Is it so, that you doubt whether it was ever landed for any purpose?—I am speaking of the time I was there.
I am asking you about your own experience; of course that must be while you were there. You say you have never known any British produce landed that you did not doubt the legality of its purpose; is that so?—Yes; because there was no produce to be lawful given in exchange; no produce that I met with.
Allow me to ask you, was there any thing illegal in the landing of British produce for the use of the native chiefs, or the inhabitants of those towns and villages you speak of?—You are asking me my opinion?
Yes; you say you doubt the legality of it?—
Mr. Justice Maule. That is a question of law.
—That is a question I cannot presume to answer.
Mr. Kelly. As the gentleman has given me his doubts, I wished to know the reason for them.—I have seized this vessel, because I conceived her freight to be illegal.
Do you remember a vessel called the Gil Blas?—I have seen her.
Did she not land goods at the Gallinas?—Yes: if she is the vessel I mean, she was commanded by a man of the name of Serjeant, and he landed some goods there; he gave me to understand so.
Was the Gil Blas there at the time your vessel was there?—Yes.