The full content of this document is only available to subscribing institutions. More information can be found via www.amdigital.co.uk
If you believe you should have access to this document, click here to Login.
| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC05832.01 |
| From Archive Folder | Collection of documents related to stopping the African slave trade |
| Title | Extract of a dispatch from Mr. Crawford to Lord Clarendon |
| Date | 6 May 1857 |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | A manuscript extract from a May 6, 1857 dispatch from British consul at Havana, Joseph T. Crawford, to Lord Clarendon, giving names and tonnage of five American vessels sent to Havana, presumably for the slave trade. The ships are the schooner "Abbot Devereaux," brig "R.B. Lawton," schooner "J.H. Record," barque "Clara B. Williams" and barque "Minetonka." This is followed by a one paragraph update, written in the same hand as the extract, and signed "G.G.," noting the August 1, 1857 capture of the "Abbot Devereaux," with 266 slaves on board, by the HMS "Frazer" and the September 2, 1857 capture of the "Restauracion" by the HMS "Alecto." The excerpt from Crawford's dispatch reads, in part: "Besides the great number of Vessels which it is known have been bought in the Ports of the United States to be employed in Slave Trading, the following American Vessels have been purchased and have come here to be sent to the coast of Africa...The first mentioned cleared for Monrovia [Liberia] - The last mentioned for 'Madagascar,' the others for Boston; All these vessels sail under the flag of the United States until they have got their cargo of slaves on board and most likely even after that they will use American colors, if fallen in with by any of Her Majesty's Cruizers, altho' they have no Papers of nationality whatever on board. The Spanish Brig 'Venus' which cleared out in ballast from this Port for Buenos Ayres, is also said to have proceeded to the Coast of Africa for a Cargo of Slaves, as well as the Ship 'Restauracian' from Matanzas." George William Frederick Villiers, Earl of Clarendon was the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Parts of Crawford's correspondence with him regarding the use of Havana by American-registered ships to further the illegal slave trade were ultimately sent to President James Buchanan, who shared them with Congress. That correspondence reveals the friction between the two nations: British officials complained that the Americans were not doing enough to police their own ships; the Americans claimed the British were harassing legitimate vessels. |
| Subjects | African Squadron African American History Slavery Slave Trade Navy Government and Civics Africa Global History and Civics Maritime Foreign Affairs Caribbean Latin and South America Colonization American Flag |
| People | Clarendon, George William Frederick Villiers, Earl of (1800-1870) Crawford, Joseph T. (fl. 1857) |
| Place written | Havana, Cuba |
| Theme | African Americans; Slavery & Abolition; Naval & Maritime; Foreign Affairs |
| Sub-collection | The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859 |
| Additional Information | George William Frederick Villiers, Earl of Clarendon, was the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
| Related documents | Letter from Thomas P. Pelot to William McBlair reporting the events that led to the British capture of the slave trading ship "Clara B. Williams" |