1914 - McNab, R. Historical Records of New Zealand, Vol. II. - UNITED STATES CONSULAR RECORDS, p 604-622

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UNITED STATES CONSULAR RECORDS.

THESE Records were copied by the Editor from among the Consular Reports of the Bay of Islands in the Office of the Secretary of State, Washington, U. S. A.

Owing to the immense development of American whaling on the coast of New Zealand, the United States Government, early in 1839, appointed Mr. James R. Clendon, a resident at the Bay of Islands, as United States Consul. His correspondence with the Secretary of State during the early days of the consulate is here given. The outward correspondence, including the correspondence which resulted in the appointment of a consul, is not available.

In copying the Returns some of the material supplied to the American Government has been omitted as not being of special interest from a New Zealand point of view.

The Editor desires to acknowledge the kindness of the Officers of the Secretary of State's Department in permitting the correspondence to be copied.

CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Bay of Islands, New Zealand,
27th May, 1839.
To the Honble John Forsyth, Secretary of State, Washington.

Sir, --

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 12th Octr. 1838 with Consular documents by Mr. F. C. Sanford 1 and beg to observe that as there is no Government Custom House nor P. O. the formalities of the 2nd Article of the General Instructions cannot be observed. Under these circumstances I will act to the best of ability, guided by the General Instructions until I have the honour of hearing from you.

I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES R. CLENDON.

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CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Bay of Islands, New Zealand,
27th May, 1839.
To the Honourable John Forsyth, Secretary of State, Washington.

SIR, --

Agreeable to the General Instructions now before me I find I am to apply to your department for Seal Flag and Archives there being no Minister or Charge d'Affaires to grant them.

I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES R. CLENDON.

CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Consulate of the United States of America,
Bay of Islands, New Zealand, 30th July, 1839.
To the Honourable John Forsyth, Secretary of State, Washington.

SIR, --

I have the honour to enclose the return of American Vessels that have entered this Port since January 1st as far as the information could be obtained previous to the receipt of my appointment.

I have much pleasure in stating the Native Chiefs have expressed their readiness to render me every assistance I may require and have when applied to apprehended all deserters.

I regret to communicate the loss of the American ship Atlantic, 2 of Warren, R. I., on the 12th June 1839 off Ackaroa Bay on the S.E. part of this coast. Crew saved. The Master, Officers, and six seamen arrived here on the 23rd July in the ship France of Havre, a French Whaler, (the other seamen found employment on board the ships in Ackaroa Bay), necessary relief and assistance has been rendered. One officer and five seamen I have found employment for on board the ships in Port, the Master, first Mate and one seaman I sent home in the ship General Jackson of Bristol R. I.

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James Busby Esq British Resident has communicated to me the intention of the English Government to remove the office of Resident to that of a Consul.

I am Sir
Your obedient Servant
JAMES R. CLENDON,
U. S. Consul.

Consular Return of American Vessels arriving and departing from the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, from 1st Jan to 1st July, 1839.

Date of Arrival.	Name.	Master.	Where belonging.	Date of Departure.
Jan. 1	Ganges	King	Bristol, R. I.	Jan. 22.
" 7	Nantucket	David N. Edwards	Nantucket	" 13.
" 11	Bartholomew Gomold	D. Fisher	Falmouth	" 19.
" 11	Wiscasset	Horton	Wiscasset	" 30.
Feb. 3	Alpha	Congdon	Nantucket	Feb. 14.
" 3	Benj. Bush	Coffin	Warren, R. I.	Mar. 1.
" 6	Dartmouth	Starbuck	New Bedford	" 11.
" 10	Hercules	Finley	"	" 9.
" 14	Boelana	Lucas	"	" 7.
" 17	Helvetia	Cottell	Hudson	" 7.
" 18	Lexington	Pollard	Nantucket	" 15.
" 19	Atlas	Russell	Warren	June 16.
" 25	Lewis	Cunninghame	Boston	Mar. 21.
" 28	Geo. Howland	Weeks	New Bedford	" 21.
Mar. 2	Martha	Taber	Fairhaven	" 21.
" 4	Henry Astell	Lawson	Hudson	" 21.
" 4	Alexander Barclay	Norton	New Bedford	" 21.
" 5	Brilliant	Smith	Warren, R. I.	May 30.
" 27	Ansel Gibbs	Pease	Fairhaven	April 23.
" 27	Xenophon	Halsey	Sag Harbor	" 23.
" 28	Falcon	Russell	New Bedford	" 22.
" 30	Rebecca Sims	Ray	"	May 17.
" 30	George Washington	Gibbs	Wareham	April 22.
April 7	White Oaks	Barney	New York	May 7.
	Science	Whippey	Portland	April 27.
" 12	Chariot	Littlefield	Warren	" 27.
" 20	Gideon Howland	Michael Baker	New Bedford	May 7.
" 25	South Carolina	Baily	"	" 7.
May 9	Splendid	Luce	Edgarton	" 28.
" 16	Ninus	Ludlow	Lynn	" 28.
	Adeline	Brown	Newburyport	July 11.
" 20	Averick Henricken	Stetson	New Bedford	June 6.
" 21	Luminary	Wm. Mayhew	Warren, R. I.	" 6.
	Rambler	Robt. McCleave	Nantucket	May 29.
June 8	Richmond 291 tons	Jno. Tucker	New Bedford	..
" 15	Thorn 298 "	Jno. S. Tuthill	Sag Harbor	July 11.
" 19	Parachute 330 "	Henry F. Eastham	New Bedford	" 10.

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Total number of Ships	33
" " " " Barks [Lewis and White Oaks]	2
" " " " Brigs [Atlas and Brilliant]	2
Total..	37

Estimated value of cargoes 1,113,310 dollars.

JAMES E. CLENDON,
U.S. Consul.
Consulate of the United States of America for the Bay of Islands.
New Zealand July 1839.

CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Consulate of the United States of America
Bay of Islands New Zealand
2nd August 1839.
To the Honourable John Forsyth Secretary of State Washington.

SIR,--

I regret having to communicate the loss of the Brig Brilliant of Warren R. I. Smith Master, on the Coast on the 11th day of June, the Crew and part of the Cargo saved.

The Master mate and two seamen arrived here in a coasting vessel, the remainder of the crew were taken by the American Brig Atlas of Warren R. I. under the same owner as the Brilliant.

The Master I send home in the ship General Jackson--the seamen I have provided for on board the Richmond of New Bedford.

I am Sir
Your obedient servant
JAMES R. CLENDON
U. S. Consul.

SANFORD TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Nantucket Sept 24, 1839

Agreeable to your Instructions of November I delivered the documents to James R. Clendon Esq, at Bay of Islands, New Zealand, and I forward you his acknowledgements of same with this, as we have many opportunities of communicating with New Zealand direct I offer you my services to forward any document seals flags &c &c that you may desire to send, free of any

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charge to our Government. I found when there, that the Native Government was exceedingly loose and far below any of these Islands in the Pacific Ocean, which Mr. Clendon, no doubt has informed you of. Mr. Clendon is a fine man and will do the duties of his office to the full satisfaction of the department.

Please inform me if all be carried and done properly and fully to your satisfaction.

Respectfully Your O'd Servant
F. C. SANFORD 3
To Hon John Forsyth
Secy State
Washington

CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Consulate of the United States
Bay of Islands New Zealand
26th Oct 1839
Honourable John Forsyth Secretary of State Washington

SIR,--

I regret to inform you the ship Richmond of New Bedford, John Tucker Master after having been partly repaired was surveyed and condemned as unseaworthy on the 11th August 1839, was sold by Public Auction on the 28th of the same month for ($1670) sixteen hundred and seventy dollars. The cargo consisting of 1250 barrels of sperm oil was sold by the Master by private contract.

On the 17th August a party of British subjects made application to me in consequence of a house belonging to one of them having been destroyed by the crew of an American ship for the particulars I beg to refer you to the accompanying document.

The village of Kororarika is inhabited by a set of lawless fellows, the greater part of whom are convicts escaped from New South Wales and get a livelihood by decoying seamen from their ship--and shipping them at an enormous advance--on board of any other vessel that may have been in like manner distressed.

The respectable inhabitants addressed a letter to Mr. Bennett thanking him for his praiseworthy conduct in destroying one of the greatest sinks of iniquity in the place.

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On the 10th July Thomas H. Jenkins of Orland, State of Maine, who had some months previously deserted from the ship Alpha of Nantucket Congdon Master; applied for relief; he was in a most distressing state for want of medical aid, food and clothes. I placed him under the care of Mr. S. H. Ford, Surgeon to the Church Missionaries where he remained until he was so far recovered in health and strength as to enable him to seek employment and in crossing the Bay for that purpose I am sorry to say was drowned on the evening of the 28th September.

I have the honor to remain Sir
Your Obedient Servant
JAMES R. CLENDON
U.S. Consul.

[Enclosure.]

REPORT OF RIOT AT BAY OF ISLANDS.

STATEMENT of the circumstances connected with the destruction of a house belonging to a British Subject at Kororarika in the Bay of Islands New Zealand by a party of armed Americans on the 15th August 1839.

In consequence of a house belonging to a British subject residing at Korararika in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, having been attacked and pulled down by a party of armed Americans, the British Resident and the American Consul proceeded to the spot, and having investigated the circumstances connected with the proceedings have agreed upon the following statement to be transmitted to their respective Governments.

It appears that the American ship Hannibal of Sag Harbour commanded by Lewis L. Bennett came to an anchor in the Bay of Islands on the 6th of the present month of August 1839, that during the following night John Corney and George Jackson two of the crew who were both shipped at Rio de Janeiro as foreigners, absconded carrying with them all their clothes and property. And that an American youth named Benjamin Savage who was under the special charge of Captain Bennett, disappeared at the same time, having been in the same watch on deck with one of the seamen above named--But that part of his clothes were found in his chest, and his cap, one shoe,

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and comforter on the deck, the cap much crumpled--That as there were no grounds for supposing that the said Benjamin Savage had any wish to leave the vessel it was feared that he had been unfairly dealt with by the said John Corney and George Jackson and that considerable anxiety was felt for his safety-- That on the morning of Thursday the 15th instant Captain Bennett having seen George Jackson at the house of ----- Chalk a grogseller at Kororarika required him to proceed with him on board ship when George Jackson entered the House and ascended to the loft by means of a ladder; --that Captain Bennett followed him to the foot of the ladder where he was stopped by some men who were standing about the house, and who told him, with much obscene language, that he should not have the man--That he thence proceeded to the other American ships in the Harbour and requested assistance from their respective commanders to recover his men by force-- that he returned to Chalks with two boats and twelve men belonging to his own ship, and accompanied by William Sloan Master of the Ship William Hamilton of New Bedford and John Tucker Master of the Ship Richmond of the same place with five boats and officers and men from their own ships and from other ships in the harbour--that the officers of the ships were armed with pistols and cutlasses, and the men with guns, that they unfurled the United States flag in front of the House, and after Captain Bennett had demanded that the deserters and a bag of clothes which he had identified as belonging to the said deserter, should be given up and having been answered that they were not there, and before he got the man and bag he said were his, blood should be spilt, And after waiting a few minutes he gave order to pull down the house--When the men proceeded to pull off all the weather boards from two to three feet upwards from the ground, so that they could see through the house, when the bag above alluded to, was found containing the deserters clothes and some clothes stolen from the crew. That at this stage of the proceedings the Reverend Henry Williams one of the Missionaries of the Church Missionary Society suggested to one of the Captains, that as they had now shown what they could do, it might be well to stop--that orders to that effect were immediately given, and the men desisted-- But at this time Chalk the occupier of the house who had been in a state of insensibility from intoxication on Captain Bennetts first visit to the House, appeared and attacked the party with the most abusive language; when orders were given, and the

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work of demolition recommenced--But on the Revd Mr. Williams again interfering and representing that Chalk was only the tenant of the House which was the property of another man, they again stopped--But renewed the attack for the third time, on its being found that a part of Benjamin Savage's clothes were in the bag which had been discovered in the House, and did not desist until they had thrown down the front wall and the ends of the House; the roof being only supported by some of the Gable posts. The owner of the house has estimated the damage sustained by him at Fifty pounds--Two casks of spirits belonging to the tenant were also staved, and the liquor spilled out, and it is also alleged that some property, including the clothes of one of the lodgers, was carried away by some of the seamen.

JAMES BUSBY
British Resident at New Zealand.
JAMES R. CLENDON
United States Consul
Bay of Islands New Zealand.
Bay of Islands, New Zealand
17th August 1839.

CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Consulate of the United States
Bay of Islands New Zealand
10th Jany 1840.
Honble John Forsyth
Secretary of State
Washington.

SIR, --

I have the honour to enclose the returns of American vessels that have entered this Port for the half year ending 30th Decr 1839.

I am in receipt of a communication from Thomas Brown Master of the ship Adeline of Newburyport then at anchor at Capiti in Cook Strait stating that a Boat belonging to his ship while towing from the shore to the ship a raft of water had been forcibly taken from the crew by an armed party, consisting of eight Europeans and one native of New Zealand, belonging to a shore whaling party at the Island of Capiti.

As such occurrences are not uncommon and not a season passes, but some of our whaling ships suffer more or less by the lawless wretches in the whaling Bays of Cooks Straits, it is a source of regret to me, that not any of our Ships of War have

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yet visited New Zealand--and I fear the Surveying Squadron 4 have proceeded Southward from Sydney New South Wales-- (as they had completed their refit and were ready for sea on the 20th Dec last) and will not call here.

The accounts for the relief of distressed seamen have been forwarded to the proper quarter and drafts given at 35 day sight for the Amounts.

I have the honor to remain Sir
Your obedient Servant
JAMES R. CLENDON
United States Consul.

Consular Returns of American Vessels arriving at and departing from the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, from the 1st day of July to the 31st day of December.

Date of Arrival.	Name.	Burthen.	Master.	Where belonging.	Date of Departure.
1839.					1839.
July 11	Thos. Williams	340	Palmer Hall	Stonington	Aug. 22.
" 18	General Jackson	329	Stephen R. Crocker	Bristol, R. I.	" 3.
" 19	Parachute	330	Hy. F. Eastham	New Bedford	" 7.
" 19	Xenophon	383	Seth Halsey	Sag Harbor	" 20.
" 23	Acasta	286	Sylvester Smith	"	July 27.
" 23	Harvest	262	Jas. Godbee	Bridgeport	Aug. 7.
" 30	France	411	J. E. Howell	Sag Harbor	" 3.
Aug. 6	Hannibal	310	L. L. Bennett	"	" 20.
" 6	Wm. Hamilton	463	Wm. Swain	New Bedford	Sept. 6.
" 6	Concordia	264	J. Woodward	Sag Harbor	Aug. 20.
Sept. 20	Atlas	132	Wm. Mayhew	Warren, R. I.	Nov. 6.
Oct. 7	Eliza	262	Wm. Radcliffe	Salem	Oct. 18.
" 7	Mercator	246	Ed. Mayhew	New Bedford	" 26.
" 16	Franklin	333	W. P. Howland	"	" 22.
" 17	Benezet	192	Mat Stetsen	Fairhaven	Nov. 9.
" 24	Triton	299	Av. F. Parker	New Bedford	" 6.
Nov. 8	Mount Vernon	324	E. J. Sheerman	"	" 22.
" 20	Nat. P. Tallmudge	370	F. Post	Poughkeepsie	Dec. 2.
Dec. 4	Concordia	264	J. Woodward	Sag Harbor	" 16.
" 17	Leonidas	231	J. H. Eagleston	Salem	" 20.
" 23	White Oak	291	Wm. Barney	New York	..
" 24	Hoogly	292	Obed. Luce	Warren, R. I.	Jan. 7.
" 26	Falcon	273	Ab. Russell	New Bedford	" 4.
" 27	Wiscassett	380	Seth B. Horton	Wiscasset	" 17.

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18 Ships 6 Barks 1 1 Brig 2	Amounting to 7603 tons, 612 seamen. Estimated value of Cargoes, $523,025
1   Harvest, Concordia, Eliza, Benezet, Concordia, White Oak. 2   Atlas.

JAMES B. CLENDON
U. S. Consul
Bay of Islands, New Zealand.

CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Consulate of the United States
Bay of Islands New Zealand
20th Jany 1849.
To the Honble John Forsyth Secretary of State Washington.

SIR,--

I have the honour to acknowledge your despatch of the 12th February 1839 with my Consular Commission.

I am Sir
Your Obedient Servant,
JAMES R. CLENDON.

CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Consulate of the United States
Bay of Islands New Zealand
February 20, 1840.
To the Honorable John Forsyth Secretary of State &c &c Washington

SIR,--

In my Despatch of the 30 July 1839 I had the Honor to inform you of the intention of the British Government to appoint a Consul to this port.

I have now to inform you of the arrival in this Port of H. M. S. Herald conveying Captain Hobson R. N. as Lieut Governor and Consul, with his Staff, a Police Magistrate, Collector of Customs, and Surveyor General. 5

Enclosed are two Proclamations--the one relative to Capt Hobson's appointment--the other to the validity of Titles to land.

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I have also forwarded a copy of the Treaty 6 entered into with the Chiefs with a translation attached thereto. Many chiefs have signed the treaty and it is expected the whole will do so.

Headquarters to the Government have not yet been fixed upon but it is the intention of the Lieut. Governor to form four Settlements immediately, on various parts of the Island.

I have the honor to be Sir
Your Most Obedient Servant
JAMES R. CLENDON
U. S. Consul.
(Encloses unofficial translation of the Treaty of Waitangi.)

CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Consulate of the United States
Bay of Islands 3rd July 1840
To the Honle John Forsyth
Secretary of State &c.

SIR,--

I have the honor to enclose returns of American Vessels that have entered this Port for the half year ending 30th June 1840. Also an Official Copy of the Translation of the treaty with the Native Chiefs referred to in my letter No 6 date 20th February 1840

The British Government have formed several settlements on this (Northern) Island and are preparing to put their laws in force. At present they have only a Police Magistrate and a small detachment of troops at each settlement.

I have received from the Government every assistance required for the apprehension of Deserters and the Lt Governor expresses his readiness to aid and assist the American shipping in every possible way and in the case of a boat having been detained by the Natives belonging to the ship Hamilton of Sag Harbour through some misunderstanding (the Lt Governor) ordered the Troops immediately to the spot and had the boat given up. It was however in many cases a great loss of time to the shipping when Desertions occurred for me to have to apply to the Police Magistrate for a warrant for apprehension which loss of time frequently enabled the men to escape either by coasting vessels on the point of sailing or otherwise, and as there are but few seamen in the Port, vessels have been detained many days I may say weeks before they could fill up their crews. In consequence of which I have been induced to hold

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a commission of the Peace from the Lt-Governor until I heard from you on the subject which enables me to issue a warrant for apprehension, the men are immediately arrested, put on board the vessel, and are enabled to sail at the appointed time.

The Exploring Squadron under Commodore Wilkes touched at this Port and I am happy to say succeeded in discovering the South Continent some days before the French Expedition. They sailed the latter part of April all well.

I have the honor to be Sir
Your Obedient Servant
JAMES R. CLENDON.

Consular Returns of American Vessels arriving at and departing from the Bay of Islands New Zealand from the 1st day of Jany to the 30th day of June (inclusive) 1840:--

Date of Arrival.	Name.	Burthen.	Master.	Where belonging.	Date of Departure.
Jan. 3	Nantucket	350	D. N. Edwards	Nantucket	Jan. 7.
" 4	Levi Starbuck	376	J. C. Lincoln	"	" 13.
" 18	Tobacco Plant	270	Sylvanus Swan	New Bedford	Feb 11.
" 31	Lexington	398	H. Y. Davis	Nantucket	" 11.
Feb. 2	Atlas	126	Wm. Mayhew	Warren	" 11.
" 17	Jasper	359	Howland Leavitt	Fairhaven	" 24.
" 17	Thorne	298	Chas. A. Goodall	Sag Harbour	" 21.
" 21	La Grange	279	A. P. Taber	Fairhaven	" 29.
" 27	Acasta	330	T. E. Swan	Stonington	Mar. 7.
	Stonington	360	J. P. Rice	New London	" 9.
Mar. 3	Joseph Maxwell	301	Ansel Stewart	Fairhaven	" 19.
" 3	Selma	268	Art. Wilcox	New Bedford	" 20.
" 9	Thorn	298	C. A. Goodall	Sag Harbour	" 20.
" 12	Eliza	262	W. E. Radcliffe	Salem	" 25.
" 24	Lydia	292	Chas. Ramsdall	Salem	April 8.
April 2	St. Peter	266	W. H. Mosher	New Bedford	" 13.
" 9	Parachute	330	H. F. Eastham	"	" 25.
" 18	Caledonia	445	F. Hancock	Stonington	" 25.
" 26	Phocian	265	E. W. Collins	New Bedford	May 14.
" 27	Corinthic.	503	N. B. Heath	Bristol	April 30.
" 29	Thomas Dickson	454	W. S. Havens	Sag Harbour	May 18.
" 30	Janus	..	Taber	New Bedford	" 18.
May 1	Factor	330	B. L. Howland	Poughkeepsie	" 14
	Benezett	192	M. Stetson	Fairhaven	" 18
" 6	Hamilton	454	D. Hand, jun.	Sag Harbour	June 18
" 7	Tread	335	Isaac Case	Greenport	May 24.
	Tuscalova	379	Ed. Halsey	Cold Spring	" 21.
	Fanny	390	S.W. Edwards	Sag Harbour	" 15
	Shylock	277	C. S. Taber	Rochester	" 28.
" 9	Endeavour	259	E. J. Stetson	New Bedford	June 16.
" 9	Thomas	413	W. Hodges	Sag Harbour	May 23.

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Consular Returns of American Vessels, &c. --continued.

Date of Arrival.	Name.	Burthen.	Master.	Where belonging.	Date of Departure
	Alex Mansfield	330	R. L. Douglass	Hudson	May 25.
	Panama	465	T. E. Crowell	Sag Harbour	June 1.
May 13	John Adams	296	Asa. Colimas	Nantucket	May 25.
" 14	Addison	426	W. E. Tower	Sag Harbour	" 26
	Mary and Martha	316	J. B. Coffin	New Bedford	June 18.
	Java	295	J. R. Holl	"	May 22.
" 16	Wm. Hamilton	463	Wm. Swain	"	" 25.
" 22	Neptune	337	S. H. Slate	Sag Harbour	June 5.
	Washington	340	W. Osborne	"	" 1
June 8	Augustus	246	C. D. Mugford	Salem	" 26.
" 9	Golconda	359	Abner Smith	New Bedford	" 26.
	Science	388	Alex. Whippey	Portland	July 10.
" 16	Luminary	432	James Brice	Warren	June 26.
	France	411	I. E. Howell	Sag Harbour	" 26.

[A mistake had crept into original list, twenty-nine names being on one sheet and thirty on the other. The error has been put right by an examination of the shipping news from the Bay given by returned whalers at New Bedford. --The EDITOR.]

Total of Returns.

39 ships 5 barks 3 1 brig 4	15,372 tons, 1104 seamen. 1,029,927, value of cargoes.
3   La Grange, Eliza, Benezett, Mary and Martha, Augustus. 4   Atlas.

JAMES R. CLENDON.
Bay of Islands, New Zealand,
1st July, 1840.

CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Consulate of the United States
Bay of Islands New Zealand
1st October 1840
To the Hon John Forsyth
Secretary of State, &c &c.

SIR, --

I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your despatch dated 1st October 1839 accompanied by the Seal, Press, Flag and Arms of the United States

I have the honor to be Sir
Your Obedient Servant
JAMES R. CLENDON

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CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

United States Consulate Bay of Islands New Zealand
11th January 1841
To the Honble John Forsyth
Secretary of State, &c. &c.

SIR, --

I have the honor to enclose returns of American Vessels that have entered this Port for the half year ending 30th Dec 1840

The accounts for the relief of distressed seamen are forwarded to the proper quarter and drafts given for the amounts--these ac/ are heavier than any preceeding ones, in consequence of the number of sick and the destitute state of the crew of the ship Acasta of Stonnington unfortunately wrecked

I have the honor to be Sir
You Obedient Servant
JAMES R. CLENDON

Consular Report of American Vessels arriving at and departing from Bay of Islands from the 1st July 1840 to 1st Jany 1841 inclusive.

Date of Arrival.	Name.	Burthen.	Master.	Where belonging.	Date of Departure.
July 13	Ploughboy	391	Moses Brown	Nantucket	Aug. 20.
Aug. 1	Helvetia	332	C. B. Gardner	New York	" 17.
" 5	Thomas Dickason	454	Wm. Havens	Sag Harbour	Sept. 1.
" 7	St. Peter	266	Wm. H. Mosher	New Bedford	" 7.
" 10	Franklin	333	W. P. Howland	"	" 7.
" 20	Fanny	390	Silas W. Edwards	Sag Harbour	" 20.
" 23	Columbus	381	Fred Fish	Fairhaven	" 19.
" 29	Omega	304	H. D. Gardner	"	" 18.
Sept. 7	Java	291	G. F. Neil	"	" 29.
" 16	Eliza	262	W. C. Radcliffe	Salem	" 25.
	Daniel Webster	397	E. M. Baker	Sag Harbour	Oct. 17.
" 30	Tybee	278	J. H. Millett	Salem	" 18.
Oct. 4	Emigrant	178	J. C. Smith	Warren	" 27.
" 13	Nereus	181	J. N. Chapman	Salem	" 24.
Dec. 8	Herald	241	Jos. Reynolds	Dorchester	Dec. 28.
					1841.
" 21	Martha	298	J. D. Taber	New Bedford	Jan. 11.

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Total Number of Vessels. 13 Ships 1 Bark 7 and 2 Brigs = 16 Vessels

Seamen, --
American	279
Foreigners	91
	---370
Amount of tonnage	4983 tons
Estimated value of cargoes	$505,865

JAMES R. CLENDON
United States Consulate,
Bay of Islands New Zealand.
11th January, 1841.

CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

United States Consulate
Bay of Islands New Zealand
April 20, 1841.

SIR, --

In consequence of my present residence being so distant from the seat of commerce in New Zealand, I find that it will be hereafter impossible for me to give that personal attention to the duties of the Consulate which they require.

I have therefore the honor to request that my resignation of the office may be accepted by the United States Government and to recommend to its consideration William Mayhew Esquire, Whom I have appointed Vice Consul, a Citizen of the United States, and a Merchant of the highest respectability, as a gentleman qualified in every respect to fulfil the duties of Consul.

In offering my resignation I beg to assure you that I feel deeply impressed with the honor conferred on me by the United States Government.

I have the honor to be Sir
Your Most Obedient Servant
JAMES R. CLENDON
To the Honble John Forsyth
Secretary of State &c &c &c
Washington.

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CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Consulate of the United States of America
Bay of Islands New Zealand
July 1st 1841

SIR, --

The Accounts of this office for the half year ending on June 30th last have been duly transmitted to the proper officer of the Treasury and I have now the honor to inform you that I have valued on you agreeable to instructions in favor of Mr. William Mayhew for the balance due thereon

I have the honor to be Sir
Your Most Obedient Servant
JAMES B. CLENDON
U. S. Consul
To the Honble John Forsyth
Secretary of State
Washington

Consular Return of American Vessels arriving at and departing from the Bay of Islands New Zealand from 1st January to 30th June 1841 inclusive.

Date of Arrival.	Name.	Burthen.	Master.	Where belonging.	Date of Departure.
Jan. 8	Hesper	260	Holder Almy	Fairhaven	Jan. 13.
" 8	Chelsea	396	F. Smith	New London	" 22.
" 11	Jasper	359	Howland Leavitt	Fairhaven	" 24.
" 16	Emigrant	178	Howland Smith	Warren	Feb. 2.
Feb. 1	American	464	W. H. Topham	Hudson	" 16.
" 3	Rebecca Sims	400	Edw. S. Ray	New Bedford	Mar. 2.
" 21	Alpha	345	J. Congdon	Nantucket	" 2.
" 25	Luminary	432	T. Brice	"	" 2.
Mar. 1	Gambia	154	B. Wallace	Salem	" 12.
" 12	Shepherdess	274	E. B. Hooper	"	April 2.
" 19	Lydia	292	W. H. Cross	" "	July 5,
" 29	Thule	285	James Coleman	Nantucket	April 15.
April 4	Good Return	376	J. S. Taber	New Bedford	" 17.
" 7	Statesman	258	C. N. Coffin	Sag Harbour	" 15.
" 26	Emily Morgan	367	S. Clark	New Bedford	May 17.
" 26	Ann Howard	84	C. Allison	New London	June 4.
May 6	Ploughboy	391	Moses Brown	Nantucket	May 18.
" 7	Canova	343	C. W. Saunders	Warren	" 29.
" 29	Pleides	260	A. Allen	Wareham	June 30.

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CLENDON TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Consulate of the United States of America
Bay of Islands New Zealand
January 1st 1842

SIR,--

The Accounts of disbursements and receipts at this office on account of the U. S. Government for the half year ending in December 31st 1841 having been forwarded to the proper officer I have the honor to inform you of my having, agreeable to instructions, given drafts on you in favor of Mr. William Mayhew for the Amount of the balance thereof

I have the honor to be Sir
Yours most obedient servant
JAMES R. CLENDON
U. S. Consul.
To the Honble John Forsyth Secretary of State Washington

MAYHEW TO SECRETARY OF STATE.

Consulate of the United States
Bay of Islands N. Z.
February 21st 1842

SIR, --

I have the honor to transmit to you the Consular Returns of Ships touched at the Port and Fees 8 received at the Consulate from 1st January [? July] to 31st December 1841. The Accounts of monies received and paid at the Consulate on account of the U. S. Government are necessarily postponed in their transmission owing to the Continued absence of J. R. Clendon Esq Consul at the seat of the British Government, distant about 120 miles, of the Legislative Council of which he is a member. The British Government have now assumed the entire Sovereignty of these Islands and have enacted laws and levied Imposts peculiarly harassing to our Citizens and most destructive to their Commercial pursuits, whilst they offer the most marked protection to their own commerce.

Many of our Countrymen are extensively engaged in general mercantile pursuits--some in the valuable Timber trade of the Country and others in that very important branch of our Commerce the Whale Fishery--for carrying on each of which, lands

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have been purchased from the Chiefs and establishments erected at a great outlay of capital but H. B. M. Government here have passed laws which they declare to be now in force, by which they assume to the Queen of Great Britain all lands purchased of Native Chiefs prior to the Treaty with the Natives and during the acknowledged Independance of the Islands of New Zealand, giving to the purchasers only so many acres of land as they may have paid for to the Native Chiefs at the rate of Five Shillings sterling per acre and reserving to itself the right of resuming such portions as it may require; whereas it is too well known that the foresight, talent and industry of our Citizens have given the sole value, as far as it regards the Natives, to the Lands they may have purchased and which the Chiefs to the present time are willing and anxious to confirm to them, declaring (now that they know the intent of the Treaty a copy of which has been forwarded to our Government) that their signatures were obtained without their understanding its purport.

The destructive effect of many of the laws passed here on our Commerce is too general to detail, the duties imposed on produce of the United States varies from Ten to Five Hundred per Centum ad valorem, which our citizens have been and still are compelled to pay even on stocks imported and in hand previous to January 1840 the time of Assumption of Sovereignty by the British Government, a proceeding so manifestly unjust that it is hoped some reparation may be sought for them at the hands of our Government. I must add that after careful examination of the accounts I estimated the loss of one American house alone, on American produce imported previous to any Duties being levied, and depending on the good faith of the acknowledged Independance of these Islands, to be at least $2500 caused by this measure.

Our whaling and shipping interests are deeply affected by the loss of rights and privileges long enjoyed by those engaged in that lucrative undertaking, inasmuch as Establishments on shore exclusively American can no longer exist and numerous Citizens hitherto fully and profitably employed must either sacrifice their hard earned property or serve where they should be masters--those of our ships which for the last 30 years have frequented the Ports of New Zealand to refresh, refit and whale as being the most central and best adapted to their purposes of the South Sea Islands are now forced to abandon them on account of the prohibition to the disposal of any of their cargo, the assumed possession of all the Timber lands by the British Government, their leaving the repairs of our ships at their mercy and the inferred exclusive right to the Fisheries

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within three leagues of the land formerly enjoyed by all Nations.

I am compelled to address you at length regarding the interests of our Countrymen as I find that the Consul has received no instructions from the Government at Washington as to our relative position here with the British Government, and that in his letter he has only cursorily referred to it or to its establishment, which has now been in progressive operation for two years.

I have the honor to be Sir
Your most obedient servant
WM. MAYHEW
Vice Consul.

Consular Returns of American Vessels arriving at and departing from the Bay of Islands New Zealand from 1st June to 31st December 1841.

Date of Arrival.	Name.	Burthen.	Master.	Where belonging.	Date of Departure.
Aug. 6	Warren	382	Hy. Cleveland	Warren	Aug. 20.
" 12	Omega	304	H. D. Gardiner	Fairhaven	Oct. 13.
Sept. 25	Wm. Hamilton	486	Wm. Swain	New Bedford	" 21.
Oct. 8	Benezett	192	M. Bosher	Fairhaven	" 21.
Nov. 1	Emerald	116	C. J. Hull	Boston	Nov. 11.
" 12	Hoogly	248	J. B. Nyelor	Warren	" 26.
" 25	Chariott	396	Geo. Littlefield	"	Dec. 2.
Dec. 3	Wm. Hamilton	486	Wm. Swain	New Bedford	In port.
" 4	Ploughboy	391	Moses Brown	Nantucket	Dec. 18.
" 21	La Grange	279	M. Stetson	La Grange	In port.

[The Benezett, Hoogly, and La Grange are described as barks, and the Emerald as a schooner. --The EDITOR.]