Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-23

att, CAPTAIN Woodsde Of the taraue Lonirsi ,nh The
American Consul came Gu beard, and i. veg agreed
liiat Cant Woohsdc will. many Of ba crei' Us coa'
DE spared and the second mate and four sailors oil 'he
sriu CONGRESS, should coHe board with arms ana
with the officers aud crew Of The Creole, rescue The brig
from the British officer then in command and condncl
her 10 Indian Key, where there was u ). vessei OF
war The Louisa and the Congress were American
vessels and the arrangement was made uhcef ile Gun
troll orthe American Consul. The Captain was TO come
on board with part OF the OF the Louisa ana lie
Congress- soon as the Creole should be ready TO leave
Nassau Frequent interviews were had every day WIN
Captain woodsidc, the Consul aud the officers oil the
Congress, and the whole plan was arranged. Accord
ingv on the morning Of the 12'' OF November, Capt
Woods;de with his men in boat, rowed 10 the Creole
Muskets and cutlasscs were obtained from the brig
Congress. Every effort had been made in concert with
the Consul purchase arms o. the dealers al Nassau
but ,hey all refused TO sell The arms were wrapped IN
the American Gag and concealed IN the bottom oil the
boat as SAID boat approached the Creole. negro IN
boat no had watched the loading Of the boat, follow
ed her. and gave the alarm to the British officer IN com
mand Of the Creole As the boat came up TO the Gre
ole, the officer called TO them "keep off, or VIII IRE
into you His company Of "a men were then all s!ana
ing deck and drawn up in line fronting capt. w oou
sides boat and ready with loaded mnskets anu Tx
ed bayonets for engagement. Captain Woouslde
was forced TO Withdraw, und the plan was prevented
from being executed the said British oliicer remaining
in command of the Creole.
The officers and crew Of the Louisa and the Con-
rress and the American Consul were warmly interested
IN the plan and every thing possible was done tor It's
success.
Indian Key is about 400 miles from Nassau
The nineteen negroes had thrown overheard and
burnt all their weapons before they arrived al Nassau
and the aid thus offered of American sailors and arms
was amply sufficient for the arrangement and supply OF
the Creole on her voyage If there had been inter-
ference the part OF the legal authorities OF Nassau
the slaves might all have been safely brought TO Ne"
Orleans 1t was that interference which prevented aid
from being rendered IN Nassau, ana caused tue loss Of
the slaves TO their Dcrs.
On the same day, which the slaves were liberated,
and before the Attorney General and the Magistrates
came on board The American Consul and the Captain
had another interview with the Governor The Con
sul stated that they wanted time TO write TO Indian
Key on The Florida shore TO get n vessel Of Of the
u. S TO come and project the brig and cargo on her
VOYAGE and Il guard wanted 10 protect the said
brig and cargo the mean time. The Governor re-
fused 10 grant for that purpose The Consul then
proposed to get the crews Of the American vessels theh
in the Dor. Of Nassau and place them the brig to
carry her 10 New Orleans, and asked the Governor to
station guard on board till the American sailors could
be collected, but he refused.
proposition was then finally made 10 the Govern
or that the American seamen then in port and in Anne
can vessels should 60 on board the Creole and he fur
nshed with arms by the Governor TO defend the vessel
and her cargo except the 10 slaves who we're 10 be
left behind) on her way 10 New Orleans. This also
the Governor refused.
On the l5,h, the Consul, on behalf ofthe master Of
the brig Creole and all interested, proposed to the Co
vernon to permit the 10 mutneers TO be sent TO the IT,
S. on board the Creole for trial, and this too
fused.
Two half boxes tobacco marked l.. Barksl
broken up and destroyed by the negroes, and about
or barrels lying the deck Of the brig were thrown
overheard to make for them TO walk the Deck the
If uhic hal rels they do know.
On the 10Th Of November, the said brig sailed from
Nassau baund for the port Of New ORLEANS, leaving
Captain Ensor nj said port unable 10 proceed on the
voyage in consequence Of the severity Of his wounds
and nothing iluierial occurred during the passage
aforesaid until the first day Of December, il O'Clock
p NJ, when they made The South West Pass, bearing
North by West, distant about twelve miles. AT
o'clock 4. VI. took pilot on board, aid crossed the
bar Of the said Pass, in tow Of the steamboat Shark,
discharged the pilot and proceeded up the river for hr
DOR, Of New Orleans where they arrived on the I'd day
Of said month, when the necessary surveys were called
and they commenced discharglDg cargo
And tIereupon, Tie said aPpearers, and especai'y
tine said acting master, did protest, and with their NO.
tary a, their request do most solemnly and publicly
protest against the winds and the and the dan
gers of the sea generally but especially against
the instruction Of the nineteen slaves herein parcn-
larly named and the illegal action Of tie British au-
,horities nj Nassau in regard 10 the remainder OF The
slaves on board said vessel the cause OF all the loss
aud damage in the premises, and that no tanit negl
gence, nismanagemen is or ought to be ascToed 70
Iie said nppcarcrs, or any part of the brig company
Done and protested at New Orleans, tins 9Th day Of
December ISL the professors herewith signing their
respective names with s1id Notary.
rS;rned1 ZEpHANIAH c.. CLIFFORD,
HENRY SPECK,
BLAIR CURTlSS,
JOHN SILVEY,
FRANCIS POWELL.
Mr. Merritt and Mr.. Theophus McCargo have GER
titled OIL the original of this protest to the truth OF the
above.