To James Madison from John Martin Baker, 8 September 1806 (Abstract)
From John Martin Baker, 8 September 1806 (Abstract)
§ From John Martin Baker. 8 September 1806, Palma. “I had this honor on the 16th: of July ultimo (per triplicate, transmitted by different vias) covering my last Demiannual Consular report, closing on the Thirtieth day of June 1806: which beg leave to confirm.
“The present serves to communicate, that on the 16th: ultimo Anchored in this Bay, the American Bark Mary of Salem, Daniel Bray Junior, Master: (Cleared from said port, bound to Trieste) put in this port, to land Twenty Six Spanish prisoners, forced upon him the preceding day, in Sight of this Island, by an Armed Zebeque, und⟨er⟩ English colours (Anchored in this Bay at 9. OClock AM: Landed th⟨e⟩ mentioned Twenty Six Men: receive⟨d⟩ a supply of Water, and sailed on her voyage at 6. O Clock: P: M. of the same day). Considering the act of violation on our flag, and interruption to our Commerce: I have on the Eighteenth day of August, ultim⟨o⟩ passed to Consul Gavino Gibraltar Copy of the deposition written by said Daniel Bray: with this Consular attestation to the declaration made before me To the End of bringing the offense to justice: and that in the future the British Government at Gibraltar, may suppress the continuance of such unwarrantable Conduct. I herewith transmit Enclosed for your further information of particulars, Copy of Captain Brays deposition, as well copy of my letter to Consul Gavino: and trust that you will approve of my procedure thereupon.1
“I beg leave sir, to make known, that I continue without the honor of the leave of Absence, solicited per my official of the 8th of January 1806.2 The last Packet from Barcelona to this port, with three Mails on board was captured on the 7th: inst. (yesterday) and the Mails sunk; The packets from Barcelona, to the Island of Minorca, have shared the same fate at different periods, Since the present rupture: which circumstanc⟨e⟩ induces me to presume, that I have had the misfortune to be deprived con⟨se⟩quence thereof, of Letters from the Department of State, having received but one packet, since my arrival at my Consular Station: That Consula⟨r⟩ Circulars, under date first, and twelf⟨th⟩ July 1805—acknowledged per my official twelfth of May last;3 which take the liberty to communicate, to the End of your being pleased, if Such be the case, to order copies to be transmitted me, for my Government &c.
“Thank Divine Providence good health is enjoyed on these Islands.
“I beg leave sir, to ask the favor of my letters, being directed to Palma Island of Majorca: The official packet above cited, acknowledged to be received per mine 12th may last, was directed Island of Minorca, when So addressed, it is of consequence Subject to Two risks, being first sent to Mahon, and afterwards transmitted to me here.”
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, CD, Port Mahon, vol. 1). RC 5 pp.; marked “Triplicate.” For enclosures, see n. 1.
1. The deposition (3 pp.; marked “dupt.”), signed by Bray, mate Samuel Stickney, and seaman William Fangel, and verified as a true copy by register George Augustus Baker, stated that the Mary’s officers had been forced to take the Spanish prisoners despite protesting that they were short of water, that their crew would be outnumbered by the prisoners and at their mercy, and that taking them to any Spanish port would require that the Mary deviate completely from its prescribed course. When placed on board the prisoners “refused to go below,” and “for fear of the evil consequences that would follow from opposing them in any thing,” Bray and his crew steered for Majorca, the nearest Spanish port. The deponents added that the prisoners had “acted with the Greatest propriety & good order,” despite their superiority in numbers, but that by bringing them in, the Mary had “lost … a Very fine chance of winds.” A copy of consul Baker’s 18 Aug. 1806 attestation (1 p.) is filed with the deposition. His 18 Aug. letter to John Gavino (2 pp.) requested that Gavino report the incident to the British at Gibraltar, and stated that the xebec was named San Antonio; that it was commanded by one Gorgé and owned by “Geronimo married at Gibraltar, where are his wife, and Children”; and that it mounted four guns, which details he hoped would allow the vessel to be identified conclusively.