THE WAR OF JENKINS' EAR (1739).
I.
Rear-Admiral Charles Stewart's Letter to the Governor of the Havana and the Duke of Newcastle.
Source.—English Historical Review. Vol. iv., pp. 743, 742.
12 Sept., 1731.
... I have repeated assurances that you allow vessels to be fitted out of your harbour, particularly one Fandino and others, who have committed the most cruel piratical outrages on several ships and vessels of the King my master's subjects, particularly about the 20th April last [N.S.] sailed out of your harbour in one of those Guarda Costas [Spanish revenue cutters], and met a ship of this island [Jamaica] bound for England; and after using the captain in a most barbarous inhuman manner, taking all his money, cutting off one of his ears, plundering him of those necessaries which were to carry the ship safe home, without doubt with the intent that she should perish in her passage; but as she has providentially got safe home, and likewise several others that have met with no better usage off the Havana, and the King my master having so much reason to believe that these repeated insults on his subjects could never be continued but by the connivance of several Spanish governors in these parts, is determined for his own honour as well as for the honour of his Catholic Majesty who he is now in the strictest friendship with, to endeavour to put a stop to these piratical proceedings.
12 Oct., 1731.
... It is without doubt irksome to every honest man to hear such cruelties are committed in these seas; but give me leave to say that you only hear one side of the question; and I can assure you the sloops that sail from this island, manned and armed on that illicit trade, has (sic) more than once bragged to me of their having murdered 7 or 8 Spaniards on their own shore.... It is, I think, a little unreasonable for us to do injuries and not know how to bear them. But villainy is inherent to this climate, and I should be partial if I was to judge whether the trading part of the Island [Jamaica] or those we complain of among the Spaniards are most exquisite in that trade....
I was a little surprised to hear of the usage Captain Jenkins met with off the Havana, as I know the Governor there has the character of being an honest good man, and don't find anybody thinks he would connive or countenance such villainies.
II.
Account of the Examination of Jenkins before the House of Commons (1738).
Source.—Samuel Boyse: An Historical Review of the Transactions of Europe. Vol. i., p. 29. Reading, 1747.
There was amongst the rest, one Instance that made so much Noise at this time, it cannot well be omitted. One Capt. Jenkins, Commander of a Scotch Vessel, was in his Passage home boarded by a Guarda Costa, the Captain of which was an Irishman. The Spaniards, after rummaging, finding their Hopes disappointed, tearing off part of his ear, and bidding him carry it to the English King, and tell him they would serve him in the same manner if they had him in their Power: This Villainy was attended with other Circumstances of Cruelty too shocking to mention. The Captain, on his Return, was examined at the Bar of the House of Commons; and being ask'd what his Sentiments were, when threaten'd with Death? nobly reply'd, That he recommended his Soul to God, and his Cause to his Country;—which Words, and the Sight of his Ear, made a visible Impression on that great Assembly.