The Virginia Gazette

SPANISH INJUSTICE and BARBARITY:

As set forth in the Jamaica Courant of the 2d of February last, and contains divers Particulars worthy of the Publick's most serious Attention.

Jamaica,

Personally appear'd Andrew Connel, Master of the Schooner Mosquito, British-built, and belonging to William Pitt, Esq; on the Mosquito Shore, and made Oath on the Holy Evangelists, That he sailed from the Mosquito Shore the first Day of February, 1749, so, with a Cargo of Mahogany, Sarsaparilla, Cocoa, and Logwood, which was put on Board him there by his said Owner, William Pitt, Esq; the Proprietor thereof, and by him was order'd to proceed for the Island of Jamaica; that he had not touched, neither had he any Intention of touching at any Place until his Arrival there. That on his said Voyage, and in Sight of the West End of the Island of Jamaica, he was then becalm'd, and by a strong Current setting to the N W. he was carry'd towards the Shore of the Island of Cuba, within Sight of Cape Cruiz, at the Distance of seven or eight Leagues, but not nearer; that on the 21st of the said Month he there saw a Quarter-Galley, and two large Canoes, who gave him Chase, and came up with him, fired several Shot at him, and was then forcibly taken Possession of by one of the said large Canoes; that he then found them to be Spaniards, and as they said Guarda Costas, under the Command of a Commodore; and that they immediately began to plunder, strip his People, and beat them cruelly, and tormented them with Thumb-Screws to make them confess that they were Contraband Dealers, or had concealed Money on Board; they then tied this Deponent up to the Main Shrouds, and took from him his Buttons, Buckles, and every Thing of Value, as well as his Chest of Cloaths, Moveables in the Cabin, private Papers, and others belonging to his Vessel, and then made a very strict Search in his Hold, but found nothing but his Cargoe above-mentioned, and about ninety Pounds Jamaica Currency in Specie, which was put on Board him at Black River on the Mosquito Shore, and had been Part of the Subsistence of the Officers and Soldiers of the Detachment there. That they then gave Chase to a Sloop in Sight, fir'd at her, and forcibly took Possession of her, which he afterwards found to be the Sloop Experiment, William Finks, Master, the Property of William Dorrell, Esq: of the Island of Jamaica. This Deponent then told the Captain of the Quarter Galley, whom he heard called by the Name of Don Pedro, that his Vessel was the Property of British Subjects, that he was bound on a lawful Voyage, that he had not, neither was it in his Power to carry on any Contraband Trade on the Spanish Coasts, and therefore demanded he might not be molested or impeded in the Pursuit of his Voyage aforesaid: to which he was answer'd by the said Captain, that he had Orders from his Commodore to carry all Vessels he took to him, and then forcibly obliged this Deponent to go with them in Search of their said Commodore, whom in about six or seven Days they found lying at Anchor among the Islands of South-Keys, in the Island of Cuba, and found that he had several arm'd Vessels under his Command fitted out by the Royal Company of the Havanna; that the Commodore, whom this Deponent heard called by the Name of Don Francisco, came on Board his Schooner, and made a very strict Search, but found nothing except his Cargoe aforesaid. Then this Deponent again demanded, that he might not be impeded or molested in the Pursuit of his lawful Voyage aforesaid, but suffered to proceed, as he had committed no Breach of the Laws of any Nation; to which he was answer'd by the said Commodore, that he had Orders from the Governor of Trinidada, to carry all Vessels he took into that Place; and accordingly obliged this Deponent to proceed with him to Trinidada, where, on their Arrival, the Governor and Royal Officers came on Board, and ordered his Cargoe to be landed, and his Vessel to be haul'd up into the River, both which were accordingly executed; then open'd all his Letters, particularly those directed to his Excellency Edward Trelawny, Esq; and confin'd his People in Goal, and in the Day-time obliged them to carry Mortar and Stones for building some publick Edifice, and very often severely beat and ill treated them for not being able to undergo the Labour and Hardships imposed upon them; and particularly one Man, who refused to work, had his Neck put into the Stocks; the Hole happen'd to be too straight, the Governor himself jump'd upon the Stocks with his Feet, and almost choak'd the poor Wretch, who rather than die, submitted to carry Stones and Mortar. This Deponent, with two of his People were sent to the Havanna, where they arriv'd March the 12th, and were instantly confin'd in the Governor's Castle, where they remain'd 'til the first of April; and then, because his two People would not enter as Volunteers on Board their Men of War, they were forced on Board them, and Sent Prisoners to Spain; but this Deponent was very close confin'd 'til the 9th Day of August following, living in a most miserable and wretched Manner, both for Want of Victuals and Cloaths, notwithstanding his repeated Sollicitations and Petitions to the Governor for Redress, even desirous (from his great Sufferings) to be dispatch'd without either Vessel or Cargoe. To all which he receiv'd no Answer, but at last was forc'd on Board the Galga Man of War, Capt. Mahony, then bound for Spain, leaving some of his People at Work for the King, and others in the common Prison. That before he sail'd from the Havanna, he demanded of Mr. Britt, the Governor's English Interpreter, what was the Reason of his Vessel's being taken from him, and pray'd he might have a Copy of her Condemnation, if any such there was; or if she was not condemn'd, that he might have an Opportunity of making his Defence; and to this Purport also he sent Several Petitions to the Governor, but received no Answer, except from Mr. Britt, that all the Papers and Proceedings relating to this Affair were sent Home in the Man of War to Spain, where he must also go, and there he might possibly see it. That during this Deponent's Confinement in the Havanna, he was sent for twice and examin'd, the Purport of which was, concerning the Mosquito Shore, the Strength of the Fort and Garrison there, the Number of the Inhabitants, and the Force it would require to subdue it: and also concerning Rattan, and if it was evacuated: That he sailed from the Havanna Received from them for Provisions, &c. sold them.
Havana in the Galga Man of War, the 21st Day of August also, in Company with six more Spanish Ships bound for Spain; that in the Latitude of 33 they had a hard Gale of Wind, which lasted seven Days, and drove them on Shore on the Coast of Maryland, where this Deponent and above 30 more English Prisoners on Board the Galga regained their Liberty, by swimming ashore on the Wreck. And this Deponent further saith, that during his Confinement in the Havana, a Ship of about 200 Tons Burden, belonging to Virginia, bound to Antigua, missed her Port, fell to Leeward, and put into the Havana for Want of Water: that she had been in Port between two and three Months when he left the Havana, and was not then allowed to sail, but probably would be condemned. And also that a Ship belonging to Philadelphia, bound from thence to Rotterdam, was taken off Rotterdam and carried into the Havana, but was not condemned when he came away; that her People were forced on Board the Men of War that sailed for Spain, and the Ship unrigged and taken Possession of by the Spaniards.

And likewise a small Schooner belonging to Georgia, loaded at Lucca in Jamaica, with Rum, Sugar, &c. run ashore on a small Shoal near Coloradas, the People got on Shore, but the Vessel was plundered, and afterwards burnt, by a Spanish Boat, who found Means to make a good Prize of the Cargo; that immediately upon their Arrival at the Havana, the Master and People of the said Schooner were put in Prison without any Allowance, which when they complained of to Mr. Britt, the Governor's Interpreter, his Answer was, that it was the Governor's Orders, they must either eat Rock-Stones, or enter on Board the Spanish Men of War, which being generously left to their Choice, for their Health's Sake they preferred the latter. That Edward Strong, Master of a Turtling Sloop belonging to Jamaica, being in Distress for Want of Water, put into Trinidad, here his Vessel was immediately seized upon, and himself and People sent to the Havana, where they were imprisoned, and obliged to eat Rock-Stones, or enter on Board their Men of War; they likewise preferred the latter.

Total Loss suffered by the Schooner Mosquito, taken the 21st of February, 1750, amounts in the Whole to £898 l. 6s. 3 d.

The above Sum of £898 l. 6s. 3 d. is exclusive of two Chests of Regimental Clothes, such as Stockings, Shoes, Shirts, &c. put on Board the said Schooner at the Mosquito Shore, by the Commanding Officer there, to be returned to his Excellency the Governor's Regiment at Jamaica. And further this Deponent saith not.

Sworn before me
Andrew Connell.
this 14th Dec. 1750.
William Peete.