imposition, the poor soldiers from burdens they are not able to bear, and the Government from many embarrassments which may result from the awkwardness of incompetent agents.

In conclusion, I desire to say that great care will be used to guard against undue preferences of one class of applicants over others. With this view, at the proper time, a sufficient number of clerks will be employed to issue the certificates with the least possible delay, so that all may have an equal chance of making advantageous locations. ALEX. H. H. STUART, Secretary of the Interior.

THE SLAVE TRADE IN BRAZIL.

In December last the President communicated to Congress certain documents received from Mr. Tod, the American Minister in Brazil, relative to the slave trade carried on under the American flag. We make the following selections:

Mr. Tod, under date of the 16th of October, says that he is mortified to find that his predecessors have been compelled to report to the government frequent instances of the use of the flag of our country in the infamous traffic of carrying negroes from the coast of Africa to Brazilof American citizens being engaged in the abominable trade, and that he himself had been compelled to continue in making similar reports to the government.

The infamous traffic is yet carried on to an extent almost incredible. Not less than forty-five thousand negroes have been imported into Brazil within the last year. The poor creatures are not only separated from their homes and friends, but, on their passage, and frequently after their arrival at Brazil, are treated most brutally. More or less of every cargo are murdered on the voyage, and the survivors are too often used as mere beasts of burden. By far the greater portion of it is carried on in vessels built in the United States, and under the flag of our country.

Our consul at Rio, in the months of May and July, 1847, took sundry depositions, clearly establishing the fact that the American brig Senator proceeded to the coast of Africa, in the month of December, 1846, and brought to the coast of Brazil a large cargo of negroes. The depositions represent a scene of cruelty and horror indescribable.

Several depositions confirm the facts to which George C. Koeler deposed, viz.: that he shipped on board the "Senator" in Rio, in December, 1846, for a voyage to the coast of Africa, and back. Sailed on 3d January; arrived at Ambriz in about seven weeks, and there discharged part of cargo and left two passengers, either Portuguese or Brazilians. Next went to river Congo, and discharged more cargo; thence to Loango, where more was discharged; and thence to Cabinda, where balance was discharged. A part of the time deponent was at Cabinda, he was so ill as to be insane. While there, after everything was taken out of said vessel, the mate, Mr. Miller, went ashore one morning, and returned about eight the same morning, and called all hands aft, and said that the vessels was to take in slaves, and the hands might either remain or go

ashore, as they pleased. I could not go on shore, and was compelled to remain. After this the Portuguese captain came on board, and the crew went to work to make all ready to receive the slaves. The mate worked with the rest, and aided in receiving the slaves, who were brought aboard the same afternoon, and about dark the vessel went to sea. Captain Kelly was very sick ashore at this time, and was left there. He left the vessel the day we arrived, and did not come on board afterwards. Took on board 933 slaves. 74 died in the hole the first night, from suffocation, the slaves lying on top of each other, the hold was so crowded. The deck also was so crowded, I could not well move about. Only six hundred and fifty were alive on their being landed, which was done about ten miles to the north of Cape Frio. Most of the slaves who died perished from want of water. Miller acted as mate during the voyage over. Deponent has seen Miller in this city within a few days. Miller told us our wages would be paid in Rio; and Señor Ramos was supercargo, and he told us we should be paid by his brother in Rio. Deponent was paid 350 milreas by Señor Ramos the elder, on board, before the slaves were landed.

In January, 1848, the American bark Laurens was seized and sent to the United States. On the 27th of May, in the same year, the United States vessel Alleghany arrived at Rio, to be used in making seizures, where there was evidence of an intention to carry on the slave trade, under our flag. On the 30th of September following, Mr. Tod recommended the government to recommend the abolition of all trade, in American vessels, between Brazil and the African coast. On the 24th of July, in the same year, Mr. Tod issued a circular, addressed to the American consuls in Brazil, with a view to obtain the statistics of the slave trade, as connected with American vessels. On the 11th of January, 1849, after measures had been adopted to stop the illegal traffic, Mr. Tod still complained that the American flag was still used by the illegal traders in human flesh.

On the eighth of January, 1850, Mr. Tod wrote to the Secretary of State that fifty thousand Africans are annually imported into Brazil, and sold as slaves for life. One-half of this number are introduced through the facilities directly and indirectly afforded by the American flag. This belief is founded upon my familiarity with the subject, growing out of a close attention to it since my arrival in Rio de Janeiro. The declaration is a humiliating one, and nothing but a desire to awaken action on the part of the legislative power of our country could induce me thus to make it.

merce.

It has been asserted at various times that the imperial government was about to resort to strong measures for the destruction of this comSome months ago, reports of this character were more than usually prevalent; but, if any new steps have been taken to arrest the trade, they have proved entirely nugatory. A respectable journal of this city, the Corneio Mercantile, of the 17th ultimo, in referring to the slave trade, and to the reported determination of the government to suppress it, held the following language:

66

Singular Circumstances-At the very time it is said the government

is seriously engaged in suppressing the slave trade, the slave dealers are boldest and most ostentatious, and the landing of slaves is the most fre quent and nearest to the principal ports of the coast. Official morality is marvellously advancing."

If the Brazilian statutes upon the subject were faithfully enforced, the slave trade could not continue. Unfortunately, however, those clothed with their administration and execution, with some honorable excep tions, connive at the traffic, and silently acquiesce in the violation of the laws they are sworn to uphold.

Whilst the head of the government, and many of the most enlightened statesmen of the empire are believed to consider the slave trade as inimical to the true interests of their country, a greater number profess to be honestly of the opinion that the welfare of Brazil demands the continuance of the trade; and, after defending traffic on the ground of necessity, many proceed to contend that the condition of the African is meliorated when he becomes a Brazilian slave. However repugnant to the principles of sound political economy, and of enlightened humanity, these doctrines may be, they are very generally entertained by the people of Brazil. When to these impressions is added the tremendous pow er of the prince, wielded by those who reap the immediate profits of the traffic, it may be inferred that the few who labor for its suppression have very embarrassing obstacles to contend with.

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Annexed is a letter addressed by Mr. Gorham Parks, formerly a consul at Rio, to Mr. Tod. Its facts are highly interesting and impor

tant:

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 29, 1850. Sir, The number of American vessels which, since the 1st of July, 1844, until the 1st of October last, (when I left the consulate,) sailed for the coast of Africa from this city, is ninety-three. Of these vessels, all except five have been sold or delivered on the coast of Africa, and have been engaged in bringing over slaves, and many of them have been captured with the slaves on board. The value of the cargoes it is impossi ble to ascertain, as the amount of property on which duties are paid at the custom house by no means indicates the true amount carried over. They were all of them loaded with goods with which to purchase slaves, and with provisions and water for their support on their passage over.

The number of American vessels which have entered from the coast, during the same period, has been fifty-one. The value of imports from Africa, excepting slaves, nothing. There is no trade between either the west or east coast of Africa and Brazil, excepting what is connected directly or indirectly with the slave trade. The English cruisers form the principal impediment to the prosecution of this traffic; and, as our government does not permit vessels carrying our flag to be searched, our vessels are preferred to most if not all others, by the slave traders, as offering perfect protection for the traffic from their dreaded enemy.

The first step in the prosecution of this traffic is to transport to the coast, in safety, the goods with which the slaves are to be purchased. For this purpose an American vessel is either chartered or bought. If

the first, the vessel, having deposited the goods at the several slave factories and posts on the coast, returns to Rio in ballast, when the charter money is paid, and the affair is ended. If, however, the American vessel is purchased, the slave dealer (if other than a citizen of the United States) finds some American citizen in whom he is willing to confide, and employs him to buy the vessel. He does so, applies to the American consul for a sea letter, passes the necessary examination, and obtains the sea letter. The slave dealer then makes a kind of stereotyped contract with this nominal owner, by which, in consideration of so much money per month, the said vessel shall carry to any port or ports in Africa such goods as the charterer may choose to put on board, (if not contraband,) and deliver them to the person to whom they are consigned. Connected with this is a letter of instructions from the nominal owner to his captain (if he be not master himself) directing him, provided A B, whom he understands may want a vessel, should offer him the sum of dollars, to sell him the vessel, and take drafts on CD at Rio for the amount. In case A B, who is the agent on the coast of CD, the owner at Rio, has a cargo of slaves ready to be shipped, then he wants the vessel, purchases it for the amount specified, and perhaps goes through the form of drawing bills on the owner here. All this transaction is gone through with for the purpose of being able to show that all is straight, if they are questioned by any public functionary of the United States, either at home or abroad. This pretended sale takes place at the moment when the slaves are ready to be shipped-the American captain and his crew going on shore as the slaves are coming off, while the Portuguese or Brazilian passengers, who were carried out from Rio in her, all at once become the master and crew of the vessel. Those of the American crew who do not die of coast fever get back as they can, many of them being compelled to come over in slave vessels in order to get back at all. There is evidence on the records of the Consulate, of slaves having started two or three times from the shore, and the master and crew from their vessel, in their boat, carrying with them the flag and ship's papers, when, the parties becoming frightened, both parties retroceded, the slaves were returned to the shore, and the American master and crew again went on board the vessel, the stars and stripes were again hoisted over her and kept flying until the cause of alarm (an English cruiser) had departed from the coast, and the embarkation safely effected.

I know of another case where an American captain took on board slaves and landed them three times, and was finally compelled to come away in ballast. Both the captain and the vessel have been in Rio since. The vessel was under American colors at the time.

The whole number of slaves imported into the province of Rio de Janeiro, which comprises this Consulate, is estimated by Mr. Hesketh, H. B. M. Consul, (who has better opportunities for information than any American consul can have,) for the years 1846, 1847, 1848, and 1849, to have been about one-hundred and seventy-three thousand five hundred. In this estimate of Mr. Hesketh I fully concur, considering it rather be

low than above the mark. I have no means of information as to the whole number imported into Brazil.

FROM THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.

Dispatch received by the Navy Department from Lieut. E. J. DE HAVEN, commanding the Expedition in search of Sir John Franklin.

UNITED STATES BRIG ADVANCE,

Off Port Leopold, August 22, 1850. SIR, I have the honor to acquaint you with the proceedings of the squadron under my command since leaving the Whale Fish Islands, whence my last dispatch was dated.

We sailed on the 29th of June, but, owing to calms and very light winds, we did not reach the latitude of Uppernavick till the 6th of July, Up to this place no obstruction from ice was met with. We found a clear passage of from ten to twenty miles in width, between the land and the "pack." The latter was sighted daily, and had the appearance of being impenetrable.

To the northward of Uppernavick many streams of floe ice were found extending from the main pack close into the land. Through these, with a fair wind, we found little difficulty in forcing our way, until we approached Baffin's Islands, in the latitude of 74°. Here the ice appeared so close and continuous along the land that our progress in that direction was arrested. At the same time a clear and wide opening presented itself leading to the west. We had a fair wind to enter it, and it was so directly in our course for Lancaster Sound that I could not resist the temptation; particularly as the passage looked to be almost hopeless by the usual northern route through Melville Bay.

For several hours our hope of a speedy and direct passage appeared to be confirmed, but after a run of forty miles, ice was made ahead and on both sides in a continuous line. We had but entered a deep bight in the main pack.

To return to the eastward whence we came would, perhaps, have cost us days, with the uncertainty of being able to get along even then. Besides, of the only three authentic accounts of attempts to make the passage through the pack in about this latitude, two were eminently successful. The third did not succeed so well.

In view of these facts, I thought it advisable to enter the pack and endeavor to push through it, in a direct line for the theatre of our re searches.

We accordingly did so, and for several days succeeded in making some headway, until at last the ice became so tight and immovable that it became impossible either to advance or retreat. In this hopeless condition we remained until the 29th of July, when, by a sudden movement of the floes, an opening presented itself to the north. A southeast wind springing up at the same time, we availed ourselves of it, and, with press of sail, succeeded in forcing our way into clear water.