Slave Trade during the intended voyage, such bond to be forfeited if the vessels should be so illegally employed. D. Webster, Esq. I avail, &c. JOHN F. CRAMPTON. SIR, (Inclosure 2.)-Mr. Webster to Mr. Crampton. Washington, December 11, 1851. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 9th instant, calling my attention to some suggestions which are offered with a view to their adoption by this Government for the more effectual prevention of the African Slave Trade; and to state to you, in reply, that they will be taken into respectful consideraI avail, &c. tion. J. F. Crampton, Esq. DANL. WEBSTER. No. 671.-Mr. Crampton to Viscount Palmerston.-(Rec. Jan. 21.) I HAVE the honour to inclose the copy of a note which, in obedience to the instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch of the 5th ultimo, I have addressed to The United States' Secretary of State, respecting the practice, by American citizens, of decoying negro lads from Jamaica to be sold into slavery in The United States. I have, &c. Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B. SIR, JOHN F. CRAMPTON. (Inclosure.)—Mr. Crampton to Mr. Webster. Washington, January 3, 1852. I AM instructed by Her Majesty's Government to bring to the knowledge of the Government of The United States a system, to the existence of which the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been called by Her Majesty's Consuls in the ports of Norfolk and New York; I mean that of decoying negro lads for the purpose of selling them into slavery in The United States, which appears to have been for some time practised by passengers in United States' vessels touching at Jamaica. I herewith inclose an extract of a despatch which has been addressed to Her Majesty's Legation, in regard to a case of this sort, by Her Majesty's Consul at Norfolk; together with a correspondence which has taken place between himself and the mayor of that place relating thereto. Her Majesty's Consul was directed by me to resort to every means which the laws of The United States afford for bringing to justice any persons who may be found committing such an offence; and similar instructions have been addressed to Her Majesty's Consuls in other ports.. I am directed to say that Her Majesty's Government feel confident that the Government of The United States will instruct their authorities to take every legal means of checking such criminal proceedings, and of bringing to justice any offenders in The United States who may be concerned in them. D. Webster, Esq. I avail, &c. JOHN F. CRAMPTON. SIR, No. 672.-Earl Granville to Mr. Crampton. Foreign Office, January 27, 1852. I HAVE received your despatch of the 4th instant, inclosing a copy of a letter which, in conformity with the instructions contained in Viscount Palmerston's despatch to you of the 5th December last, you addressed on the 3rd instant to Mr. Webster on the subject of the abduction of negro boys from Jamaica by United States' citizens; and I have to inform you that I approve of that letter. J. F. Crampton, Esq. copy I am, &c. GRANVILLE. No. 673.-Mr. Crampton to Viscount Palmerston.-(Rec. Feb. 5.) MY LORD, Washington, January 17, 1852. WITH reference to my despatch of the 4th instant, inclosing the of a note which, in obedience to the instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch of the 5th ultimo, I had addressed to The United States' Government, in regard to the practice by American citizens of decoying negro lads from Jamaica to be sold into slavery in The United States; I have now the honour to inclose a copy of the reply of The United States' Government to my communication. Mr. Webster therein states that no instance of this practice has yet been brought to the knowledge of The United States' Government; but adds, that if any such case should be brought by Her Majesty's Legation to the knowledge of the Department of State, the attention of the proper officers shall be immediately directed thereto. Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B. SIR, I have, &c. JOHN F. CRAMPTON. (Inclosure.)-Mr. Webster to Mr. Crampton. Washington, January 14, 1852. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 2nd instant, in which, by direction of Her Britannic Majesty's Government, you bring to the knowledge of that of The United States, the alleged existence of a system which is supposed to have been for some time practised by passengers in United States' vessels touching at Jamaica, of decoying negro lads for the purpose of selling them into slavery in this country; and expressing the, confidence felt by Her Majesty's Government, that this Government will direct its authorities to take every legal means of checking such criminal proceedings, and of bringing to justice any offenders in The United States who may be concerned in them. In reply, I have the honour to inform you, that the information communicated in your note is the first which has been received by this, or, it is presumed, by any other Department of the Government of The United States, in regard to the practice to which you refer. Indeed I am not aware of a single instance of kidnapping coloured persons, inhabitants of the British West India Islands, by persons on board of vessels of The United States touching at those islands. If, however, there have been such cases, and those persons so kidnapped should have been brought to The United States, the laws of the several States, and of The United States, afford them ample means of asserting their claims to freedom, and of punishing those concerned in the attempt to deprive them thereof. Should you at any time think proper to make known to this Department any such case, the attention of the proper officers shall be immediately directed to the subject. J. F. Crampton, Esq. I avail, &c. DANL. WEBSTER. No. 674.-Earl Granville to Mr. Crampton. SIR, Foreign Office, February 13, 1852. WITH reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the practice resorted to by passengers in American steamers touching at Jamaica, of kidnapping negro boys for the purpose of selling them as slaves in The United States, I transmit to you herewith copies of a despatch and of its inclosures on this subject which have been received at the Colonial Office from the Governor of Jamaica, together with a copy of Earl Grey's reply to Sir Charles Grey. J. F. Crampton, Esq. MY LORD, I am, &c. GRANVILLE. (Inclosure 1.)—The Governor of Jamaica to Earl Grey. Jamaica, December 27, 1851. I THINK it right to put into your Lordship's hands copies of a correspondence which has passed in relation to some young persons of colour, who, without any consent of their families, have been carried by The United States' steam-vessels from Jamaica to New York. I am happy to say that from all the inquiries and examinations I have been able to make, and from the time which has elapsed without any confirmation of the rumour of other persons having been carried to Norfolk in Virginia, and sold there as slaves, I am nearly satisfied that it must have been untrue. Earl Grey. I have, &c. CHARLES EDWARD GREY. P.S.-This despatch had been written when I received your Lordship's of the 28th November, 1851. The whole papers shall be immediately put into the hands of Her Majesty's AttorneyGeneral for Jamaica. C. E. G. SIR, (Inclosure 2.)-Consul Barclay to the Governor of Jamaica. I HAVE the honour to state to your Excellency, that I have placed on board of the British brig Nautilus, Faulkner, master, to sail this day for Kingston, 2 coloured boys, named Alexander Henriques and William Edwards, who were kidnapped from Jamaica by 2 passengers of the American steamer Illinois, on her last voyage to this port. I am credibly informed that this system of abduction is carried on by the American vessels, and particularly the steamers frequenting Jamaica, to a considerable extent. It is stated that no less than 14 boys were landed at Norfolk in Virginia, from the steamer Brother Jonathan, about a month since; and these, I fear, have already found purchasers, as Virginia is a slave State. I should have taken an earlier opportunity of laying these facts before your Excellency, had I not been desirous of ascertaining what action could be taken by the law authorities of The United States for the punishment of kidnappers; with this view I applied to the proper officer, who expressed his readiness to undertake the prosecution of the offenders, and took such preliminary measures for securing their apprehension as appeared expedient; but owing to their having probably taken the alarm, it has been impossible to find them, and the matter has fallen through. But although there is no chance of bringing the delinquents in this case to account, I am inclined to hope that a panic has been spread among their coadjutors, which may prevent the recurrence of similar attempts. I have, &c. The Governor of Jamaica. SIR, ANTHY. BARCLAY. (Inclosure 3.)-Mr. Pilgrim to the Mayor of Kingston. King's House, November 12, 1851. I AM directed by the Governor to send your Honour the inclosed copy of a letter from the British Consul at New York, and to say that it was received yesterday, and that his Excellency deems it right to communicate it without loss of time to your Honour. The Mayor of Kingston. I have, &c. T. F. PILGRIM. SIR, (Inclosure 4.)—The Mayor of Kingston to Mr. Pilgrim. Kingston, November 15, 1851. I RECEIVED your letter of the 12th instant, inclosing a copy of another from Mr. A. Barclay, British Consul at New York, relative to 2 persons of colour, Alexander Henriques and William Edwards, who were sent by him in the brig Nautilus, from New York to this port. On receiving your letter I sent for these persons of colour, and caused them to be examined at the Peace Office, and also James Still, who had been steward of the Illinois steamer, in which they were carried, and these 3 examinations I now inclose for the information of his Excellency the Governor. At the moment I received from you the above letter, another steamer from New York was coming up this harbour, and I believed it would consist with my duty to write Mr. Harrison, the American Consul, a letter regarding the abduction or carrying away youths from the island; and I inclose a copy of my letter to him on that subject. There is no doubt that many young people of both sexes crowd about the American steamers, both at the time of their arrival and departure, and curiosity urges the unsettled minds of youth to try adventures; but among civilized nations there is a strong reason pervading humanity to resist the rash and immature impulses of ignorance and poverty, which I would have hoped might have had its influence with the citizens of The United States. T. F. Pilgrim, Esq. I have, &c. H. MITCHELL. SIR, (Inclosure 5.)—Mr. Pilgrim to the Mayor of Kingston. King's House, November 24, 1851. WITH reference to my letter of the 12th instant, and to your Honour's reply of the 15th, I am directed by the Governor to inquire whether your Honour has obtained any information tending to confirm or to discredit the allegation that The United States' steam-vessel Brother Jonathan had landed as many as 14 persons of colour, inhabitants of Jamaica, at Norfolk in Virginia, where the vessel is said to have touched on its way from Kingston to New York. I have, &c. The Mayor of Kingston. SIR, T. F. PILGRIM. (Inclosure 6.)—The Mayor of Kingston to Mr. Pilgrim. Kingston, November 25, 1851. I HAVE received your letter of the 24th instant, in which his Excellency desires to know whether 14 persons of colour, inhabitants |