John Rous,[9] Late Lieuten't of the Sloop Young Eagle, Commanded by Capt. Philip Dumaresq, being Examined upon oath before the Hono'ble Robt. Auchmuty, Esqr., Judge of his Majestys Court of Vice Admiralty, as to the following Interrogatorys made the following answers.
Interro. The First. Was the Sloop called the Amsterdam Post, Æneas Mackay Master,[10] taken as a Prize, by whom, when and where?
answer. on the 15th day of January last this Depon't, who was Lieutenant of the Sloop Young Eagle but at that Time Commander thereof in the absence of Philip Dumaresq the Captain, about three or four Leagues off the Grand Canary Island took the Sloop in this Interro. mention'd, standing in for Santa Crux in Teneriffe, and came last from Corke, and as the Master thereof said to this Depon't was bound to Madera,[11] but then going into one of the Canary Islands to get water, whereupon this Depon't sent his then Lieuten't on board, who Inform'd this Depon't that there was one Cask full of Water and another runing out and that he stopt the same and afterwards they found water sufficient to serve them in their Passage to Madera which was ab't three Weeks.
Interro. 2d. What was the Lading of the Sloop Amsterdam Post?
Answer. She was Loaded with Beef, Butter, Hatts, Shoes, Candles, Soap, Hides and some Pilchards, and for greater Certainty this Depon't referrs himself to the Bills of Lading.
Interro. 3. Are the Papers now produced before you and now Lodged in this Court, the Papers that were taken on Board the said Sloop as you know, or have heard, how, and in what manner?
a. This Depon't did not go on board said Sloop when taken and therefore can't say of his own knowledge that these are the Papers taken on board, but verily believes they are, for these Papers were sent to this Depon't by his Lieuten't from said Vessell some short Time after she was taken, and two of the Papers, namely, an English Mediterranean Pass[12] and a Paper in Spanish Importing a Clearance, as this Depon't was Inform'd by his officers whom he sent on board, was found between two Bed Bottoms belonging to the Master of said Sloop, and afterwards this Depon't saw the very place where they sayd the Papers were Concealed.
Interro. 4. Did you hear the sd Master of the Sloop aforesd Declare where he took in his aforesaid Loading?
A. This Depon't at Divers times heard the said Master Acknowledge and Declare that he took in his aforesd Loading at Corke in the Kingdom of Ireland, and also that he went from Teneriffe to Corke, where he purchased sd Loading, and was to return with the same immediately to Teneriffe, where two of his owners were Inhabitants and one other owner an Inhabitant of Holland.
Interro. 5. What was done with the Cargo after the Vessell and Cargo was thus taken?