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parties who perpetrated the outrage is excused, if not justified, and a formal complaint made against the officers and men on board the " Susan," the manner in which they resented the wrongs done them. Indeed, it would seem as if Great Britain intended, if not formally to assert, at least to exercise, (and that, too, in a manner not the least offensive,) the right of boarding and searching all American vessels on the African coast so long as abuses in the slave trade continue to be practised by other nations, under the flag of the United States. The consequence, therefore, I presume, will be, that if the vessels of our citizens engaged in lawful commerce on the high seas, in time of peace, are to be considered as exclusively under the protection of their own flag, then the vexations and embarrassments to which they are now subjected by British cruisers on the whole of the African coast, and the adjacent seas, will not be much longer patiently endured by our people. It is a subject, however, for the consideration of the President, and will no doubt become one of importance between the two governments. I have taken the liberty of making these suggestions at this time, because I foresee, I think, very clearly, the dangers to which the present state of things, if allowed to continue, must inevitably lead.

[Enclosure ]

Lord Palmerston to Mr. Stevenson.

FOREIGN OFFICE, April 23, 1840. The undersigned, her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in his note dated the 9th of September last, had the honor to inform Mr. Stevenson, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from the United States of America, that an inquiry had been instituted upon the complaint brought forward by Mr. Stevenson, in his note dated the 26th of August, relative to an alleged outrage committed upon an American ship, the "Susan," of Boston, near Cape Frio light, on the 9th of April, 1839, by the commander of her Majesty's sloop "Grecian” and a boarding officer from that vessel.

The undersigned has now the honor to transmit to Mr. Stevenson a copy of a letter from the secretary of the admiralty, enclosing an extract of a letter from Commander Smyth, of her Majesty's sloop "Grecian," and a copy of a letter from Mr. N. B. Pearse, master of that sloop, explaining the circumstances attending the detention of the "Susan" on the occasion to which Mr. Stevenson's note refers.

The undersigned trusts that the government of the United States will see, from the narrative which these papers contain, that nothing was done by the officers of the "Grecian" of which the United States government can justly complain; but that, on the contrary, her Majesty's government have good ground for complaining of the rude and offensive behavior of Mr. Brewer, a passenger on board the "Susan," towards her Majesty's officers, while employed in the performance of their duty; and the undersigned has to observe, that, from what is stated in these reports, there seems strong reason to suspect that Mr. Brewer was not unconnected with slave-trade undertakings.

The undersigned, &c.

PALMERSTON.

[Sub-enclosure.]

Sir John Barrow to Lord Leveson.

ADMIRALTY, April 14, 1840.

MY LORD: With reference to your letter of the 7th September last, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit to you herewith, for the information of Viscount Palmerston, an extract of a letter from Commander Smyth, of her Majesty's sloop "Grecian," dated December 10, 1839, and a copy of a letter from N. B. Pearse, master of that sloop, which accompanied it, relative to the detention of the American ship" Susan," off cape Frio, by the "Grecian," on the 9th April, 1839. I am, &c.,

JOHN BARROW.

[Sub enclosure.]

Extract of a letter from Commander Smyth, of her Majesty's sloop "Grecian," dated December 10, 1839, addressed to Commodore Sullivan, C. B., at Rio de Janeiro.

In reply to your letter of the 25th November, 1839, enclosing copies of a correspondence relative to the United States barque "Susan," boarded by a boat from her Majesty's sloop under my command, I have the honor to state to you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that while cruising off Cape Frio I was standing towards the cape, with a prize, and at half-past 7, p. m., it being quite dark, flashes were reported as being seen to leeward, which appeared to me to be signals with slave vessels, as I knew that several were expected, and among them a barque called the Commodore.

I desired the prize to continue her course for the cape, and then bore up in the direction of the lights, and very soon after discovered a sail, upon which I hoisted a light, and fired a blank gun to bring her to. As far as we (the officers and myself) could distinguish, from the obscurity of the night, the vessel paid no attention to our signals. I then, being anxious not to separate from the prize, ordered a shotted gun to be fired well ahead of the vessel, and shortly after ran up along side of, and hailed her in the following manner: This is her Britannic Majesty's brig "Grecian;' what barque is that? The answer was, The "Susan," from Rio de Janeiro. G-d damn you, what do you mean by firing a shot across our bows? I'll blow you out of the water.

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Not feeling satisfied, from the style of the answer, what the vessel was, I hailed, to say I should send a boat on board. I therefore ordered the jolly boat to be lowered, and sent Mr. Pearse, master, to ascertain what vessel she was; (and the statement of that officer accompanies this letter, relative to what took place on board the "Susan," which I beg leave to transmit for their lordships' information.)

On the return of the boarding officer he related to me, as far as my memory will allow, precisely the words that are in his statement. I confess I should have detained her, and inquired into such unbecoming behavior,

had I not been pressed to rejoin the prize, who had on board 430 slaves, who I was extremely anxious should get into port with the utmost speed; therefore, every moment's detention to me was of the greatest importance, and I was reluctantly constrained to permit my officer-in fact my ship-to suffer an indignity, without being able, from circumstances, to examine the case, so as to make an official report thereon. An additional cause of my anxiety to rejoin the prize was, through fear that she might mistake the light shown by the "Susan" for Cape Frio light, which at that time was not visible.

[Sub-enclosure.]

Mr. N. B. Pearse to Commander Smyth.

H. M. SLOOP "GRECIAN," Buenos Ayres, December 10, 1839.

SIR: In compliance with your orders, I beg leave to state what occurred on the night of the 9th April last, while in company with the United States barque "Susan."

Being on board the brig "Grecian," cruising off Cape Frio, engaged in the suppression of the slave trade, and particularly looking out for a slave barque that was daily expected, viz: the Commodore, at 7h. 30m. p. m., it being very dark, a light was observed in shore of us, which was visible only at intervals, but, when visible, was very bright. This was suspected to be a slave vessel, making signals to the shore, (this being a place where slaves in great quantities are landed.) We stood after her and fired a blank gun; and she not heaving to, a shot was fired ahead of her. On closing with her, she seemed to be a barque. She was hailed by you from the forecastle, telling what ship this was, and asking what she was. The reply was, the ship's name, and, " G-d damn you, what do you mean by firing across our bows? If you fire again, I'll blow you out of the water." I was then ordered to board her, which I did in the jolly boat. On going alongside, I had considerable difficulty in getting on board, it being very. dark, and a considerable sea on. No rope was handed over the side, or any of the usual assistance given to a boat going alongside of a vessel.

I had considerable difficulty in scrambling up her side. When I got on deck, I called for the captain, but was immediately surrounded by several persons who were most clamorous and noisy, particularly one person of the name of Brewer, whose language and general deportment were most insolent and abusive. I told him I had nothing to say to him, but wished to see the captain; on which he merely continued to repeat his abuse, and to offer every interruption to my obtaining any information as to what the vessel was. I repeated to him several times that I had no business with him, and wished to say nothing to any one but the captain; that all my efforts to have any conversation with him (for, as yet, I had not seen him) were interrupted by the noisy and turbulent behavior of the said Mr. Brewer, who was now joined in his reproaches and abuse by the other persons standing round, and much confusion was produced on deck by their violent language and insolent menaces.

I had not yet seen the captain; and although I believed Mr. Brewer to be

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an American citizen, my mind was by no means free from suspicion of the vessel being a slaver; this same Mr. Brewer having declared, in a boasting manner, some time previously, in Rio Janeiro, that he was the person who had sold the very slave vessel that we were now in chase of-" the Commodore"-to her present owners. Under these circumstances, I told them that if I was interrupted by them in communicating with the captain, I should make a signal to the brig for assistance, calling one man out of the boat, and desiring him to bring a musket and a lantern, to enable me to make the necessary signal. I had not yet seen the captain, nor had I any proof of the nationality of the vessel. They were now more silent; and having at length ascertained who was captain, I asked him to show me his papers. Mr. Brewer then again interfered, desiring the captain to show nothing but the register. I told them I only wished to satisfy myself that she was an American vessel. I went into the cabin with the captain, and inspected the register, and entered her name, &c., in the boardingbook, in the usual manner: while so engaged, Mr. Brewer and the other passengers came into the cabin. I asked the captain why he gave such an answer to a British man-of-war hailing her; when he told me he had made no such reply, and that what was given had been given by Mr. Brewer, who was a passenger, but not by him, the captain. While making the short notation in the boarding-book, Mr. Brewer and the others insisted on my going away, and not detaining them; to which I replied that I should take what time was necessary.

The only time that was lost was by the insolent behavior of Mr. Brewer and the others.

Having seen the register, and being satisfied that she was a regular trading vessel, I made no further inquiries, but left the vessel, requesting she would not make sail until I got on board the "Grecian," to make the report of her.

I came on board the "Grecian," then within hail of the "Susan ;" and having reported her, you immediately hailed her to go on.

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From the time she first hove to until she filled again did not exceed half an hour; and the time occupied by me in examining her register, when once produced, did not exceed five minutes.

The whole affair occupied as little time as possible, having been ordered to return immediately, in order to rejoin the Ganges prize slave brig, from which we had parted company, and being anxious about her, lest she should have been deceived by the lights seen from the "Susan," and mistaken them for Cape Frio light, which was not then visible.

And I further state that I am ready, if called upon, to substantiate on oath the foregoing statement. I have, &c.,

N. B. PEARSE, Master of H. M. sloop " Grecian."

[Enclosure.]

Mr. Stevenson to Lord Palmerston.

Mr. Stevenson presents his compliments to Lord Palmerston, and has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of his lordship's note of the 23d in

stant, relative to the case of the American ship "Susan," of Boston, submitted for the consideration of her Majesty's government in August last. Mr. Stevenson will take an early opportunity of transmitting Lord Palmerston's note to his government, and avails himself of this opportu nity to renew to his lordship assurances of his high consideration. 32 UPPER GROSVENOR ST., April 27, 1840.

Mr. Stevenson to Mr. Forsyth.

[Extract.]

LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES,
London, June 3, 1840.

I now transmit to you a copy of my note to Lord Palmerston, complaining of the outrage committed upon the American brig "Mary," of New Orleans, by one of the British cruisers on the African coast. No answer has yet been received, nor is it probable that one will be given for some time to come. Several of my former notes, in similar cases, remain un

answered.

[Enclosure.]

Mr. Stevenson to Lord Palmerston.

32 UPPER GROSVENOR ST., May 15, 1840.

The undersigned, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from the United States, has the honor to inform Lord Palmerston, her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that he has received instructions which make it his duty again to invite the attention of her Majesty's government to the continued excesses which, it appears, are still practised by British naval officers upon the vessels and commerce of the United States in the African seas; and more particularly to bring to its notice a recent aggression of a marked and extraordinary character, committed by the commander of one of her Majesty's cruisers upon an American brig on the high seas, and which, in the opinion of the President of the United States, calls for the immediate action of her Majesty's government.

To enable Lord Palmerston to judge of the nature and extent of this outrage, the undersigned has the honor of transmitting to his lordship the accompanying documents, detailing the whole proceeding, amongst which will be found the original log-book of the American brig from the time of her sailing from the Havana to that of her return to that port, four or five months after.

From these papers, it appears:

That on the 21st of June, 1839, an American brig called the " Mary," the property of Peter Sabate, of the city of New Orleans, and under the command of Captain David Tomlinson, (both citizens of the United

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