CRUISE OF THE “PERRY”--INSTRUCTIONS--DISPATCHED TO THE SOUTH
COAST--BENGUELA--CASE OF A SLAVER WHICH HAD CHANGED HER NATIONALITY
CAPTURED BY AN ENGLISH CRUISER--ST. PAUL DE LOANDA--ABUSE OF THE
AMERICAN FLAG--WANT OF A CONSUL ON THE SOUTH COAST--CORRESPONDENCE
WITH BRITISH OFFICERS IN RELATION TO SLAVERS UNDER THE AMERICAN
FLAG--THE BARQUE “NAVARRE”--TREATY WITH PORTUGAL--ABATEMENT OF
CUSTOM-HOUSE DUTIES--CRUISING OFF AMBRIZ--AN ARRANGEMENT MADE WITH
THE BRITISH COMMODORE FOR THE JOINT CRUISING OF THE PERRY AND STEAMER
“CYCLOPS”--CO-OPERATION WITH THE BRITISH SQUADRON FOR THE SUPPRESSION
OF THE SLAVE-TRADE--FITTING OUT OF AMERICAN SLAVERS IN BRAZIL.
On the 21st of December, 1849, the “Perry” arrived at the Cape Verde
Islands, and was reported to the commodore of the American squadron. On
the 9th of the succeeding month a communication was received from the
commodore intimating his intention to dispatch the vessel immediately
on a cruise south of the equator: stating, that he should leave the
commander to the exercise of his own judgment in general matters; but
as an object of the first consequence, called his attention to the
observance of every means calculated to preserve and insure the health
of his crew. He had been counselled by the experience of the fleet
surgeon and others, that it was absolutely necessary for white persons
to avoid exposure to the heat of the day, and to the night air on
shore, and always when at anchor to lie at a sufficient distance from
the shore to avoid its deleterious effects. Besides these precautions,
cleanliness of ship and persons, constant ventilation, proper food
and clothing, sufficiency of water, and good discipline, had hitherto
produced the happiest results, and no doubt would continue to do so. A
number of Kroomen sufficient to man two boats, were to be furnished at
Monrovia, which would relieve the crew ordinarily from the hazards of
that duty. The officers and men should not be permitted to visit the
shore unnecessarily; or at all, when they could not, with certainty,
return at any moment. Care was to be observed in procuring good
wholesome water, and in such abundance as to insure at all times, if
possible, a full allowance to the crew; and also to furnish them with
fresh provisions and vegetables, whenever the opportunity offered.
A record of all vessels boarded, with a report according to the form
furnished, was required.
The commander was reminded of the disposition of the government to
cultivate and maintain the most friendly intercourse with all other
nations or people, and was directed to govern himself accordingly.
The commodore also directed the commander of the Perry, when that
vessel should be in all respects ready for sea, to proceed direct
to Monrovia, where he would meet the U. S. sloop-of-war Yorktown;
the commander of which had been instructed to fill up the Perry
with provisions, furnish sixteen Kroomen, and to render all needful
assistance required to expedite her movements. Making no unnecessary
delay at Monrovia, the commander of the Perry was to proceed thence on
the cruise, the limits of which would extend to the lat. of Cape St.
Mary’s, 13° south.
It was recommended, that from Monrovia he should proceed off from the
coast, keeping well to the westward, until crossing the equator and
reaching the southern limits of the cruising-ground, for the purpose
of avoiding the prevailing winds and currents, which, south of the
line, would be adverse to progress in-shore, but favorable to a close
examination, on the return northward.
The object of the cruise was to protect the lawful commerce of the
United States, and, under the laws of the United States, to prevent
the flag and citizens of the United States from being engaged in the
slave-trade; and to carry out, in good faith, the treaty stipulations
between the United States and England.
After reaching the southern point of destination, or nearly so, the
vessel was to cruise along the coast, examining the principal points,
or slave-stations; such as the Salinas, Benguela, Loanda, Ambriz, River
Congo, and intermediate places, back towards Monrovia: the commander
acting in all cases according to the best of his judgment, upon the
information he might obtain, and circumstances that might present
themselves; taking care, in no case, to exceed the instructions of the
Hon. Secretary of the Navy, furnished for his guidance.
Should British cruisers be met, he might act in concert with them, so
far as the instructions permitted.
It was further noticed, that a number of suspected American vessels had
been hovering on the coast, between Cape St. Mary’s and Cape Lopez,
and that some of them had left the coast with slaves. Vessels clearly
liable to capture and not provided with cargoes, might be sent directly
to the United States. All captives found on board were to be landed at
Monrovia.
The Perry left the Cape Verde Islands on the day in which her orders
were issued, and arrived at Monrovia on the 20th. She there received
provisions from the Yorktown, and sixteen Kroomen from the shore.
Having exchanged salutes and visits of ceremony, she sailed on her
southern cruise, and arrived at St. Philip de Benguela, after a passage
of forty-one days, having, during the interval, boarded three legal
traders. This passage was made on the port tack by standing to the
southward and westward, into the southeast trades. But the passage from
the north to the south coast should, in all cases, be made in-shore on
the starboard tack; as will be explained, hereafter, during the third
cruise of the Perry.
At Benguela, which is a Portuguese settlement, next in importance
to St. Paul de Loanda, although now much dilapidated, and where the
slave-trade has been carried on to a great extent, the customary
exchange of a national salute and official visits was duly observed.
The commander ascertained, on his arrival, that the American merchant
vessels were subject to greater restrictions than probably would have
been the case had a man-of-war occasionally made her appearance in that
quarter. He therefore intimated to the governor that our cruisers, in
future, would visit that part of the coast more frequently than they
had done for the last few years.
Information was received, that five days previous to the arrival of
the Perry, an English cruiser had captured, near this place, a brig,
with eight hundred slaves on board. In this case, it appeared that the
vessel came from Rio de Janeiro, under American colors and papers,
with an American captain and crew; and had been, when on the coast,
transferred to a Brazilian captain and crew, the Americans having gone
on shore with the papers. The captured slaver was sent to the Island
of St. Helena for adjudication.
After remaining three days at Benguela, where neither fresh water nor
provisions could be procured, the Perry weighed anchor and ran down the
coast, examining all intermediate points, and boarding several vessels
during the passage to Loanda. This city is the capital of Loango, and
the most flourishing of the Portuguese establishments on the African
coast.
In a letter announcing the arrival of the vessel, and her reception
by the authorities, the Navy Department was informed that an English
steamer had arrived, having recently captured a slaver, the barque
Navarre, which had sailed from Rio de Janeiro to St. Catharine’s, where
she had fitted up for a slave cargo, and received a Brazilian captain
and crew. When boarded by the English steamer, the slaver had American
colors flying; and on being told by the commander that her papers were
forged, and yet that he could not search the vessel, but must send her
to an American cruiser, the captain then ordered the American colors to
be hauled down, and the Brazilian to be hoisted, declaring that she was
Brazilian property, sent the Brazilian captain and crew on deck, and
gave up the vessel.
The commander of the Perry also informed the Navy Department that, soon
after his arrival at Loanda, he had received from various sources
information of the abuse of the American flag in connection with the
slave-trade; and inclosed copies of letters and papers addressed to him
by the British commissioner, and the commander of an English cruiser,
which gave authentic information on the subject.
He suggested that as the legitimate commerce of the United States
exceeded that of Great Britain and France, on the coast south of
the equator, and the American flag had been used to cover the most
extensive slave-trade, it would seem that the presence of one or two
men-of-war, and the appointment of a consul, or some public functionary
at that place, were desirable.
He noticed that the depôt of stores at Porto Praya was so far
removed, that a vessel could barely reach the southern point of the
slave-stations before she was compelled, for want of provisions, to
return and replenish. A consul or storekeeper there might, as is the
case with the English or French, supply that division of the squadron,
and thus a force might constantly be kept on that side of the equator,
where, until the arrival of the Perry, there had been no American
man-of-war for a period of two years.
It had been intimated to him, as he further stated, by Americans, that
if the U. S. government were aware of the atrocities committed under
its flag, it might be induced to take some measures for preventing
the sale of American vessels on the African coast, as in nearly every
instance the vessel had been sold for the purpose of engaging in the
slave-trade. But if that should be regarded as too great a check upon
the commercial interests of the United States, such sale, if made on
that coast, might be duly notified to the proposed consul or agent,
that the vessel should be known as having changed her nationality.
All information showing the number of American vessels and American
citizens engaged in the slave-trade being regarded as desirable,
interviews on the subject were held not only with the Americans engaged
in mercantile pursuits, but with others, from whom reliable information
could be derived. A list of American vessels, which had been on
the coast during the preceding year, was procured. Many of these
vessels came from Rio and adjoining ports, with two sets of papers. A
sea-letter had been granted by the consul in good faith, according to
law, on the sale of a vessel in a foreign port; the cargo corresponded
with the manifest; the consular certificate, crew list, port clearance,
and all papers were in form. Several of these vessels, after
discharging their cargoes, changed their flag; the American captain
and crew, with flag and papers, leaving the vessel, and she instantly
becoming invested with Spanish, Portuguese, or Brazilian nationality.[5]
By this arrangement, as the United States never has consented, and
never ought to consent, even on the African coast, to grant to Great
Britain, or any other power, the right of search, a slaver, when
falling in with an American cruiser, would be prepared to elude search
and capture by the display of a foreign ensign and papers, even had she
slaves on board. And on the other hand, she might the same day fall
in with a British cruiser, and by displaying her flag, and presenting
the register or sea-letter, vindicate her American nationality. This
illustrates the importance of men-of-war, belonging to each nation,
cruising in company for the detection of slavers.
Great Britain being in treaty with Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Sardinia
and other powers, the proposed mode of co-operation would lead to
the detection of slavers under almost any nationality except that of
France, which government has an efficient squadron of steamers and
sailing vessels on the coast, fully prepared to vindicate her own
flag.[6]
In reference to vessels ostensibly American, which had been engaged
in the slave-trade, a British officer, on the 21st of March, 1850, in
a letter inclosing a list of American vessels which had been boarded
by the cruiser under his command, stated that all these vessels had
afterwards taken slaves from the coast; and with the exception of the
“Lucy Ann,”[7] captured with five hundred slaves on board by a British
steamer, had escaped. The registers, or sea-letters, of these vessels
appeared to be genuine; and he being unable to detect any inaccuracies
in their papers, his duty to the American flag had ceased. The vessels
in his list had been boarded by himself; but the senior officer of the
division was referred to, “who could give a list of many more, all of
which would have been good prizes to an officer having the right of
search;” for he was well assured that they went over to that coast,
fully fitted and equipped for the slave-trade.
He expressed a regret that the pleasure of making acquaintance with the
commander of the Perry had only fallen to his lot at a moment when the
term of his service on the western coast of Africa had expired; but was
satisfied that not only on the part of the senior officer commanding
the southern division, but also of his brother officers still remaining
in service on the coast, the most cordial co-operation would be
afforded in the suppression of the slave-trade.
The British commissioner, of the mixed commission under the treaty
between Great Britain and Portugal for the suppression of the African
slave-trade, also furnished a list of suspected slavers which had
claimed American nationality.
On the 25th of March, the commander requested the English captain to
give him a detailed account of the circumstances attending the capture
of the barque Navarre, by her B. M. steamer Fire Fly.
He asked for this information, as the Navarre was boarded when under
American colors, although displaying Brazilian colors when captured.
In reply, the English captain informed him that the slave barque
Navarre, seized under the Brazilian flag, on the 19th instant,
had the American ensign flying at the time she was boarded. The
boarding-officer having doubts of her nationality, in consequence of
her papers not appearing to be regular, he himself, although ill at the
time, considered it his duty to go on board, when, being convinced that
her papers were false, he informed the person calling himself master
of her, that it was his duty to send him to the American squadron,
or in the event of not falling in with them, to New York. The master
immediately went on deck and ordered the mate to haul down the American
ensign--to throw it overboard--and to hoist their proper colors. The
American ensign was hauled down and thrown overboard by the mate, who
immediately hoisted the Brazilian ensign. A man then came on deck from
below, saying that he was captain of the vessel; that she was Brazilian
property, and fully fitted for the slave-trade; which the person who
first appeared acknowledged, stating that he himself was a Brazilian
subject. Having obtained this from them in writing, the person who
first called himself captain having signed it, and having had the
signing of the document witnessed by two officers, he opened her
hatches, found all the Brazilian crew below, slave-deck laid, water
filled, provisions for the slaves, and slave-shackles.
At this period the agent of a large and respectable commercial house
in Salem, Massachusetts, established at Loanda, submitted to the
commander of the Perry a copy of the treaty between the United States
and Portugal, together with a letter from the Secretary of State, and
a paper from an officer of the Treasury Department, exhibiting the
commercial rights of the United States under said treaty.
The agent claimed that agreeably to the treaty, a portion of the duties
were to be remitted when a vessel arrived direct from the United
States; which claim had not been acknowledged at Loanda, on the ground
that the vessels were in the habit of touching at the native ports,
while the agent insisted that as these ports were not recognized as
within the jurisdiction of a civilized government, the Portuguese
provincial authorities had not faithfully observed the treaty
stipulations.
The subject was referred to the Government.
After remaining a week in Loanda, making proper repairs on the vessel,
and refreshing the crew, the Perry ran down the coast to the northward,
for the purpose of cruising off Ambriz, a noted slave-station, under
native authority, with several factories for legal trade. Arriving at
this station the following morning, three English steam cruisers were
in sight. The second lieutenant of the Perry was sent to call on the
commanding officer of the southern division of the British squadron,
who soon afterwards called on board the American cruiser in person.
In a letter, dated the 24th of March, the British commanding officer
informed the commander of the Perry, that it afforded him great pleasure
to witness the presence of a United States vessel on the southwest
coast of Africa, to be employed in co-operation with British vessels in
the suppression of the slave-trade. And he therefore took the liberty
to transmit, by the officer of the Perry, kindly sent to wait upon him,
two documents connected with Brazilian slave-vessels, which had lately
come over to that coast, displaying the American ensign, and presenting
to the English boarding-officer (as they had proven) fraudulent
American papers.
He assured him, that in the necessary examination of these papers,
every respect had been paid to the American flag, and the visit made in
strict accordance with the treaty between the United States of America
and Great Britain; and that it was not until the different vessels
had voluntarily hauled down their ensigns and destroyed their papers,
stating at the same time that they were Brazilians, that possession
was taken of them. He intimated that a letter--a copy of which was
inclosed--had been addressed to him by a lieutenant of the “Cyclops,”
who had conducted to the Island of St. Helena one of the prizes, on
board of which were two American seamen, and that this letter would
give some idea of the plan pursued by parties in Brazil, to equip and
man Brazilian slave-vessels.
The inclosed letter, above referred to, stated that American seamen
were often enticed on board of slavers, without knowing their real
character until it was too late to leave them. And that the owner of
a lodging-house in Rio, where two or three sailors were boarding,
offered, on one occasion, to get them a ship bound to the United
States, which, at the time, was loading at Vittoria--a harbor to the
northward of Cape Frio. They agreed to ship; and, after receiving
their advance, proceeded in a small steamer outside the harbor of Rio,
when they were transferred to a schooner, in company with a number
of Brazilians; and, in a few days, reached Vittoria. On joining the
slaver, which was named “Pilot,” they discovered her true character,
but were not allowed to go on shore; and were promised, on their
arrival in Africa, a good reward, with the option of returning in the
vessel, or having their passage found in another. It was affirmed
that these men had never seen the American consul; and the crew-list,
register and other papers, were forgeries. Also that the owner of the
Pilot was a Brazilian, and esteemed one of the richest men in the
empire. Two slave-steamers were owned by him; and it was said that he
had boasted that not a week passed that he had not had a full cargo
of slaves landed on the coast. He then owned seven or eight vessels,
sailing under the American flag, which he had bought in Rio, and
whose papers were all forgeries. One of the vessels belonging to the
rich Brazil merchant, and sailing alternately under the American and
Brazilian flag, had made nine clear voyages; and on the last voyage,
before she was captured, the American captain had landed at Ambriz,
with part of his crew, his flag and papers; and then the vessel shipped
one thousand slaves.
An American was the consignee of these vessels, bearing his country’s
flag. He obtained for them masters, crews, flag and papers; and
received for his agency a percentage on all slaves landed from the
vessels.
During the month when the Pilot was equipped at Vittoria, two other
slavers were also fitting out for the slave-trade, under the American
flag; viz., the “Casco” and the “Snow.” The former was afterwards
captured, with four hundred and fifty slaves, by the English steamer
“Pluto;” the other entered the harbor of Rio under Brazilian colors,
having landed her slaves outside.
The Pilot made the African coast near Benguela; and afterwards
anchored at Bahia Longa, where, there being no slaves ready for
shipment--as eight hundred had been, a few days previously, shipped in
a two-topsail schooner--she was ordered, by the slave-agents, to remain
at sea for ten days. On making the land at the expiration of that time,
the English steamers Fire Fly, Star, and Pluto, being at Ambriz, she
was again ordered to sea for ten days; when, on anchoring at the latter
place, she was captured by the English steamer Cyclops. She was to have
shipped twelve hundred slaves, who had been for some time ready for
a slave-steamer--then so strictly blockaded at Santos by the English
steamer Hydra, as to prevent her leaving port.
Such was the information contained in this letter.
During this correspondence with the British officers, the Perry was
cruising off Ambriz, in company with a part of the British squadron,
for the purpose of boarding and searching all American vessels
suspected of being engaged in the slave-trade, on that part of the
coast.
After cruising for several days, the commander-in-chief of the British
naval forces, bearing his pendant at the main of the steam-frigate
Centaur, appeared in the offing. The Perry hauled up her courses, and
saluted him with thirteen guns, which were duly returned. An official
call was made on the commodore, and an arrangement settled for the
joint cruising of the Perry and steamer Cyclops.
This cruising had continued for a week or more, when the arrival
of the U. S. sloop-of-war John Adams constituted her commander the
senior American officer south of the equator; he, accordingly, while
in company, relieved the Perry of the correspondence with the British
officers.
A short time after the arrival of the Adams, it became necessary for
her to visit Loanda, when the Perry was again left with the Cyclops,
cruising off Ambriz.
[5] The papers of the second slaver captured by the Perry were in form,
excepting the crew list, which showed but one American on board, who
was master of the vessel. And in a letter of instructions from the
reputed owner, he was required to leave whenever the Italian supercargo
directed him to do so. This shows how readily the nationality of a
vessel may be changed.
[6] The master of the first slaver captured by the Perry, stated that
had he not supposed she was an English cruiser, he would have been
prepared with a foreign flag, and otherwise, to have eluded search
and capture; and that on a former occasion he had been boarded by an
English cruiser, when, to use his own expression, he “bluffed off John
Bull with that flag;” referring to the American ensign.
[7] The “Lucy Ann,” when captured, was boarded fifty or sixty miles
to leeward, or north of Loanda. She had an American flag flying,
although her papers had been deposited in the consul’s office at Rio.
The English boarding-officer, who was not allowed to see any papers,
suspecting her character, prolonged his visit for some time. As he was
about leaving the vessel, a cry or stifled groan was heard issuing
from the hold. The main hatches were apparently forced up from below,
although a boat was placed over them, and the heads of many people
appeared. Five hundred and forty-seven slaves were found in the hold,
almost in a state of suffocation. The master then hauled down the
American flag, declared the vessel to be Brazilian, and gave her up.