The Nevada journal., 1854-06-23
Seizure Of IN American Whalcr at the
Falkland Islands

A private letter dated March II, from a
gentleman belonging to the United States
sloop. ol-war Germantown, gives. the fol-
lowing particulars of an outrage on the
American whale ship Hudson, by British
man ot-war.
About the 18th of February ult., dis
patch was received by the Commodore,
then lying at Montevideo, from our Com
merciai agent at the Falkland Islands, sta
ting that the captain Of q whaler lying at
New Island, the most western OF the group,
had been charged by some deserters from
his ship with killing some wild hogs, and
that the Governor had ordered man-of
war brig to proceed to the island nrd
capture the ship.
This information induced the Commo-
dore to send this ship (the Germantown
down to inquire inte the facts-a proceed
ng the more necessary as no American
ship. of-War had visited the group for 20
years.
On the 2d'we arrived, and learned that
the brig g-of-war Express had sailed for
New Island to capture the ship. On the
Sd the American schooner Washington, a
tender to the whaler, came in charge ofan
English lieutenant and six men, and was
at once boarded and brought to anchor
under our guns. The lieutenant, to avoid
the disagreeable necessity of saying that
he surrendered, falsely stated that he was
not in charge, but merely put on board to
see the vessel ina despicable equivoca-
ton. On the afernooa of the same day,
the Brig arrived, having in company the
whale ship Hudson Captain Cliff, which
ship was also in charge Of an English
lieutenant The ship not being able to
enter the inner harbor, was anchored out
side, and on discovering the pennant Of a
ship-of- f-war, the lieutenant landed On the
nearest beach, leaving on board only
constable having warrant for the arrest
of Captain Cliff. We at once sent on
board, restored the captain to his command,
and learned the facts Of the case.
Nearly year since Captain Cliff killed
some wild hogs on an uninhabited island,
which hogs had been placed there by HIM
self and others whaling in. that neighbor-
hood that they might breed. Several
months subsequent to this the Governor
and Council passed an act imposing fine
of twenty pounds sterling apon any person
who should kill cattle upon any part Of
these Islands; an act which could not e1-
tend to these hogs-6rst, because they did
net belong to the Falkland Island Company
for whose protection the act was passed,
and secondly because it was er post .tacto.
The deserton of boats crew brought
the knowledge of the killing to the Gov
ernor, and a writ was issued on the oath
of these dsserters for the arrest of Capt.
Cliff.
Armed with ii, and accompanied by con-
stable to serve the writ, the Express sailed
for New Island, where the Hudson was
lying moored, with sails unbent, and
seized, not the captain for whom they had
a warrant, but the ship and schooner,
made prisoners of the crews, and took
possession Of the ships papers. Captain
Cliff offered to proceed to Stanley in the
schooner or in the man-of-war, and en-.
treated the commander Of the Express
not to break up his voyage by removing
the ship from her present secure anchorage.
Deaf to all representations, he merely
stated that his orders were to bring the
ship and schooner, and ordered the mate
of the ship, Mr.. Leads, to bend sails and
prepare the ship for sea, under threat of
putting him in irons if he refused, most
atrecious violation of personal liberty, for
which Capt. Boyd and other officers of her
Britannia Majesty's brig Express deserve
to be branded as pirates.
Fully determined not to interfere in any
way with the judicial authority, Captain
Cliff appeared before the Magistrate, and
was fined $3.50 upon the charge of killing
twenty hogs in August last. No evidence
was offered by the prosecution other than
the dispositions of the deserters before
named. The Captain offered to prove by
his log that at the time named he was on
the coast of Patagonia ; but this petty des-
pot, Mr.. Mantag, refused to hear the
..L.x r., b;y,eolf or coirnSpI