“Sea Bar.” On Her Majesty’s Service.
To Deman Esq., Commander of Her Majesty’s brig Wander.
Hon. Sir, 2 December 1840.
Be it known to you and all other officers commanding Her Majesty’s vessels cruizing on this part of Africa, particularly off Sea Bar, that we the undermentioned gentlemen of this country, do with the greatest honour to you and all Her Majesty’s subjects, do relate and acquaint you of our poor late and respected father, Mr. James Tucker, chief of this country, which I have no doubt the Government knows the same, as he told them when they consulted together with Messrs. Rendall, Macauley, Campbell, and several other gentlemen of the colony of Sierra Leone, when with intention to put him under the controul of the English laws, but which he did not consent to, stating that it was his living throughout all his ancient family, and he had no other means for his livelyhood, yes certainly the inhabitants of the colony of Sierra Leone trade in this river, but their trade is no profit nor benefit to us in this country, although they receive a great assistance from this country, but however we have received intelligence from the Gallinas that you the subject of Her Majesty’s have burnt and destroyed all the Spanish factories in that country, and that it is your intention coming down here at Sea Bar, and will act the same here as have done with Gallinas, so therefore we the under gentlemen of this country do beg and warn you with the greatest friendship towards Her Majesty’s subjects to acquaint you that this part of the country is very different with the Gallinas, as the land is our and all the standing property and building is belonging to us, and in case they should be destroyed and burnt down on account of foreigners, it cannot be an injury to them, but to us in the country; we very knows that it is a law between the different nations of Europe for diminishing that traffic, but however it dont concern with us as they comes to us, if you meet them outside to sea, but coming in the rivers and destroying places, so therefore hearing such news from Her Majesty’s subjects about this country and taking as friends, and if you coming on any purpose you dont let us know in the country and burn any place belonging to us; as we do honour the English colour for fear of coming in such a manner, perhaps some of our subjects might do what may be an insult to the English flag, and we dont wish such a thing to be between us, so therefore we beg you all to allow us the liberty of relating to you the aforementioned laws of this country, and hoping it will not be an offence to you.
We remain, &c.
Tessana Town,
2 December 1840.
}
Henry Tucker.
Johnny Tucker.
Jack Tucker.
6813. Chairman.] Did you have intercourse with those chiefs after that letter?—No, I did not. The rainy season was coming on, and I was compelled to go to another part of my station.
6814. Captain Fitzroy.] Did Governor Doherty make a requisition to you, that you should take those measures with respect to the Gallinas which you have described?—The only requisition from Governor Doherty to me was, to recover the woman and her child, who had been made slaves of by Prince Manna.