that his property might not be sold, but that he would, in lieu thereof, pay as salvage, fifty per cent, on the invoice cost: to this captain Hurd also agreed, provided the assemblage were willing; and at Mr. Kerr's request, I made his proposal public. It was acceded to, and captain Hurd then gave Mr. Kerr permission to select what he claimed and roll it to one side, and to take it under his own charge: the quantity and invoice cost, as furnished me by himself, will be found annexed, numbered 2. Mr. Cazneau, the auctioneer, then commenced the sale; and at the close, captain Hurd publicly appointed me his agent: the bills were all made out, and the notes drawn in that manner. As the hull of the vessel, her spars, sails, &c., together with a small portion of the cargo, remained unsold, it was considered most prudent to close the business and sell the vessel, tackling, &c., with her contents, as she lay; it was so done, publicly and regularly. Each individual took such care of his own property as he could, and then returned to town: we were absent about eleven days. These, gentlemen, are the facts, and can be substantiated. I cannot refrain from observing that, it appears to me, the capture of the Hannah Elizabeth by the boat of the Bravo, was the result of the most shameful cowardice; and here furnish you a statement given me by Don Mateo. He says, "the Hannah Elizabeth had on board fifteen Americans and five Mexicans, besides a woman; three cannon upon deck, mounted, two sixes and a four; eighteen kegs of powder; two boxes of muskets, rifles, and other arms; and that about 7 p.m., he boarded her in the breakers with one boat and twelve men, himself included; not a gun was fired nor the least resistance made; indeed, they had thrown the cannon, powder, and arms overboard. A ·number of the Americans and two of the Mexicans, were taken on board the Bravo; the Mexicans were J. M. J. Carbajal, and Fernando de Leon. Allow me to advise you that I have, under date of 6th inst., addressed Mr. Royall a member of your honorable body, partly on this subject, requesting him to communicate the same, but fearing the letter may have miscarried, (as the hurry of business, on the part of the government, has prevented their establishing a mail route to this place,) I will offer you the extract "Ere this, I should have sent the government a full detail of all the proceedings connected with the re-capture of the Hannah Elizabeth, as taken down al the time, and the information received from the prize-master, Don Mateo, as written on the night
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