L. C. Am. Col. Soc., Letters,
1828.

James Nourse to R. R. Gurley, Agent.

Norfolk Va. April 30th, 1828.

Revd. and dear Sir,

I address you a line upon a subject of some importance,
just now communicated to me by our much esteemed Friend Mr.
McPhail. The Custom-House officers, as well as some others,
have ascertained almost to a certainty that a vessel now lying in
port, and which put in here in distress, from the Island of Cuba,
is one of those engaged in the Slave Trade. -- She is <u>under the</u>
<u>Spanish flag</u>. She is a large schooner, evidently fitted out for
a slave-trader, and reports herself bound to St. Thome on the
coast of Africa. -- She has grated hatches -- her cargo consists
of cottons, Tobacco, Beads, Trinkets, Rice and stores sufficient
for at least 150 passengers -- and it is reported that handcuffs
etc. are contracted for here. --

No overt act has been proved against this vessel, and as
she is <u>under the Spanish Flag</u>, she cannot be siezed. -- Yet the
gentlemen at the Custom House, and Mr McPhail are looking for some
handle to sieze her. -- Should anything occur which will justify
such a step, she will certainly be siezed.

James Nourse was agent for the Colonization Society in the
South, operating chiefly in North Carolina and Virginia.

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
Manuscripts & Archives

2

L.C. Am. Col. Soc., Letters.
1828.

James Nourse to R. R. Gurley,
April 30, 1828.

The object of my inquiry at present is whether such a vessel by appearing in our ports does not immediately render herself liable to siezure. Circumstances prove almost to a certainty that she is a Slave Trader, and is it not just that we, as a nation, if we condemn and sieze _at sea_, should have the same right in port? Though no individual can now sieze the vessel, or be informant, -- yet such are the circumstances of the case, -- that government might detain her -- _and by searching_, ascertain, whether reports are true. -- As this is something of an unusual occurrence, and may be a _precedent_, -- the opinion of Mr Wirt is greatly desired here -- Could it be obtained? or by a proper representation to the government, might not an order for the detention of the ship be obtained until a judgment might be found respecting the proper course to be pursued towards her?

Such is the misery that might be saved by the siezure of this vessel, if she be a slaver, as would justify any effort on the part of the friends of humanity, to prevent it. Would it be too much trouble for you to inquire immediately respecting this vessel, -- obtain the opinion of the Attorney General - and immediately communicate the result to Mr McPhail. -- The Schooner it seems is now preparing to leave port, having obtained some information that she was suspected and might be detained. -- Whatever is done therefore must be done immediately.

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