Invincival, on her passage here,) understanding but very little Portu guese, and the Master no English. We have the honour to be, &c. N. CAMPBELL. The Right Hon. George Canning. JOS. REFFELL. (Enclosure 1.) — Extract from the Sierra Leone Gazette of 10th · March, 1827. A SPANISH Schooner, detained by the Redwing having on board a Cargo of Slaves, when on her passage to Sierra Leone from the Bight of Biafra, some days after parting company with the Redwing fell in with the Brazilian Schooner Disunion, belonging to Rio Janeiro, from the River Cameroons, having on board a Cargo of 275 Slaves, which she detained. Mr. Jackson, the Officer in charge, sent an Officer and half his crew on board her. The Spanish Schooner proceeding to Sierra Leone, accompanied by the Disunion, (being South of the Equator,) fell in with a large piratical Brigantine under Spanish Colours, mounting 13 guns, and having a numerous Crew. From the circumstance of the original Prize-Crew being distributed into two Vessels, both fell a prey to the Pirate, who took the Slaves out of the Disunion, and placed his prisoners, English and Brazilian, on board her. After parting company with the Pirate, a dispute arose between the Officers of the Redwing, and the Brazilians, as to the Port they should proceed to; the Redwing's Officers wishing to proceed to Sierra Leone, and the Brazilians to Rio Janeiro. The Brazilians apparently agreed to the wishes of the Redwing's Officers. On the succeeding day, taking advantage of the Redwing's people being off their guard, the Brazilians armed themselves with trade knives, a cask full being on the deck, and commenced an attack on the British Officers, all of whom they succeeded in killing after a severe struggle. Part of the Redwing's crew, on seeing their Officers killed, took to the rigging. The Brazilians opened a fire of musketry on them, and killed all. The Master and Owner of the Invincival was also the Owner of the Disunion, and related the preceding circumstances to a British Naval Officer. The name of the Spanish Pirate could not be ascertained. She placed part of her crew on board the other Spanish Vessel, and steered for the West Indies. (Enclosure 2.)-Affidavit of the Master of the Invincival. JOSE ANTONIO DE CASTRO, GUIMARAES, being examined on oath concerning certain transactions respecting a Spanish Schooner, Prize to His Britannick Majesty's Ship Redwing, with a Prize-Crew from that Ship on board, deposeth and saith, that he, Deponent, learnt from Antonio dos Santos, a sailor on board the Ship Invincival, of which Deponent was Master and Owner, during the present voyage, in which she was taken by His Britannick Majesty's Ship Esk; that after the said Schooner, Prize to His Majesty's Ship Redwing, had parted from the Redwing she fell in, some days afterwards, with the Brazilian Schooner Disuniao, which about 5 Years ago was owned by Deponent, and was then owned by Antonio Jozé Vierra, and commanded by Fernando da Costa Piera, which Vessel the British Officer in charge of the Spanish Prize Schooner captured, putting on board an Officer and part of his Crew, with the intention of taking her also to Sierra Leone. On their way thither they fell in with a large Spanish Piratical Brigantine, armed with 13 guns, and having a considerable Crew on board. The name of the Brigantine was the Gabiao, belonging to The Havannah, owned by the same Persons as the Spanish Prize Schooner alluded to in the first part of this Deposition; the 2 prizes were attacked by the Gabiao, and, after a sharp engagement, captured, during which she displayed French Colours. Many of the English and Brazilians were killed and wounded during the action, and, after the 2 Vessels were boarded and carried, the Spaniards used their knives most mercilessly, and mutilated all those that remained alive at the close of the engagement. After taking all the Slaves out of the Disuniao, and plundering her of almost every article of food, and her tackle and sails, as well as all the seamen's clothes, she was permitted to proceed to Rio Janeiro, where she arrived in safety about 12 months ago, with only five persons on board, including the Captain, who were in a wretchedly mutilated state, some having their noses, ears, and hands off, and covered with a number of knifewounds, and as they were all Brazilians who arrived in her, Deponent has reason to suppose the whole of the English Crew must have been killed. Deponent further saith, that the Sailor, from whom he learnt the preceding particulars, had a number of wounds about his body, (and one hand off,) which he received during the engagement, and after the capture of the said Disuniao by the said Brigantine Gabiao, and that he was put on shore with the rest of the Crew of the Invincival, after she was taken by His Britannick Majesty's Ship Esk. Deponent further states, that a slight notice was inserted in the Rio de Janeiro Gazette, of the arrival of the Disuniao, and of the circumstances which had taken place on board her about 12 Months past, at which time, he, Deponent, was at Rio de Janeiro, and saw it. JOZE ANTONIO DE CASTRO GUIMARAES. Sworn before me, at Freetown, in the Colony of Sierra Leone, this 28th March, 1827. WM. SMITH, Registrar. No. 19.-J. Reffell, Esq. to Mr. Secretary Canning.-(Rec. June 30.) I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, that, in consequence of His Excellency Sir Neil Campbell having left the Colony on Publick Service, for the Gambia, Lieutenant-Colonel Lumley, the Lieutenant-Governor, this day took the Oaths of Commissary Judge in the several Courts of Mixed Commission, established in this Colony, before me as the Principal Magistrate. I have the honour to be, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. JOS. REFFELL. No. 20.-His Majesty's Comm". to Mr. Sec". Canning.—(Rec. July 27.) SIR, Sierra Leone, 8th May, 1827. We had the honour to receive your Despatch of the 31st of January, 1827, enclosing His Majesty's Commissions, appointing Mr. Daniel Molloy Hamilton to be His Majesty's Commissary Judge, Mr. William Smith to be His Majesty's Commissioner of Arbitration, and Mr. Joseph Reffell to be Secretary or Registrar, to the Mixed Commissions at present established here. Mr. William Smith and Mr. Joseph Reffell have, in consequence, this day taken the Oaths prescribed to their respective Appointments under the several Commissions, and entered accordingly upon the Duties of the Situations, to which His Majesty has been graciously pleased to appoint them. We have the honour to be, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. H. LUMLEY. No. 21.-J. Reffell, Esq. to Joseph Planta, jun. Esq.—(Rec. July 27.) I BEG leave most respectfully to inform you, for the information of The Right Honourable Mr. Secretary Canning, that in virtue of His Most Gracious Majesty's Commission, by which I am appointed Registrar of the Courts of Mixed Commission established in this Colony, I, on the 8th instant, took the prescribed Oath as such, before his Majesty's Acting Commissary Judge, and entered upon the Duties of my said Office. I further beg permission to add, that, in consequence of the absence of His Excellency Sir Neil Campbell, the Governor, on a visit to the Gambia, I am precluded from retiring from the Offices I at present hold in the Colonial Department of this Government, but which it is my intention to do, when His Excellency returns. Joseph Planta, jun. Esq. I have the honour to be, &c. JOS. REFFELL. No. 22.-His Majesty's Comm". to Mr. Sec". Canning.—(Rec. July 27.) SIR, Sierra Leone, 15th May, 1827. We have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of the 26th of February last, with its Enclosures, communicating, for our information, the intention of His Majesty's Government to remove the Mixed Commissions, at present established here, to the Island of Fernando Po, and the measures in contemplation for carrying that arrangement into effect. We beg to return you, Sir, our thanks for this early communication, and have the honour to remain, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. H. LUMLEY. No. 23.-W. Smith, Esq. to Joseph Planta, jun. Esq.-(Rec. July 27.) I HAVE the honour herewith to enclose to you, for the information of Mr. Secretary Canning, the Copy of a Letter, which has been addressed to me by Doctor Fergusson, Surgeon of the Royal African Colonial Corps, soliciting to be appointed Surgeon to the Courts of Mixed Commission at the intended Settlement at Fernando Po. I beg most respectfully to state my humble opinion, that the Appointment of a Medical Officer exclusively attached to the Mixed Commissions, would be a measure attended with beneficial results, both to the whole of the Establishment of those Commissions, and to the unfortunate people who may be brought before the Courts for emancipation. The Situation Doctor Fergusson solicits has hitherto been held at a trifling Salary, by Gentlemen whose various professional duties, in the Army and Colony, rendered their attention to the Slaves, with very few exceptions, a mere matter of form, and during the illness of any of the Officers of the Commissions, they were necessitated to apply for assistance to the Colonial Surgeon, and which, it is but justice to that Gentleman to say, he has ever cheerfully complied with. The intimate acquaintance the Gentlemen composing the Mixed Commissions have of Doctor Fergusson, their implicit confidence in his abilities, his thorough knowledge of the diseases of Africa, his successful practice, and his being inured to the Climate, render him most eligible for the Appointment he solicits, and a valuable acquisition to an infant Colony; and I have pleasure in adding my personal tribute to his merits, from having experienced from him, during the severe attacks I have had here, the most unremitting attention; and it is, therefore, that I can most strongly recommend him to the favourable consideration of Mr. Canning, should such an Appointment be deemed proper. I have the honour to be, &c. Joseph Planta, jun. Esq. WM. SMITH. SIR, (Enclosure.) Doctor Fergusson to William Smith, Esq. Sierra Leone, 18th May, 1827. HAVING understood that it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to remove the Courts of Mixed Commission from this Station to Fernando Po, I have the honour to offer my services as Surgeon on your Establishment, in the event of such an Appointment being deemed necessary. I have served upwards of 6 Years in the Medical Department of the Army at Sierra Leone. I have also held a Medical Situation on the Civil Establishment of the Colony during the whole of that period, and am now Surgeon of the Royal African Colonial Corps, to which Situation I was promoted through the unsolicited recommendation of the late Major-General Turner. For personal character and professional qualifications, allow me to refer to yourself, and the other Officers of your Court here, with whom I have been on terms of intimacy for some Years. I am uncertain whether the Appointment of a Medical Officer to the Courts of Mixed Commission is contemplated, but should such be the case, and my offer of Service accepted, I trust that, in nominating a Salary to the Situation, with such retired allowance after having served a period of Years, as may, in the wisdom of His Majesty's Government, be deemed suitable, it may be considered that the formation of a new Settlement on the Western Coast of Africa, holds out a certain prospect of much mental anxiety and bodily trouble to the Medical Officer. Should my offer meet with a favourable consideration, I shall immediately apply to the proper Authorities to be placed on the half-pay list of the Army. William Smith, Esq. I have the honour to be, &c. W. FERGUSSON. No. 24. His Majesty's Comm. to Viscount Dudley.-(Rec. Sept. 18.) WE have the honour to transmit, herewith, a Copy of the Registry of Slaves emancipated by the Courts of Mixed Commission, established in this Colony for the prevention of the illicit Traffick in Slaves, during the period from the 5th day of January to the 5th day of July, 1827. You will observe, my Lord, by this Document, that 2178 Slaves have been emancipated in that period, that 2177 were registered, and that 1 died between the time of Emancipation and that of Registration. We have the honour to b, &c. The Right Hon. Viscount Dudley. H. LUMLEY. WM. SMITH. |