The Edward Burley was a merchant vessel captained by Edward Burke. In early 1843, the ship’s mate and cook went ashore at the town of Blue Barre near Sinoe and both were murdered. On November 29, 1843, Commodore Perry presided over a palaver to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murders. After hearing testimony from Charles Freeman and other men suspected of involvement in the murders, Perry and the commanders concluded that the men should not be charged with first degree murder, nor should they subjected to any severe punishment but rather only, in Governor Roberts words, “punishing them in such manner as will most likely prevent future acts of the same kind” (Perry, 12). The gallery below provides excerpts from Bridge’s manuscript, the published journal, Perry’s letters to the Secretary of the Navy and accompanying documents, and newspapers.
Journal of An African Cruiser 