by the collector with an armed force, part of her cargo forced on shore, her hatches broken open, and the cargo taken to the customhouse. Estimate of damages arising from the condemnation and sale of the cargo, &c., $15,692 50. The Mexican secretary of the treasury had assured Mr. Poinsett that an order had been given to release the vessel and cargo. Mr. Poinsett pronounced this one of the most flagrant and unjustifiable violations of the property of American citizens on record.

“No. 14. Schooner Fair American, of Baltimore. — This vessel arrived at Refugio, January 4, 1826, was admitted to entry, landed her cargo under permit, and in part removed it to town, when the whole was seized by the Mexican authorities, and confiscated and sold. The Mexican consul at Baltimore afterwards requested of his government that the property might be restored, and the owner indemnified. Mr. Wilson's claim for damages is $50,225 21, the justice of which was understood to be acknowledged by the Mexican government. To the demand of the American minister for damages in this case, the Mexican government made evasive replies, and made no answer to his last note on the subject.

"No. 15. Schooner Superior, of New York. This vessel was seized by a Mexican gun-boat in the port of Laguira, on the 23d of February, 1826, on a charge of smuggling. The American minister disproved this charge by the fact that the vessel, after trial, was not condemned. An authenticated account accompanies Mr. Poinsett's letter, setting forth the unjustifiable manner of the seizure, the absence of all proof, and the wanton and shameful violence exercised towards the crew. The delay caused by the seizure of the vessel, and her abandonment on account of her becoming wormeaten, are the grounds of this claim.

“No. 16. Andrews's Claim for Seizure of Wax at Alvarado. — This claim arises from the seizure by the Mexican government of $1631 25 worth of wax, on the pretence that it was of Spanish origin. This wax was originally shipped from St. Petersburgh to New York, and from thence to Vera Cruz, when, not finding a ready sale after entry, the owners determined to reship it, but were prevented by the authorities.

"No. 17. Ship Franklin and Brig Barrian, of Boston. These vessels formed an expedition, owned and fitted out by sundry persons of Boston and Salem, at an expense of $90,175 02. In pursuance of their instructions, they traded at various places on the coast of California, paying the customary duties. On the 16th May, 1828, they were forbid further trading till the whole cargo was landed at St. Diego, and all duties paid to the commanding general of California. Declining to do this, they proceeded to the Island of St. Catalina, to land and cure hides. Concluding to return to St. Diego, they then, under a written agreement with the governor, landed all their cargo not left at the island, which was estimated at $47,292, the duties of which were $13,005 30. Eschandia, the governor, then gave them a written permission to continue their trade, and to remove the property left at St. Catalina. Subsequently, on asking for their ship's papers, they were refused, on the pretext that the vessels had been to St. Catalina, contrary to some regulation of which they knew nothing. Notwithstanding the charge of smuggling was proved false, the Mexicans put a guard on board the vessel, and commenced removing her cargo. The captain at length refusing to allow any more to go on shore, no condemnation of the vessel being shown, the Mexican officers and soldiers went ashore. The next day the vessels put to sea under a destructive fire from the fort. They left debts due from individuals and missions, to the amount of $38,919 04, besides goods deposited as security for duties, which, with the packages taken from the ship, run up the whole claim for damages to $53,657 54. The whole property was afterwards confiscated without judicial proceeding.

"No. 18. Eli E. & J. S. Hammond were jointly concerned in a trading expedition to Santa Fe in 1828. When within a few miles of that place, they hired a Mexican to carry a part of the goods with mules, on account of the roughness of the road. This man was arrested on a charge of smuggling, and the goods were confiscated, although the Mexican was liberated. He informed the authorities of the circumstances of the case, but the goods were not restored. Hammond claims $7000 for his loss. Hammond also claims $6000 damages for injuries to his business in 1830, by the conduct of Mexican authorities, whereby great expense was incurred, much time lost, and the sale of his goods to a profit destroyed.

"No. 19. Brig William, of Newport, R. I.-This vessel was forcibly detained and impressed into the Mexican service as a transport in 1829. The owners claim $4999 33 damages.

"No. 20. Brig Splendid, of New Haven.· - A similar case to the last, whereby the owners were injured in their business to the amount of $2500.

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"No. 21. Brig Ursula, of Boston. This vessel was impressed in the same manner into the Mexican service, to the damage of the owners to the amount of $2005.

"No. 22. Pell & Brothers, of New York, claim damages for the destruction of a press and type at Tampico, by the Spaniards.

"No. 23. Captain Shaw, of the Schooner Galaxy, claims damages for his detention and imprisonment at Tobasco, in 1829-30, whereby great injury was done to his business. He was confined among banditti, and was refused any intercourse with the American consul. A vessel, with some 40 or 50 seamen from the United States naval service, was subsequently sent to procure his liberation and that of others, which was immediately effected.

"No. 24. Schooners Rebecca Eliza and Alert. - These vessels were seized at Tampico in 1829, soon after the capitulation of a Spanish force there. They were seized, and their cargoes confiscated, on the pretence that they came with the intention of selling provisions to the Spaniards, although they did not arrive until four days after the capitulation. The crews were badly treated.

"No. 25. $8826 in damages are claimed by the owners of the Brig General Morelos for her seizure and detention at Vera Cruz in 1830, where she went from New Orleans to be fitted out as a privateer under Mexican authority. The Mexican courts afterward ordered the restoration of the vessel.

"No. 26. The Eliza Jane, of New York, put into Vera Cruz in a leaky condition, where she was condemned as unseaworthy and sold. Before transshipping the cargo, the captain was compelled to give bond for the payment of tonnage duty. This duty had before

been paid at the Mexican port from whence the Eliza Jane sailed. Her cargo consisted of logwood, obtained at Leguira, a Mexican port.

"No. 27. John Baldwin, an American citizen, complains of gross and outrageous treatment at the hands of the alcalde of Minotitlan in Guazcualco. He asserts that the alcalde was interested in a suit which was brought against him by one of his subordinates. Some altercation occurring at the proceedings before the alcalde, he was ordered to the stocks. He refused to submit, and in attempting to escape, was shot at, and severely injured by a fall. He was captured, made to stand in the stocks, and afterwards imprisoned. The Mexican government were informed subsequently that the U. S. government' would regard this a national question.' The reply of the Mexican executive was, that it was a matter of judicial investigation, &c.

"No. 28. Schooner Topaz.-The master of this vessel contracted, in 1832, to transport 150 Mexican soldiers from Matamoras to Galveston. During the passage, the master and mate were killed by the Mexican officers, and the crew were forced to run the vessel into Anahuac. Here they were imprisoned on a charge of killing their captain and mate, and attempts were made by the officers above mentioned to make them confess to that crime. They were at last liberated on their agreement to be bound to the officers to serve them for three years. One of them subsequently escaped to the United States, and testified to the facts above stated. He states that the Mexican officers divided the captain's money between them. He thinks he had 3000 or 4000 dollars.

"No. 29. The Schooner Brazoria was seized at the port of Brazoria in June, 1832, and used in an attack by the Mexicans upon Anahuac. She was so much injured that the owners abandoned her to the underwriters, who are the claimants in this case. The amount claimed is $6800. The Mexican government afterwards expressed a willingness to allow only the proceeds of the sale of the vessel to the claimants.

"No. 30. Aaron Leggett, merchant of New York, claims several hundred thousand dollars in damages for the seizure and detention

of the steamer Hidalgo in the Tobasco River in June, 1832, and for damages arising therefrom. He had acquired the sole right, from the legislature of Tobasco, of navigating that river by steamboats for a period of ten years. In anticipation of the advantages that would arise from this privilege, he entered into very extensive contracts for the delivery of great quantities of logwood for several subsequent years, at different points, from whence it was to be carried down the river by lighters, towed by the steamer. Several vessels were employed by Mr. Leggett for the transportation of the logwood from Mexico. These vessels arrived at Tobasco; but as the steamer had been seized by the Mexicans for military purposes, no cargoes were ready for them, and they returned to the ports to which they belonged. The owners demanded the penalties of the charter parties, which the claimant has paid to the extent of his ability. Tobasco was, in 1832, the seat of military disturbances, whereby Mr. Leggett suffered great loss of property, besides the loss of the immense profits which it is reasonable to suppose he would have obtained from the enjoyment of the great privilege granted by the legislature of Tobasco. The Mexican government subsequently acknowledged the great losses and sacrifices of Mr. Leggett, but plead inability to satisfy his reasonable demands.

"No. 31. Schooner Augustus.-This vessel put into port at Brazos de Santiago, in a leaky condition, on the 18th June, 1833. On a mere suspicion of an intention to land the cargo clandestinely on the Mexican coast, the vessel and cargo were seized, and after a detention of ten months, the Mexican courts awarded restitution of the vessel and cargo, and payment of costs and damages. Meantime the vessel became worm-eaten, and it was abandoned. The claim in this case is for $6030 09.

"No. 32. The Schooner Wetree was seized by the authorities of Tampico in July, 1833, when it was abandoned by its master and

crew.

“No. 33. Brig Industry. This vessel was detained at Tobasco, in March, 1834, on the pretence that her forescuttle was not sealed at the time of her arrival. The captain was imprisoned for thirteen days, and was obliged to pay $160 to regain his liberty. The collector of the port at length gave the captain leave to proceed to sea, when the judge of the court ordered the vessel to be brought back,