No. 6.-The Marquess of Londonderry to Sir Charles Stuart. SIR, Foreign Office, June 11, 1822. IN reference to my former Despatches, relative to the Slave Trade carried on under the Flag of France, I have the honour to inclose Copies of Communications received by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, on the subject of a Vessel called the Auguste, fitted out at The Mauritius, and employed under the French Flag, in carrying Slaves to the Isle of Bourbon. Your Excellency will take a favourable opportunity of communicating the facts stated in these Papers, to the Government of His Most Christian Majesty, and of again calling their serious attention to this unpleasant subject. H. E. Sir Charles Stuart, G.C.B. I am, &c. LONDONDERRY. No. 7.-Sir Charles Stuart to The Marquess of Londonderry. (Extract.) (Received June 27.) Paris, June 24, 1822. IN obedience to the directions contained in Your Lordship's Letter of the 11th instant, I have addressed the Communication to The Vicomte de Montmorency which I inclose, pointing out a new infraction of the Law for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, in the Island of Bourbon. This representation has been acknowledged, in the Note I have likewise the honour to inclose, and I have since observed in the Publick Papers, that M. Frappas, formerly Captain of His Most Christian Majesty's Goëlette La Bacchante, and two other Officers of the same rank, were landed in arrest at Nantes on the 17th, from on board a Ship from the Isle of Bourbon, under a suspicion of their participation in this crime. Notwithstanding repeated remonstrances, I have not hitherto been able to induce the French Ministers to communicate to me, officially, the particulars of the several Prosecutions before the French Tribunals, respecting infractions of the Law upon this subject. The Marquess of Londonderry, K.G. CHARLES STUART. (Inclosure.)-Sir Charles Stuart to The Vicomte de Montmorency. SIR, Paris, June 15, 1822. I HAVE received the instructions of my Government to forward Your Excellency the inclosed Correspondence, relating to several infractions of the Law for the suppression of the Slave Trade, by a Vessel under French Colours, named the Auguste, which appears to be carrying on this Traffick between the Isle of Bourbon and the African Coast. I have the honour to be, &c. The Vicomte de Montmorency. CHARLES STUART. (Inclosure 2.)-The Vicomte de Montmorency to Sir Charles Stuart. MONSIEUR L'AMBASSADEUR, Paris, le 20 Juin, 1822. Je me suis empressé de transmettre à M. le Ministre de la Marine les Pièces que Votre Excellence m'a fait l'honneur me m'adresser le 15 de ce Mois, et qui sont relatives à différentes infractions aux Lois sur la Traite, qu'elle annonce avoir été commises par un bâtiment portant Pavillon Français nommé l'Auguste. Je l'ai invité en même tems à faire prendre sur-le-champ des renseignemens sur les faits qui y sont signalés. Aussitôt que le résultat m'en sera connu, je m'empresserai d'en faire part à Votre Excellence. S. E. Sir Charles Stuart. SIR, J'ai l'honneur d'être, &c. LE VTE. DE MONTMORENCY. No. 8.-The Marquess of Londonderry to Sir Charles Stuart. Foreign Office, June 29, 1822. I HAVE the honour to transmit to Your Excellency, Copy of a Communication received from His Majesty's Consul at Bordeaux, respecting the fitting out at that Port of two Vessels suspected of being intended for the Slave Trade, and I have to refer Your Excellency on that subject to my former Correspondence. H. E. Sir Charles Stuart, G.C.B. I am, &c. (Inclosure.)-Mr. Consul Scott to The Marquess of Londonderry. Bordeaux, June 18, 1822. (Extract.) IN obedience to my Instructions, I have the honour to inform Your Lordship that a Brig, called the Ulysse, of 285 tons burthen, mounted with six guns, commanded by Captain * * *, and a Schooner, called the Pénélope (formerly the Mulatta) of 120 tons burthen, mounted with six guns, commanded by Captain * the Captain of the Ulysse, both belonging to * * * * * brother of * * * established here as a Merchant, have been fitted out in this Port under French Colours, and are now about to sail from the River under every appearance of being destined for the Slave Trade. They are both extremely sharp Vessels, not at all calculated to carry Merchandize, and are rigged expressly for fast sailing. The Marquess of Londonderry, K.G. H. SCOTT. No.9.-Sir C. Stuart to The Marq. of Londonderry.—(Rec. Aug. 11.) IN obedience to Your Lordship's directions, I have addressed the Note, of which I have the honour to inclose a Copy, to the French Government, pointing out the reasons which justify a suspicion that several Vessels have lately been fitted out for the Slave Trade, in the Port of Bordeaux. The accompanying Answer, which reached me two days since, manifests the anxiety of the French Ministers to remedy this evil, and states that Orders have been addressed to the different Authorities for that purpose. It would appear, however, if the number of Trials and Condemnations, which the Minister of the Marine asserts, (according to a report which has appeared in the Paris Journals,) to have taken place, are correctly stated, that the result of their efforts to suppress this commerce, proves that it has increased to an extent, infinitely beyond any calculation I could have permitted myself to bring forward in the year 1814. I have the honour, &c. The Marquess of Londonderry, K.G. CHARLES STUART. (Inclosure 1.)—Sir Charles Stuart to The Vicomte de Montmorency. SIR, Paris, July 12, 1822. * * I HAVE the honour to inform Your Excellency that a Brig, called the Ulysse, of 285 tons burthen, mounted with six guns, commanded by Captain *, and a Schooner, called the Penelope (formerly the Mulatta) of 120 tons burthen, mounted with six guns, commanded by Captain *, brother of the Captain of the Ulysse, both belonging to * *, established as a Merchant at Bor * * * * * * * deaux, have been fitted out in that Port under French Colours, and are now about to sail from the River under every appearance of being destined for the Slave Trade. They are both extremely sharp Vessels, not at all calculated to carry Merchandize, and are rigged expressly for fast sailing. The Owner of these Vessels is well known to have fitted out, and employed successfully, during the last four years, many Vessels in the Slave Trade. I have, &c. The Vicomte de Montmorency. CHARLES STUART. (Inclosure 2.)-The Vicomte de Montmorency to Sir Charles Stuart. MONSIEUR L'AMBASSADEUR, Paris, le 31 Juillet, 1822. * PAR sa Lettre du 12 de ce mois, Votre Excellence m'a transmis des renseignemens qui lui ont été communiqués sur deux Navires Français, l'Ulysse et la Pénélope, commandés par * *, armés à Bordeaux, pour être employés, suivant les apparances, à la Traite des Noirs. Je me suis empressé d'inviter M. le Ministre de la Marine à se faire rendre compte de ces deux Armements. Il vient de me répondre que l'Administration Maritime de Bordeaux a été chargé de surveiller, de concert avec le Ministère Public, ces expéditions. Elles seront l'objet d'une enquête judiciaire, si les preuves de leur culpabilité sont acquises. A défaut de ces preuves, les deux bâtimens suspectés seront signalés aux Autorités des Colonies Françaises pour être l'objet d'une nouvelle surveillance. Quant à * * indiqué comme devant commander l'un de ces Navires, M. Le Ministre de la Marine annonce qu'il vient d'être interdit des fonctions de Capitaine au long cours. J'ai l'honneur, &c. S.E. Sir Charles Stuart. LE VTE. DE MONTMORENCY. No. 10.-The Vicomte de Chateaubriand to Earl Bathurst. LE Soussigné, Ambassadeur de Sa Majesté Très Chrétienne près Sa Majesté Britannique, a l'honneur de mettre sous les yeux de Lord Bathurst les faits suivants, dont il a été informé par M. Le Baron Seguier, Consul-Général de France à Londres. Le Bric Français La Vigilante, saisi par la Crosière Angloise dans la Rivière Bonny, sur la Côte d'Afrique, après un combat, où il y a eu du sang versé, est arrivé à Portsmouth: La Petite Betsy saisie dans les mêmes circonstances et dans les mêmes parages est entré depuis dans le même Port. Son équipage a été mis à terre sans secours et abandonné à son sort. La France ne reconnait à aucune Puissance le droit de visiter ses bâtiments. Des Sujets de Sa Majesté Très Chrétienne, arrêtés sous le Pavillon Français, ne peuvent être soustraits à leurs Juges naturels, et traduits devant les Tribunaux de La Grande Bretagne. L'Angleterre se plaindroit hautement et avec raison si un navire Français amenait à Brest, pour être jugé d'après les Loix de La France, un bâtiment pris sous Pavillon Britannique. Déterminé par ces considérations, et ayant reçu les ordres les plus positifs de sa Cour, le Soussigné demande officiellement aujourd'hui, que les dits bâtiments arrêtés, soient conduits immédiatement à Cherbourg, où les Délinquents seront jugés dans toute la rigueur des Loix de leur Pays. Le Gouvernement Anglois a plusieurs fois reconnu l'incompétence de sa jurisdiction dans des cas à peu près semblables à celui dont il s'agit, et notamment dans l'affaire du navire Le Louis :-Il ne sera pas moins équitable dans la circonstance actuelle. Le Soussigné, convaincu que rien ne peut altérer la parfaite intelligence qui regne entre l'Angleterre et La France, attend en toute confiance le résultat le plus satisfaisant et le plus prompt, de la demande qu'il a l'honneur d'adresser à Lord Bathurst. Il saisit cette occasion, &c. Le Comte Bathurst. CHATEAUBRIAND. No. 11.-The Earl of Clanwilliam to The Vicomte de Chateaubriand. (Confidential.) Foreign Office, August 21, 1822. LORD CLANWILLIAM presents his compliments to the Vicomte de Chateaubriand, and is directed by The Secretary of State to acquain t His Excellency, in reference to his Note to Earl Bathurst, of the 16th instant, that orders have been sent to the Officers in charge of the two French Slave Vessels, to proceed with them forthwith to Cherbourg, where the Vessels, and the remainder of the Crews, will, in compliance with His Excellency's wishes, be delivered up to the French Authorities. His Excellency The Vicomte de Chateaubriand. SIR, No. 12.-Mr. Secretary Canning to Sir Charles Stuart. Foreign Office, September 30, 1822. By the accompanying Copies of Papers, received at this Office in a Communication from the Admiralty, dated the 1st of August, 1822, Your Excellency will see, that, on the 15th of April preceding, the Boats of His Majesty's Ship Iphigenia were advancing, under British Colours, towards Two Spanish Schooners, the Vecua and Icanam, at anchor in the River Bonny, and suspected of Trafficking in Slaves; when a most unjustifiable attack was commenced on them by the Schooners, supported by the fire of Three Vessels under the French Flag, 'La Vigilante, La Petite Betsy, and L'Ursule, which were then at anchor near the Vecua and Icanam. The result of this wanton and lawless conduct, on the part of the Vessels concerned was, that two British Seamen lost their lives, and five were severely wounded. After the action, which lasted twenty minutes, had ended, by the boarding of the Vessels engaged in this unprovoked act of aggression, these Vessels were detained by the Officer commanding His Majesty's Boats, for the necessary purpose of ensuring that the Offenders should be brought to justice. The Vessels were, in the first instance, sent to Sierra Leone, and thence to England: Two of them have arrived here. The opinion of His Majesty's Legal Advisers has been taken as to the proper mode of proceeding; and, in acquiescence with that opinion, no time has been lost in giving orders, that the Vessels, and such portion of the Crews as remained on board, should be sent to Cherbourg; The Vicomte de Chateaubriand, His Most Christian Majesty's Ambassador at this Court, having given the Official assurance of his Court, that the Delinquents should there be judged with all the rigour of the Laws of their Country. I send you a Copy of His Excellency's Note to this effect. Such Documents, found on board the French Vessels, as come under the description of Ships' Papers, have been sent, together with the Vessels, to be delivered up to the French Authorities at Cherbourg. The three inclosed Documents were the only Papers which were not given up at the time, as not coming strictly under that description. Two of them are Letters, found on board the Ursule, containing instructions for her Commander; the Third is a Declaration by the Officers of La Petite Betsy, as to their abandonment of that Vessel. They all tend to prove the real and determinate object of the voyage |