Vice-Admiralty Court report on seized 'Josefa'
Vice-Admiralty Court report on seized 'Josefa'


Royal NavyWest Africa slave trade ► William Loney prizes 

I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship abstracts of the particulars of the cases of two Brazilian brigs, named the "Josefa" and "Phenix," an unknown barque, and a brigantine called the "Feliz Sociedade," adjudicated in the Vice-Admiralty Court of this colony on the 6th and 9th instant respectively, for being engaged in the Slave Trade.

The two Brazilian vessels were condemned, and ordered to be broken up, and sold in separate parts. The other two being unseaworthy, had been destroyed by the captors. They were pronounced to have been liable to forfeiture at the time of seizure as vessels not entitled to the protection of any flag, and such portions thereof respectively as were brought to St. Helena condemned. All these vessels were fully equipped for the Slave Trade and taken on the coast of Africa; the "Josefa," by Captain Eden, of Her Majesty's ship "Amphitrite," the three others by Commander McMurdo, of Her Majesty's sloop " Contest."

One of the Brazilian vessels had cleared out from Bahia to Para, and the other from Macahe to Rio de Janeiro.

I have, &c.
(Signed) W. WILDE,
Judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court.


Inclosure 1.

Abstract of the case of the Brazilian brig "Jozefa."

BRAZILIAN brig "Jozefa."
Master, Manoel Ferreira d'Azevedo.
Owner, Manoel Pereira Guimaraes Caldas.
Crew found on board, 30 persons.
Detained on the 8th [actually: 18th] September, 1848, in latitude 4° 40' north, and longitude 3° 15' east, by Thomas Rodney Eden, Esquire, captain of Her Majesty's ship "Amphitrite."
Had spare plank fitted and laid down as a slave-deck, a boiler of an unusual size, an extraordinary quantity of farinha, beans, jerked beef, and water, beyond what was probably requisite for the use of the crew of the vessel as a merchant vessel, and other slave equipments.
Arrived at St. Helena on the 24th day of October, 1848, under the charge of Mr. Sanders, midshipman of Her Majesty's ship "Amphitrite."
Adjudicated on the 9th November, 1848.
Condemned and ordered to be broken up and sold.
Burthen, by register, 150 tons; old British measurement, 174½ tons; new British measurement, 137 tons.
Had on board the following papers, viz :-
1. Passport for a voyage from Bahia to Para, dated Bahia, 18th August, 1848.
2. Register dated Para, 28th January, 1848, countersigned at Bahia, 18th August, 1848.
3. An order to allow the vessel to proceed on her voyage, dated Bahia, 18th August,1848.
4. Copy of manifest, dated Bahia, 18th August, 1848.
5. A sealed letter from the Administrator of Customs at Bahia to the Inspector of Customs at Para.

(Signed) JNO. N. FIRMIN, Registrar.


Inclosure 2.

Judgment in the case of the "Jozefa."

In the Vice-Admiralty Court of St. Helena.

AT a Court holden at James Town, in the Island of St. Helena, on Thursday the ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, before the Worshipful William Wilde, Esquire, Judge and Commissary of the Vice-Admiralty Court of St. Helena, lawfully constituted and appointed:

Our Sovereign Lady the Queen against the Brazilian brig or vessel called the "Josefa" whereof Manoel Ferreira d'Azevedo was master, her tackle, apparel, and furniture, and the cargo laden therein, taken and seized by Thomas Rodney Eden, Esquire, captain of Her Majesty's ship "Amphitrite."

In pain of parties cited not appearing, Solomon referred to the monition heretofore brought in, duly executed, and also to the affidavits of Henry Droop Sanders, midshipman of, and belonging to, Her Majesty's ship "Amphitrite," and Peter Christian Gernet, native of Russia, heretofore exhibited and remaining in the Registry of this Court.

The Judge, at his petition, having heard the said affidavits read, on his motion as counsel on behalf of Her Majesty, by interlocutory decree, pronounced the said brig or vessel "Josefa," her tackle, apparel, and furniture, and the cargo laden therein, to have been, at the time of the seizure thereof, equipped for and engaged in the African Slave Trade, and employed in the illegal transport of negroes or others for the purpose of consigning them to slavery, contrary to the provisions of the statute or statutes in such case made and provided, and as such, or otherwise, subject and liable to forfeiture and condemnation to our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her heirs and successors, and condemned the same accordingly;

And further pronounced that the said cargo should be sold, and that the said brig or vessel (not having been taken into Her Majesty's service) should be broken up and be entirely demolished, and that the materials thereof should be publicly sold in separate parts, as in and by law in such case made and provided.



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