Folios 40-41: Frederick Paul Irby, No. 30 Lower Grosvenor St. Representing his own...

Folios 40-41: Frederick Paul Irby, No. 30 Lower Grosvenor St. Representing his own interests and those of other captains commanding HM ships off the coast of Africa and charged with the suppression of the slave trade, he claims there are several instances where ships detained and condemned by the Vice Admiralty court at Sierra Leone, have been restored to their owners, but the expenses incurred by the Navy captains have not been allowed. This has happened because the Appeal court has not understood that some places on the Bight of Benin do not belong to the Portuguese, who have pretended ownership in order to continue their 'unjust and inhuman traffic' in violation of the Treaty. He is quite sure no Portuguese vessel has ever been wrongfully detained, as their Lordships' instructions were quite clear following the letter from Lord Castlereagh dated 6 May 1813. Only one of the cases has so far been heard, that of the Amelia, condemned at Sierra Leone, and he heard that she was known to belong to a house in Liverpool - she has been restored to them and he is sure that the others will also be restored and it will seem obvious to all that they have only to appeal to be successful. In such circumstances he asks that at least the captors may be allowed their expenses.