PROHIBITION OF VISITS TO VESSELS AT
LOANDA--CORRESPONDENCE--RESTRICTIONS REMOVED--ST. HELENA--APPEARANCE
OF THE ISLAND--RECEPTION--CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE
CHIEF-JUSTICE--DEPARTURE.
Soon after arriving at Loanda, it was ascertained that the masters of
merchant-traders were forbidden to visit one another on board their
respective vessels, without express permission from the authorities.
This regulation was even extended to men-of-war officers in their visit
to merchant vessels of their own nation. An application was made to the
authorities, remonstrating against this regulation being applied to
the United States officers; and assurances were given which led to the
conclusion that the regulation had been rescinded.
Soon afterwards a letter to the collector, dated the 17th of September,
stated that the commander of the Perry, in company with the purser,
had that evening pulled alongside of the Louisa Beaton, and much to
his surprise, especially after the assurance of the collector that no
objection would in future be raised against the United States naval
officers visiting the merchant vessels of their own nation, the
custom-house officers informed him that he could not be admitted on
board: they went on board, however, but did not go below, not wishing
to involve the vessel in difficulty.
The report of this circumstance was accompanied with the remark,
that it was the first time that an objection had been raised to the
commander’s visiting a merchant vessel belonging to his own nation in
a foreign port; and this had been done after the assurance had been
given, that in future no obstacles should be in the way of American
officers visiting American ships in Loanda.
In reply to this letter, the collector stated that he had shown, on a
former occasion, that his department could give no right to officers
of men-of-war to visit merchant vessels of their own nation when in
port, under the protection of the Portuguese flag and nation. But in
view of the friendly relations existing between Portugal and the United
States, and being impressed with the belief that these visits would be
made in a social, friendly character, rather than with indifference and
disrespect to the authorities of that province, he would forward, and
virtually had forwarded already, the orders, that in all cases, when
American men-of-war are at anchor, no obstacle should be thrown in the
way of their officers boarding American vessels.
He further stated, that the objections of the guards to the commander
boarding the Louisa Beaton, was the result of their ignorance of his
orders, permitting visits from American vessels of war; but concluded
that the opposition encountered could not have been great, as the
commander himself had confessed that he had really boarded the said
vessel.
On the 19th of September, the Perry sailed for the island of St.
Helena. Soon after leaving port, a vessel was seen dead to windward,
hull and courses down. After a somewhat exciting chase of forty-two
hours, the stranger was overhauled, and proved to be a Portuguese
regular trader between the Brazil and the African coast.
Several days before reaching St. Helena, the trades had so greatly
freshened, together with thick, squally weather, that double-reefed
topsails, with single-reefed courses, were all the sail the vessel
could bear.
On the morning of the 11th of October, a glimpse of the island was
caught for a few minutes. Two misty spires of rock seemed to rise up in
the horizon--notched off from a ridge extended between them--the centre
being Diana’s peak, twenty-seven hundred feet in height. The vessel was
soon again enveloped in thick squalls of rain, but the bearings of the
island had been secured, and a course made for the point to be doubled.
After running the estimated distance to the land, the fog again lifted,
presenting the formidable island of St. Helena close aboard, and in
a moment all was obscured again. But the point had been doubled, and
soon afterwards the Perry was anchored, unseeing and unseen.
[Illustration:
_Lith. of Sarony & Co. N. Y._
SHORE AND ROADSTEAD AT JAMESTOWN, Sᵗ. HELENA.]
The sails were furled, the decks cleared up, when the whole scene
started out of obscurity. St. Helena was in full view. A salute of
twenty-one guns was fired, and promptly responded to, gun for gun, from
the bristling batteries above.
Under the vast, rugged buttresses of rock--serrated with gaps between
them, like the surviving parapets of a gigantic fortress, the mass of
which had sunk beneath the sea--the vessel seemed shrunk to a mere
speck; and close under these mural precipices, rising to the height of
two thousand feet, she had, in worse than darkness, crept along within
hearing of the surf.
On either bow, when anchored, were the two stupendous, square-faced
bluffs, between which, liked a ruined embrasure, yawned the ravine
containing Jamestown. High and distant against the sky, was frowning
a battery of heavy guns, looking down upon the decks; and beyond the
valley, the road zigzagged along the nine hundred feet of steep-faced,
ladder hill. Green thickets were creeping up the valleys; and plains of
verdant turf here and there overlapped the precipices.
Subsequently, on an inland excursion, were seen the fantastic forms of
Lot and his wife, more than fourteen hundred feet in height; and black
pillars, or shafts of basaltic columns, standing high amid the snowy
foam of the surf. Patches of luxuriant vegetation were suddenly broken
by astounding chasms, such as the “Devil’s Punch Bowl.”
This striking and majestic scenery, on an island ten miles in length
and six in breadth, arises from its great height and its volcanic
configuration. The occurrence of small oceanic deposits high up on
its plains, indicates fits of elevation ere it reached its present
altitude. The _Yam-flowers_ (the _sobriquet_ of the island ladies) need
not, however, fear that the joke of travellers will prove a reality, by
the island again being drawn under water like a turtle’s head.
Visits were received from the chief-justice, the commandant and
officers of the garrison. Invitations were sent to dine “with the
mess.” The American consul, and many of the inhabitants, joined in
extending unbounded hospitality to the officers, which was duly
appreciated by African cruisers. A collation to their hospitable
friends, on the quarterdeck of the Perry, was also partaken of by the
officers of a British cruiser, which, on leaving the island, ran across
the stern of the vessel, gave three cheers, and dipped her colors.
The proprietor of Longwood, once the prison of Napoleon, received the
officers and their friends at a pic-nic, when a visit was made to that
secluded spot, so suggestive of interesting associations. Every means
was used to leave a sense of grateful remembrance on the minds of the
visitors to the island.
One watch of the crew were constantly on shore, in search of health and
enjoyment.
A short time previously to leaving Loanda, information being
received from the American consul at Rio, that the barque Navarre,
and brigantine Volusia, already noticed, had been furnished with
sea-letters as American vessels, steps were taken to ascertain from
the vice-admiralty court, in St. Helena, the circumstances attending
their trial and condemnation. Calls were made on several officers of
the court for that purpose. Failing thus to obtain the information
unofficially, a letter was drawn up and sent to the chief-justice, who
was also the judge of the admiralty court. After the judge had read the
letter, he held, with the commander of the Perry, a conversation of
more than an hour, in reference to its contents. During this interview,
the judge announced that he could not communicate, officially, the
information solicited. An opportunity, however, was offered to look
over the record of the proceedings. Circumstances did not seem to
justify the acceptance of this proposal. It was then intimated to the
commander that the letter of request would be sent to Lord Palmerston;
and, in return, intimation was also given that a copy of the letter
would be transmitted to the Secretary of the Navy at Washington.
The social intercourse between the parties, during this interview, was
of the most agreeable character.
In the same letter to the judge of the admiralty court, that contained
the above-mentioned request for documents relating to the case of the
Navarre, the commander of the Perry stated that he was informed by the
American consul that the Navarre was sold in Rio to a citizen of the
United States; that a sea-letter was granted by the consul; that the
papers were regular and true; that the owner was master, and that the
American crew were shipped in the consul’s office.
The commander also stated, that information from other sources had
been received, that the Navarre proceeded to the coast of Africa, and
when near Benguela was boarded by H. B. Majesty’s brig Water-Witch,
and after a close examination of her papers was permitted to pass.
The captain of the Navarre, after having intimated his intention to
the officer of the Water-Witch, of going into Benguela, declined
doing so on learning that the Perry was there, assigning to his crew
as the reason, that the Perry would take him prisoner; and at night
accordingly bore up and ran down towards Ambriz. The captain also
stated to a part of the crew, that _the officer of the Water-Witch_
had advised him to give up the vessel to _him_, as the Perry would
certainly take his vessel, and send him home, whereas _he_ would only
take his vessel, and let him land and go free.
On reaching Ambriz, with the American flag flying, the Navarre was
boarded by the commander of H. M. steam-sloop Fire-Fly, who, on
examining the papers given by the consul, and passed by the commander
of the Water-Witch as being in form, _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 cruisers, preferred giving
up his vessel, _bonâ fide_ American, to a British officer. Under
these circumstances, he signed a paper that the vessel was Brazilian
property, and he himself a Brazilian subject. The mate was ordered to
haul down the American and 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 crew on the head.
The Fire-Fly arrived at Loanda a few days after the capture of the
Navarre, and the representations of her commander induced the commander
of the Perry to believe that the Navarre was Brazilian property,
and captured with false American papers; which papers having been
destroyed, no evidence of her nationality remained but the statement
of the commander of the Fire-Fly. This statement, being made by a
British officer, was deemed sufficient, until subsequent information
led to the conclusion, that the Navarre was an American vessel, and
whether engaged in _legal or illegal trade_, the course pursued towards
her by the commanders of the Water-Witch and the Fire-Fly, was wholly
unauthorized; and her subsequent capture by the commander of the
Fire-Fly, was in direct violation of the treaty of Washington.
After this statement was drawn up, the Water-Witch being in St. Helena,
it was shown to her commander.
A statement in relation to the capture and condemnation of the Volusia,
was also forwarded to the chief-justice: stating, upon the authority of
the American consul at Rio, that she had a sea-letter, and was strictly
an American vessel, bought by an American citizen in Rio de Janeiro.
In reply to this application for a copy of the proceedings of the
Admiralty Court in relation to the Navarre, the chief-justice, in a
letter to the commander of the Perry, stated that he was not aware of
any American vessel having been condemned in the Vice-Admiralty Court
of that colony.
It was true that a barque called the Navarre had been condemned in
the court, which might or might not have been American; but the
circumstances under which the case was presented to the court, were
such as to induce the court to conclude that the Navarre was at the
time of seizure not entitled to the protection of any state or nation.
With respect to the commander’s request that he should be furnished
with a copy of the affidavits in the case, the judge regretted to
state, that with every disposition to comply with his wishes, so far
as regards the proceedings of the court, yet as the statement of
the commander not only reflected upon the conduct of the officers
concerned in the seizure, but involved questions not falling within the
province of the court, he did not feel justified in giving any special
directions in reference to the application.
Similar reasons were assigned for not furnishing a copy of the
affidavits in the case of the Volusia.
In a letter to the commodore, dated October 19th, information was given
substantially as follows:
“A few days previously to leaving the coast of Africa, a letter was
received from the American consul at Rio, in reply to a communication
from the commander of the John Adams, and directed to that office,
or to the commander of any U. S. ship-of-war. This letter inclosed
a paper containing minutes from the records in the consulate in
relation to several American vessels, and among them the barque Navarre
and brigantine Volusia were named, as having been furnished with
sea-letters as American vessels. These vessels were seized on the
coast of Africa, and condemned in this admiralty court, as vessels of
unknown nationality.
“Availing himself of the permission to extend the cruise as far as this
island, and coming into possession of papers identifying the American
nationality of the Navarre and Volusia, the commander regarded it
to be his duty to obtain all information in reference to the course
pursued by British authorities towards these vessels for the purpose of
submitting it to the Government.
“The commander called on the queen’s proctor of the Vice-Admiralty
Court, requesting a copy of the affidavits in the instances of the
Navarre and Volusia. The proctor stated that the registrar of the court
would probably furnish them. The registrar declined doing it without
the sanction of the judge, and the judge declined for reasons alleged
in the inclosed correspondence.
“The proctor, soon afterwards, placed a packet of papers in the hands
of the commander of the Perry, containing the affidavits in question,
and requested him to forward them to the British commodore. The proctor
suggested to the commander that he might look over the papers. This was
declined, on the ground that when the request was made for permission
to examine them, unofficially, it was denied, and since having made
the request officially for a copy of the papers, they could not now
be received and examined at St. Helena, except in an official form.
It was then intimated that the intention was to have the papers sent
unofficially to the British commodore, that he might show them, if
requested to do so, to the American officers.”