Place she had been chartered by the Owner of the Brig Henriquetta. She reported that the Henriquetta was at Onim, expecting to receive her Cargo of Slaves. It is probable that the Lafayette was chartered by the Owner of the Henriquetta, and the English Brig George and James, by the Owner of the Caridade, for the same objects, namely, to be subservient to their illicit operations in the Slave-trade. The Master of the Lafayette stated, that he left at Onim 3 Spanish and 6 Brazilian Vessels waiting for Slaves. On the 3d instant, the Henriquetta arrived here, and reported from Molembo in 18 days, with 504 Slaves. It is reported that she had her Cargo, or part of her Cargo, of Slaves on board, when His Majesty's Ship Maidstone appeared off Onim, and she had just time to land them, and thereby to escape capture. On the departure of the Maidstone, the Slaves were again embarked, and she proceeded to Sea. Soon afterwards, the Maidstone appeared in sight, and gave chase; a calm or light winds enabled the Henriquetta to avail herself of her sweeps, and to escape she is armed, and had prepared her guns for resistance. It is reported, that several deaths have taken place among the Slaves, but with regard to circumstances and number, there has been equivocation and concealment. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of these facts, yet I am persuaded there will not be found any error that will essentially affect the truth of this Representation. I have not been able to ascertain all the dates; perhaps the Commander of His Majesty's Ship Maiistone may be able to furnish such Evidence on this point as, combined with the facts here stated, will prove that the Slaves could not have been shipped at Molembo, or at any Port South of the Line. I am informed that the Henriquetta was insured at Rio de Janeiro, on her late voyage, at a premium which included the risk of capture by British Cruizers; the Owner has lately bought the Schooner Lafayette; and the Owner of the Smack Caridade expects a Vessel from Philadelphia, that is to be a nonpareil, for the Slave-trade (illicit understood,) and that will be well armed. It is supposed that a fortunate voyage on this Trade, (such as those recently made by the Henriquetta and Caridade,) leaves a profit to the Speculator of upwards of £30 per head. The illicit Slave-trade is very differently viewed in this Country from what it is in England; of which I cannot state a greater or more authentick proof, than in the Case of the Portuguese Vessel the Volcano do Sul: this Vessel was captured with a Cargo of Slaves on board, in the Year 1819, by His Majesty's Ship Pheasant, and was ordered to Sierra Leone; the Crew, however, rose on the English Officer and Seamen, murdered them, and made for this Port: here the Slaves were all smuggled on Shore, and the Vessel then scuttled to escape detec tion; the case was pretty generally known, but no one gave any information with a view to bring the Delinquents to justice. At length it was communicated to me, under a promise of secrecy as to the name of my Informant; I immediately made an Official representation to the then Governor, who ordered an investigation; the facts were proved, the property of the Owner was sequestrated, and Sentence of Death pronounced against the Portuguese Crew; but, I believe, no Execution has followed. The most moderate estimate made of the illicit Importation of Slaves in this Province, makes it average more than of the whole Importation; indeed, the general belief is, that g of the total Importation is from the prohibited District: this sufficiently shews how ineffectual the British Naval Force has hitherto been, as regards the illicit Trade with this Province. It is the general opinion amongst the best informed here on the subject, that when a Vessel, bound to this Port with Slaves, is captured and condemned another is generally equipped for the same voyage, in order to supply the still existing demand, in which case the very success of our Cruizers increases the illicit Exportation of Slaves from the North of Africa. It, however, sometimes happens, (and the more successful our Cruizers are, the more frequently it is likely to happen,) that the dread of our Cruizers induces the Slave-merchant to send his Vessel to Moçambique, or its vicinity, where the Trade is legal and the Slaves cheap; but on this voyage, it is estimated, that the mortality is five times greater than on the voyage to the North, and the misery to the unhappy survivors incalculably greater. The crimes committed, to escape after capture, are exemplified in the Case of the Volcano do Sul. Those which are committed, to escape being captured with Slaves on board, are known to be more frequent and, if possible, of a deeper die. The Case of the Volcano do Sul also shews the facility of smuggling on this Coast, and that the Official Returns of the Importation of Slaves should be regarded as under-rated. The Right Hon. George Canning. WM. PENNELL. No. 59.-Mr. Consul Pennell to Mr. Sec". Canning.-(Rec. May 23.) I believe it to be correct, although it has the following Preamble, "The Ports on the Coast of Mina (Guinea,) where the Trade is carried on in Gold, Ivory, Cloth, and Oil." In consequence of this Preamble, and because this Commerce is frequently adduced to cloak the illicit Slave-trade, I caused enquiry to be made as to its extent, and I am credibly informed, that the value of all the Articles imported through the Custom-House into this Province, from all Africa, did not exceed £6,000 for the Year 1825. I have the honour to be, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. WM. PENNELL. No. 60.-Mr. Consul Pennell to Mr. Sec". Canning-(Rec. May 29.) I HAVE the honour to enclose a Copy of my Letter, of the 28th The Right Hon. George Canning. WM. PENNELL. (Enclosure 1.)—Mr. Consul Pennell to the French Consul at Bahia. SIR, Bahia, January 28, 1826. I HAVE the honour to call your attention to the circumstances of the French Ship Diane, Captain Edon, from Pernambuco, having brought to this Port 8 Slaves, which, I am informed, are intended for Sale. I am persuaded it is sufficient to bring the fact to your knowledge to induce you to take such steps herein as are dictated by the Laws of France, and the well-known sentiments of His Most Christian Majesty on the subject of the Slave-trade. I have, &c. Mons. Guinebaud. WM. PENNELL. (Enclosure 2.)—The French Consul at Bahia to Mr. Consul Pennell. MONSIEUR, Bahia, 31 Janvier, 1826. JE réponds à la Lettre que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'écrire le 28 de ce Mois, pour m'annoncer que le Navire Français La Diane, Capitaine Victor Edon, a transporté de Pernambouc en ce Port 8 Nègres, Esclaves destinés à y être vendus. Ayant, vous et moi, examiné le Rôle d'Equipage de La Diane, nous avons en effet reconnu qu'il conste, ainsi que l'accuse Monsieur Boilleau, Chancelier gérant le Vice Consulat de France à Pernambouc, que le nommé Antonio Jozé Ribeiro, s'est embarqué à Pernambouc pour Bahia, accompagné de 8 Esclaves, dont un domestique, et les 7 autres allant sous Carta de Guia, ou Passavant de la Douane, pour être vendus à Bahia. A la réception de votre Lettre je m'empressai de faire appeler devant moi le Capitaine Edon, pour lui communiquer la plainte, et recevoir de lui les éclaircissemens nécessaires. Il résulte de ses déclarations ce qui suit: Le Capitaine Edon a donné passage de Pernambouc à Bahia, au nommé Antonio Jozé Ribeiro, accompagné comme il est dit çi-dessus. Cet Individu, dit le Capitaine Edon, était porteur d'un Passeport délivré par l'Autorité de Pernambouc, tant pour lui que pour ses 8 Esclaves. Il n'a pas examiné ce Passeport, écrit en Portugais, qu'il ne comprend pas, et ne s'est point informé si les Nègres étaient neufs ou non. Il a d'autant moins pensé devoir le faire qu'il sait ou croit savoir que les Lois Brésiliennes défendent à tout Navire Etranger le cabotage des produits du sol ou du Commerce Brésilien, et spécialement des Nègres qui n'ayant pas acquitté les droits d'entrée, peuvent encore être réputé Marchandise de traite. Que l'Autorité de Pernambouc ayant délivré le Passeport, le Capitaine n'a pas poussé plus loin son investigation et s'est cru en régle. Que l'on ne peut lui attribuer aucun motif de cupidité ou désir de contrevenir aux Lois de France rélatives au Commerce des Noirs, puisqu'il résulte de son livre de bord que le montant du passage du Maître et des 8 Esclaves, n'est que de Rs 50,000, [F312. 50c.] savoir Rs 30,000 pour le Maître, et Rs 20,000. (F 125.) pour les 8 Esclaves. Les assertions du Capitaine me paraissant exprimées avec une certaine ingénuité qui écarte, au moins à mes yeux, toute idée de fraude ou de faute volontaire, je ne crois pas pouvoir avec justice lui appliquer les sévères dispositions résultant des diverses Instructions depuis longtems, et récemment encore, émanées du Gouvernement de Sa Majesté Très Chrétienne, sur tout ce qui a rapport à la Traite des Noirs. La Diane répartant incessamment pour Pernambouc et le Hâvre, je crois devoir prendre le parti de m'en référer à Monsieur Boilleau, en le prévenant de ce qui s'est passé, bien sur que cet Agent prendra toutes les mesures convenables pour parvenir à la connaissance de la vérité, et à donner les éclaircissemens nécessaires sur plusieurs choses que je ne suis point apportée d'expliquer. Je me propose aussi d'en rendre directement compte à mon Gou vernement. Je ne puis d'ailleurs, Monsieur, que vous remercier de l'avis que vous avez bien voulu me donner dans cette occasion, et vous assurer de l'intérêt avec lequel j'accueillerai toutes les indications que vous voudrez bien me faire parvenir sur cette matière, que les Instructions pres- . santes et réitérées du Ministère Français rendent l'objet constant de ma sollicitude. J'ai l'honneur, &c. M. Pennell. GUINEBAUD. No. 61. Mr. Consul Pennell to Mr. Sec. Canning.-(Rec. May 29.) In a conversation with the French Consul of this Province, on the subject of a French Schooner, called the Bienfaisant, chartered to carry a Cargo of Tobacco to Ajuda, I stated to him the view which was taken of such a Voyage by the Laws of England, and that an English Vessel now here (the Brig Freeland, Captain Thompson,) had just refused an advantageous Charter for that Port, in consequence of your Despatch on the subject. He expressed a wish to obtain all the information on the subject which I could afford, expressing his desire to concur all in his power for the suppression of the Slave-trade, and that he would write to his Government on this particular Case, if it did not already come within his Instructions. In consequence, I sent him a Copy of your Despatch of the 24th of July last. I have the honour to enclose a Copy of my Letter to him, and of his Reply on the subject. I have, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. WM. PENNELL. (Enclosure 1.)-Mr. Consul Pennell to the French Consul at Bahia. SIR, Bahia, February 9, 1826. WITH reference to our conversation, respecting the French Schooner Bienfaisant, bound to Ajuda, on the Coast of Africa, North of the Line, with a Cargo of Tobacco, I have the honour to enclose a Copy of Mr. Secretary Canning's Despatch of the 24th of July last, by which you will perceive that a similar Voyage (under the same circumstances) in an English Vessel, is forbidden by the English Law; and although several English Merchants and Masters of Ships had before contended for its legality, on the same reasoning which you have adduced, yet they have since uniformly (and one within these few days) refused advantageous freights of this description, in deference to the Law, as expounded in Mr. Canning's Despatch. It is with great pleasure that I comply with your desire to be furnished with a Copy of this Document, for the object you intimate, being persuaded that a union of sentiment, and a cordial co-operation in measures, by the French and English Nations, as regards the Slavetrade, will have a very powerful and salutary effect towards its final Abolition. I have the honour to be, &c. M. Guinebaud. WM. PENNELL. P. S.-I also enclose Copies of my Despatches of the 1st and 15th April last, to which Mr. Secretary Canning refers. W. P. (Enclosure 2.)-The French Consul at Bahia to Mr. Consul Pennell. MONSIEUR, Bahia, 15 Février, 1826. J'AI lu avec toute l'attention qu'ils méritent les Documens contenus et détaillés dans la Lettre que vous m'avez fait l'honneur de m'écrire le |