7971*. Do you speak of this as a matter of prudence and taste on the part of Zulueta & Co., or as an act of criminality?--As far as I am able to give my own opinion, I believe that Messrs. Zulueta were perfectly criminal; at least they had a perfect knowledge of what they were doing. I think I am borne out in that by the secrecy they have endeavoured to purchase, and putting in a false owner. Messrs. Zulueta have been for a number of years agents to the notorious Pedro Blanco; they have also before this purchased and sent out to the Havannah a notorious slave vessel called the Arrogante, which circumstance was represented by Mr. Tolme, Her Majesty’s consul at the Havannah, to the English Government, and is also in the printed correspondence laid before parliament, either for the year 1839 or 1840. In fact, there can be no want of evidence to show that Messrs. Zulueta had for a length of time been agents to slave dealers; and I think it is impossible that any merchant can be an agent and ship cargoes of goods without ascertaining some knowledge of the party for whom they are shipped. 7972*. in the first place, you assume that it was illegal for Messrs. Zulueta & Co. to ship these goods to Alvarez at the Gallinas; are you quite sure that that is not a gratuitous assumption of law on your part?--I am speaking from my own belief; I cannot say what the law is, but I am speaking from my own belief, and the inferences I can draw from the vessel’s papers. I think the papers are quite conclusive to the mind of any man that Zulueta was cognizant of what he was doing; but as far as it is an illegal transaction it is not for me to judge, but the judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court of Sierra Leone did think it illegal, and condemned the vessel; and, moreover, the man who is put forward as captain and owner did not defend the vessel on her trial. 7973*. Are you quite sure he had the means to do so?--He cannot plead as an excuse that he had not the means, for the owner of a vessel in a British port, with a cargo worth between 4,000_l._ and 5,000_l._, I think, could always manage to raise 30_l._ or 40_l._ for the defence of his vessel. 7974*. Was that cargo in his possession, or was it under seizure at the time you speak of?--The vessel and all was seized by me, but still there was the captain and the owner present, and nothing was touched until the condemnation took place. 7975*. How could he offer security and raise money on a seized ship and cargo?--To say how he is to do so is not for me; I am not a mercantile man, but I only observe, that it is most extraordinary that the owner of a ship, with a cargo on board, cannot, in a British port, raise 50_l._ for the defence of that vessel. 7976*. But how can you affect any wonder on that subject, when you yourself admit that you do not know how he was to do it?--I have already stated that I am no mercantile man, and to say how these things are done, I cannot.