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PEDRO GIBERT AND OTHERS. 753

is false, as all travelers positively assert, that Spanish dol-
lars are current all over Africa. Their value, doubtless, dif-
fers in different parts of the coast, as the inhabitants may be
found more or less in want of other articles. And the money
was buried! How is it that it remains secreted to this very
dey, with a fleet of British vessels on the coastt How is it
that it is still in possession of the natives, notwithstanding
the powerful arms of the British navy, headed by Capt.
Henry D. Trotter? Why, also, were not the watch, the wash-
basin, and the dressing case, all of so much value, ever dis-
covered ?

Gentlemen, I never, in the whole course of my practice,
heard of any thing which appeared 60 utterly moonshine, as
these stories which have been told you. I do not say they are
so—but they may be, for all we know to the contrary. Do
you believe, gentlemen, that Capt. Trotter ever thought this
money was taken piratically? It was said the money be-
Tonged to Mr. Peabody, and if so, would it not have been the
interest of Capt. Trotter to have found itt He would have
undoubtedly received a large reward on restoration to the
owner, and also a reward from his government for having
eaptured a pirate. Quentin tells you that he enpposes the
money was taken, and sent to the Treasury of the Navy. This
you must be aware would never have been the case, but it
would, a8 prize-money, have been divided among the crew.
Proceeding on this point, gentlemen, I shall endeavor to
show you, that a good and honest log-book waa taken, with
the other papers, from on board the Panda, and was either
destroyed, or remains in the hands of Capt. Trotter.

Quentin also tells us of an American flag or ensign which
was found on board the schooner. Why, I would ask, has it
never been produced, as well as the many trifling articles
taken from Capt. Gibert? These stories remind me of noth-
ing so much as some old wives’ legends, or tales of the nursery,
about pots of money buried, or a treasure at the end of the
rainbow. I put it to you, gentlemen, whether it would be
consistent with your duty, to take the lives of twelve men on

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