The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-10-09


Sin hope that one Of your columns will be open
for The article hereunder, which must be seen by he
whole world BY inserting il you will oblige not
only your humble servant, but the American nation
P. C. DUMAS.
On the second day of June, at one O'clock p. NJ
the English man-oiwar brig Alert was lying TO- al
anchor five miles off Cabinda Her boat came along
side, manned by two officers boy and four negro
| sailors, (called Crewmen.) The captain Of the Alert
! Mr. Bosanquet, (aiter told him that the brig was
the Cyrus, of New Orleans and visited once by bin
by force, himself the trouble TO visit my
sci twice and at the same time asked him who be
was, and TO show me power from my Government
TO visit me-. answered, putting his hands on hi flag
" This tells who ! am and said TO me, " will
come on board and you will see" Very well sir
protest shall be made for violating the treay."
The moment he got on deck with his officers and
| crew. he ordered his TO open my matches fore
and aft-went down himself with his company, and
came deck after he found that the vessel had no
thing but water ballast, (DothiDg else) then came To-
wards me, and said, IN a rough manner, :" j want 10
see your papers" My answer was in the same tone
=" since when man like you, takes the liberty 10
jump board Of an American vessel against the
captains will, opening matches, searching the cabin,
and all over the ship, without speaking word to me-
and besides that must show you my papers-please
| tell me who you are You not in uniform: any
pirate come to anchor like your brig, and send
boat with an English flag, as you do--please show
me a power 10 WISH me-ulen,On lhe spot, VIII snow
you my papers," lie said, &C have it, but IT is on
board" "Well, go and get IT." My word is good
enough" said that was not obgee to believe
him; then again he asked for the papers. You shall
not see them" WELL If you don't show me your
papers will take you 10 be a pirate, and from this
moment take charge of the Brig
My answer was, AS long as that flag is hoised
and my papers board, shall be the Captain of my
own ships Or if you wish to take charge Of her. you
must send for more orce, order your brig TO
d.. IN fire. ms | m He'd
the ensign halards in my hands, During the
conversation held the log book in my left hand
then, thinking wou d show my papers quicker, he
said to me, "The reason why you cannot show
the papers, is because you have sold your vessel
told so" 1t is not true; if my vessel was sold
would not have the American fag up; nor my
crew would not be on board now" Vexed o fad
that he could not succeed in any way, he then said,
Well, will 90 in the cabin and make search all
over" Immediately placed the American flag be-
fore the cabin door, which held tight by myself,
the mate, and two of the men; and observed TO him
that he could not step into The cabin without tramp
ling the United States flag" His was,
that " made no difference TO him; and he instant
y rushed into the cabin, followed by his officer ami
negro who tramped the flag under their feet in pre-
sence of my crew. Then said, " Boys, our
flag is nsuted; it will cost dear to the Eng
sh nation" They all came on deck. and the
Captain told me to let him have my log book
My answer was-"Never and as long as have
drop of blood in my veins British subject would
take it away from me-" Then he observed that he
had "the power to obtain it by force )" at the same
time he ordered one ofhs negroes to take the book
from me, who obeyed the order given 10 him.
stepped back pushing the negro, and called on my
mate and crew 10 assist me, and to arm themselves
with handspikes and knives, and be ready 10 strike
in caselthe British officer gave a order. At this
the British Captain turned pale, and with the voice Of
a coward said to me-" Captain, stop your men | do
not wish to see any tloodshed or buchery y then
nothing took place. He wanted to go into The CABIN
20 make secoLd search. observed TO him tina,
"my papers were on board, in my trunk and showed
him the kew He said--"Let me have the key, or |
will take it by force" My answer was-sHave YOU
forgotten hat took place for The log-book before
Do you wish to begin again !" Then he said
will go in the cabin and have your trunk broken
OPEN" gave him answer. He sent his officer
and negro TO act. followed them W iih my mate
They broke the trunk and took the papers out off.
observed TO the officer that had money in NY trunk,
gold watch, &c. He made no answer, and We all
went on deck. be handed the papers 10 bis Captain.
then told him
Now you satisfied with your chlf drurre,
please to give me my papers, as wish TO sail to-
morrow "No, sir, will keep them with me, and
pocket them and go off," then said 10 him-"As
long as my papers are taken away from me, | shall
have TO leave my vessel" and thereupon me and my
crew abandoned her. leaving every thing on board
trunks, instruments, chronometcr, sc.
p. c. DUMAS.
u. s. CONSULATE, RIO JASrrRo.
J. the undersigned, Consul of the United States
hereby certify the signature TO the foregoing docu.
ment 10 be that OF p c. Dumas, late master Of the
American brig Cyrus, Of New Orleans.
Given under my hand and seal of office, this 5h
day Of August 1874.
Seal GEo. WIN. GoRpoN.
~. Y. Herald. Consul, United States
The nsolent conduct of his British officer will
certainly not be justified by his own Government
If we remember rightly the same officer was obarp-
ed. h. Will l.v, 6rad
Philadelphia brig. and otherwise behaving insoent-
y IL IS time that his oyerbearing conduct received
check-Ledger.
THr OUTRAGE THE AMrMcAN FLAG-Thc
New York Journal Of Commerce says, in relation 10
inc ahaIr oil The brig Cyrus " 1t was reported At
hio Janeiro, thai the British Captain abandoned lhe
Cyrus, and that she was Immediately taken pos,e.
SION OF by The Portuguese, and filled with slaves
from tins last circumstance, and the fact that the
captain OF the Alert declared TO Capt. Dumas "Thc
reason why you cannot show me the papers is be
cause you have sold your vessel-I was told 80 :"
there IS reason TO believe that the Cyrus had been
sold as a SLAYER to the Portuguese
ARRiyED.-Capt. z C. Dumas, late Of brig Cyrus,
winch was boarded and searched by the English brig
OF war Alert, off the coast Of Africa. has arrived
passenger IN The brig oriole, at New York
EXTENSIVE SALr OF AMERICAN PRovIsross.-On
wednesday week, Messrs. Keeling and Hunts sale
OF foreign provisions took place at their warehouse
IN iuddlog lane, London, and numerousy at
tended by provision merchants and Others attracted
oy The TACT, that the present beyond all compsr.
son the best description Of these articles that have
yet been brought forward. The sale consisted Of
hams PORK selected for the country trade OK tongues
smoked beef, family beef and sausaqes The Who'll of
Them imported into this country ADD sold duty paid fsr
.ne purpose OF ascertaning whether il possible
TO bring this description Of food into connection WIN
home produce. The business Of the day comm, need
with putting up 9T5 hams from New York. of fair
average quality equalling what generally found az
ne ne COOK shops IN London. These produced sbou,
Us per cw'.j further quantity Of 3025 hams from
the same place sold for 31s The nork With ,pss a