The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-05-26
More British Seizures.

1MOIo BTU 6Q seizures.
The New York Times has the following re
ports of additional seizures and searches by
British cruisers
Case Of american Erig Martha GilcAria.
Captain Rawley, of the brig Martha Gilchrisi
was also lying in the harbor of Sagua la
Grande, and was loaded with sugar and molas
ses, bound to New York. 1t was sunset when
the boat from the British steamer came along
side; no flag was displayed to indicate the
character of the boat, but he had observed the
barge pulling about among the shipping. On
reaching the deck of the brig, he addressed To
Capt. Rawley the usual questions as 10 the
name, destination, ownership, and consignees OF
the vessel, to which the Captain civilly replied
He also asked to see her parers, but he was
told they were ashore at the Consuli Office
He did not attempt to enter the cabin, 1.-THE
Captain had his wife and family on board) nor
10 search the vessel. The men from the boat
lighted their pipes at the galley, and were very
sociable with the briggs crew. The language
of the officer wa. civil, and his manner respect
inl he answered sevcrai questions from Capt.
Rawleys, ..;uong others as to whether he came
from a sailing vessel or steamer, to which he
replied, "a steamer On leaving. he asked
the course to steer to 60 out Of the lecward
passage. The Captain gave him the required
directions, and the officer departed, bidding
him good night.
Can't. Rawley also believes in the right Of
armed vessels of any nation tn make all neces-
sary inspection of vessels which they may sus-
pect of being engaged in tho slave trade or
other unlawful traffic. 1t is the universal Gus
tom for vessels TO display their national colors
when man-of-war Of any nation makes her
appearance.
The case of the American ship "Iropic Bird"
The Philadelphia North American of Satur-
day, has the following report of another case
The letter We give below has been handed
us by the Captain of the Tropic Bird, and is
undoubtedly candid statement of the facts
in the case of the recent detention of that ship:
Dear Sir IL beg to call your attention to
the late outrage committed on our flag by a
British cruiser. The Tropic Bird, under my
command, on the I'd inst. ON the passage from
Port au Prince, when six miles from Inagua,
was brought 10 and boarded by the British gun
boat Jasper. The Jasper. on nearing the Tropic
Bird, fred gun, when ran up my colors and
kept ON my course; she then finding that we
were passing her, fired a shot across our stern,
and while was in stays fred another. / then
hove to, and and an officer from the jasper came
on board. asked him by what fight he stopped
an American ship on the high seas lie said
that they had been apprised Of several being
expected with slaves. and that they took US for
one. He then asked to see my papers. to
which demand. after demonstrating, I submit
ted. lie then turned towards his boat, and l
ordered the ship to fill away; at that order the
officer told me that | should be fred into il |
proceeded before lie left the ship, which threat |
disrcgarded The Tropic Bind, SO far from
having the appearance ola SLAYER. was deeply
laden with coffee and logwood, and being
short-handed, was beating-up to Inagua under
easy sail. At the time the Jasper fired the two
shotted guns she was not more than four hun
dred yBrds distant, and there being on board
eighteen passengers in all, eleven of whom
were women and children, they could be plain
ly seen without a glass. The Crooked Island
passage being the one most used by American
| vessels bound home from Hayti, Jamaica, and
ports Of the Spanish main, will subject our CON-
| merce to a great deal Of detention would,
therefore, ask You to give our American ship
masters advice as to what course they should
pursue, and how far they arejustified in resist
ing parallel case.
Yours, very truly,
c. FOULHES.
Thursday, MAY 10, 1858.