Eastern times., 1850-11-21

Off Ambwy, Sept. IA, 1850.
On the second day of July last, l took charge
of the brig Louisa Beaton, of New London, by
particular request of the Hon. Gov, Kent, U.
S. consul at Rio de Janeiro, in place of Captain
Joseph Bailey deceased She sailed from Rio,
on the llth of August for Loanda, coast of AT
rica, having on board legal cargo for that
port. Nothing particular occurred until Sat-
urday the seventh of September, when at sew
en- A. NJ, we made sail to the westward, be-
ing then in latitude south, longitude 10 east.
After few moments observation, we paid no
more attention to her, proceeding on our course
without suspicion or fear. AT sunset she was
still in sight, but we no more of her until
one o'clock the same night, when 1 was start
led by the loud report of a gun fred in my di-
rection, and upon looking to the leeward, l
perceived brig within hailing distance. l
Immediately gave orders to show light and
lay the fore top sail to the mast. When about
abeam cf us-we laying to-she fired second
gun, shotted, which passed close to our stern
Immediately gave orders for the wheel 20 be
put up, and ran nearer TO the unknown brig,
thinking that owing to the darkness of the
night she could not see our position. l again
hove to, and asked whether they were in want
of anything, to which they replied that they
wished to board us. / told them that if such
was their intention. they must do so as soon as
possible as 1 was in hurry to proceed upon
my voyage. Their answer was that if l did
not heave to, they would fire into me. re-
piled that tcas hove to, and that they might
fire as soon as they pleased. On demanding
our nationality, informed them that was an
American from Rio de Janeiro, bound to Loan
da. They stated themselves to be an English
man of. war. Again l asked whether they
intended to board us. Without making any
reply to my demand, they told me to take in
my studding sails, to which l made answer
that my studding sail tacks were let go, but
should not take them in. They replied that if
l did not shorten sail they would fire into me.
then for the third time demanded whether
they intended to board or not. and was in
formed that they would do so shortly.
Lieutenant Temple, commanding officer,
now came on board, accompanied by Lieut..
Dawkns, of III. b. NJ steamer Battler, when l
learned that the brig was the Dolphin, British
Navy. Lieut. Dawkins asked to see my pa
pers, and when requested to state what papers
he desired, he replied that 1 must show him
my Register, crew list, Shipping Articles, Log
Book, Port Clearance, Invoice of cargo, and all
the papers belonging to my vessel. This
positively refused to accede to, telling him,
however, that if he wished it, would permit
him to examine my Register and Port Clear
ance. He asked my objections to showing all
my papers, to which replied he had no right
to any thing of the kud, and that owing to the
very abusive manner which they had displayed
towards me, did not feel inclined to do any
thing more than what the law compelled me
10. He then took my Register, and after a
casual glance at Gov. kent's signature, Mr..
Dawkins pronounced it false. "If that paper
is false was my reply, "then all the rest are
equally so, and it would be useless to show
you any more" l however passed my Port
Clearance, which, upon examination, Mr.. Daw-
kins told the Captain was also wrong, not
having Mr.. kents signature l said that this
speech confirmed my opinion that he was total
Vi ignorant of his business for that the cons uls
signature was here not requisite, this docu-
ment belonging entirely to the Custom House,
did not therefore require any other signature
than that of its officers.
l asked Capt. Temple what he intended to
do, as certainly should show him nothing
more, to which he replied that he would let
me know after consulting with MIR. Dawkins
After giving him what considered sufficient
time to make up his mind, gave an order to
brace forward, as l wished to be again on my
course. This Capt Temple Immediately coun-
termanded, by ordering to keep all fast. Il
suppose" said l, "you intend to take charge"
"Yes,' was the answer, whereupon he hailed
his brig, ordering Mr.. Lowe, her first lieuten-
ant, to come Immediately on board, which he
accordingly did, bringing with him thirty arm
ed men. was then ordered below. with my
officers, sentry placed with loaded musket at
my cabin door, as likewise at the forecaste,
where my men were also made prisoners. Ny
vessels course was now altered, running under
short sail until daylight.
At s A. NJ, made sail, which proved to be
H. B. NJ. steamer Cyclops, commanded by the
Hon. Capt. Hastings, who boarded US, accom-
panied by Capt. Temple, at IL, NJ.
Captain Hastings requested me as .tauor, to
let him examine my Register, which l imme-
diately complied with After examining the
paper, he told Capt Temple that the Louisa
Beaton was legal trader, and that he was very
sorry that such mistake should have been
made. then asked him whether he desired to
see any thing more. He replied that the Reg
lister was all that was necessary, and tried to
persuade me to take charge again. This |
positively refused to do under existing circum-
stances. Seeing that was not to be turned
from my resolve, l was informed that it was
their determination to convey me to an Ameri-
can man. war, which told them was pre-
cisely what 1 wished them to do. The vessel
was now steered towards Ambury, where we
arrived al 6 P. NJ. The charge of my brig
was then delivered up to Mr.. Sheppard, acting
sailing master of the U. S. brig Perry, who had
been left in a launch, to guard this place while
the above brig was cruising. Nothing more
transpired until Tuesday, the 10th, when the
Perry arrived, Capt. Foole, her commanding
officer Immediately coming on board my vessel.
l laid before him my complaints, informing
him of the shameful manner in which l had
been treated by the British officers.
Cant Foote reouested me 10 take CHARGE of