User:Apcbg/Duncan-Woodbury


 * Report by Silas Duncan
 * Commander U.S.S. Lexington
 * sent to Navy Secretary Levi Woodbury
 * on 4 April 1932


 * (transcription and underlined text as per the original document)


 * U.S.S. Lexington
 * Off Monte Video
 * River Plate
 * Feb 3rd 1832


 * Sir
 * I arrived here yesterday from the Falklands
 * Islands and have now the honor to enclose duplicates of my
 * communication to the Department of the 2nd Dec. 1831 – in
 * Relation to the Capture of some of our fishing Vessels at
 * and about those Islands. –
 * In conformity to my intentions I proceeded to Berkeley
 * Sounds, East Falklands, in order to ascertain the facts in
 * connexion with these proceedings and for the purpose of af–
 * fording the proper protection to our Citizens and Commerce,
 * and particularly to protect the American Fisheries in the
 * Southern Ocean. –
 * Upon my arrival in Berkeley Sound East Falkland, – I
 * investigated the matters in question and finding them to be
 * of the most inquisitous and illegal character, – I determined
 * to break up and disperse this band of pirates, many of whom
 * had been sent from the prisons of Buenos Ayres and Monte
 * Video, and were thus let lose to prey upon a peaceable and
 * industrious part of our community under the direction of
 * Louis Vernet and Mathew Brisbane. –
 * I have confined the individuals engaged in these
 * transactions, who could be identified, and have besides
 * brought off the whole of the population consisting of about
 * forty persons, with the exception of some Gou chors or
 * Horsemen who were encamped in the interior, and are employed
 * killing cattle. –
 * But in taking this step I have consulted their own wishes,
 * and they have embarked on board the Lexington by general consent;
 * they say they have been deceived by Vernet and others, who
 * have kept many of them upon the Island contrary to their
 * inclinations and appeared greatly Rejoiced at the opportunity
 * thus presented of Removing with their families from a desolate
 * Region where the climate is always cold and cheerless and the
 * soil extremely unproductive.
 * These individuals some of whom have families, come from
 * Buenos Ayres and Monte Video, also, and are principally
 * Germans; they appear to be industrious and well disposed persons. –
 * I have landed a part of them at Monte Video and intend sending
 * the remainder to Buenos Ayres by the first Conveyance. –
 * I have now on board as prisoners seven individuals who
 * are charged with illegally capturing and plundering the
 * Schooner Harriet, as will appear by the affidavits of Captain


 * (page 2)
 * G.R. Davison late master of the Harriet – Marked No.3. –
 * These men will be detained on board the Lexington until some
 * orders shall have been given with Respect to them from the
 * Navy Department or the Senior officer of the Brazil Station –
 * I found a Schooner lying in Berkeley Sound (East
 * Falklands) intended there is no doubt to have been fitted out
 * to suppress our fisheries in the Southern Ocean. – She had
 * been sent from the U. States for Sale but the purchase not
 * having been completed. I put on board of her Gilbert R.
 * Davison late Master of the Schooner Harriet and two additional
 * Seamen and directed her (with concurrence of the Master) to
 * proceed to the Island of Staten land for the relief of Seven
 * American Seamen who had been left there without the means of
 * subsistance, in consequence of the Captain of their vessel,
 * the Schooner Superior, by Vernet. –
 * I found some guns lying near to the beach which I
 * suppose were intended to have been put on board the Schooner
 * as these men have declared it to be their intention to fit
 * out a vessel for the purpose of putting a stop to the
 * American Whale and Sealing Fisheries in these Seas. The guns
 * have been rendered useless – for any hostile purposes.–
 * I also found a small Schooner on the coast of East
 * Falkland, navigated by a part of the Crew of the American
 * Schooner Belville, wreck'd on the coast of Patagonia. – These
 * men had built this Small Vessel or Shallop of 20 or 30 Tons
 * after the loss of their vessel and were seized and made prisoners
 * by Vernet and his associates and compelled to enter into their
 * Service. – I supplied them with Such Articles as they were in
 * want of, and after repairing and fitting out their vessel,
 * directed them to relieve their companions who had been left
 * fishing about the rocks and small Islands and then proceed to
 * the Coast of Brazil or the U. States as they would not be
 * allowed to navigate the high Seas without the necessary
 * documents from some Competent Authority. – See No.5.–
 * I have communicated directly with the Department for the
 * reason that I have been separated from the Senior Officer of the
 * Brazil Squadron, and have deem'd it proper to give the Department
 * the earliest information on these proceedings.–
 * The documents herewith enclosed and marked and numbered
 * as follows.–
 * No. 1 – Duplicate copies of the dispatches dated Dec. 2nd 1831 –
 * No. 2 – Circular issued at the Falkland Islands to the
 * inhabitants and others. –
 * No. 3 – Copies of the affidavits made by Gilbert H. Davison late
 * master of the American Schooner Harriet
 * No. 4 – Copy of an instrument in writing purporting to be an
 * agreement between Louis Vernet and the Crew of the Schooner
 * Belville wreck'd on the coast of Patagonia.–


 * (page 3)
 * No. 5 – Copy of a Sea letter given to a Small Schooner built by
 * the Crew of the American Schooner Belville, wreck'd on the
 * Coast of Patagonia, which Crew had been compelled by Vernet
 * and others to enter into their employ.
 * No. 6 – Copy of a Certificate given by some of the inhabitants
 * at the Falkland Islands.–
 * No. 7 – A list of Articles taken from the Schooner Harriet
 * by Louis Vernet and Mathew Brisbane and others.–
 * No. 8 – Copy of a letter to Geo W. Slacum, U.S. Consul Buenos
 * Ayres dated Feb 2nd 1832.–
 * I intend leaving this place for Rio de Janeiro in about
 * a week.
 * Answered 3d April.
 * I have the Honor
 * to be with great respect
 * Yr Ob. Servt
 * Hon: Levi Woodbury                      Ansd  4 April 1832
 * Secretary of the Navy                          S. Duncan
 * Washington                              Commng U.S.S. Lexington