Correspondence, Original - Secretary of State: Correspondence from Dr R R Madden...

CO 318/140

1838

Correspondence, Original - Secretary of State: Correspondence from Dr R R Madden and the Foreign Office relating to the removal of 'liberated Africans' from Cuba. Richard Robert Madden was appointed superintendent of the liberated Africans and judge arbitrator in the mixed court of commission in Havana in 1836 under the provisions of a treaty between the UK and Spain concluded on 28 June 1835. He had previously been a special magistrate in Jamaica. Subjects covered are: Dr Madden:

• acknowledges despatch of 10 November relating to quarterly account of expenses;
• employment of condemned vessels as transports;
• case of the Blind Boy, and detention of a slaver under the equipment clause;
• account of expenditure for the last year;
• sends certificate of rate of exchange;
• manner in which the slave trade treaty is evaded;
• will attend to directions for drawing his salary;
• will pay stamp duty on his commission;
• report of his proceedings;
• acknowledges despatch informing him that the Romney will be sent out as a recruiting ship;
• will draw his salary quarterly;
• respecting hulk to be stationed in the harbour for the reception of captured Africans;
• thanks for the approval of his proceedings in the case of the Empresa;
• states that no slaver has been captured since his last report;
• universal adoption of Portuguese flag by Spanish slavers prevents captures being taken into Havana;
• acknowledges despatch giving Admiralty instructions to the commander of the Romney;
• adoption of Portuguese flag: captains of cruisers take their prizes to the nearest port, the Comus with prize has gone to Nassau;
• arrival of the Romney and demand for removal of the West India Regiment;
• states that no slaver has been captured since his last report;
• reports capture and condemnation of the Matilda with 259 slaves and that he intends sending them to Belize;
• proceedings in condemnation of the Spanish slaver Matilda;
• acknowledges despatch concerning 'coloured' guards on board the Romney;
• disposal of 17 'negroes' remaining from the cargo of the Matilda and tonnage duties on the Venus;
• period of his providing for liberated Africans and his complaints against Mr Schenley;
• reports that General Espeleta has assumed the government of Cuba in place of General Tacon;
• reports application by Mr Moffatt, an agent from Demerara, for liberated Africans and states objections to such mode of recruitment;
• discretionary power of distributing captured Africans exercised by captor;
• acknowledges correspondence respecting landing of guard on board the Romney and will renew the application to the new governor;
• acknowledges despatch as to selection of men at Bahamas for guard of the Romney;
• has sent certificate to the Treasury as required in order to obtain his salary;
• tonnage duties on the Venus;
• relief of troops on board the Romney;
• continued refusal of the Spanish governor to allow the troops on board the Romney to land;
• liberated Africans sent to Honduras;
• case of the Estella slaver wrecked off Jamaica;
• further on continued refusal of the Spanish governor to allow the troops on board the Romney to land;
• thanks for approval of his conduct;
• introduction of liberated Africans into other colonies on speculation;
• 'black' troops on board the Romney may be dispensed with and an overseer appointed;
• reasons why the chief commissioner wishes the removal of the Romney;
• a plan of instruction should be established for the Africans to acquaint them with the 'nature of their new condition';
• acknowledges receipt of despatch concerning tonnage duty on the Venus;
• political state of Cuba and other matters [letter addressed to Thomas Fowell Buxton];
• 'black' troops on board the Romney;
• complains that Lieutenant Jenkins, commander of the Romney, has entertained Mr Forcade 'a notorious slave dealer' to dinner).

• Dr Madden's complaint against Mr Schenley;
• correspondence with the Admiralty concerning the Romney;
• correspondence between the commissioners and the captain general of Cuba concerning the lazaret and receiving ship;
• suggestions for delivering 'negroes' over to the superintendent immediately after condemnation;
• proposal to remove 'negroes' liberated at Havana to British colonies;
• correspondence respecting 'black' troops on the Romney;
• certain 'negroes' found hidden in the Spanish schooner Vencedora by HMS Ringdove;
• refusal to allow the 'black' troops to land;
• removal of the emancipated 'negroes' from Cuba;
• 'black' troops employed as marines on the Romney;
• approves appointment of a chaplain;
• further respecting the 'black' soldiers employed on board the Romney;
• slavers taken under the Portuguese flag have to be dealt with;
• disposal of 'negroes' captured in the Matilde [or Matilda];
• further respecting the landing of troops from the Romney;
• remission of tonnage duty demanded in the case of the Venus;
• further respecting the landing of troops from the Romney;
• letter to the commissioners at Havana respecting the Romney hulk;
• Captain Fair's proposal concerning the slave trade.

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