ANOTHER CRUISE--CHATSWORTH AGAIN--VISIT TO THE QUEEN NEAR
AMBRIZETTE--SEIZURE OF THE AMERICAN BRIGANTINE “LOUISA BEATON”
BY A BRITISH CRUISER--CORRESPONDENCE--PROPOSAL OF REMUNERATION
FROM THE CAPTORS--SEIZURE OF THE CHATSWORTH AS A SLAVER--ITALIAN
SUPERCARGO--MASTER OF THE LOUISA BEATON.
The commodore, on the 24th of August, intimated that it had been his
intention to relieve the Perry from the incessant duties which had been
imposed upon her, but regretted that he could not then accomplish it
without leaving American interests in that quarter unprotected, and
that the commander would therefore be pleased to prepare for further
service on the southern coast, with the assurance of being relieved as
soon as practicable.
Orders were issued by the commodore to resume cruising upon the
southern coast, as before, and to visit such localities as might best
insure the successful accomplishment of the purposes in view.
Authority was given to extend the cruise as far as the island of St.
Helena, and to remain there a sufficient length of time to refresh
the crew; and, after cruising until the twentieth of November, then to
proceed to Porto Praya, touching at Monrovia, if it was thought proper.
The orders being largely discretionary, and the Chatsworth still in
port, and suspected of the intention of shipping a cargo of slaves at
Ambriz, the Perry sailed, the day on which her orders were received,
without giving any intimation as to her cruising-ground. When outside
of the harbor, the vessel was hauled on a wind to the southward, as if
bound up the coast, and continued beating until out of sight of the
vessels in the harbor. She was then kept away to the northward, making
a course for Ambriz, in anticipation of the Chatsworth’s soon sailing
for that place.
The cruising with the English men-of-war was resumed. A few days after
leaving Loanda, when trying the sailing qualities of the vessel with a
British cruiser, a sail was reported, standing down the land towards
Ambriz. Chase was immediately made, and, on coming within gun-shot,
a gun was fired to bring the vessel to. She hoisted American colors,
but continued on her course. Another gun, throwing a thirty-two pound
shot across her bows, brought the Chatsworth to. She was then boarded,
and again searched, without finding any additional proof against the
vessel’s character.
After remaining a day or two off Ambriz, the Perry proceeded to
Ambrizette, a short distance to the northward, leaving one of
the ship’s boats in charge of an officer, with orders to remain
sufficiently near the Chatsworth, and, in case she received water-casks
on board, or any article required to equip a slave-vessel, to detain
her until the return of the Perry.
When the vessel had reached her destination, the commander conceived it
to be a good opportunity to forward the interests of American commerce,
by paying a visit of conciliation to the queen of that region. Though
warned by the British officers that the natives were hostile to all
persons engaged in suppressing the lucrative trade in slaves, he
resolved to avail himself of the invitation of the resident American
factor, and proceed to the royal residence. Two other officers of the
vessel, the agent, and several of the gig’s Kroomen, accompanied him.
On their way, a great number of Her Majesty’s loyal subjects--dressed
chiefly in the costume of their own black skins--formed the escort.
“All hands,” however, were not in the native sables exclusively, for
several, of more aristocratic claims, sported a piece of calico print,
of glaring colors, over one shoulder. The village, when first seen,
resembled a group of brown haystacks; the largest of these, as a
palace, sheltered the royal presence. The court etiquette brought the
mob of gentlemen and ladies of the escort, with and without costume,
down upon their knees, in expectation of Her Majesty’s appearance.
A little withered old woman then stepped out, having, in addition to
the native costume, an old red silk cloak, drawn tight around her
throat, and so worn as to make her look like a loose umbrella, with two
handles. She then squatted on the ground. Her prime minister aspired
to be higher than African in his costume, by hanging on his long,
thin person, an old full-dress French navy uniform-coat, dispensing
with other material articles of clothing, except a short pair of
white trowsers. The officers being seated in front, the kneeling
hedge of three or four hundred black woolly heads closed behind
them,--impregnating the air with their own peculiar aroma--their greasy
faces upturned in humble reverence--hands joined, palm to palm, ready
to applaud Her Majesty’s gracious wisdom when they heard it,--the
conference began. The interpreter introduced the officers, and their
business, and, in the name of the commander, expressed their friendly
feelings towards Her Majesty and her people; advising her to encourage
trade with the American merchants in gums, copper and the products of
the country, instead of selling her people as slaves, or conniving at
the sale in other tribes, for the purpose of procuring goods. This
speech having the honor of being directed to the royal ears, was
greeted, according to etiquette, with clap, clap, clap, from all the
ready hands of all the gentlemen in waiting, who were using their
knees as supports in Her Majesty’s royal presence. The prime minister,
from the inside of the French coat, then responded--that Her Majesty
had great reason to complain of the conduct of cruisers’ boats on the
coast, for they were in the habit of chasing the fishermen, and firing
to bring them to, and taking their fish, which were the principal
support of the people, without making an equivalent return. Whereupon,
clap, clap, clap, went the hands again. Her Majesty was assured, in
reply, that such had never been, and never would be the case, in regard
to the boats of American cruisers, and that her complaints would be
made known to those officers who had the power and the disposition
to remove all such cause of grievance. The chorus of clap, clap,
clap, again at this answer concluded the ceremony. The prime minister
followed the return escort at some distance, and took occasion, at
parting on the beach, to intimate that there were certain other marks
of friendly respect common at courts, and marking the usages of
polished nations. He gave no hints about gold snuff-boxes, as might
be suitable in the barbarian courts of Europe; but intimated that his
friends visiting Her Majesty, in such instances, thought _his_ humble
services worthy of two bottles of rum. Compliance with this amiable
custom was declared to be wholly impracticable, as the spirit-room
casks of the Perry had been filled only with pure (or impure) water,
instead of whisky, during the cruise.
[Illustration:
_Lith. of Sarony & Co. N. Y._
AUDIENCE TO THE PERRY’S OFFICERS, BY THE QUEEN OF AMBRIZETTE.]
In communicating to the government, in a more official form, the object
and incidents of the visit to the queen near Ambrizette, reference
was made to a powerful king, residing ten miles in the interior of
Ambriz, and the intention of making him a visit was announced. But the
seizure of the Louisa Beaton by a British cruiser, on her return to the
coast, and the impression made upon the natives by the capture of the
Chatsworth as a slaver, not only occupied the intervening time before
leaving for St. Helena, but rendered inland excursions by no means
desirable.
On returning towards Ambriz, soon after making the land, the steamer
Cyclops, with another British cruiser, was observed; and also the
Chatsworth, with an American brigantine lying near her. A boat from
the Cyclops, with an English officer, pulled out several miles, while
the Perry was in the offing, bringing a packet of letters and papers
marked as usual, “On Her Britannic Majesty’s Service.” These papers
were accompanied by a private note from the British commander of
the division, expressing great regret at the occurrence, which was
officially noticed in the accompanying papers, and the earnest desire
to repair the wrong.
The official papers were dated September the ninth, and contained
statements relating to the _chasing_, _boarding_ and _detention_
of the American brigantine Louisa Beaton, on the seventh and eighth
instant.
The particulars of the seizure of the vessel were given in a letter
from the commander of the English cruiser Dolphin, directed to the
British commander of the division, as follows: “I have the honor to
inform you, that at daylight on the 7th instant, being about seventy
miles off the land, a sail was observed on the lee bow, whilst Her
Majesty’s brigantine, under my command, was steering to the eastward.
I made all possible sail in chase: the chase was observed making more
sail and keeping away. Owing to light winds, I was unable to overtake
her before 0h. 30m. A. M. When close to her and no sail shortened,
I directed a signal gun to be fired abeam, and hailed the chase to
shorten sail and heave to. Chase asserted he could not, and requested
leave to pass to leeward; saying, if we wanted to board him, we had
better make haste about it, and that ‘we might fire and be damned.’
“I directed another gun to be fired across her bows, when she
immediately shortened sail and hove to: it being night, no colors were
observed flying on board the chase, nor was I aware of her character.
“I was proceeding myself to board her, when she bore up again, with
the apparent intention of escaping. I was therefore again compelled to
hoist the boat up and to close her under sail. I reached the chase on
the second attempt, and found her to be the American brigantine Louisa
Beaton. The master produced an American register, with a transfer of
masters: this gave rise to a doubt of the authenticity of the paper,
and on requesting further information, the master refused to give me
any, and declined showing me his port clearance, crew list, or log-book.
“The lieutenant who accompanied me identified the mate as having
been in charge of the slave-brig Lucy Ann, captured by Her Majesty’s
steam-sloop Rattler. Under these suspicious circumstances, I considered
it my duty, as the Louisa Beaton was bound to Ambriz, to place an
officer and crew on board of her, so as to confer with an American
officer, or yourself, before allowing her, if a legal trader, to
proceed on her voyage.”
The British commander of the division, in his letter, stated, that
immediately on the arrival of the vessels, he proceeded with the
commander of the Dolphin and the lieutenant of the Rattler to the
brigantine Louisa Beaton. Her master then presented the register, and
also the transfer of masters made in Rio, in consequence of the death
of the former master, but refused to show any other documents.
On examining the register, and having met the vessel before on that
coast, he decided that the Louisa Beaton’s nationality was perfect;
but that the conduct pursued by her master, in withholding documents
that should have been produced on boarding, had led to the unfortunate
detention of the vessel.
The British commander further stated, that he informed the master of
the Louisa Beaton that he would immediately order his vessel to be
released, and that on falling in with the commander of the Perry, all
due inquiry into the matter for his satisfaction should be made; but
that the master positively refused to take charge again, stating that
he would immediately abandon the vessel on the Dolphin’s crew quitting
her; and, further, requested that the vessel might be brought before
the American commander.
That, as much valuable property might be sacrificed should the master
carry his threat into execution, he proceeded in search of the Perry,
that the case might be brought under consideration while the Dolphin
was present; and on arriving at Ambriz, the cutter of the Perry was
found in charge of one of her officers.
On the following morning, as he stated, accompanied by the officer
in charge of the Perry’s cutter, and the commander of the Dolphin,
he proceeded to the Louisa Beaton, and informed her master that the
detention of his vessel arose from the refusal, on his part, to
show the proper documents to the boarding-officer, authorizing him
to navigate the vessel in those seas; and from his mate having been
identified by one of the Dolphin’s officers, as having been captured
in charge of a vessel having on board five hundred and forty-seven
slaves, which attempted to evade search and capture by displaying the
American ensign; as well as from his own suspicious maneuvering in the
chase. But as he was persuaded that the Louisa Beaton was an American
vessel, and her papers good, although a most important document was
wanting, namely, the _sea-letter_, usually given by consular officers
to legal traders after the _transfer of masters_, he should direct the
commander of the Dolphin to resign the charge of the Louisa Beaton,
which was accordingly done; and, that on meeting the commander of the
Perry, he would lay the case before him; and was ready, if he demanded
it, to give any remuneration or satisfaction, on the part of the
commander of the Dolphin, for the unfortunate detention of the Louisa
Beaton, whether engaged _in legal or illegal trade_, that the master
might in fairness demand, and the commander of the Perry approve.
After expressing great regret at the occurrence, the British commander
stated that he was requested by the captain of the Dolphin to assure
the commander of the Perry, that no disrespect was intended to the flag
of the United States, or even interference, on his part, with traders
of America, be they legal or illegal; but the stubbornness of the
master, and the identifying of one of his mates as having been captured
in a Brazilian vessel, trying to evade detection by the display of the
American flag, had led to the mistake.
A postscript to the letter added, “I beg to state that the hatches of
the Louisa Beaton have not been opened, nor the vessel or crew in any
way examined.”
On the Perry’s reaching the anchorage, the Louisa Beaton was examined.
The affidavit of the master, which differs not materially from the
statements of the British officers, was taken. A letter by the
commander of the Perry was then addressed to the British officer,
stating, that he had in person visited the Louisa Beaton, conferred
with her master, taken his affidavit, examined her papers, and
found her to be in all respects a legal American trader. That the
_sea-letter_ which had been referred to, as being usually given by
consular officers, was only required when the vessel changes owners,
and not, as in the present case, on the appointment of a new master.
The paper given by the consul authorizing the appointment of the
present master, was, with the remainder of the vessel’s papers,
strictly in form.
The commander also stated that he respectfully declined being a party
concerned in any arrangement of a pecuniary nature, as satisfaction to
the master of the Louisa Beaton, for the detention and seizure of his
vessel, and if such arrangement was made between the British officers
and the master of the Louisa Beaton, it would be his duty to give the
information to his government.
The commander added, that the government of the United States did
not acknowledge a right in any other nation to visit and detain the
vessels of American citizens engaged in commerce: that whenever a
foreign cruiser should venture to board a vessel under the flag of
the United States, she would do it upon her own responsibility for
all consequences: that if the vessel so boarded should prove to be
American, the injured party would be left to such redress, either in
the tribunals of England, or by an appeal to his own country, as the
nature of the case might require.
He also stated that he had carefully considered all the points in the
several communications which the commander of the British division had
sent him, in relation to the seizure of the Louisa Beaton, and he must
unqualifiedly pronounce the seizure and detention of that vessel wholly
unauthorized by the circumstances, and contrary both to the letter
and the spirit of the eighth article of the treaty of Washington; and
that it became his duty to make a full report of the case, accompanied
with the communications which the British commander had forwarded,
together with the affidavit of the master of the Louisa Beaton, to the
government of the United States.
This letter closed the correspondence.[9]
The British commander-in-chief then accompanied the commander of the
Perry to the Louisa Beaton, and there wholly disavowed the act of the
commander of the Dolphin, stating, in the name of that officer, that
he begged pardon of the master, and that he would do any thing in his
power to repair the wrong; adding, “I could say no more, if I had
knocked you down.”
The Louisa Beaton was then delivered over to the charge of her own
master, and the officer of the cutter took his station alongside of the
Chatsworth.
On the 11th of September this brigantine was seized as a slaver. During
the correspondence with the British officers in relation to the Louisa
Beaton, an order was given to the officer of the cutter, to prevent the
Chatsworth from landing the remaining part of her cargo. The master
immediately called on board the Perry, with the complaint, that his
vessel had been seized on a former occasion, and afterwards released by
the commodore, with the endorsement of her nationality on the log-book.
Since then she had been repeatedly searched, and now was prevented from
disposing of her cargo; he wished, therefore, that a definite decision
might be made. A decision was made by the instant seizure of the vessel.
Information from the master of the Louisa Beaton, that the owner of the
Chatsworth had in Rio acknowledged to him that the vessel had shipped
a cargo of slaves on her last voyage, and was then proceeding to the
coast for a similar purpose--superadded to her suspicious movements,
and the importance of breaking up this line of ostensible traders, but
real slavers, running between the coasts of Brazil and Africa--were the
reasons leading to this decision.
On announcing the decision to the master of the Chatsworth, a prize
crew was immediately sent on board and took charge of the vessel. The
master and supercargo then drew up a protest, challenging the act as
illegal, and claiming the sum of fifteen thousand dollars for damages.
The supercargo, on presenting this protest, remarked that the United
States Court would certainly release the vessel; and the _proçuro_ of
the owner, with other parties interested, would then look to the captor
for the amount of damages awarded. The commander replied, that he fully
appreciated the pecuniary responsibility attached to this proceeding.
The master of the Louisa Beaton, soon after the supercargo of the
Chatsworth had presented the protest, went on shore for the purpose
of having an interview with him, and not coming off at the time
specified, apprehensions were entertained that the slave-factors had
revenged themselves for his additional information--leading to the
seizure of the Chatsworth. At nine o’clock in the evening, three boats
were manned and armed, containing thirty officers and men,--leaving the
Perry in charge of one of the lieutenants. When two of the boats had
left the vessel, and the third was in readiness to follow, the master
of the Louisa Beaton made his appearance, stating that his reception on
shore had been any thing but pacific. Had the apprehensions entertained
proved correct, it was the intention to have landed and taken
possession of the town; and then to have marched out to the barracoons,
liberated the slaves, and made, at least for the time being, “free
soil” of that section of country.
In a letter to the commodore, dated September 14th, information was
given to the following purport:
“Inclosed are affidavits, with other papers and letters, in relation
to the seizure of the American brigantine Chatsworth. This has been an
exceedingly complicated case, as relating to a slaver with two sets
of papers, passing alternately under different nationalities, eluding
detection from papers being in form, and trading with an assorted cargo.
“The Chatsworth has been twice boarded and searched by the commander,
and on leaving for a short cruise off Ambrizette, a boat was dispatched
with orders to watch her movements during the absence of the Perry. On
returning from Ambrizette, additional evidence of her being a slaver
was procured. Since then the affidavits of the master of the Chatsworth
and the mate of the Louisa Beaton have been obtained, leading to
further developments, until the guilt of the vessel, as will be seen by
the accompanying papers, is placed beyond all question.”
The Italian supercargo, having landed most of the cargo, and his
business being in a state requiring his presence, was permitted to go
on shore, with the assurance that he would return when a signal was
made. He afterwards came within hail of the Chatsworth, and finding
that such strong proofs against the vessel were obtained, he declined
going on board, acknowledging to the master of the Louisa Beaton that
he had brought over Brazilian papers.
The crew of the Chatsworth being foreigners, and not wishing to be sent
to the United States, were landed at Ambriz, where it was reported that
the barracoons contained four thousand slaves, ready for shipment;
and where, it was said, the capture of the Chatsworth, as far as the
American flag was concerned, would give a severe and an unexpected blow
to the slave-trade.
After several unsuccessful attempts to induce the supercargo of the
Chatsworth to come off to that vessel, a note in French was received
from him, stating that he was “an Italian, and as such could not be
owner of the American brig Chatsworth, which had been seized, it was
true, but unjustly, and against the laws of all civilized nations. That
the owner of the said brig would know how to defend his property, and
in case the judgment should not prove favorable, the one who had been
the cause of it would always bear the remorse of having ruined his
countryman.”
After making the necessary preliminary arrangements, the master, with a
midshipman and ten men, was placed in charge of the Chatsworth; and on
the 14th of September, the following order was sent to the commanding
officer of the prize: “You will proceed to Baltimore, and there report
yourself to the commander of the naval station, and to the Secretary
of the Navy. You will be prepared, on your arrival, to deliver up the
vessel to the United States marshal, the papers to the judge of the
United States District Court, and be ready to act in the case of the
Chatsworth as your orders and circumstances may require.
“It is advisable that you should stand as far to the westward, at
least, as the longitude of St. Helena, and when in the calm latitudes
make a direct north course, shaping the course for your destined port
in a higher latitude, where the winds are more reliable.”
On the following morning the three vessels stood out to sea--the Perry
and Louisa Beaton bound to Loanda, and the Chatsworth bearing away for
the United States. The crew had now become much reduced in numbers, and
of the two lieutenants, master, and four passed midshipmen, originally
ordered to the vessel, there remained but two passed midshipmen, acting
lieutenants on board.
After a protracted trial, the Chatsworth was at length condemned as a
slaver, in the U. S. District Court of Maryland.
[9] This correspondence, with much of that which is to be referred to
hereafter, with the British officers, has been published more at length
in the “Blue Book,” or Parliamentary Papers, of 1851.