MCBLAIR ARCHIVE

(McBlair, William.) Important group of 5 manuscript pieces concerning the illegal traffic in African slaves around the mouth of the Congo River, and the activities of British and American naval vessels to suppress that trade. 13 pages, folio. Area of the Congo River, 1857 Important and fascinating archive of letters of transmission to William McBlair, Commander U.S. Sloop of War Dale. Includes a letter to McBlair from Commander in Chief Conover, directing him to proceed to the Congo River area to suppress the illegal traffic in slaves, with instructions of his need to cooperate with British naval forces already in the area. Also includes a letter to McBlair from a Lieutenant Davidson, reporting on an official visit with Commodor Wise onboard the British naval vessel Vesuvius and supplying details of the British capture of the illegal slaveship Bremen and the various details related to that seizure. The archive also includes a manuscript copy of a statement regarding the capture by the British vessel Hecate of two slaveships (Windward and Joseph H. Record). A manuscript copy of an extract from Mr. Crawford to Lord Clarendon is of considerable interest, giving details of those vessels taken in the slave trade in the Congo River area, with the tonnage of the vessels taken and a brief description of the modus operandi, "All these vessels sail under the flag of the United States until they have got their cargo of slaves on board and most likely even after that they will use American colors, if fallen in with by any of Her Majesty's Cruizers, altho" they have no Papers of nationality whatever on board." The remaining manuscript deposition is perhaps the most important piece in the archive. The 4-page deposition gives every conceivable detail on the operation of an illegal slave ship from beginning to end, going into every detail of its financing, the use of false papers and colors, the circuitous route taken, the initial contact with slavetraders in Africa by the raising of certain colors, the refitting of the ship from a merchant hold to a slave ship, the picking up of the slaves some time later, etc. The deposition was taken from the Master of the Jupiter, an illegal slaver captured by Her Majesty's Ship Antelope. The archive must really be examined to be fully appreciated. The sordid details are extremely shocking.