Catalogue description Printed prize appeal from the Vice-Admiralty Court of Sierra Leone. Captured ship:...

Printed prize appeal from the Vice-Admiralty Court of Sierra Leone.

Captured ship: Gertrudis La Preciosa (master Jose Torre).

Nationality: Spanish.

History: a slave trader, bound from Old Calabar to Havana, laden with part of the outward cargo and trading for slaves (about 477 enslaved people, 255 men, 123 boys, 40 women and 62 girls 'the blackest possible, of a regular stature' as given in detailed instructions); taken on 9 June 1814 by HMS Creole (George Charles McKenzie commanding) in sight of HMS Astraea (Benjamin Ashley commanding), and brought into Sierra Leone.

Appellant: John Lacoste, merchant of London, on behalf of Miguel Lopez merchant of Cadiz for the ship, cargo and slaves.

Respondent: The captors and HMPG.

Bound printed appeal with manuscript decree of 20 May 1816 (folios 396-410) [no folio 406].

Decision: cargo and 1/6th part of the slaves (or their value) to be restored to the master, Jose Torres; ship and remainder of the cargo condemned as lawful prize; 5/6th of the slave forfeit to the Crown.

Folios 396-399: case on behalf of the appellant; Folio 399: decree; Folios 400-402: case on behalf of the respondent; Folios 403-410: joint appendix