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COLLECTION TITLE:

Elizabeth Donnan papers

COLLECTION ID NUMBER/CALL NUMBER

MS 184

ACCESSION NUMBER:

None

SERIES NUMBER:

I

BOX NUMBER:

1

FOLDER NUMBER:

6

YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

MANUSCRIPTS AND ARCHIVES

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives

8

L.C.,A.H.Foote Letter-Book

Jan. 7- Nov. 29, 1850.

Lieut. R. Dew to Capt. G. F. Hastings.

St Helena

20th Jany 1850

Sir

I arrived at this island on the 20th inst in the
B[P]rize Barque Pilot of Boston, seized by you in the roads
of Ambriz under the peculiar circumstances of being a Bra-
zilian Slaver with an American Ensign, and forged papers,
I am about to state the substance of various conversations
I had with Two American Seamen taken prisoners in the Barque
as I deemed it my duty to glean every possible information
regarding the Slave Trade, and more especially regarding the
shameful prostitution of the American Flag in the nefarious
traffic.

I have every reason to credit the following statement
regarding the Slave Trade, and the equipment of vessels under
the American Flag, for that trade as I find the accounts given
by one, have in the main point corroborated that given by the
other, and I do not imagine they could have any objett in
deception.

In the first place they represent that they were in a
measure "kidnapped" by the crew of the lodging house where they

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives

9

Lt. Dew to G.F.Hastings,
Jan. 20, 1850

L.C., A. H. Foote Letter-Book
Jan. 7- Nov. 29, 1850.

p. 19

were staying in Rio', offered to get them a ship bound to the U States, but at that time leaving at Vittoria, a harbour to the northward of Cape Frio; they agreed to ship, and on being paid advance, proceeded on board a small steamer, which conveyed them outside the harbor of Rio', when they were transhipped to a small Schooner in company with a number of Brazilians, and in a few days arrived at Vittoria, on joining the Pilot they discovered her true character, but were not allowed to go on shore, and promised a good reward (150Dollars) on their arrival in Africa with the option of returning in the vessel, or having their passage found in another. They stated that they had never seen an American Consul, so of course the register, which stated the crew were shipped in his presence, was a forgery. The port Vittoria is I think marked on the chart Esperito Santo, it is solely frequented by Slavers, there being a Factory and a small yard for rigging etc.

p. 20

The owner of the Pilot is the celebrated Don Juan Minetta, or the one armed man, and esteemed the richest in the Brazils. The "Providentia" and "Serpent" Steamers belong to him, and tis his boast that not a week passes that a full Slaver does not land on the coast. He owns 7 or 8 vessels under the name of the University Library, which he has bought

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Manuscripts & Archives

10

L.C., A.H.Foote Letter-Book
Jan. 7 - Nov. 29, 1850.

p. 20

in Rio, and whose papers are all forgeries to wit -
Pilot of Boston, she is stated to have been sold in Rio in
March 1848, according to certificates signed by Mr Gorham
Parks, Consul for the United States at Rio, which the sequel
will prove must have been a forgery. The true Pilot of
Boston was wrecked many years ago, but her spars and ton-
nage correspond to this vessel, whose original name, I
am lead to understand was Red Rover, she has been many years
in the Slave trade under the U S Flag, having made some
nine clear voyages, the last under the late Master Mr

p. 21

Myers, who landed at Ambriz with his flag and papers, and
shipped a thousand Slaves, her name was then "Catharine,"
and differently painted - a Captain Smith an American is the
consignee of these vessels, bearing his countries flag; it is
his duty to obtain Masters, Crews, flag and papers, and he
gets his percentage on all Slaves landed from Vessels that
have worn the U S Flag. During the month "Pilot" was fitting
at Vittoria two other vessels were likewise fitting there
for the Slave Trade, under the United States Flag, viz Casco
and Snow the former since captured by "Pluto" with 450 Slaves,
and these vessels entered the harbor under the Brazilian flag,
having landed their Slaves outside the fort.

"Pilot" made Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY in Benguela where she

Manuscripts & Archives

11

p. 21

was boarded by a boat which had been on the lookout for her
and an American Brig for 40 days. By the chart she snored
in Bahia Longa on Dec 11th, but there were no slaves ready
for her as 800 had been shipped a few days previously in a
two topsail Schooner; "Pilot" was then ordered to sea for
ten days, and in making the land near Dande Point, was again
boarded, and ordered to sea for ten days, in consequence of
"Firefly", "Star" and "Pluto" being then at Ambriz, and on
anchoring at the latter place on the 10th January was captured
by "Cyclops", "Pilot" was to have shipped 1200 Slaves
which had been prepared at Ambriz for the "Providentia"
Slave Steamer, but that vessel was unable to leave Santos,
being strictly blockaded by H M St Hydra.

I have the honor to be

Sir, Your obt Servt

R Dew

Lieutenant

Library of Congress, Andrew H. Foote's Letter Book, 1849-1852.

Andrew H. Foote to Wm. Ballard Preston,
Secretary of the Navy.

p. 24

U S Brig Perry
St Philip de Benguela 7 March 1850

Sir

If I am able to collect more authentic information I
shall communicate to the Dept the circumstances attending
the capture of the late American Brig said to be called the
"Coronation" by Her Majestys Brig Waterwitch five days be-
fore my arrival on the coast. In this case it appears from
what I have been able to learn that the Brig came from Rio
de Janeiro under American colors and papers with an American
Captain and crew, and was here transf'd to a Brazilian Capt
and crew the American Captain going on shore with his colors
and papers. The Coronation had seven hundred and fifty
slaves on board and on being captured was sent to the Island
of St Helena. . . .

*

32

E. Kent, U.S.C. statement

in re the
"Navarre".
L.C., A.H.Foote Letter-Book,
1849-1852

p. 111

Case of the American Barque "Navarre" captured off
Ambriz by Her Britannic Majesty's Steam
Sloop Firefly March 19th 1850.

The American Consul at Rio de Janeiro says that the Navarre was sold to R I Clark a citizen of the U States, in 1849 a sea letter was granted to the Navarre by the Consul, which vessel cleared for St Catharine Decr 28th 1849. The papers of the Navarre, the Consul adds, were regular and true. The Owner was master. The American crew shipped in the Consuls office.

Information from other sources has been given that the Navarre proceeded to St Catharine, from thence was supposed by the Consul and the crew to be bound for California, but proceeded to Rio Ostris where she received on board seven persons, Portuguese or Brazilian, who were called passengers. At Rio Ostris she took in Water Casks, plank, beans, rice, farrinha etc. The American crew applied for their discharge which was refused them.

The Navarre then shaped her course for the coast of Africa and after about 40 days run made the land at, or to the Southd of St Philip de Benguela when she was boarded by H M Brig Water Witch and permitted to pass, after a close examination of her property of the Navarre after

Kent was U. S.

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
Manuscripts & Archives
Consul at Rio Janeiro.

33

Statement of Edward Kent.

p. 111

having intimated his intention to the officer of the Water
Witch of going into Benguela declined, on hearing that the
U S Brig Perry was there, assigning to his crew as the rea-
son, that the Perry would take him prisoner, and at night
accordingly bore up and ran down towards Ambriz.

He the Captain of the Navarre also stated to a part of
the crew, that the Officer of the Water Witch had advised
him to give the vessel up to him, as the "Perry" was at
Benguela and would certainly take his vessel and send him
home whereas he would only take his vessel and let him land and
go free.

p. 112

On reaching Ambriz with the American flag flying, the
"Navarre" was boarded by the Commandr of H M Steam Sloop
"Firefly" who on examining the papers given by the Consul
and passed as being in form by the Commander of the "Water
Witch", pronounced them false. The Captain of the Navarre
was threatened with being taken to the American Squadron
or to New York and fearing worse consequences in case he
should fall into the hands of the American cruiser, pre-
ferred giving up his vessel, bona fide American, to a
British Officer: under these circumstances he signed a paper
that the vessel was Brazilian property and he a Brazilian
subject, by the Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY fornia. The mate was

Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
Ferria. The mate was

Manuscripts & Archives

34

Statement of Edward Kent.

L.C., A.H.Foote Letter-Book,
1849-1852.

p. 112

ordered to haul down the American and to hoist the Brazilian
Colors, in doing which the American crew attempted to stop
him, when the English armed sailors interfered and struck
one of the American on the back of the head.

It is believed that no Brazilian papers were suspected
of being on board of the Navarre.

Commander Tudor of the Firefly arrived at Loanda a few
days after the capture of the Navarre, and from his repre-
sentations, induced Lieut Comd'g Foote of the U S Brig Perry
to believe that the Navarre was Brazilian property, and
captured with false American papers, which papers having been
destroyed left no evidence but the statement of Commander
Tudor as to their character, but this statement coming from
a British Officer was deemed by Lieut Comdg Foote sufficient,
until subsequent information has led to the conclusion that
the Navarre was bona fide an American Vessel, and whether
engaged in legal or illegal trade, the course pursued to-
wards her by Commanders Quinn and Tudor of Her Majesty's
Ships Water Witch and Firefly was wholly unauthorized, and
her subsequent capture by Comdr Tudor was in violation of the
Treaty of Washington and of the Laws of Nations.

p. 113

Minutes from the records in the U S. Consulate Rio de
Yale UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
Janeiro, dated August 1st, 1850 in relation to the American

Manuscripts & Archives

35

Statement of Edward Kent.
L.C., A.H.Foote Letter-Book
1849-1852

p. 113 Barque "Navarre" and Brigantine "Volusia, and signed E Kent

U S C

"Navarre"

"Barque "Navarre" Clark Master, U. S. Vessel Sold here (not condemned) to R J Clark a citizen of the U States, in 1849 a sea letter was granted be me after full investigation to go on lawful voyage until her first arrival in the U States and no longer. Cleared for St Catharine Dec 28, 1849, the Master who was the purchaser, declaring an intention to go to California. The papers of this vessel from this office were regular and true. Capt Clark has returned to this city."

"Volusia"

"The only other American Vessel that appeared to have sailed from this port, supposed to be for the Coast of Africa is the Brig "Volusia" Capt "Disney" sold at this port to an American Citizen she had a sea letter from this office similar to that granted to the "Navarre". She sailed in May 1850. Cleared from this port May 1850."

signed E Kent

U. S. C