Folios 10-11: John Tower, HMS Iris, Spithead. Reports complaints made by the British...

ADM 1/2609/3

1809 Aug 24

Folios 10-11: John Tower, HMS Iris, Spithead. Reports complaints made by the British Merchants on illegal practices being carried on and encloses communications with the Governor and Captain General of the Azores on this matter. These letters were procured with the help of an English gentleman William Purvis. These illegal practices will have been mentioned by Captain Henry Curzon, HMS Elizabeth and Captain Thomas James Maling, HMS Undaunted. States that HMS Consul at Fayal, Thomas Parkinson unworthy of his post.

Folio 12: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. Inventory of the nine subjoined papers with observations on them.

Folio 13-14: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. Thomas Reay and Co, Fayal to John Tower, HMS Iris, 29 July 1809. Complains of contraband and illegal trafficking taking place on the Azores, which is prejudicial to the British Merchants.

Folio 15: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. John Tower, HMS Iris to Messrs Reay and Co, 29 July 1809 Responds to reports of illegal traffic on the Azores and asks him to accompany him to Terceira, where the Government is placed to discuss the matter to the mutual benefit of both countries.

Folio 16: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. John Tower, HMS iris to Governor and Captain General of the Islands of the Azores, 31 July 1809. Provides a copy of the letter the Merchants wrote outlining the illegal traffic practices taking place in the Islands. Also reports two American vessels observed on the 22 and 26 June 1809 off the south end of Pico communicating with the shore and subsequent reports state tobacco was smuggled ashore. The Judge of Pico also reported a schooner with Frenchmen on board, communicating with the principal town of Pico.

Folios 17-18: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. Dom Miguel Antonio di Mello, Angra to John Tower, HMS iris,31 July 1809. Written in Portuguese, translated in Folio 19.

Folio 19: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. Dom Miguel Antonio di Mello, Angra to John Tower, HMS Iris, 31 July 1809. Translation of folios 17-18, which were written in Portuguese. States that he will inform the Treasury of the Islands of the Azores to do what it is their power to cease the abuses that he complains of. Discusses the case of Thomas Parkin smuggling Urzella weed and the involvement of the Consul.

Folios 20-21: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. Dom Miguel Antonio di Mello, Angra to John Tower, HMS Iris, 31 July 1809. Written in Portuguese, states the enclosed folios 22-23, also written in Portuguese was an order to the Chief Judge of the Pico Islands to regulate the market. Translation in full at folio 25.

Folios 22-23: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. Written in Portuguese, for translation see folio 24.

Folio 24: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. Dom Miguel Antonio di Mello, Angra to John Tower, HMS Iris, 31 July 1809. Translation of folios 22-23, written in Portuguese. Order to the Chief Judge of the different islands to regulate the market price of wine and provisions when any of His Majesty's Ships call there for necessary supplies. Thirteen Men of War, with their names listed, have been supplied by Mr Perkins, the British Consul, during the last three months and it is well ascertained that he charges above the prices stated in the Articles, which the American Consul and Vice Consul certify to be the market price.

Folio 25: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. Dom Miguel Antonio di Mello, Angra to John Tower, HMS Iris, 31 July 1809. Translation of folios 20-21, states that he has just written to the Juiz de Fora to avert the improper proceedings that have been complained about and enclosing a copy of the order to the Chief Justice of the Pico Islands to regulate the market.

Folios 26-27: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. Dom Miguel Antonio di Mello, Angra to John Tower, HMS Iris, 31 July 1809. Written in Portuguese and translated in folio 28.

Folio 28: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. Dom Miguel Antonio de Mello, Angra to John Tower, HMS Iris, 31 July 1809. Translation of folios 26-27. Outlines the complaint against James Alton, Vice British Consul resident in Angra in Terceira, who is involved in the smuggling of contraband trade, namely Urzella Weed.

Folio 29: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. John Tower, HMS Iris, 2 August 1809. Response to folio 28. Acknowledges complaint and advises that it has been forwarded to the Consul for his response to be made so that it can be referred to His Majesty's Ministers.

Folios 30-31: enclosure with folios 10-11 and stitched to folios 12-31. James Alton, British Consul, Angra 2 August 1809. Responds to the allegations made against him regarding the smuggling of contraband, namely Urzella Weed and advises that these have been officially referred to the Ambassador at the Court of Brazil.

Folio 32: enclosure with folios 10-11 (to which it is adhered). Admiralty note, asking do we send originals or copies with a response.

Cap T2

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