ment of which the energies of Great Britain had for many years been perseveringly directed, the abolition of the Slave Trade.

The Spanish Government acknowledged the just claim of Great Britain upon the gratitude of Spain, and cheerfully consented to grant a request which was alike honourable to the nation which made it, and to the nation by which it was conceded. Accordingly, on the 28th of June, 1835, a Treaty was concluded and signed at Madrid, and afterwards ratified on the 27th of August following, Article I of which stipulates "that the Slave Trade is hereby again declared, on the part of Spain, to be henceforward totally and finally abolished in all parts of the world;" while the remaining Articles provide arrangements by which the general engagements of Article I shall be carried into execution.

It appears from statements, the authenticity of which cannot be disputed, that in 1859, 24 years after the conclusion of this Treaty, the Slave Trade between Africa and Cuba was carried on to a very large amount.

Her Majesty's Consular officers in Cuba have reported that not less than 15,000 slaves were introduced into Cuba in the year 1859. American newspapers give the names and other particulars of 85 vessels which have been engaged in the Slave Trade in the last 18 months, and other newspapers give the names of 26 vessels which have landed slaves in Cuba in the year 1859.

It is clear, therefore, that upwards of 12,000 Africans have been carried across the seas, and introduced into Cuba in the year 1859, and this statement, probably, falls short of the truth.

The Government of Her Britannic Majesty have in various despatches, and upon other and frequent occasions, pointed out the manner in which the obligations of Treaty between Spain and Great Britain, and the provisions of the Spanish laws, have been violated: they have also suggested various modes by which this nefarious and inhuman traffic may be extinguished.

The Undersigned is not instructed to repeat the observations which have so often been made upon this subject. But he is directed to refer in a pointed manner to the example of Brazil, who, from the moment she determined to fulfil her Treaty engagements to Great Britain, and to abolish the Slave Trade, found no difficulty in doing so.

The present state of things, therefore, as regards Great Britain and Spain, is one of embarrassment and uneasiness. The Government of Great Britain is reproached by public opinion for want of dignity in looking unmoved at the constant and systematic violation by Spain of the solemn engagements of the Spanish Crown. The Government of Her Catholic Majesty cannot but feel mortified at * Vol. XXIII. Page 343.

the just reproach under which Spain labours of not doing that which Brazil has faithfully, honourably, and completely effected.

The Undersigned is instructed, in this position of affairs, to ask the Government of Her Catholic Majesty what Spain proposes to do. How does the Spanish Government intend that the engagements of 1835 shall be fulfilled? What are the measures in operation, or in contemplation, by which the Spanish Government expects that the Slave Trade may be arrested and abolished.

Her Majesty's Government are persuaded that the Government of Her Catholic Majesty will be anxious to relieve Spain from a heavy reproach, and to render an honourable service to the cause of humanity by adopting efficient measures for the suppression of the Cuban Slave Trade. The Undersigned, &c. Señor Collantes.

SIB,

ANDREW BUCHANAN.

No. 107.-Lord J. Russell to Sir A. Buchanan.

Foreign Office, December 11, 1860. I TRANSMIT to you herewith, for your information copies of despatches as marked in the margin, which I have received from Her Majesty's Acting Consul-General at the Havana, on matters connected with the Cuban Slave Trade.

I have to instruct you to communicate officially to the Spanish Government the landings denounced by Mr. Crawford.

You will at the same time state that Her Majesty's Government learn with satisfaction, from a letter addressed on the 24th of October last by Mr. Crawford to the Captain-General of Cuba (copy of which is inclosed in Mr. Crawford's despatch of the 3rd ultimo), that the Spanish squadron has been recently successful in capturing slavers; and you will express the hope of Her Majesty's Government that the parties interested in the landings denounced by Mr. Crawford, as well as those implicated in the captured vessels, will not be allowed to escape the punishment merited by their crimes. I am, &c.

Sir A. Buchanan.

J. RUSSELL.

No. 108.-Sir A. Buchanan to Lord J. Russell.—(Rec. Dec. 22.) MY LORD, Madrid, December 17, 1860.

I HAD the honour to receive your Lordship's despatch of the 11th instant, and in conformity with the instructions therein contained, I have addressed a note to Marshal O'Donnell, of which I inclose a copy, calling the attention of the Spanish Government to various landings of negroes which have recently taken place in Cuba, and expressing the hope of Her Majesty's Government that the persons interested in them will be punished; and also those who may be implicated in the cases of the slave-vessels which Her

Majesty's Government observe with satisfaction have been lately captured by Spanish cruizers. I have, &c.

Lord J. Russell.

SIR,

ANDREW BUCHANAN.

(Inclosure.)-Sir A. Buchanan to the Duke of Tetuan.

Madrid, December 17, 1860. IN conformity with the instructions which I have received from the Principal Secretary of State of the Queen my Sovereign, I have the honour to bring before your Excellency's notice, the following statements, which Her Majesty's Government have received from Her Majesty's Acting Consul-General at the Havana, as to the activity with which the Cuban Slave Trade is still carried on.

Mr. Crawford, on the 24th August last, addressed a note to the Captain-General, stating that he had received reliable information of the landing a few days previously, in the district of Bahia Honda, of 850 Bozal negroes; and he was subsequently assured that a number of these negroes belonging to the slave-trader Durañoña, had been put ashore at an estate called Marguerita or Buena Vista at Creek La Mulata, in the vicinity of Los Pozos, on the 22nd of August, while others were brought to the Havana.

On the 1st of September Mr. Crawford again addressed the Captain-General, requesting information as to the circumstances of the arrest and subsequent release of some persons concerned in the landing of a cargo of negroes on the 27th of August, at Canasi, in the district of Matanzas, from a vessel supposed to be the Eloisa, commanded by the nephew of the slave-trader Captain Eugenio Viñas.

It appears that these negroes had been taken to an estate called Desquite, where they were placed under sequestration by the Governor of Mantanzas, until their future disposal should be decided by a court of law.

On the 1st of November Mr. Crawford called the attention of the Captain-General to a landing which had taken place some days previously at the Isle of Pines, of 350 negroes, who, it was believed, would be removed to Batabano by the steamer Cubano, in lots of 30 or 40; and he also stated that he had heard of other cargoes run at the same place during the year, which he had refrained from denouncing to his Excellency from his not having sufficiently satisfactory evidence of the facts.

The landing of the 350 negroes was corroborated by the Commander of The United States' steamer Wyandotte, and again on the 3rd of November Her Majesty's Consul-General reported to his Excellency the landing of 200 negroes near Trinidad, and some days subsequently of 600 near the same place. He found Marshal Serrano was already acquainted with the landing of these negroes, and that

he had taken measures for the punishment of the authorities who had connived at this breach of the law.

A despatch from Her Majesty's Consul-General in November also reports that The United States' schooner Major Barbour had sailed for New Orleans on the 16th of October, from whence it was believed she would proceed to the coast of Africa; that the schooner yacht Wanderer and the Spanish schooner Amalia were in port, and supposed to be intended for slave-voyages; and that the American brig Nancy had sailed for San Tomé and the River Congo, Marshal Serrano being unfortunately unable to prevent her clearance.

The Spanish brigantine Margarita of about 200 tons, was also said to be intended for the Slave Trade; and the American barque Lyra had been sold to notorious slave-traders.

In making this communication to your Excellency, I am to state that Her Majesty's Government have learnt with satisfaction from a letter addressed by Mr. Crawford on the 26th of October last to Marshal Serrano, that several captures of slaves have been recently effected by Her Catholic Majesty's cruizers; and I am to express the hope of Her Majesty's Government that the parties interested in the landings of slaves to which Mr. Crawford had called the attention of Marshal Serrano as above stated, and also that the persons implicated in the cases in which vessels have been captured, will not be allowed to escape the merited punishment of their I avail, &c.

crimes.

The Duke of Tetuan.

ANDREW BUCHANAN.

SPAIN (HAVANA).

CONSULAR.

No. 111.-Consul-General Crawford to Lord J. Russell.

MY LORD,

(Received April 28.)

Havana, March 19, 1860. WITH reference to my despatch dated the 5th instant, which inclosed to your Lordship a copy of my letter to the CaptainGeneral, dated the 25th ultimo, respecting a landing of slaves which was effected at Guantanamo, which I did myself the honour of reporting to your Lordship in my despatch of the 25th ultimo, I have to state to your Lordship that Brigadier Vargas has been superseded in the government of the Eastern District, and it is said, that his removal from that command (which has been usually conferred by the Crown of Spain, and is not in the gift of the CaptainsGeneral) was given rise to by his disrespectful answers in the [1860-61. LI.]

3 Y

correspondence which took place respecting that disembarkation of Bozals and the previous one, at Sigúa, near Santiago, referred to in a communication which I addressed to General Serrano on the 14th of January, a copy of which I now beg leave to lay before your Lordship.

The Brigadier Letona has been appointed to succeed Brigadier Vargas at Santiago de Cuba, until the pleasure of Her Majesty is known, and the Government of this city and district, held by M. Letona, has been conferred on M. Mantilla, the Government Secretary, who is succeeded (interim) by the Chief Clerk in that office. I have, &c.

Lord J. Russell.

JOS. T. CRAWFORD.

(Inclosure.)-Consul-General Crawford to the Captain-General of

Cuba.

Havana, January 14, 1860.

UNDER date the 8th instant, Her Majesty's Consul writes me from Santiago de Cuba, that a landing of slaves, 350 or 400 in number, had been effected about two days previous to that date, at or near Sigúa, by the same parties who about two years ago landed another cargo of Bozals at the same place, and the Consul adds that, as a vessel had been seen on fire off that part of the Coast, it is supposed that the slaver had been burnt after the landing of the negroes was effected. It is also stated that an American vessel which entered the port of Santiago, on the afternoon of the 6th, brought in some people said to be shipwrecked, but who, the Consul thinks, were part of the crew of the slaver referred to.

I hasten to communicate to your Excellency this information for such purpose of investigation as you may think fit to order.

The Captain-General of Cuba.

I have, &c.

JOS. T. CRAWFORD.

No. 121.-Consul-General Crawford to Lord J. Russell.

(Extract.)

(Received June 2.)

Havana, May 14, 1860. IN my despatch dated the 7th instant, I alluded to the existence of a company here and elsewhere in the island, for carrying on the Slave Trade.

I have now the honour of reporting to your Lordship, that, although I am unable to furnish the names of the subscribers, so as to denounce them and their illegal association to the Spanish authorities, I have obtained some information that is to be relied on as to the extent and magnitude of their arrangements.

The company, which was originated in this city, has interested