French Clandestine Slave Trade Records: Finding Aid mssHM 43974-44029
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Finding aid last updated on December 10, 2021, by Maggie Hughes.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: French clandestine slave trade records
Creator:
Jeune Louis, Le (Ship : Nantes, France)
Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 43974-44029
Physical Description:
1.25 Linear Feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): Approximately 1822-1828
Abstract: This collection contains the original
French documents relating to a secret African slave trade expedition undertaken by the
French ship Le Jeune Louis in 1824-1825.
Language of Material: English.
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[Identification of item]. French clandestine slave trade records, The Huntington Library,
San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from John Howell, September 1958.
A French brig "Le Jeune Louis" under the command of the supercargo Jean-Baptiste Menard
went on a secret slave-trading expedition organized by Menard and backed by Francois
Fernandez of Bordeaux and others. The ship embarked from Nantes in November 1824. The crew
signed an affidavit stating that the brig's official cargo, palm oil, had been taken by an
American ship and that the vessel was proceeding on ballast. The brig escaped two men-of-war
before it was boarded by an Engish frigate. The English officer who inspected the ship was
satisfied with the captain's explanation on the nature of its cargo. In late December, Le
Jeune Louis arrived at the mouth of the Niger river; Menard purchased 394 African slaves and
in late April continued to Havana. Fever and dysentery claimed lives of 115 Africans. Nine
more committed suicide. Captain Menard died five days after the departure from African coast
on April 24, 1825. Bejaud, the ship's surgeon, took command of the cargo after the death of
Menard. But he died shortly after on May 5, 1825, along with eight crew members. Francois
Demouy assumed the command. Le Jeune Louis arrived to Havana in June 1825; the cargo was
sold there at 250 piastres each. Six weeks later it departed for Flushing. Demouy was
interrogated in Flushing and was unable to prove to the court that the purpose of his voyage
was not slave trade. Ship returned to Antwerp where Jean Donnet was the shipping agent.
This collection contains the original French documents relating to an African slave trade
expedition undertaken by the French ship Le Jeune Louis in 1824-1825. The trip extended from
Nantes to the coast of Nigeria, from there to Havana and back to Flushing.
There are 38 letters, 63 documents, and five volumes, one of which is the captain's
letterbook. All of the papers pertain directly to the slave ships equipment, the crew,
salaries, merchandise, accounts, passports, bills of health, and an insurance policy. The
actual purchase of the slaves, their prices and negotiations with Negro Kings is discussed
in one of the journals and other papers. There are records of suicides and deaths.
Information regarding the precautions taken to veil the true nature of the expedition is
included. The record of the voyage extends from November 1824 through October 4, 1825.
Existence and Location of Copies
Selected items from this collection have been digitized. Digital reproductions are
available in the
Huntington Digital Library.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Slave trade -- France -- 19th century -- Sources
Slave trade -- Africa -- 19th century -- Sources
Slave trade -- Atlantic Ocean -- History -- Sources
Slave trade
Slave traders -- France -- 19th century -- Archives
France -- History -- Restoration, 1814-1830 -- Sources
Letters (correspondence) -- France -- 19th century
Business records -- France -- 19th century
Jeune Louis, Le (Brig : Nantes,
France) -- Archives
Box 1
mssHM 43974-44029