On the 4th of August, he purchases the American Schooner Gallant, (a matter which, it is to be presumed, had been previously arranged at St. Thomas,) for 2,250 Pieces of Eight, and changes her name to that of the Vogel. Under the latter name a Licence is granted to her on the following day, to sail under The Netherlands Flag.

These Documents are all authenticated and signed by the Governor, "W. A. Van Spengler."

On the same day (5th August,) she clears out, in ballast, to return back to St. Thomas.

On the 17th September, she clears out at the Custom-House, at St. Thomas, for Princes Island, on the Coast of Africa.

Among the French Papers is an Acte de Francisation, dated Pointe à Pitre, Guadaloupe, 18th October, 1823, for the Schooner L'Oiseau, belonging to Monsieur Lafosse of that Place. The Vogel has the same signification, but could not be the same Vessel, the former being stated to be upwards of 80 tons, the latter only about 52.

Notwithstanding this, her Role d'Equipage is dated at Pointe à Pitre, as well also as an Invoice of Goods shipped on board L'Oiseau (signed J. Lafosse, consigning the same, amounting to 8,567 dollars, to Jean Blais,) on the 17th September, 1825; and her Custom-House Clearance from Guadaloupe to Princes Island, is dated the following day (18th September.)

These Papers, I should conclude, must either be spurious, or they must be improperly obtained. The Role d'Equipage is dated the same day as the Clearance from St. Thomas (the 17th), and it would be indeed out of the scope of possibility, that these two matters should have been transacted, in the two Islands, on the same day; and equally improbable that the Vessel could reach Guadaloupe, so as to clear out from Pointe à Pitre on the 18th.

I have reason to believe, from every thing I can learn, that in the system now followed in this branch of the Slave-trade, there is a combination of the interests of Parties, some of which are resident at Guadaloupe, Martinique, St. Thomas, and St. Eustatius. At the first Place is J. Lafosse, at the second a Monsieur Jean Delluc, and at St. Thomas, Messrs. Ogereau et Dubois; and that there must be some Dutch Subjects concerned, at least in some instances, will I think scarcely admit of doubt; for in one of the Letters found on board the Vogel, dated at Tradetown, I find the following expression: "J'irai donc à Surinam; veuillez y preparer vos ordres," [I will go then to Surinam; be so good as to prepare your Orders there.]

There is one Document, Copy of which I send verbatim. It is a Note addressed by Jean Blais to Joseph Tricon, the First Mate, and which proves distinctly the pursuit in which he was engaged. The articles which he directs to be sent on shore, as the return to the King of the Place, for une génisse, (a heifer,) are goods paid for the price

of a Slave; what the exact nominal value would be at Cape Mount I have had no means of learning, but I have ascertained that, according to the prices of Merchandize in this Colony, the amount would be from £8 to £10. I have, &c.

The Right Hon. George Canning.

J. T. WILLIAMS.

(Enclosure 1.)—Report in the Case of the Vogel, Jean Blais, Master, sailing under Dutch Colours.

THE Schooner Vogel, was detained off Grand Currow, on the Windward Coast, on the 22d day of January last, by Lieutenant Baldwin Wake Walker, in command of a Boat belonging to His Majesty's Ship Brazen, G. W. Willes, Esq. Commander.

The Declaration of Captain Willes sets forth, that, in addition to the Dutch Papers found on board the Vogel, the Master had on his person a set of French Papers calling her L'Oiseau: that the said Schooner was fitted for a Slaving Voyage, inasmuch as she had a large number of water casks stowed in her hold, and a greater quantity of rice than necessary for a Trading Vessel's Crew; it appearing that 3600 lbs. had been put on board when she commenced her Voyage.

The Papers in this Case, consisting of French Papers from Guadaloupe, and Dutch Papers from Saint Eustatius, (a Schedule of the most important of which accompanies this,) were duly filed on the 18th of March, together with the requisite Affidavits.

A Monition was prayed for on the 20th, which was regularly served and returned on the 29th.

Joseph Tricon, the First Mate, who was in command of the Vessel when she was detained, deposeth, in his Examination on the Interrogatories, that the Master, Jean Blais, took possession of the Schooner at Saint Eustatius; that she had been called the Vogel about 7 months, previous to which she was called the Gallant, and sailed under American Colours; that the Crew were all hired and shipped at St. Thomas, by the Master, to come to the Coast of Africa for a Cargo of Slaves; he further deposeth, that the Voyage began at St. Thomas, and was to have ended at Surinam, where the Cargo of Slaves were to have been landed, but he knew not to whom consigned; that the Schooner sailed direct from Saint Thomas to the Coast of Africa, and anchored at Cape Mount to trade for Slaves; at this place the Master, Jean Blais, landed the principal part of the Cargo of Merchandize, and remained on shore, sending him, the Deponent, in command of the Schooner to Grand Currow, to purchase palm-oil and rice, while he, the Master, continued at Cape Mount to purchase Slaves: he also states his belief that the palm-oil and rice he was ordered to purchase, were for the purpose of feeding the Slaves.

This man further deposeth, that there were 2 sets of Papers on board, one Dutch, and the other French; that the Master gave him the

French Papers when at Cape Mount, and instructed him to shew them in the event of his being boarded by an English Man of War, and the Dutch Papers should he meet a French Vessel of War; he also told him to call the Crew aft, and give them directions to support him in this Declaration; that when the Schooner was taken he had the Dutch Papers in his pocket, and the French Papers were in his birth.

The foregoing Evidence was confirmed, in all its material points, by the Deposition of Henry Williams, a Native of Riga, and a Seaman on board the said Schooner, who stated he knew her before she was called the Vogel, and that she was, previous to this, named the Gallant, of Baltimore.

The Ship's Papers, and other Documents and Letters found on board this Vessel, manifested evidently the clandestine views of the Parties concerned in the Voyage: she was, when detained, within the limits prescribed in the Treaty between His Majesty and His Majesty the King of The Netherlands, signed at Brussels, the 25th January, 1823. The Master, Jean Blais, the better to carry his illegal purpose into effect, had located himself at one of the principal and most notorious Slave Factories on the Windward Coast; at this Place he landed nearly the whole of his Cargo, without shipping a single article of produce in return.

In the Declaration of Joseph Tricon, the First Mate, he hesitated not in acknowledging the object of the Master of the Vogel, to have been the Traffick in Slaves, and he also declared his belief, that the palm-oil and rice, which he was employed to purchase, were for the purpose of feeding the Slaves. Amongst the Papers are 2 Invoices; in C. No. 3, the 3d Entry is 3600 lbs. of rice, whilst in No. 4, falsified by the Master, the rice is omitted, together with its value, 180 Dollars, and yet the total amounts are made to correspond; in addition to this quantity, there was also found, amongst the Ship's Papers, a Receipt for 360 Dollars, given for 5 tons of rice, (sold for Cash, and not a transaction in Barter,) to Captain Blais, off Cape Mount, by John Smith, Master of the James Dunsmure, supposed to be a Liverpool Trader.

The nature of the private Letters found on board, which, though so written as evidently to attempt to disguise and mislead, is, in several instances, so clear, as to shew the intent of the Parties. In the Letter of Instructions, from Blais to Tricon, he writes, "I have learnt, from good authority, that, if met on the Coast of Africa by the English Cruizers, The Netherlands Flag will not excuse us. I therefore direct you to be very careful, when any Ship appears that you may suspect, to run from her if it be possible."

In fine, the manner of her equipment and outfit, the circumstance of her being found on the Coast of Africa, in direct contradiction to the preventive Clause, in the Licence granted to navigate under the

Dutch Flag, from the Colonial Authorities at Saint Eustatius, and every circumstance connected with the Case, leading to the decided conclusion, that the object in view was the illicit Traffick in Slaves:

The British and Netherlands Judges, perfectly coinciding in opinion, (and no claim or explanation being made or offered by any Person on account of the Parties interested,) without hesitation condemned the said Schooner Vogel, taken by His Majesty's Ship Brazen, Captain G. W. Willes, as lawful Prize to their respective Governments.

Sentence of Condemnation was accordingly passed against her in the British and Netherlands Court of Justice, on the 31st day of March, 1826.

Sierra Leone, April 4, 1826.

J. T. WILLIAMS.

(Enclosure 2.)-Schedule of Papers found on board the Schooner Vogel. DUTCH PAPERS.

(A 1.)-CERTIFICATE of Naturalization of Jean Blais, dated St. Eustatius, 28th July, 1825, signed by the Governor of that Island, W. A. Van Spengler.

(A 2.)-A Bill of Sale from Frederick A. Reynolds, Owner of the American Schooner Gallant, to Jean Blais, of St. Eustatius,

2,250 Pieces of Eight, dated 4th of August, 1825, signed W. A. Van Spengler.

(A 3.)-Licence to Jean Blais to navigate the Schooner Vogel under The Netherlands Flag, with Petition to carry guns; and Licence granted, stating that security had been given for

5,000 Guilders, that he should not be employed in the Slavetrade, dated 5th August, 1825, signed W. A. Van Spengler. (A 4.)-Muster Roll, dated 5th August, 1825, signed W. A. Van Spengler.

(A 5.)—Custom Clearance for the Vogel, in Ballast from St. Eustatius to St. Thomas, same date.

DANISH PAPERS.

(B. )—Clearance from Custom House at St. Thomas for Princes Island, on the Coast of Africa, dated 17th September, 1825. FRENCH PAPERS.

(C 1.)—Acte de Francisation, dated Pointe à Pitre, Guadaloupe, 18th October, 1823, for the Schooner L'Oiseau, belonging to Monsieur J. La Fosse, of that Place.

(C 2.)-Role d'Equipage, dated at Pointe à Pitre, Guadaloupe, 17th September, 1825.

(C 3.)-Invoice of Cargo shipped on board L'Oiseau, consigned to the Master, dated at Pointe à Pitre, 17th September, 1825, and signed J. Lafosse amount 8,567 Dollars.

(C 4.)-An Invoice, similar to No. 3, with the exception of the third Entry, viz.-6 tierces of rice, 3600 lbs. 180 Dollars, which

is partially erased, and St. Thomas introduced instead of Pointe à Pitre, and it is signed by J. Blais, instead of J. Lafosse; the date is the same.

(C 5.)-Custom House Clearance from Guadaloupe, dated 18th September, 1825, for the Island of Princes, on the Coast of

Africa.

(C 6.)-Copy of a Letter from Jean Blais, at Cape Mount, to Joseph Tricon; no date.

(Enclosure A 1.)-Certificate of Naturalization of Jean Blais.

(Translation.)

WE, William Augustus Van Spengler, Colonel and Sea-Captain in the Service of His Majesty the King of The Netherlands, Governor of the Islands of St. Eustatius, St. Martin, and Saba, Commander-inChief of the Land and Sea Forces in this Island, &c. &c. &c. authenticate and certify, by these presents, to every one whom it may concern, that Jean Blais, a Native of Bordeaux, in France, has this day taken, in our hands, the proper Oath of Allegiance to His Majesty; wherefore we entreat every one who may be shewn these presents, to consider the before-mentioned Jean Blais, as a Subject of His Majesty, and to let him enjoy the right and the privileges belonging to him on that In faith of which, these presents have been signed by us, the Governor and Secretary of this Island, and confirmed by means of the Seal of this Colony.

account.

W. A. V. SPENGLER.

St. Eustatius, the 28th July, 1825, the 12th Year of His Majesty's Reign. T. G. GROEBE, Sec.

By his Order,

(Enclosure Á 2.)-Bill of Sale of the Schooner Gallant.-(Translation.) WE, William Augustus Van Spengler, Colonel and Sea Captain in the Service of His Majesty the King of The Netherlands, Governor of the Islands of St. Eustatius, St. Martin, and Saba, Commander-inChief of His Majesty's Land and Sea Forces in those Islands, &c. &c.

Notify and acknowledge the personal appearance before us of Mr. Frederick A. Reynolds, Owner of the American Schooner the Gallant, now lying in this Roadstead, who declared to have privately sold, and, in virtue of these presents, transfers to, and in favour of, Mr. Jean Blais, Citizen of this Island, the above Schooner Gallant, with her masts, sails, rigging, anchors, cables, and other appurtenances, and to have done so in consideration of 2,250 Pieces of Eight, which he, Deponent, acknowledges to have already received without the deduction of a farthing, promising to guaranty the Schooner Gallant, with her appurtenances, to the purchaser, the above-mentioned Jean Blais, against all claims and demands, either implied or expressed.