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cargo and destination of the vessel, behaved politely, encouraged us not to Vol. I. Ch. IX. feel alarm, as they intended us no injury. The captain was then ordered into the cabin, after which the whole company were taken individually upon deck, and required to confess if there was money on board; and there being none, negative answers were of course given. Having proceeded through the examination of the whole, threatening at the same time, if they found any money our lives should pay the forfeit, they again ordered us with the crew into the cabin, threw a blanket over the companion way, and placed a guard over us, the slaves were in the meanwhile kept in the hold, and a guard posted over them. After the lapse of a quarter of an hour, during which the pirates were making preparations to torture us into a confession that we had money on board, we were again summoned upon deck, beginning with the sailors, then the captain, mate, and passengers. The passengers were called in the following order; viz. Stephen W. Wikoff, captain John Campbell, William Inskeep, Cas. A. Warfield, W. Campbell. Those who remained behind in the cabin, from the sound of arms, the agonizing groans, and the prayers of their fellow passengers who went before them, and from the termination of their woful sufferings by the report of pistols, were convinced they were to suffer a cruel death. So regular and systematic were the arrangements, and so well calculated to inspire terror, and to fill the breasts of all with the most dreadful apprehensions, that every man marched upon the deck expecting to meet inevitable death. We were all in succession ordered upon the deck, and made to run the gauntlet through 15 or 20 most ferocious and barbarous monsters, disguised in the shape of human beings, from the cabin to the windlass, being beaten most cruelly and unmercifully with swords and pistols, until death would have been a welcome visitor. We were then ordered to sit upon the windlass, with our backs turned to them, there to be shot; they put the pistols to our heads and fired them, it is impossible to describe our feelings when, after the report of the pistols, we found ourselves still alive. This was the system of terror they adopted to compel us into a disclosure of our hidden riches as they imagined. We were immediately ordered into the forecastle, there to await their further vengeance. Language fails to convey an adequate conception of our astonishment and agreeable surprize, when we beheld our fellow passengers, who we believed were sacrificed to Spanish cupidity, and sunk into their watery graves, still breathing, but whose countenances communicated the cruel apprehension that harrassed their minds. In this place we remained ruminating upon our situation, and anticipating the most horrid consequence of Spanish barbarity. (It is worth while to mention, that when we were brought to the windlass we found it bloody, those hell hounds of war having, in order to convince us of the murder of our fellow passengers, killed a duck and sprinkled its blood on and about the windlass.) The sailor who had secreted himself being discovered, was barbarously beaten; the poor fellow, believing that we were all dead, in order to obtain some cessation of his tortures, told the pirates that he knew Mr. Wikoff had a box of money in the after hold. To get at this box they cut the cabin floor away, and broke a few of the lockers, but their search was in vain, for there was no money; they then recommenced to maltreat the sailor, who persisting in declaring that he knew there was a box of money on board, not being able to find it, they beat the sailor most cruelly. Mr. Wikoff was then ordered on deck, as he was ascending, a ruffian stabbed him in the thigh with a stiletto; being on deck he was again barbarously treated, being stabbed in several places, and beaten with swords and pistols; in vain he declared he had no money; in vain he declared his ignorance of there being any on board. To cap the climax of human suffering, they put a rope round his neck, and hoisted him up to the yard arm, then dropped him almost lifeless into the chains, then struck him with swords, calling out for money, but he was too far gone to answer; they again hauled him up to the yard

Vol.L. Ch. IX. arm, and when he was apparently dead, they dropped him into the water, then drew him up and threw him into the long boat, which was alongside the brig; when he was able to move they drew him on deck and beat him back into the forecastle. At the sight of him bleeding profusely from several wounds, weakened from the loss of blood, and almost drowned, we all again were certain of undergoing the same cruel treatment. In this horrid state of suspense we were suffered to remain for hours. Being disappointed in the object of their pursuit, they commenced to plunder the brig of every thing that was valuable- the captain of all the brig's papers, and his desk, with all his private papers; and the passengers of all their valuable papers of every description, and trunks with all their contents. They robbed us of all our clothing, watches, breast-pins, and in fact of every thing except what we had on our backs. About the same time that they brought the Aurilla to anchor, they brought the brig Hiram of Newport, captain Weeks, and as near as we could ascertain, the captain and his crew suffered severely. About five hours after they had captured us, they saw three sail crossing the bank, they or dered the captain to remain until morning for further orders, and that if he attempted to violate his orders, all hands should be murdered, and the brig set on fire; then made sail in chace of the three vessels, succeeded in capturing two of them, and then returned to the anchorage near us. At eight o'clock P. M. they came on board of us again, ransacked the brig, and took away every thing they could find, even of the most trifling consideration.

At day light a large party came on board and made a thorough search throughout the brig, not the least thing or place was left unsearched. At this time they left us scarcely any thing on board, a short allowance of provisions, and a few large boxes of furniture which they were unable to take away. They took likewise our colours, a new hawser, and the brig was robbed of every thing. It is impossible to conjecture what would have been our lot, had they not have captured so many vessels about the same time. About ten A. M. they ordered the captain to cut his cable and be off immediately, the order was no sooner given than executed. A short time after the cable was cut, and as we were making sail, we saw a boat with a number of the pirates on board approaching us, we experienced the most terrible apprehension of a speedy death. For some minutes we remained in the agony of suspense, until they boarded us, and demanded of the captain, in Spanish, his carpenter; there being no carpenter on board or attached to the vessel, the captain answered that there was no carpenter on board. How ever they still persisted that there was one, and that if he was not delivered up immediately, they would murder all of us instantly. The ruffians fell to beating the captain, then the mate, most unmercifully. In the meantime some persons said, that an old negro man, by the name of Simon, was the carpenter, they fell to beating him, drove him into the boat, and took him off. They left us about half after ten in the morning, all hands employed in repairing our rigging and stowing away what little cargo they could not take away; the boxes, barrels, and packages nearly all broken open, some of which were robbed of part of their contents, and others torn to pieces; the quantity robbed we have not been able to ascertain.

as to

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Passport for
Shipping. (2)

TO all to whom these presents shall come, greeting, Thomas Earl of P. An English Lord High Admiral of England, &c. (or we A.B. C.D. E.F., &c. Esqrs. Lords Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral; or we the Commissioners or principal Officer of the Customs in the city or port of, &c.) do testify and make known, that G. H., Master or Commander of the ship called the Prince Frederic, hath appeared before us, and hath declared by solemn oath, that the said ship or vessel, containing about two hundred tons, of which he is at present Master, as aforesaid, doth belong to the inhabitants of, &c. within the dominions of the King of England; and in regard that it would be more acceptable to us, that the said Master or Commander be assisted in his just and lawful affairs, and we hereby request you, and every of you, wheresoever the said Master or Commander shall arrive with his ship and the goods laden on board, and carried in her, that you will please to receive him courteously, and use him kindly, and admit him, upon paying the lawful and usual customs, and other duties, to enter into, remain in, and pass from your ports, rivers, and dominions, and there to enjoy all kind of right of navigation, traffic, and commerce, in all places where he shall think fit, without any interruption, which we shall most willingly and readily acknowledge, upon all occasions. In testimony and confirmation whereof we have with our hands signed these presents, and caused them to be sealed with our seal, dated the day of, &c. in the year, &c.

[The like form to be used by the King of France.]

The Consuls and Senators of the town of, &c. certify, that the ship, &c. commanded by, &c. belongs to our said town (or some other town) in Sweden, and is laden only with goods belonging to Swedes, and bound for the ocean, as the Master and Owners thereof have declared before us in our Court, desiring this certificate as a proof of the same; the ships and goods being thereby to be exempted from all taxes and vexations in the passage of the Sound and the Belt, according to the treaties between the two kingdoms. (3) In testimony whereof we have caused the seal of the town to be put to these presents, which we have likewise caused to be signed by the Clerk. Given, &c.

To the most Serene, most Illustrious, most Mighty, most Honourable and Prudent Lords, Emperors, Kings, Commonwealths, Princes, Dukes, Counts, Barons, Lords, Burgomasters, Sheriffs, Counsellors, Judges, Officers, Justices, and Regents of all cities and places, as well ecclesiastical as secular, who shall see or read these presents. We, Burgomasters and Governors of the City of, &c. do certify, that A.B. ship-master, appearing before us, hath declared by solemn oath, that the ship called, &c. containing about, &c. lasts, of which he is the present master, belongeth to inhabitants of the said United Provinces, so help him God; and as we would willingly see the said ship-master assisted in his just affairs, we do request you and every of you, where the above said master shall arrive with his ship and goods, that you will please to receive him courteously, and use him kindly, admitting him, upon paying the usual dues, tolls, and other customs, to enter into, remain in, and pass from your ports, rivers, and territories, and there to trade, deal,

(1) Ante, 1 vol. 438.

(2) As to passports and safe conducts, ante 1 vol. 492., see form, Post. Dict.

(3) See these ante.
(4) See form, Post. Dict.

A general maritime Passport for a Swedish or other Ship to pass the Sound

of Denmark.

Dutch Passport or Certificate for Ships that go from the United Provinces. (4)

Vol. I. Ch. X.

and negociate in any port or place, in such sort and manner as he shall desire, which we shall most readily acknowledge on the like occasion. In witness whereof we have caused the seal of our City to be hereunto put.

Vol. I. Ch. XI.

Licence to import Cambricks

and French Lawns under

7 G. 3. c. 43, (1)

CHAP. XI.

Forms relative to Importation and Exportation, &c. SINCE the publication of the first volume of this work, the laws restraining importation and exportation have undergone a very considerable change by the several statutes, 3 Geo. 4. c. 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45.

Seal.

WHEREAS

By the Commissioners for managing and causing to be levied and collected His Majesty's Customs, Subsidies, and other Duties, residing in London.

hath

given notice to us, the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs, that he intends to lade at

and to import into the Port of London,

in the

navigated according to law:

The said

Master, being a British ship,

is therefore, by virtue

of an Act of Parliament made in the seventh year of the reign of His present Majesty, intituled "An Act to amend and enforce the Acts of the eighteenth, "twenty-first, and thirty-second years of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Second, for the more effectual preventing the fraudu "lent importation and wearing of Cambrics and French Lawns," hereby licensed to import and land the said

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in the said Port of London, within thirty days from the date

of this Licence:

But the master or person taking charge of the ship importing the said is to deliver up this Licence to the Collector and Comptroller of the said Port of London, at the time of his or their entering the ship; and the name of the ship and master, together with the marks, numbers and contents of each package, are to be regularly endorsed on the back hereof, and this Licence annexed to the entry or report of the ship, on forfeiture of one hundred pounds.

Signed by us, the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs, at the Custom-
House, London, this

hundred and

Day of

One thousand eight

N.B No Licence to be granted for the
Importation or Landing of any Cam-
bricks or French Lawns,
in any
other package, or in any less quan-
tity than is directed and allowed by
the Act of the Thirty-second of
King George the Second.

(1) See ante, 1 vol. 524, n. 5. This is the common form printed in blanks.

Honourable Sirs,

Having sent me as a present from the Cape of Good Hope by the ship commander, four sheep, two deer, an ostrich, and six ducks; I am to request that your Honors will be pleased to order them to be landed and admitted to entry.

I am, very respectfully, Honorable Sirs,
Your most obedient and most humble servant,

Custom House, London, 6th December 1730. Whereas Henry Crisp hath given notice to us the Commissioners of his Majesty's customs, that he intends to lade at Rotterdam in Holland, and to import into the port of Southampton, two hundred pounds of cinnamon, one thousand five hundred pounds of nutmegs, six hundred pounds of cloves, six hundred pounds of mace;

The said Henry Crisp is therefore, by virtue of the several laws now in force, hereby licensed to import the said spice into the said port of Southampton in a British ship duly navigated; but the master, purser, or other person taking charge of the ship importing the said spice is to deliver up this licence to the collector and comptroller of the said port of Southampton at the time of his or their entering the ship; and the name of the ship and master, together with the marks and numbers of each cask, bale or parcel, and the quantity and quality of such spice, is to be regularly endorsed on the back hereof, and his licence annexed to the entry or report of the ship; otherwise the spice before mentioned will be forfeited, and deemed to be imported without a licence, and the ship importing the same will be subject

to forfeiture.

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* Or the Customer, or Collector and Comptroller of the port of importation.

To the Right Honorable the Lords of His Majesty's most Honorable
Privy Council.

The humble petition of

Sheweth,

of London, merchant.

That your petitioner having received orders from his partner, Mr.

of Kingston, in the island of Jamaica, to ship twenty muskets and bayonets, twenty cutlasses, and six barrels of gunpowder, for the use and defence of the inhabitants of that place;

That the ship Eliza, Robert Smith master, being about to proceed to Kingston in the said island of Jamaica ;

Your petitioner most humbly prays, that your Lordships will be pleased to permit the military stores above mentioned to be shipped on board the said ship Eliza, for Kingston in Jamaica, on giving the usual security; and, as in duty bound, your petitioner will ever pray, &c.

N. B. The like form will also serve for exporting of provisions.

If the goods imported be entitled to a premium after entry and delivery, the officers will examine them carefully, and see that they be cleansed and garbled from all dirt, dross, &c. and are in good merchantable condition,

(1) See Montefiore, 377. Sheep cannot in general be imported, see ante, 1 vol. 531.

(2) Montefiore, 374. ante, 1 vol. 584.

1 Edwards, Adm. Rep. 35.

(3) See ante, 1 vol. 538.544., and Post. Dict.

Vol. I. Ch. XI.

For Presents of live Animals or Birds from Foreign Parts to be landed and admitted to Entry. (1)

Old Form of

Licence for Im portation of Growth of

Nutmegs, &c.

Asia.

Petition for Leave to export Military Stores to Jamaica. (2)

Practical Proceeding to obtain

Bounty on Importation. (3)

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