board, and the copy of a letter which I addressed in consequence to the Greek Chargé d'Affaires, together with his answer. I have, &c. The Earl of Aberdeen, K.T. STRATFORD CANNING. (Inclosure 1.)-Extract of a Despatch from Her Majesty's Consul in Candia, dated Canea, 7th October, 1843. A GREEK Vessel arrived a few days ago from Bengazi, with 9 slaves on board. I thought it my duty to draw the attention of His Hellenic Majesty's Consul, Mr. Peroglu, to this circumstance; but as the captain of the vessel was furnished with Turkish passports for these individuals, in which they were not designated as slaves, Mr. Peroglu, against the evidence of his own senses, decided that no blame could attach to the captain. (Inclosure 2.)-Sir Stratford Canning to M. Argyropulo. MONSIEUR, Buyukdery, Octobre 18, 1843. Dans la persuasion que Sa Majesté Hellénique a accédé aux grands Traités relatifs à la suppression du commerce des esclaves je me fais un devoir de vous communiquer l'extrait ci-joint d'une dépêche qui m'a été adressée par le Consul Britannique à Canée. Je vous prie, &c. M. Argyropulo. STRATFORD CANNING. (Inclosure 3.)—M. Argyropulo to Sir Stratford Canning. M. L'AMBASSADEUR, Péra, ce Octobre, 1843. J'AI l'honneur de remercier votre Excellence de ce qu'elle a bien voulu, par son office en date d'hier, me mettre à même de signaler à mon Gouvernement une contravention aux lois du Royaume Hellénique. La loi fondamentale de mon pays déclare libre tout esclave qui aurait mis le pied sur le sol Hellénique. Une ordonnance royale émanée en 1841, et changée en loi, prescrit la punition infligée aux capitaines qui auraient pris les esclaves à leur bord. Je ne manquerai pas, M. l'Ambassadeur, d'interpeller le Consul de Sa Majesté Hellénique en Candie sur cet acte, et de m'en rapporter à mon Gouvernement. Je suis bien persuadé qu'on prendra toutes les mesures nécessaires pour faire découvrir et punir le délinquant. S.E. Sir Stratford Canning. Veuillez, &c. M. J. ARGYROPULO. No. 92.-Sir Stratford Canning to the Earl of Aberdeen. MY LORD, (Received December 27.) Buyukdery, December 5, 1843. REFERING to a former despatch upon the same subject, I have the honour to inclose herewith, for your Lordship's information, a copy of a letter addressed to me by the Greek Chargé d'Affaires at this Court, in answer to a communication from me on the subject of a Greek vessel which arrived at a port of Candia some weeks ago with slaves on board, and the conduct of the Greek Consul there respecting it, as reported to me by Mr. Ongley. The immediate and serious notice which King Otho's Government have taken of the case in question, will no doubt be satisfactory to your Lordship, though it is but fair to remark that M. Argyropulo acquits the Greek Consul of any evil intention. The Earl of Aberdeen, K.T. I have, &c. STRATFORD CANNING. (Inclosure.)-M. Argyropulo to Sir S. Canning. 22 Novembre, 1843. Péra, ce 4 Decembre, Oc M. L'AMBASSAdeur, Je me suis fait un bien empressé de répondre en date du tobre, à votre office concernant les informations parvenues à votre Excellence par rapport à la conduite du Consul Hellénique en Candie sur la question du commerce des esclaves. 25 Octobre Le Ministre des relations extérieurs, Mr. Metaxà, par sa dépêche du 6 Novembre approuve complètement les observations que j'avais adressées à M. le Consul, et m'autorise, M. l'Ambassadeur, de vous faire part que le Gouvernement Royal avait depuis longtemps expédié, conformément à notre législation, des ordres très-sévères sur la prohibition de ce commerce de la part des capitaines Grecs ou autres sujets de Sa Majesté: que dans cette occasion le Ministère venait d'adresser des observations très sérieuses au même Consul, en lui ordonnant de procéder à un interrogatoire bien approfondé sur le fait dénoncé. En faisant part à votre Excellence des nouvelles assurances du Ministère Royal à ce sujet, je crois devoir encore porter à sa connaissance que dans un long rapport que je viens de recevoir de M. Peroglou, notre Consul en Candie, il tache de se justifier par des faits et des témoignages d'une accusation qu'il affirme, n'avoir pas méritée. Ce serait abuser trop des précieux moments de votre Excellence que de lui transmettre la traduction de ce rapport. dois néanmoins à la vérité de dire qu'il m'est difficile de croire que M. Péroglou, une personne très recommandable et très favorablement connue en Grèce, ait un instant oublié ce qu'il doit à sa propre dignité et à celle du Gouvernement qu'il représente, au point d'agir [1843-44.] 20 Je contre les instructions de son Gouvernement, et contre les lois de son No. 93.—Mr. Ongley to the Earl of Aberdeen.—(Received Oct. 28.) MY LORD, Canea, in Crete, October 6, 1843 I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship, that for the last 2 years the trade in slaves between this port and that of Bengasi has been increasing. For some time I have had reason to suspect that the masters of vessels under the Hellenic flag have suffered slaves to be embarked on board their vessels: and my suspicions were confirmed by my seeing the brig Achilles, Captain Manoli Logotheti, under that flag, enter this port on the 25th September with passengers on board, some of whom I easily distinguished to be slaves. I immediately sent information of this to the Cousul of His Hellenic Majesty, Mr. Péroglu, who, after seeing the captain, informed me that the individuals alluded to were passengers, that they were thus qualified in the Turkish bill of health; that each passenger was furnished with a passport from the Turkish authorities at Bengasi; and that, therefore, no blame could attach to the captain. He further went on to say that the captain had declared to him that he had been offered slaves on freight, and that he would not take them, knowing that it was unlawful. I replied that it was evident that there were slaves on board; upon this the Consul proposed to me to accompany him to see them in the Lazaret, where they had already been landed. We therefore procured a Dragoman who could speak Arabic, and on arriving at the quarantine ground found some of the passengers (Arabs), and 9 blacks, of which 2 were females and 7 males, 3 of whom apparently were between 10 and 13 years of age. They were dressed in the common blanket in which slaves brought here are usually clad. We asked them whether they were slaves; to which one or two replied they were not; but before we interrogated them, an Arab, who evidently appeared to be their owner, said something to one of them which we did not understand, probably to the effect that they were to say that they were not slaves. Whilst they were saying they were free and not slaves, one of them gave a knowing wink to our interpreter, as much as to say we are not telling the truth. Mr. Peroglu said he felt pretty sure they were slaves, but as the captain had got his papers in order, he did not see that any blame could attach to him, and he has therefore allowed the vessel to sail. Nothing can be easier than for a captain sailing with slaves from one Turkish port to another to have his papers so arranged, as that the slaves may appear to be passengers, especially if the master be, as in the present instance, unprovided with any document from a European authority at the port of his departure. In speaking of the Treaty against the trade in slaves, Mr. Peroglu designated it as "Un Traité illusoire," and certainly it is so, if the masters of Hellenic vessels be allowed to screen themselves by arguments so frivolous as those which have now been brought forward. The fact is that Mr. Peroglu holds it as an axiom, that an Hellenic is always in the right, and it is only in some very glaring case that he departs from this rule, The Earl of Aberdeen, K.T. I have, &c. H. S. ONGLEY. SIR, TURKEY (ALBANIA). CONSULAR. No. 94.-The Earl of Aberdeen to Mr, Saunders. Foreign Office, August 16, 1843. I REFERRED to Her Majesty's Advocate-General your despatches, dated August 5, and September 30, of 1842, on the case of the Ionian boat Madonna Mirtiotissa, detained at Prevesa, as it would appear by your authority, and sent for trial to Corfu, on a charge of having been illegally concerned in Slave Trade. I have now to state to you, for your information and guidance, that Her Majesty's Law Adviser has reported it to be his opinion that Her Majesty's Consul has not, in any case whatever, a right to detain an Ionian vessel in a Turkish port, on the ground of that vessel having infringed either British or Ionian law; and that this injunction would apply more especially to a case where there is property belonging to Turkish or other foreign subjects on board. I am, &c. Sidney S. Saunders, Esq, ABERDEEN. MUSCAT. No. 96.-The Imaum of Muscat to the Earl of Aberdeen. Zanzibar, 3rd Mohunum, 1259 (3rd February, 1843). (Translation) THE cause of my writing this letter is to inquire after your Excellency's health, and should you wish to know how I am, then, through God's mercy, I am well and happy. Afterwards know that your excellent letter, sent me by my trusty friend Ali bin Naser, reached me; and my true friend, the said Ali bin Naser feels the kindness shown him by your Excellency, and I feel the greatest gratitude for the consideration and kindness of Her Most Gracious Majesty, and also for the good-will of your Excellency, and I pray the Almighty God to preserve Her Most Glorious Majesty to the end. Whatever is in my power to do, to meet the wishes of Her Majesty, I am always ready to do, and likewise whatever you may require of me, and peace be on you. From the expecting slave of God, SAID BIN SULTAN. SIR, No. 97.-The Earl of Aberdeen to the Imaum of Muscat. Foreign Office, August 2, 1843. It is with pleasure that I seize the opportunity of the departure of Captain Cogan, of the Honourable East India Company's Navy, for Zanzibar, to address myself to your Highness. Your Highness is well aware of the unceasing desire of the Government and people of this country for the entire extinction of the cruel traffic in slaves. And therefore your Highness will easily believe, that it is not without pain that Her Majesty's Government have recently learnt that vessels from your Highness's dominions are in the habit of supplying the market of Quillemane, in Mozambique, with human beings for sale. I hasten to acquaint your Highness with this fact, in the certainty that your Highness will be anxious to put an end to a practice, on the part of your subjects, which is so much at variance with the spirit of the Treaty of the 10th September, 1822, between Her Majesty and your Highness, prohibiting distinctly the "carrying slaves for sale to Christian nations." I send to your Highness, with this letter, an extract from a communication which I have received, giving an account of these transactions. Your Highness is doubtless aware, that the British GovernorGeneral in India is pursuing every measure within his power for |