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New York Journal of Commerce, February 25, 1840.
THE AMISTAD AFRICANS.--We have no doubt the interference of the British government
in the matter of Amistad Africans is well enough intended, though we fear it will
do more hurt than good. We trust, however, that they who have the subject in charge,
will endeavor to rise above the feelings which such an interference is fitted to
engender. It is in fact only a movement of the Abolitionists in this country, of
whom the British government appears to have been made the catspaw. The intervention
of a third party between the moving power and the effect, does not alter the case
materially.
"Foreign office, London, Dec. 23, 1820.
"Sir--With reference to the memorial of the Glasgow Emancipation Society, dated
the 25th of October last, on behalf of the negroes who took possession of the Amistad,
and were subsequently carried to New London, in the United States of America, I am
directed by Viscount [illegible word] to state to you, for the information of the
above [illegible words] that his lordship [illegible words] good offices in the [illegible
words] in order that they may be restored to liberty; and his lordship has further
instructed her Majesty's charge d'affaires at Madrid to call upon the Spanish government
to issue immediately strict orders to the authorities of Cuba, that if the request
of the Spanish minister at Washington is complied with, the negroes in question may
be put in possession of their liberties.
"Her Majesty's charge d'affaires at Madrid has likewise been instructed to urge
the Spanish government to cause the laws against the slave trade to be enforced against
Messrs. Ruiz and Montez, and against all other Spanish subjects concerned in the
transaction in question.
"I am, sir, your most obedient, humble serv't.
"W. Fox Strangways.
"William P. Paton, Esq. &c. Glasgow."
