New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-06-09
THE CASE or THE BARK JONES OF SALEM

We are indebted to the Hon. N G. Upham, American
Commissioner in London for pamphlet copy printed IN
London of his opinion in the OF the bark Jones capt
Gilbert of Salem seized ST. Helena, Sept $780, by
Lieut. Lebales Of Her Majestys ship Dolphin on the
charge Of being engaged in the slave trade MI opham
il viii lie remembered is the American Commissioner I'M
der the Cony entiOn of the 8h of February 1885, To settle
disputed claims between the United States ana Grei
Britain Under this Convention the owners oi inc oarS
Jones are claimants on the British Government for nien
Iify The recently argued before the minis
soors IL London by the agents and counsel TOR the United
States end the British Governments The commissioners
could agree and their written opinions with me neces
nrv pnpers were furnished the umpire appointed under
the Convention, for his final decision.
Judge Uphams opinion very able, anu, rs appears
TO u perfectly conclusive in favor of the claimants FROM
his clear statement of the facts appears that the bark
Jones owned by f. }. Farnham 81 Co. OF Salem, sailed
from Boston in March, ls4O with valuable assorted
90 for trading voyage upon the coast OF AFRICA ArrN
ing Ambrez the nth of June, she landed ana as
uosod OF considerable part OF her cargo received on
board quantity of African produce and sailed for oando
on the same On her passage, she was boarled ana
oveIhouled, in violation of her fag by the biSh orgo
war Water Witch but, after examination OF Aer papers
and cargo was per1ntted 10 her voyage FROM 10
ando she sailed again for Ambrez, and heuce sailed with
more produce st. Helena She regularly entered
at the CustomHouse and remained there tweny-one days
dschcrcrg and receiving cargo when she was seized Dy
Lieut. Littlehaes Of Her Maiesys ship Dolphin, ani
taken Sierra Leone for Adjudication on charge OF beng
in British waters without any na'lohaI fhIae'er %
being engaged in the slave trade. 1sOugh the captain t
the Jones allowed 10 20 IN hrs own vese 10 sierra
Leone and there was nobody 10 deied me park 'sHis
Lieut. Lttehales charges yet British Court dismissed
both charges as without foundation declaring there was
no probable cause of seizure and that case so free
even from suspicion, never seen before by me
Court But apparently TO avoid throwing the cost OF the
seizure on Lieut. Ltichaes another charge was raised
against the captain of the Joneshat OF resistance 10 lar
inquiry into the character and employment OF ms vessel
This founded the captains not eAmOns ms pa
pers in the first place to Lieut. Leha!es in the streets
of ST. Helena and in the second place IN not dong II 10
Mr. Murray m officer Of the Dolphin, board the Jones
In reply to is, Capt Gilbert says that he told Doln oil
these officers wien they called for hs papers, that ley
were nt the Custom House and at the American Consul
Office where they deposited on the arrival oi the
bark al ST. Helena. The last demand for the papers oy
Mr. Murray on board the Jones was on Saturday even
ing and Can't Gilbert informed that officer that II was TOO
late TO get bis papers that evening" but that Monday he
would get and show them. On attempting to go on
board his bark Monday with his papers, Capt Gilbert
found her in possession OF the officers OF the Dolphin VINO
threatened 10 fire upon him If he attempted to board her.
So he was absolutely prev ened from exhibiting ms papers
and the vessel was taken of 10 Sierra Leone and con-
d,mned in cots for the failure OF the captain to do what
he was prevented by violence from doing.
From this statement of facts Judge Uphan argues con-
clusvely a. it TO that the British Government
are Justly liable for all damages accrung in this from
e misconduct Of their agent, Lieut. Lehales Yet ever
since April 1884, when this first laid before the
British Government, by order of own Government,
the British Ministers have either neglected 10 give any
attention or have eneavorcd to throw of the blame on
Can't Gilbert For three and half years they utterly
neglected even reply urgent letter addresse u
them on this subject Nov at length the ease - committed
~ tho decision Of commissioners Boston Traveller.