Background.

The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act was passed on 25 March 1807. The Act not only affected the trade in British and colonial based vessels, but also the supplying and fitting of vessels by British subjects for the slave trade, the manning of slaving ships by British subjects, and the insuring of slaving vessels.
The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, along with subsequent related Acts tightening up the provisions for monitoring and suppressing the trade and international treaties with European and American countries, gave Britain the role of international policeman. In this role, she used the Royal Navy and diplomatic efforts to suppress the trade in the Americas, Middle East and India.
Following the passing of the Act, British naval squadrons were set up to patrol the coast of West Africa and the Caribbean looking out for illegal slavers. The Navy also encouraged exploration of the coastal rivers and waterways, bombarded slaving settlements, made treaties with friendly African groups and encouraged other forms of trade such as in palm oil. Britain's diplomatic role led to treaties with slave owning and slave trading countries (such as Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal) if not to stop the slave trade at least to manage it better.
This led to the gradual suppression of the slave trade and slavery throughout the Americas and to a lesser extent in Africa, the Middle East, India and the Far East.

HMS Sybille.

On 6 September 1827, the HMS Sybille captured the Brazilian ship Henriqueta (ADM 51/3466 , 6 September 1827; FO 84/66 , fos 203-209), with 569 captured Africans on board.

The Henriqueta was tried by a Mixed Commission Court (FO 315/65/60 ) at Sierra Leone on 6 October 1827 and condemned. 546 slaves were 'liberated' to be looked after by the Liberated African Department (FO 315/31 ) 12 Africans died by natural causes, one lost overboard and eight men from liquor. Four others died shortly after landing in Sierra Leone.

In December 1827, the Henriqueta was purchased by Admiralty for £900 as a tender to the Sybille and renamed the Black Joke. During the next 5 years the Black Joke captured at least 22 vessels (ADM 1/1 Africa, 20 Jan 1831 contains details of ships captured by the Black Joke). The fact that she was built as a fast sailing slave ship led to the successs of the Black Joke. In December 1832, after several surveys it was decided that the ship was in too poor a state of repair and was burnt.

The Log Book is split into sections:

1. Daily entires: through 1829 record the capture of various ships, with other remarks, for example:

Nov. 18, 1828: 'Commodore appointed me to the command of the Black Joke Tender, Lt Turner having been promoted by H.R. Highness Duke of Clarence to Commander for leaving a bruch with the providential Brig Privateer ans making a very gallant defense'.

Feb. 1, 1829: 'Black Joke captured Almirate Spanish Brig with 466 Slaves from Lagos to Havannah after an action of one hour and twenty minutes. Almirate 13 cd., 15 wounded, Black Joke 6 wounded, one of whom/ Johnson/ died in West Bay of his wounds. Slade took her up to Sierra Leone in 6d. with Medina'.

2. Black Joke's Position, from Nov. 1826 to April 12, 1829.

3. List of Officer's and Crew Belonging to Black Joke, in Action with Almirante.

4. List of the Slaves Vessels Capturted by H.M.S. Sybille & Tender, from May 1827 to May 1829. (Total ships: 16; total slaves: 3,970; also records Lt.'s share in English pounds).

5. Accou Language (Pronunciation Glossary)
'Used by Slaves from the Kingdom of Holysa & Hio, generally taken in vessels from Whydah and Badapous. Ah Way - Go and wash.

6. Damage Sustained by Black Joke in Action with Spanish Brig El Almirante.

7. HD's Letter to Commodore Acquainting him with the Almirante's Capture. (Downe's transcription).

8. Commodore Collier's Letter to the Admiralty relative to the capture of El Almirante (Downe's transcription).

9. Letter Addressed to Don Damaso J., Capt. of El Almirante (Downe's transcription).

10. Memoranda - Observations & Information Collected from the Crew of the El Almirante.

11. Extract from the Almirante Trade Book. Listing types of slaves and their cost.

12. Song to Commemorate the Battle, written by a crew member, and a drinking toast in response.

13. Capt. Collier's Orders to the Officers of the Sybille, written in a different hand, possibly Collier's, signed T. Collier, and dated 14 May 1827; a second order dated 12 Sept. 1827.

Manuscript, approx. 156pp., original calf, rubbed.