Bahia is the principal Port from which Vessels under the Brazilian Flag are cleared out for a Slaving-voyage to Molembo; but, in every Case which has of late come before the Court of Mixed Commission for adjudication, it has been most satisfactorily proved, that their Cargoes had been shipped from Lagos: false Logs, and Journals of their Voyages, being regularly made out, as if from the Port they swear they came from, and this, of necessity, induces a system of prevarication, and of the grossest perjury. The vigilance and activity of our Cruizers have been the means of making the Slavers extremely cautious in their proceedings. Until the day of departure, although every preparation for the reception of their Victims is made, not a Slave is embarked; and when that does take place, it is distressing to reflect on the number which is thus taken on board. The poor Wretches may literally be said to be stowed in bulk. The consequence is, (either from contagious disease getting among them, or the length of time before they arrive at their Place of destination, the Brazilian Vessels being generally very dull sailers,) that the number of deaths which occur, and the squalid, diseased and deplorable state of the Survivors, when landed, are shocking to humanity. I purpose making the Cases under The Netherlands Flag, the subject of a Separate Despatch. I have, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. J. T. WILLIAMS. No. 5.-G. Rendall, Esq. to Mr. Sec". Canning.—(R&c. June 2, 1826.) In consequence of the protracted illness of one Clerk, and the resignation of another, we were deprived of assistance during a period of three Months, and by the departure of one of these Individuals on leave to England, the Commissioners' Office was left without a Writer. We were, therefore, induced to remove Mr. Bidwell from his Situation of First Clerk of the Registry, to do duty under the Commissioners, with leave to draw the full Salary of Second Writer; and we also engaged a young Gentleman (Mr. Bouverie) who had lately arrived from England as another Writer, with the half Salary of the First. We sincerely hope, Sir, that these temporary arrangements will meet with your entire approbation. I have, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. G. RENDALL. No. 6.-G. Rendall, Esq. to Mr. Sec". Canning.—(Received June 2.) I HAVE the honour to enclose, herewith, Abstracts of the Proceedings in the several Courts of Mixed Commission established in this Colony, during the last Year. C There were three Cases adjudicated under the British and Spanish Mixed Commission, all of them deemed Cases for condemnation, and the number of Slaves emancipated amount to 579, The number of Cases adjudicated under the British and Portuguese Mixed Commission was four, all which were condemned, and the number of Slaves emancipated amount to 1020. There were three Cases adjudicated in the British and Netherlands Mixed Court of Justice; no Slaves were on board any of them at the time of capture; but (falling under the several designations in the Additional Article to the Treaty signed at Brussels, the 25th of January, 1823,) the Vessels and their Cargoes were condemned. The total number of Cases adjudged during the past Year will thus be found to be 10, and the number of Slaves emancipated 1599. I have the honour to be, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. G. RENDALL. (Enclosure 1.)—Abstract of Proceedings under the British and Spanish Mixed Commission at Sierra Leone, from the 1st of January 1825, to the 1st of January 1826. (No. 1.) The Schooner Espanola, under Spanish Colours, Francisco Ramon Roderiguez, Master, was captured by His Majesty's Ship Atholl, commanded by Captain James A. Murray, off the river Gallinas,. on the 7th of March 1825, in Latitude 5. 21. North, and Longitude 13 13. West, with 270 Slaves on board. Part of the outward-bound Cargo of this Vessel was purchased at Charleston: viz. Tobacco, to the amount of 1200 dollars. This vessel was condemned on the 19th of March 1825, and her Slaves were emancipated on the same day. (No. 2.) The Segunda Gallega, sailing under Spanish Colours, was captured by His Majesty's Ship Maidstone, Commodore Bullen, C. B. on the 29th of September 1825, in Latitude 6. 13. North, and Longitude 3. 18. East, with 285 Slaves on board. The Court condemned this Vessel and emancipated her Slaves on the 23d of November 1825. (No. 3.)-His Majesty's Ship Brazen, commanded by Captain Willes, detained the Schooner Clara, otherwise Clarita, Joze Morano, Master, sailing under Spanish Colours, off Cape Mesurado, in Latitude 5. 15. North, and Longitude 10. 30. West, on the 4th of November 1825, with 36 Slaves on board. These were emancipated, and the Vessel condemned on the 23d of November 1825. GEO. RENDALL. (Enclosure 2.)-Abstract of Proceedings under the British and Portuguese Mixed Commission at Sierra Leone, from the 1st of January 1825, to the 1st of January 1826. (No. 1.) The Schooner Bella Eliza, under Brazilian Colours, Placido Joze de Maio, Master, was captured by His Majesty's Ship Bann, G. W. C. Courtenay, Esq. Commander, on the 23d of November 1824, in Latitude 2. 2. North, and Longitude 5. 42. East, with 371 Slaves on board, (being three more than allowed by Passport,) 12 of whom died on their passage up to this Place. She was furnished with a Royal Passport from the Provisional Government at Bahia, dated the 21st of June 1824, authorising a Slave trading voyage to Molembo. The Master declared that he took the Slaves on board at Northern Molembo, and, when desired to shew that Place upon the Chart, pointed to the Western Bank of the River Lagos, in Latitude 6. 10. North. This Vessel was condemned, and her Slaves emancipated on the 31st of January 1825. (No. 2.) The Schooner Bom Fim, sailing under Brazilian Colours, and commanded by Joaquim Joze de Britto Lima, was captured by His Majesty's Brig Swinger, Lieutenant Edward Stewart Clerkson, Commander, on the 14th of January 1825, in Latitude 2. 20. North, and Longitude 5. 31. East, with 149 Slaves on board, 3 of whom died previous to adjudication. This Vessel was furnished with a Royal Passport, dated at Bahia, the 23d of August 1824, authorising a Slave-trading voyage to Molembo. The Master acknowledged having shipped the Slaves in Latitude 6. 16. North, and Longitude 3. 10. East. The Vessel was condemned, and the Slaves emancipated on the 19th of March 1825. (No. 3.)-On the 17th of July 1825, in Latitude 4. 0. North, and Longitude 4. 4. East, His Majesty's Ship Esk, W. J. Purchias, Esq. Commander, detained the Sumaca Bom Jesus dos Navigantes, sailing under the Brazilian Flag, Joaó Pereiro, Master, with 280 Slaves on board, (73 more than allowed by Passport,) 13 of whom died on their passage up to Sierra Leone. The Royal Passport given at Bahia, the 21st of January 1825, allowed this Vessel to trade for Slaves at the Ports of Molembo, with liberty to call at the Costa da Mina. This Vessel was condemned, and the Slaves emancipated on the 14th of September 1825. (No. 4.)-The Brazilian Schooner Uniao, Jozé Ramos Gomis, Master, arrived here on the 21st of October last, detained by His Majesty's Ship Atholl, Captain Murray, (His Majesty's Ships, Esk and Redwing in company,) on the 9th of September 1825, in Latitude 2,33. North, and Longitude 4. 17. East, with 361 Slaves on board, (being 66 more than allowed by Passport,) 112 of whom died on their passage up to this Place. This Vessel was furnished with a Royal Passport, dated at Bahia, the 14th of July 1825, authorising a Slave-trading voyage to the Port of Molembo. The Master stated that he shipped the Slaves from the River Lagos. The Vessel was condemned, and the Slaves emancipated, on the 4th of November 1825. GEO. RENDALL. (Eclosure 3.)-Abstract of Proceedings in the British and Netherlands Mixed Court of Justice at Sierra Leone, from the 1st of January 1825, to the 1st of January 1826. (No. 1.)—The Schooner B y, was captured by His Majesty's Ship Maidstone, Commodore Bullen, C. B. on the 19th of May 1825, off the River Gallinas, sailing under The Netherlands Flag, and commanded by William Woodside, having no Slaves on board, but falling under the several designations in the Additional Article to the Treaty, signed at Brussels the 25th of January 1823. This Vessel was condemned on the 29th of June 1825. (No. 2.) The Brig Z, sailing under Dutch Colours, and commanded by Denis Kere Derne, was captured off the River Andony or Sombrero, on the 31st of July 1825, by His Majesty's Ship Maidstone, Commodore Bullen, C. B. having no Slaves on board, but falling under the several designations contained in the Additional Article to the Treaty, signed at Brussels, the 25th of January 1823. The proof of illicit Traffick being clear, the Judges condemned the Vessel and Cargo on the 9th of September 1825. (No. 3.)-On the 1st of September 1825, His Majesty's Ship Atholl, Captain Murray, captured The Netherlands Schooner La Fenus, in Latitude 4. 12. North, and Longitude 5. 33. East, not having any Slaves on board, but falling under the several designations contained in the Additional Article to the Treaty, signed at Brussels, the 25th of January 1823. This Case was so exactly similar to those of the Bey and Z, that the Judges, without hesitation, condemned the Vessel and Cargo on the 1st of November 1825. GEO. RENDALL. No. 7.-G. Rendall, Esq. to Mr. Sec. Canning.-(Rec. June 2.) SIR, I HAVE the honour to acquaint you that Mr. John Tasker Williams arrived in this Colony on the 5th instant, and having produced the Commission of His Most Gracious Majesty, appointing him Commissary Judge at Sierra Leone, under the Treaties with Foreign Powers for the suppression of illegal Slave-trade, we had the pleasure of introducing that Gentleman to the Portuguese and Netherlands Commissioners, as well as to the Local Authorities; and, upon the 10th instant, the several Courts of Mixed Commission were duly opened, wherein the prescribed Oaths of Office were administered by the principal Magistrate of the Place, (Mr. Acting Chief Justice Rendall,) to Mr. Wiłliams, who was then regularly installed as His Majesty's Commissary Judge. The Archives of the Correspondence of the Commissioners at Sierra Leone will be delivered up to Mr. Williams, at the earliest moment after the Proceedings of the Commissioners, ad interim, are duly recorded. I have the honour to be, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. GEO. RENDALL. No. 8.-J. T. Williams, Esq. to Mr. Sec". Canning.—(Rec. July 12.) WITH reference to my Despatch of the 10th of March, on the subject of the Slave-trade, generally, I now beg to enclose, as tending to corroborate some of the statements therein made, Copy of a List, given to me by Captain Willes, of Vessels boarded by His Majesty's Ship Brazın, during her late cruize. The Feliz Africano-(the Slaves for which were said to be ready for embarkation, at the moment that might appear most favourable,) is fitted for the reception of 670 human beings. The Prince of Guinea-(during the last visit of the Brazen at Whydah, this Vessel had just arrived there from America for De Souza, or Cacha as he is called on the Coast,) a fine Brig, pierced for 16 guns, carrying a long 24-pounder on a pivot, and six smaller guns at the side; she was supposed to be better constructed for sailing than any Vessel out of America-entirely new. The Master of her stated, that De Souza had given him a very considerable sum of money to build her, fit her out, and load her; her Cargo was landing when the Brazın left.- The Master further stated, that she was going to Bahia with palm-oil, for the purpose of changing her Papers, when he would leave her. Captain Willes observed, that he did not suppose any Ship-ofWar on the Coast could come up with her, and that there would, therefore, be but little chance of taking her, when she commences Slaving, (for which purpose she is declared to have been purchased and fitted,) unless during a calm, with Boats. She will not take less than from 500 to 600 Slaves. The Activo (the last Vessel on this List,) was detained and sent here for adjudication by His Majesty's Ship Atholl. I have the honour to be, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. J. T. WILLIAMS. |
