way to end the trade was to destroy the market center rather than blockading 2,000 miles of coastline. This perspective reflected a common sentiment among practical naval men that the squadron’s efforts were often futile and merely increased the miseries of the captives.