The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-10-26

the same Consul, in favor of Don Juan Batalla, q
native Of Malaga, authorizing him to proceed tc
the Island Of ST. Thomas on his own private af
fairs. Our experience has shown US, that those
who pass through this formality of obtaining pass
ports, as passengers, bound TO the same nominal
destination as the vessel, are generally either the
owners or captains of the vessels in which they
embark, or the managers of the expedition. So
it proved in the present case; and the various doc
uments, discovered on board exhibit Bataa in his
true character, as Captain and supercargo of the
| d" COnSi5tucianO."
No. z. 1t is also proved that the Portuguese
seaman who figured as master is person of very
humble pretensions for paper was found in his
possession, setting forth THAT Joaquin da Souza
Pinto had conducted himself like good seaman
and carpenter on board the Portuguese brig oil
war, "Don Esperanca, fighting against Don Mig
ue"
| NJ. 8 would, at any rate show, in the absence
of any other paper, that the pretended passenger,
BatalIa, really occupied the place which was os-
tensibly filled by Pinto. 1t is headed, agree
ment between the crew of the "COntatuciamo"
and the master, Don Juan BatalIa" Pinto is
herein assigned smaller rate of wages even,
than the boatSwain of the vessel and it is agreed
by the crew that although Pinto is 10 be the osen-
sibe master, and although Bataa is to be called
passenger the latter is to be deemed in fact the
Captain and representative of the owners. The
fourth and fifth clauses o. the agreement stipulae
hat wages shall not be due in the event of capture
by vessel of equal force; nor even in the event
of capture by vessel of superior force unless
after an obstinate defence and in that case the
wages of those who will not fight shall be forfeit
ed and "divided amongst the brave defenders
No. 9 is letter from Batalla, the Spanish cap
tain and supercargo to Messours Rorosa Marno
and company Havana, who, from the style in
which they are addressed are evidently the
ners of the vessel. The letter is dated at LITTLE
BASsA. on the Malaguetta coast, on the 2Sth OF
September 1888, two days before the capture of
the "ConStituciamo," and was sent by that vessel,
which was making trip to New Sestos, under
cover, to Don Baro'ome Ferrer, who was at that
place waiting passage to Havana The follow
ing is an extract from the letter in question:
Three months and eighteen days have passed
since opened trade and have already two hun
dred slaves, wanting twenty-five of the thlrty-slX
slaves who escaped during the instruction Of the
10Th of last month but expect people daily with
those that they have got, and when they are paid
they will start Immediately for others.
THE schooner is here now and am sending
her with articles of barter to Triton where have
A factory. Don Francisco Coll Qhe first mate
who afterwards died at Sierra Leone) is very ILL
the Captain of the flag Joaquin da Souza Pinto
(his is the general designation of the persons
who figure on board of these vessels as the Porlu-
guese MASTERY is worse; and the second mate is
dead
The night before last at 10 o'clock, received
a letter from New Sesos, written by Don Bartol-
ONE Ferrer, informing me that the schooner Eli
"a had been taken, through the bad explanation
of the Captain Of the flag, who at once said inl
plain terms that he was trading for slaves" (ihe
Captain of the Eliza" here referred to, was re-
ported in our despatch marked Spain, of the goth
uItimo.) "The crew was left by the English brig
of war Brisk on board another vessel at anchor
in the same place, and she took away only the
Captain Of the flag, and the first mate, Don Juan
Frenul.
"To-morrow the schooner sails for New Sestos
10 take on board cargo Of SlarcS aohich l hare
ready there have been obliged to have ONE
SETS OF SHACKLES MADE
AT CAPE MESURADO, Uhe American set
Element supported by the Colonization society)
| hope you are in good health.
[Signed] "BATALLA.'
With these papers on board, the "ConStitucia-
no. was taken possession of by Her Majesty'S
brig Brisk" Lieutenant Arthur Kellet, comman-
ding, on the SUN OF september, ana on the Slh
uItno the arrival of the prize in this harbor, was
reported by the Marshal.
The prosecution of the detained vessel was i'm
mediately entered upon, but much delay occurred
in bringing it to close, owing to the protracted
and dangerous illness of the Master and the
Mate, the Two witnesses, in preparatory named by
the Captains Proctor. Before the examination
OF these two persons could be taken, the Month
on, issued on the Sh ultimo, had been served and
returned by the Marshal and in the 'ame period
the Captains declaration was received and filed,
together with the papers Of the detained vessel
verified by affidavit; and commission for the
inspection of the fittings of the prize was issued
and returned with the surveyors report on the
matters submitted 10 them. By the last docu-
ment, illegal equipment for the slave trade was
established in the fullest manner.
To prevent further delay in the case, the Reg
israr was, after some time, directed to examine
the Master and Mate at their lodgings, as the Sur
geon of the Courts reported that it would be a
considerable time before either of them would be
in fit condition TO attend to the Registry; and
it unfortunately happened that the mate died be-
fore his examination could be taken.
The Master deposed that che was born at Opor-
to in Portugal, and has lived during the last TWEEN
ty-fve years at Lisbon is subject of Portugal,
ond hoe naver served anv other State that he is |