102 CASE OF THE ' ANN.' [1846. 



Magistrate and suite, but no Naval Officer performed 

 such a courtesy during our stay. This conduct appeared 

 the more unaccountable as it was well known that on 

 this occasion I was the bearer of a special note from the 

 Governor General, the friend of the present, as well as 

 late Brigadier of Marine, of the Captain of the frigate, 

 and of Captain Villavicentio, formerly the Commandant 

 of the flotilla here. It may appear that I am overrating 

 the importance to be attached to these party differences, 

 but my present object is to point out the possibility of 

 some such feeling being either the direct or latent cause 

 of the treatment complained of by the ' Ann ', and it is 

 highly probable that it resulted from conflicting opinions 

 as to jurisdiction, whether it was within the province of 

 the Governor or Naval Commandant. 



It may be assumed that in this penal settlement the 

 Spanish Government does not countenance the visits of 

 strange vessels. Grant it in the case of casual visitors, 

 but the laws of humanity and custom of the civilized 

 world extends assistance to vessels of every denomination 

 in distress, and no excuse can be accepted for its denial 

 to the ' Ann ', particularly if, as stated, they originally 

 consented to it, and exhibited the means they had of 

 meeting every exigence, if only the money was forth- 

 coming. As to the refusal of men to navigate the vessel 

 to Java, the writer of the article in the Nautical Maga- 

 zine, forgets his admission that he was in a penal settle- 

 ment. No doubt much may be disputed on this matter, but 

 I must candidly say that from Colonel Figueroa I received 

 the most marked courtesy, and special exertion on his 

 part to carry out every wish connected with my duties, 



