Richmond Enquirer

SEIZURES AT SIERRA LEONE.

Extract of a letter to a gentleman in this town dated,

SIERRA LEONE, July 24.

"For your information I beg leave to state the proceedings here against several vessels of the United States, which appear to us to have been lawfully trading on this coast.

"On the 18th of May two vessels were observed off the Cape; and on the 19th the governor despatched the collector of the customs with two armed boats, who seized, and brought them both into this port; the one proved to be the schooner Hiram, of Newport, which was under way when seized, distant from the Cape about 3 leagues, endeavoring to get round the Shoals of St. Ann, but calms and contrary winds had prevented her for two or three days. The other proved to be the brig Frances, of New-York; which was at anchor, when seized, waiting for an anchor, the captain had purchased from a merchant here, without which he could not with safety proceed to the leeward. The depositions of the principal officers of both vessels being taken, it was judged expedient to release the Frances, although, in my opinion, both were guilty of an equal offence, if any. The Hiram being now detained for adjudication, the next and most difficult point was to find evidence sufficient to condemn her; for which purpose people were sent along the coast as far as the Banana Islands, where the vessel had previously been trading; a distance upwards of thirty miles, and without a doubt beyond the jurisdiction of this court, consequently they had no authority whatever to enquire into any transactions the captain might have had there; they however took the depositions of several negroes to whom the captain had given a few heads of tobacco, for a little wood and water. With the above evidences, and her transactions at Goree, it was concluded they had sufficient grounds to effect the desired purpose. The trial came on the 27th June, when she was condemned (few vessels are tried at this court and released) as good and lawful confiscation and forfeiture to his majesty.

"At the trial it was stated by the learned judge, that the vessel's transactions at the Island of Goree were alone quite sufficient to condemn her, it being a dependency of this colony, and that all foreign vessels anchoring there were liable and subject to condemnation. This is something new, as it never was before considered, and in fact it is the opinion of most people here, that it is not a dependency of this colony, being merely a settlement taken from the French and ceded to them by the last treaty. But allowing it were a dependency, the captain had permission from the Governor for the business he did there, which was merely the selling and landing of a few provisions to himself, for the use of his Majesty's troops stationed there and in the river Gambia; consequently one would imagine he was perfectly safe--I am however very sorry to find it otherwise.

"The next vessel that arrived here was the ship General Lincoln, capt. Swan, from Boston, who cleared out for Sierra Leone, a very considerable part of her cargo being for the governor, which was verbally contracted for when Mr. Swan was here, about six months ago; but no sooner was the vessel at anchor, than to the great astonishment of capt. Swan, she was seized for so doing; however, in consequence of the contract, it was considered rather unjust to condemn her: she was therefore, after a few days detention, set at liberty, with special orders to the captain to get under weigh and depart from the colony immediately. I conclude by giving you my most candid advice, that should you be inclined to fit out a vessel for this coast, do not upon any account whatever allow her to come even in sight of Sierra Leone."