The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-16 00:00:00

PICTURE OF THE SLAVE TRADE

(From a New York Paper.)
On the arrival of the United States ship Columbus
it this port a few days back, the United States
Marshal received dispatches from Mr. Proffit, United
States Minister at Rio, and the Consul at that place,
containing information that Cornelius F. Driscoll, the
master of the brig Hope, of this port, had infringed
the laws of the United States, in taking on board a
cargo of slaves whilst he was in command of that
vessel. Four witnesses were sent home in the
Columbus, who had been part of the crew of the
Elope. They were delivered over to the custody of
the Marshal by Captain Cooper, of the Columbus,
together with the following letter :
" Consulate of the United States,
" Rio Janeiro, April 1, 1844.
" TO THE MARSHAL OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE
NEW YORK DISTRICT, CITY OF NEW YORK.

"Sir,—You are hereby required to receive from Cap-
tain Cooper, commanding the United States ship Colum-
bus, Joseph Carroll, David Henderson, James Lewis,
and Abraham Post, late of the brig Hope, of New York.
'" These men are sent home as witnesses on the part
of the United States against Cornelius F. Driscoll, late
master of said vessel, charged with being engaged in the
slave trade. The proper documents and dispatches have
been transmitted to the Hon. Secretary of State, and
you will, therefore, keep the men in safe custody, until
you receive instructions from the proper department at
Washington.
"It may be well to remark that the witnesses came
forward voluntarily, and gave their testimony.
" I am, respectfully, Sir, your obedient servant,
" GEO. W. SLOCUM, Consul, U.S.A."
Mr. Rapalje, Deputy U. S. Marshal, took imme-
diate measures to arrest Capt. Driscoll, and on Wed-
nesday night he was taken into custody. This after-
noon the accused was brought before Mr. Rapalje,
United States Commissioner, for examination. Mr.
W. M. Price attended as his counsel, and Mr. Barrett
on the part of the United States Government. The
following is the testimony in the case :
Mr. W. M. Price, as counsel for the accused, said
that before proceeding he should ask that the District
Attorney should elect which witness he should exa-
mine first, and that the others should retire.
Mr. Barrett said he had no objection. He should
examine Carroll first. The Learned Gentleman then
went on to cite the Act of Congress, 4th sec., 15th
May, 1820, and the Act passed 10th May, 1800. He
said the affidavit had been prepared with a view to a
conviction under that section of the statute which
made the offence merely punishable with a fine or im-
prisonment, but he thought the testimony was strong
enough to justify a committal under the other statute.
Joseph Carroll examined —I was seaman on board
the brig Hope on her voyage to Gibraltar. I signed
shipping articles. The crew were four men and two
boys. George Henry, David Henderson, John
swan, and myself. Captain Driscoll was the mas •
ter. He is present. The two mates are here now.
We were told that we were bound to Gibraltar, from
thence to Rio, and to any other ports in South Ame-
rica. She was under American colours. We sailed
on 7th or Bth March, 1843, and arrived the 30th of
March. We had a good cargo, which we discharged,
and took in sand ballast. 'We arrived at Rio 4th of
June, 1844. We were there two months, and left
4th August. We were at the discharging ground,
and we heard we were going to Africa, and we
applied to the Consul. He said he would send for
us. We went to Mr. Slocum, and he said the
brig was bound to Bahia. A Portuguese, by the
name of Don Pedro, sailed with us. Afterwards he
took the command of the vessel. He was repre-
sented as the mate of a vessel then lying in the
river Congo. He could not speak English. We
sailed on the 4th of August. We did not go to
Bahia, but to a place called Victoria. That place is
on the coast of Brazil. George Henry was left be-
hind at Rio. We came to anchor at Victoria, offlt 'Ye
he
harbour, and Don Pedro went up to the town. _
next received orders to haul over to the opposite side
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about which
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Pedrower
were
toldw a s frequently
contained
came
eml2e downa casks, ,
took
Driscoll__ said
pipes. They contained water.
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for rum.a sla
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a
box also came, which the captain said contained hats,
-eWdeeenk,exatnd.
it was a sheet-iron cooking machine ; two boxes, said
to contain soap, but they turned out to be hand-
cuffs—another large box, said to be a medicine chest,
it contained arms, pistols and cutlasses, with
jerked
beef, medicines. We took from another vessel 76 cases of
muskets and bayonets; also a quantity of
beef, farina rice, and beans. After this we took a
Portuguese crew. Don Pedro was also on board,
and proceeded on the voyage with us. On the •)3d
of April we sailed from Victoria to the River Congo.
Captain Driscoll was in command. We had ten Por-
tuguese. We got to the River Congo the latter end of
November. We were bound to Pointalina, and got
ashore pne night. Don Pedro went up to the town and
brought a negro down withhim. He was called Emanuel.
He went with Don Pedro and the captain down into
the cabin. After the black man came up, he said to
one of the crew, " You are going round to Cabinda."
We got under weigh the 3d of December, the day after
we arrived there. The next day we commenced dis-
charging the goods. The dry goods and the muskets
were put on board the American brig Porpoise. Four