No. 160.

1

stantially about it to the ad interim Governor there, Mr. J. Nepvue, whose reply I daily await.

Extract from letter from Storm van's Gravesande, Director-General in Essequibo, to the West India Company, March 6, 1758.

Ignatius Courthial, having undertaken another voyage to the Spanish coast, in which he was very successful, was watched for by the Spaniards as he came down the Orinoco, and deprived of all he had. He and his crew (with the exception of two, who are prisoners) managed to escape overland, and have now arrived here. The man is almost entirely ruined.

The six mules which for want of space in the canoe of Aegtekerke were left behind in Orinoco have been brought here by Mr. Persik's boat; but the Commandant there instead of 6 sent 8 head, because there was room for them, giving for reason that no more can be got for a long while, because one of H. M.'s ships is daily expected from Spain, which will stay at anchor in the mouth of the Orinoco. Thus the trade is stopped and even the salters will have to keep away from there until things take a different look.

Letter from Storm van's Gravesande, Director-General in Essequibo, to Felix Ferreras, Commandant in Guayana, Protesting against the outrages committed by the Secret Expedition on the Dutch Post on the River Cuyuni, September 30, 1758.

[Reprinted from Blue Book, No. 1, pp. 98-99.]

It is with the greatest surprise that I learned from some Indians a few days ago that our post in the River Cuyuni had been attacked by Spaniards, the chief of the said post, his second in command, a creole slave of the Company, and a creole woman with her children taken prisoners, and the house burned down, &c.

Note by Prof. Burr.-I. e., in Surinam.

No. 162.

This news, which I find it difficult to credit, appeared to me incredible, and a thing impossible. It is on that account that I did not wish to take the least step without first sending proper persons to make an ocular inspection.

These persons, on their return, confirm to me not only the truth of the fact, but from another report I learn that the foregoing mentioned are actually prisoners of war in Guayana.

What, sir, am I to infer from an offence so directly opposed to the law of nations, and to the Treaties of Peace and Alliance subsisting so happily and for such a length of time between His Catholic Majesty and their High Mightinesses the States-General of the United Provinces ?

How is it possible that one dare act in a manner so violent without any antecedent cause for such proceeding?

I am thoroughly convinced that His Catholic Majesty, far from approving an offence of this nature, will not be remiss in rendering the fullest justice to my Sovereigns, and inflicting an exemplary punishment upon those who thus dare to abuse their authority.

That great King has given such signal proofs of his affection and friendship for our Republic that, as far as that is concerned, I should be content to transmit a Report to my Sovereigns of the affair, leaving it to their prudence to obtain the satisfaction which the case demands; but the post I have the honor to hold obliges me to make the first advance, and, in their name, to address myself to you, sir, for the purpose of demanding, not only the enlargement of the prisoners, but a proper satisfaction for an outrage so opposed to Treaties and the law of nations. So long as I have had the honour of being at the head of this Colony, I have always tried to cultivate the friendship of the Spanish nation, our nearest neighbours. I have always employed every means in my power to prevent the savage Caribs of doing the least injury, and if those who have been employed in this irresponsible action have taken care to seize the papers that were at the post, you will see that one of the principal articles of the instructions contains an express order not to give the least cause of complaint to our neighbours the Spaniards.

It would be by no means difficult to me to make reprisals, having the necessary resources at hand to do so, but I find no reason to make use of them, considering that contrary to the character of a Christian, and which it is not permitted to employ only in extreme cases, and when all other means are found unavailable.

By a vessel leaving here this week for Europe I have made a full report of this outrage to my masters. I have not the least doubt of the great surprise it will cause them by quickly presenting a complaint concerning the same at the Court of His Catholic Majesty.

Now, sir, I demand, in the name of their High Mightinesses my Sovereigns and Directors of the Company my masters, the enlargement and

No. 162.

immediate return of the prisoners, together with an indemnity for the losses and damages suffered.

Protesting in the most formal manner, in case of refusal, of holding you responsible for whatever may naturally result from an affair of such gravity, that there never has been occasion of reproaching me, having always been disposed to cultivate the friendship and good correspondence of our neighbours, and I shall persist in the same feelings so long as I shall not be forced to act contrary thereto.

Awaiting with impatience your reply to this, I have, &c.

No. 163.

Extract from letter from Storm van 's Gravesande, Director-General in Essequibo, to the West India Company, September 9, 1758.

*

[Reprinted (with corrections) from Blue Book, No. 3, pp. 109-110.]

Having had the honour of writing to your Lordships but a short time ago respecting the state of affairs in Essequibo, I should have very little to say in this letter were I not obliged to inform your Lordships at the earliest opportunity of an occurrence that caused me not only great surprise but also great embarrassment. Nearly all the Caraiban Indians living on the River Cuyuni came down the stream last week, and informed the creoles1 of your Lordships' living just below the great fall of that river that the Spaniards of Orinoco, according to their computation about 100 strong, had come down the stream, and made a successful raid upon your Lordships' Post; that they had carried off as prisoners the Post-holder and his assistant, and a creole belonging to your Lordships, together with his wife and children; that they had laid waste the Post and all round it, and had threatened to come down stream again and serve the whole Colony in the same way.

I immediately sent two trusty creoles up the river with Manna, the old negro who buys our turtles for us, and told them to find out all that they possibly could. They cannot get back before the departure of the ship which is to take this letter, but I will not fail to inform your Lordships of the result of their mission as soon as they return.

The deed I have described appears to me to be not only a violation of international law, but also entirely contrary to the usual mode of procedure followed by nations who are at peace with each other. Had Don D'Ituriaga, who has recently been appointed Viceroy of this portion of America, and who resides in Orinoco, been of opinion that the Post of

1Note by Prof. Burr.-For this word creoles the Blue Book has agents.

No. 163.

your Lordships' Company was on Spanish ground, which is utterly and indisputably untrue, it would have been his duty to draw my attention to the matter in a friendly manner, to demand the removal of the Post, and in case of refusal to abstain from any act of violence until he had first reported the case to his Sovereign.

They have had their eye on the river for some time, and I have always had to be on my guard for it.1 All these attempts of theirs furnish convincing proof that the stream must be of much greater importance than we are aware of. It is my opinion that this river is of the greatest importance to your Lordships, much more so than any one of the others, and also that it is perfectly certain and indisputable that they have not the slightest claim to it. If your Lordships will be pleased to look at the map of this country, drawn by Mr. D'Anville with the utmost care, your Lordships will clearly see that this is so, and that even our boundaries are portrayed on it, whereof it appears, he was informed on good authority.

As soon as my people have returned, and I am in receipt of reliable information, I will send someone to Orinoco to ask for the reason of this behaviour and to demand satisfaction. It would not be very difficult for me, by making use of the Caraibes, to pay them back in their own coin and drive them from their present position. But since the Indians are unwilling to go without having some white men at their head, and since the arms and supplies of such an expedition would cost a great deal, I shall not think of it without having received express authority. I trust that this may not be necessary, and that everything will be satisfactorily settled without proceeding to such extremities. My only fear is that this man will devise some fresh attack before orders come from Europe, in which case we shall have to return blow for blow.

Instructions of Storm van's Gravesande, Director-General in Essequibo, to the Cuyuni Postholder, November 29, 1757.

[Reprinted from Blue Book, No. 3, p. 248.]

Translation which I, Constable Juan Andres de la Rivera, made, in virtue of the office of interpreter and translator, conferred on me by the Señor Commandante ad interim of this place, of a document con1Note by Prof. Burr.-For these words be on my guard for it the Blue Rook reads defend it most vigorously,

Note by Prof. Burr.-For the words here italicized the Blue Book has the following sentence: Our boundaries, too, are defined in a way which proves that the compiler was very wellinformed.

No. 164.

taining instructions for the Post or guard in the River Cuyuni, under the jurisdiction of the States-General, written in the Dutch language, which was delivered to me by the afore-mentioned Notary. The contents of this paper, literally translated, are as follows:-

Article 1. That the Chief of the said Post or guard, by our express and positive orders, will treat the neighbouring Indians with the greatest consideration and friendship, without distinction or favour of any kind, and be careful not to injure them in any way; and if, perchance, the said Indians should request his help against any of the savage nations, he is bound to assist them with the guard as far as possible.

Art. 2. That the Chief of the said Post will be very careful not to cause any injury to be done to the Spaniards, who are our good neighbours, and in all he will maintain good friendship and correspondence with them. But at the same time, he will be most careful not to permit the said Spaniards to pass to the River Cuyuni, if by any chance they are desirous of so doing, or in any part of the territory of our Colony; and in case they attempt to molest the official of the said Post or guard, he will immediately dispatch a man to the Governor's Castle to advise him promptly of the same.

Art. 3. That the Chief of the said Post or guard will on no account allow any one to carry on trade except in the river or in his district, or unless the party be provided with a proper passport, when he will grant the necessary permit to do so. But should any Indians piss, comi ng to the post from the Essequibo, down the river, or going in the opposite direction, bringing with them Chinese slaves, or any other merchandize, for the purpose of making purchases, and that the Chinese slaves or merchandize be intended for the inhabitants of the River Essequibo, we then command absolutely by this our order that the above-mentioned tribes be permitted to pass freely without let or hindrance in any way.

Art. 4. That the Chief of the post will take the greatest care in apprehending all fugitive slaves from the Colony, whoever they may be; that, if necessary, he will pursue the same until he apprehends them, and when caught he will deliver them to their respective owners, in conformity with the orders of the States-General; and that for every slave so captured he will receive a gratification of 10 fl. for the trouble thereby imposed upon him.

Art. 5. That, in case any slaves belonging to the residents of the said River Essequibo should attempt to escape, and should be pursued by their owners-who, owing to the necessity of the case had no time to provide themselves with necessary passports-he will permit them to pass the said post; and we likewise command him expressly that whenever he be informed of a case of this nature by any inhabitant of this Colony, he will lend them every assistance in his power in order to retake them, always provided they be slaves,