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Count San Fernando (the Owner of the Slaves) swore they had been 9 months in the Island; the Curate, that he had baptized them; and the Overseer of the Estate, that they had been that time on the Property.

The Governor, being applied to by the Commissioners, to know if he had been in the habit of giving Passports, replied, that he had not; though this was a solitary instance of truth on that side of the question, it was, nevertheless, a subterfuge, for he, some months previously, made a Proclamation, forbidding the conveyance of Slaves from one part of the Island to another, consequently no Passports were applied for.

The Boarding Officer, or myself, was not called on to give Evidence, or we would have had no difficulty in proving, by their own statement, the perjury they had committed. Notwithstanding every thing appears to me as plain as the light at noon-day, yet, on the 29th of August, the Court decided that I should give up the Vessel, although they acknowledged the correctness of my Statement. They have decidedly acted contrary to Evidence.

Mr. Macleay, Commissioner of Arbitration, will send home his Opinion the first opportunity, which is, that the Vessel should be condemned, because the act of detention was just; but the Spanish Commissioners say, there is no penalty attached to a breach of that Article, thereby shewing a determination to take advantage of every trifle in favour of the Trade, though contrary to the true meaning of the Acts for the Abolition of Slavery.

However, I am of opinion, that the landing of the Slaves from the Dichosa, the Minerva Schooner, in the face of all the Authorities in the Harbour of Havannah, the detention of the Mexicano Steam-vessel, together with the decision of the Court, will bring the matter to such a crisis, as to cause the adoption of the necessary Measures to ensure the impossibility of a recurrence of the kind.

At this moment, the Trade is so far free, that they may carry Slaves from one part of the Island to another, although it could be proved that they had only been landed the day before.

Mr. Nott has given his Evidence before the Court alluded to by the Governor, and can answer any questions you may think necessary for your information. G. V. JACKSON, Commander.

Vice-Admiral Sir L. W. Halsted.

(Enclosure 2,) 2.—-Captain Jackson to the British Commissioner of Arbitration at the Havannah.

SEE First Enclosure in No. 84, Class A, Page 183.

(Enclosure 2,) 3.-Capt. Jackson to the Captain-General of Cuba. SEE Ninth Enclosure in No. 84, Class A, Page 197.

(Enclosure 2,) 4.-The Captain-General of Cuba to Capt. Jackson. SEE Fourth Enclosure in No. 84, Class A, Page 187.

SIR,

(Enclosure 2,) 5.-Lieutenant Smith to Captain Jackson.

His M.'s S. Magpie, Havannah, Aug. 16, 1826. IN obedience to your orders, I anchored here last night, and proceeded on shore, to gain any further particulars relating to the Schooner chased into this Port by His Majesty's Sloop under your command. A rumour was prevalent of her having Slaves on board at that moment.

Agreeably to your directions, I then stationed a Boat to watch her movements during the night, which duty devolved on Mr. Nott, whom you sent with us, and was executed with much vigilance on his part.

Between the hours of 11 and 12, he observed 6 or 7 Boats leave her, full of Negroes, and, from following them closely, bears witness to their landing at the Shipping Wharf near the Church of San Francisco. Information of the above fact was immediately given to the Commodore's Ship, and, conceiving a moment's delay would be of consequence, I communicated with the Captain-General and Commodore Laborde as soon as it was possible, which Communication I have the honour to enclose.

Shortly previous to your anchoring, I examined the Schooner in company with a Spanish Officer, and found her as follows: La Minerva, Manuel Fernandez, Master, 3 guns and 35 men, said to be 42 days from Porto Rico, in ballast, but in every respect fitted as a Slaver, and, from her appearance alone, must have landed her Cargo very recently. I have, &c. EDW. SMITH, Commander Jackson, Pylades. Lieut. and Commander.

SIR,

(Enclosure 2,) 6.-Lieut. Smith to the Capt.-General of Cuba. His Majesty's Schooner Magpie, Havannah, August 17, 1826, 11.30. P. M.

I BEG to report to your Excellency, 6 or 7 Boats full of Negroes are now in the act of landing at the Shipping Wharf from the Schooner chased by His Britannick Majesty's Sloop Pylades to this Port.

I have, &c.

His Excellency General Vives.

EDW. SMITH, Lieut. and Commander.

(Enclosure 2,) 7.—The Capt.-General of Cuba to Lieut. Smith. SEE Third Enclosure in No. 84, Class A, Page 186.

(En losure 2,) 8-Capt. Laborde to Lieut. Smith.-(Translation.)

SIR,

On board the Guerrero, in the Port of Havannah,
August 17, 1826.

By the Letter, dated at half-past 11 o'Clock last night, which you delivered to me this morning, I am informed, that at that hour there

were 6 or 7 Boats landing Negroes that have been brought here in a Spanish Merchant Schooner, which was chased into this Port yesterday by the English Sloop of War Pylades, concerning which circumstance the necessary enquiries had already been instituted, in consequence of a Communication from His Excellency the Captain-General of the Island, in which he enclosed to me the Letter he had received from you on the same subject. I have, &c. Lieutenant Smith.

ANGEL LABORDE.

(Enclosure 2,) 9.-Affidavit of Lieutenant Nott.

Statement of Circumstances relative to the Minerva, Spanish Slave Schooner, which came under my immediate notice while serving in His Majesty's Sloop Pylades, on the Havannah Station.

On the 16th of August, 1826, about 2. 30. P. M., I was ordered by Captain Jackson to proceed into The Havannah, and examine a suspicious Schooner, under Spanish Colours, chased by His Majesty's Sloop Pylades into that Port; and, if any opposition should be made. to my so doing, to apply to the Spanish Flag-Ship for assistance.

In pursuance of these directions, I proceeded on board the Schooner, then just anchoring, and apparently in charge of a Spanish Naval Officer and guard. On stating my desire to know from whence the Schooner had arrived, and what Cargo she had on board, the Naval Officer commanded that no Person should reply to my questions but himself; and then informed me, through the medium of a man who spoke English, that a British Officer had no right to demand any account of a Spanish Vessel under Spanish Colours, in a Spanish Port.

I replied, that from the Vessel's suspicious appearance, and from her having used every exertion, both by sweeps and sails, to escape from a British Man-of-War, I felt perfectly justified in making such demand, and that, if it was not complied with, I must make application to the Spanish Authorities for the requisite information.

He said the Master had supposed he was chased by a Colombian Cruizer, and further gave me to understand that no more questions should be answered, unless enforced by an order from the Governor.

From the anxiety expressed by the Master of the Vessel, that none of her Crew should communicate with the Men of the Pylades; from the dilapidated state of her hull, masts, and rigging, and from the hatchways being carefully closed, and covered with loose spars, &c., my suspicions were not only excited that she had been engaged in the illicit conveyance of Slaves from the Coast of Africa, but that a considerable number were actually on board at the moment of my visiting her. This I stated to the Commanding Officer of Le Guerrero, the Commodore's Flag Ship, and from him demanded assistance to make the necessary investigation. He referred me to the Commodore himself at the Admiralty-House, where I was informed by the Secretary

and Flag Lieutenant, in junction with the Officer I had previously seen on board the Schooner, that the Commodore was dining with the Governor.

To the Flag Lieutenant, who spoke English fluently, I related the circumstances attached to the Vessel chased in by the Pylades, and also expressed my desire to be furnished with permission to satisfy myself, by ocular demonstration, whether she had Negroes on board or not. This was refused by the Secretary and himself, on the former plea, that I had no right to question a Spanish Vessel in a Spanish Port.

From thence I proceeded to the Governor's, and requested to be admitted to his presence. I was informed by an Officer in waiting, that His Excellency was engaged, and also that the Commodore had not dined there. I recapitulated my suspicions relative to the Schooner to the first Officer, and to two others who had joined him; on which one, apparently of rank, accompanied me to the Wharf; and, having clearly ascertained which was the Vessel, and fully possessed himself of all circumstances relative to her, both from me and others, he embarked in a Government Boat, and went on board her, desiring me to meet him at the Governor's Palace on his return; which I did, and was there informed, after a consultation of considerable length, in which, besides the three Officers already mentioned, two other Gentlemen joined," that the Governor did not feel authorized either to permit me to examine the Vessel, or to furnish me with any particulars respecting her for the information of the Captain of the Pylades, until she had been officially reported to him by the Commandant of Marine, at whose Office I must apply."

On returning to the Admiralty Office, I found that the Spanish Boat's Crew, who had accompanied the Governor's Officer to the Schooner, had communicated to my men that she was the Minerva, from Princes Island, with 250 Slaves then on board. To the Secretary I stated this additional circumstance, and again desired to be admitted to the presence of the Commodore, whose absence he did not then mention, but entered an inner Apartment, as I imagined, for the purpose of communicating my desire. After some time had elapsed, he rejoined me, and declared that the Commodore was in the Country, and would not probably arrive till very late.

It was now near sun-set, after which time no Boats are allowed to leave the Harbour without especial permission; I therefore returned to the Pylades, informing the Captain of all the particulars here related, also of my opinion, that, if a possibility existed of a Vessel entering the Havannah with Negroes, the Minerva had a considerable number stowed beneath her hatches at the time of my boarding her; and, moreover, that I had perceived on my passage out of the Port, that she had removed from her first anchorage to a Wharf situated near

Casa Blanca, the general rendezvous for Vessels engaged in the Slavetrade.

On this, Capt. Jackson ordered the Magpie, Lieutenant Smith, to proceed into the Harbour, and anchor as near to the suspected Vessel as possible; providing me with a Boat, that I might have an opportunity of observing the motions of the Minerva during the night.

On anchoring, Lieutenant Smith and myself proceeded on shore, and there found it publickly reported that the Minerva had arrived that day from the Coast of Africa with between 200 and 300 Negroes on board, though her name was enrolled at the Custom-house as being from Porto Rico, 30 days, in ballast.

For the purpose of watching her, I lay as near to the Vessel as the risk of discovery would admit, being accompanied by 2 Seamen in the Magpie's Boat; and, between the hours of 11 and 12, perceived a common Passage-boat, provided with an awning, leave the quarter of the Minerva which was next the Wharf, and make for The Havannah, followed by two more; I ran alongside the first, and clearly saw, by the aid of the Moon, which was full and unclouded, at least 20 unclothed Negroes stowed in the bottom of her, with their heads shaved.

The Boatman seized on some missile, and discharged it at my head, which, however, it passed, and striking the side of the Boat, fell into the water. Not wishing to encounter a repetition of this without retort, nor yet to excite alarm, I produced a pistol, and threatened, if he did not pull quietly on his course, to silence him with the contents of it.

I examined the second and third Boats in like manner, and found that they contained a Cargo similar to the first; but guarded each by 2 or 3 People in Spanish habits, and these, I perceived, were followed by 3 or 4 more.

My orders being expressly to observe, and not to attack, I quietly rowed at a small distance, till they, finally, to the number of 6 or 7 large Boats, landed upwards of 100 Negroes on one of the most publick Wharfs in The Havannah, at the back of the Church of St. Francisco, and within 20 yards of a Spanish Guard-house, containing Soldiers. It may be proper also to mention, that the Negroes were all handed from the Boats to the deck of an American Vessel exposed for sale, and thence to the Wharf.

Immediately the landing was effected, several of the Boats gave chase to me; and as, from the cursing of the Boatmen, I had every reason to suppose their intent was hostile, I returned to the Magpie, and acquainted Lieutenant Smith with the foregoing circumstances, and by his directions gave immediate intelligence to the Commanding

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