Star. — London, England, 1816-06-28 00:00:00

•-• ".4 ~`" FirTi ;i1 ZETTE,VONE V. P4RL.I-14ili:NT4lir PROCE,EDISGS. HOUSE uf ,LORDS, JUNE c 7. On the arrival of Lieutenant. General Sir MARCUS RAINSIORD, of the Hayden Army, at his seat, Go vilon, near Abergaienny, on the 29th ultimo, he at one o'clock hoisted the Haytian flsg, and fired a royal salute of twenty-one rounds from an eighteen pounder, in honour of his most illuttrious Majesty • HENRY I. King of Hayti. - This compliment was re ceived with the highest gratification by the surround ing populace, and the General was cAriki Kith ac clamations to the Pitt Club Dinner, at the Greyhound Inn, Abergavenny, where he was repe itedly cheered by a very numerous and respectable company there • assembled. The Rev. Mr. Gana, the President, after paying many compliments to General ItaNsronn.' proposed. " The health of HZNItY the FIRST, King of Hayti, and a speedy and firm union to the two coun tries," which was drank with the greatest enthusiasm. —The Pitt Club was Most ably supported by the principal Gentlemen of thetounty, and the evening: concluded with the utmost good humour and hilarity'. We have General Itatgoronn's authotity to contra dict most decidedly. the insiouatinns of a paragraph in the last Bristol Journal, said to •be founded upon letters from Port.au•Petre, Gaudaloupe, and stating that the EMPEROR of Hasty had at sea &Ilea with troups, which had been intended to aid the insurgents at Barbidctes and Antigua. However naturally that Goveriiment and people may be stipposed to sympa.. thize in the wiThes of their fellow.men for the Wes. tangs of freedom, it would be neither consonant to that fetling, nor for their own interest, to diffuse the hor rors of insurrection, and create new enemies among the negrcx and their toasters of the British or any whet Colonies. Every scheme for aggratuSisernent of the Hay tian Dominion would be as injurimis to its security as it is unnecessary for the proipetity of its subjects, whose internal resources, while they continue, as at present, to cultivate the arts of peace, must be inexhaustible for every purpose of human happiness, and of titis, in all their publications. they express themselvec folly sensible. Co the incti•it of the Earl of Stiarressa. , K y, the Stone Bottle was ordered to he read tae thin time this itty three uioti'hs. .1 he American l'assengera Gill, the irnh Piper and Paste board till, and the Curlier:viola Lands Alienazion Bill, were read the third *bre, and Tho 4eliowing li;I:s ere read a serand t:ene, and er.lvre.l to be committed to.rvirr , w :—The Apprt,, , t iation Bid. the 11.: , nd Coals bill, the Madtintiae Hesuladon bill, the ltiiti !insolvent Drbtairs Bill, t.' , e 0.1 and illubttir Bill, :he Chancery Cour,* • Bill, the lush Sinttte I ra.h- hill, the Irish Illicit Distillation Bill, the Windsor Fairest !A', the New Strait 88, es. Consolidated Fund the Leather 011, the Elteu Marbles Bill, the Non- Resident Clergy Bill, mid the Spirits Lieemits EXCJIEQUEitti O,Isi&OLIDATION In the Committee on the B►ll for consolidating the English and Irish Exchequers, Earl GROSVENOR objected to the palpable in. sue t ition to economy betrayed by Ministers on many occasions, in the coarse of the present Session, not withstanding the pr.tessions they had made at the commencement. lie perceived that the Salary to be attached to the office of Vice-Tieasirrer, by the pre sent Bull, amettnred to C:1430 a c year. It was ori ginally intended that he should have €3.500 a-year, with a Deputy, possessing a Salary of 4 . 1,000 a year, making together a sum at £'&,500 a-year.— tueh was the proof they had given of attention to economy. He was ready to admit that the First Lord of the Treasury bad enough to occupy him in his own Offi:e; bit as the Vice-Treasurer was in effect a sinecure, no inconvenience could arise from the union of the two - offices. The First Lord of the 'Fr. astiry might easily perform its duties. The House should also recollect, that it was an old ex ploded office, which was extinguished by Mr. Burke's 13.11. But whether it was necessary or not that such an appointment should be made, he was persuaded that. many respectable persons could be found in Ire land to undertake it for a few hundreds ;..year. A small sum would be sufficient to remunerate tiw dies of an office so merely Ministerial. At all eveols, he thought dint the S.►lary should not exceed that of the inflict. Lords of the Treasury, and should therefore move-44 That instead of at 1,500, as proposed by the Bill, the sum should be limited to B 1.500." • _ _ _ The Earl of LIVERPOOL maintained, that this Bill was a measure of economy, and not of profu sion ; it abolished eight offices jn the first instance, and made a revival of three under different names. He would leave it to their Lordships to determine, whether Ministers appeared to have been influenced by a view to patronage in proposing the reduction of live Parliamentary Offices. He bad no objection to pot this question upon broader grounds. At the Union with Scotland, there was an express stipula tion that certain Offices should be :retailed; at the Un:ou with Ireland there was no stipulatioa of the .koid ; but the unlimited power of appointment to Parliamentary Offices became justly a subject of Par liamentary jealousy, avd it was decided that the King should not have a power to appoint to more tt ! ao twenty odic's, accompanied with Acts in Par et tgleefifft ibo corwify. He enald now state, that there were only seven such offices connected with Ireland. The Noble Lord bad stated, that the duties of the office might be done for a 'few hundreds a•year. If the Noble Lord was to posh the argument to its extent, it woold go to the re moval of all the Great Officers of State, and the substitution of inferior ones. And the House would do well to consider whether, after gll, there would be nue economy in leaving all. the business of the Country to be dime by Clerks, instead of making it an object of honourable ambition to Gentlemen of education. When this measure was flat thought of, he expected an objection altogether different from that which was now made. Fle•expected to be told that Ireland was entitled to her fair share in those offices of weight and importance. He admitted, that it was the intention of Government to have at tached a higher salary to the situation. The salary, however, was reduced in another place. For all time reasons he should oppose the Amendment. The Amendment was then rejected without a di vision. Earl GROSVENOR next objectid to tbe Clause enabling the Vice-Treasurer to appoint a Deputy, end muved—u That the salary of the Deputy should b: paid kiy the Vise Treasurer himtelf." This Almendoseat was also - Sujected without a di . • lision. The Bill then went through the lad Wel &dared to be teportea. . . STATUTE BOOK. Earl STANHOPE informed the House that the Cammittie had attended on the Prince Regedt with the Addregof both Houses of Parliament, on the subject of the classification of the Statute Book, and that hisßoyal.llighness was pleased to say he would give the necessary directions. (LAVE INtADE AISOLITION. The Marquis of LANSDOWN said, that as this was the only full attendance they were likely to have during the present Session, he wished to call the at tention of the House to an article in the Treaty of Peace concluded at. Paris—ant with a view to insi nuate any censure against Ministers, but for the satis faction of himself and p 1 the country. He wished to ask the Noble Eail (Liverpool) what steps were' taken by his helhjesty's Government to carry into effect that clause in the Treaty by which the Mi nisters of the two countries were pledged to unite their efforts fur the total Abolition of the Slave Trade The Etrl of LIVERPOOL assured the Noble Lord that he Mt the importance of following op the abolition of the Slave Trade in every possible way. The object of the article alluded to, as con cluded between the two Powers, was not neglected. Discussions were actually in progress at the present moment to carry the measure into execution, though they were not yet in that state which would juStit .1 1 him in laying them before Parliament. He cottW assure their Lordships that no exertion should be omitted during the reces s , fot giving effect tae so de sirable. an object. ADDItLaS To TNE REGANT. Lord HOLLAND said, tnat the motion of which• he had given notice, an.l wi , lt which he should con clude, was similar to i)•e one agreed to by the other House ef• Parliarntist—it came, therefore, recom mended by their concurrence. It was also approved of by dtil...retit c!assts of p;:rsons, and particularly by those wile+ were most connected with the West India Islands. The motion embraced two distinct objects, but, though distinct, they were not incompatible.— One was to protect .the lives and properties of the' white population, bg removing the misunderstanding which had led to the late insurrection in the Island of Barbadoes; and the other to promote the comfort and improvement of the Slaves. It was the wish of most persons who had the same interest that he Lad in the West India Islands, to improve their moral and riligious habits, and to carry into complete effect that best and wisest of all measures, the - complete Abolition of the Slave Trade; but unfortunately the condition of slavery so degraded the minds of men, as to render it impossible for them to effect a rapid passage to the possession of all the rights and liberties etrjoyed under the British Constitution. He hoped that every thing possible would be done for that un torionate class of men, bat done quietly, in order to be dope elfectually. Of those who were formerly the enemies of the abolition, many had since changed their minds. Among them was one Noble Lord (the Earl of Buckinghamshire), who regretted that he had ever opposed the measure. But all must be convinced of the neceeity that existed f 4.4 improving the condition of the Slaves, and enforcing toe laws enacted fur their benefit. He should not cuter int" a detail of the occurrences in Ilirba4toes, but proceed ,to draw their Lordships' attention to the Proclama. Lion of the Goitre), which reflected the palest honour upon the head and heart of the person from whom it proceeded.—(Hear, hear.) —They would find it distinctly stated in that Proclamation, that the occurrence had taken place in consequence of a misunderstanding upon the part of the black popula. lion. All the partite *lien concurred in the same opinion, and represented the blacks as acting under the influence of delusion. Sir James Leith stated distinctly, that the Late insurrection was chitfly caused by ill-disposed persons, who gave the dare; to naderstand, that they were actually free by the of Parliament, but that their manu mission was improperly withheld from them. He understood, that Sir James Leith had not only by Pioclarnatirm, but by every other means in his power, communicated to the Slaves that they were mistaken. There was, he believed, a delusion of the same kind in all the Islands. This delusion was, with great probability, ascribed by some to the intro., ductiun of the Registry Bill. He, for one, though lie was a sincere friend to the principle of the mea sure, believed tliat its introduction was attended with mischievous consequences. As to the violence, of which some had tromplained, be trust say, that it was not confined to the advocates of the Registry Bill, either here or in the West Indies. The violence of one party naturally produced that of another, and there were many allowances to be made, for the warmth with which discussions of this kind were often conducted. The warm advocates might an swer the warm opponents, when charged with vio. lence, by a story which he remembered to have heard when in Spain. A shepherd was bronght before a Magistrate for having killed a dog with his spear a on being questioned as to the cause, he said he had done it in his own defence.— " But then," obseried his interrogate* aihrefid you not strike him With the but end instead of the pointed one r , —“ I should," replied the shepherd, •• had Wien at me with his tail instead of his mouth." —(4 laagk.)—lf be was of opinion that any imp: r tation of Slaves, likely to affect Africa or the West Indies, was to take place, he should concur in the .i.loption of the severest possible measures to prevent it. But there was no proof of the illicit traffic. He differed with those in some points with whom. he used formerly to agree upon this great measure; but the difference was more as to time than as to prin ciple. It was enough for their purpose on the pre sent occasion to know that a de.usion had prevailed. Some ascribed it to the preaching of the Gospel by the Missionaries. He did not think so ; but hi thought it of importance that the Negroes should receive :eh gious instruction from persons approved of by their masters. It *as a well-known fact, that when they were instructed in. a different religion from that which theifmasters professed, they considered it an inferior article prepared for their consumption.—(4/aosh.) There was a misconception which he was anxious to &move. He was represented as having said, .on a former occasion, that the Colonial Legislatures had done every thing that could be done. He should be body if that were to go out to the public as his opi him. On time contrary, he had said, that they bad . _ . . i l t er o nc e reri b il i u , i e fi r n i t o t o f n o e b f: e t s d h s er ry : i ti f n tir b w u i t pa lt . thli n ri e i l: t l es n t e s h n t e t t y ) tubodad:lnetrietandik-ereegiven n s the first instances He believed if their Lrirdships looked to the generel state of the SlaveS at piesent, (and Gon fothitl that he should suppose that a state of slavery, under any circionstences, was not to be deplored.) they would find that, under the operation of the Abaleien Act, it was very much ameliorated. He and others who hid supported the Abolition had contended, that if the facility of supplying the Colo nies vietli Slaves was cut off, it would introduce ernongst tee Colonists themselves an attention to the increase of the Black Population, and consequently would lead to the extension of their comforts. If their Lordships examined the prnceedings of the Co lonial Legislatures, they would lad that the persons of wheel they were composed had in fact given a very eminent degree of assistance to the Negroes. Many of those persons had a strong bias against the original Abolition Act, and were therefore unwilling to date the improvement in the situation of the slaves from the period when that Act passed ; but when they came to trace the facts, they would perceive that the state df the Negroes during the lest ten years S had been very considerably ameliorated. it would be found in Jamaica, that though immedi.itely after the Abolition Act the importation of Slaves was very considerable indeed, .yet in the last two or three years it had been gradually diminished, arid great expeceseicnis were now entertained that that island would be able to keep up its }Mick Populettoti with out any external assist ince. He knew an instance. in the island of 13eebadoes, where, in a population of 000 slaves ) there were 250 children tinder the age of ten years. Th9se who supported the Abolition ot the Slave Trade, felt and argued, that when the traffic was put an end to, more care would be taken of the Slaves, and more attention would be paid to their comforts, from a principle of interest, and in this hope they had not been disappointed. Now, if the principle of the Abolition was in force (and they had no reason to suppose that it was not), then they had a right to hope that the silent interposition of that system would produce a very great improvement in the situation of the Negroes, even though nothing else were done.• It had already operated in some degree. but lie was sorry that iti progress had been more slow than they had a right to expect. Some times, however, they most look for the progress of civilization not so much to the operation of the laws as to the moral habits and feelings of the society which they applied to. He extremely regretted (het the laws which affected theetegro population had not yet produced all the benefit which had been hoped for. What the Black Population were most deficient in was religious instruction. It wotile he morally and paliticelly useful to disseminate teligious infor mation amongst them. That species of informetion, oy teaching them to reverence the marriage tie, would be prodactive of effects the roost salutary.l He believed it was not an opinion confined to those whom he addressed, but that it was the public opi nion of this country, and particularly of those who were connected with the West-India interest, that the Colonial Legislatures were desirous of introdu cing religions instruction, and were most anxious to secotel the views of the mother country on this sub ject. He wished die attention of the Public, of the Itarliatnere, and of the Church, should be directed te this point. With respect to the other part of the'' `oteominendetlon which the Adarets would call ors the the Crown to bring under the notice of tht Colonial Governments, nern:ly, that which related to the granting menumissirms to those Slaves who had a right to demand them, as soon as possible, he dis claimed the intention of casting any reflection on the Colonists by that passage; for he believed they had not acted improperly. He was of opinion, that no illicit importation of Slaves had taken place; at least he had not heard a single instance stated to him that brought conviction to his mind ore this subject.— When be said this, he did not mean to assert that one or two cases might not have (men:red ; but gene ,rally speaking, he believed the illicit importation of Slaves had been prevented. In his opinion, the re turn of peace had added to the facilities which pre viously existed for carrying on that traffic. He re collected, .that those who wished for the Abolition, and voted for it, contended that it was easy for this t (runny to prevent the importation of Slaves. The opponents and supporters of the measure, as fir as this argument was concerned, opeeared to hive changed sides, for those who MAW opposed the Re gistry Bill, reasoned exactly in the same way. Batt it was going too far to say that no illicit importation could now take piece. The possibility, and eve!, the probability of such a traffic being carried on was in. creased by the restoration of peace. On the other hand. it must be observed. that there was no proof whatever of the existence of such a trade. He should therefore wish the Government of this country to call on the constituted authorities in the West Indies to, enforce the Abolition Act most strenuously. That a registration of --Slaves was expedi , mt, if not abso lutely necessary, no•person could doubt. Tartly from the manner in which it was brought forward, and partly from the jealousy of the Colonies, more ileoJitietU had been,givea 40 theeneasure of 4 Re gistration of Slaves than * should AirlY have been advanced against it. in the first instance, he con. ceived this measure to be politic, he conceived it to be wise. It was necessary, if for no other purpose than to convince the world that no illicit importation of slaves was allowed. On this ground it should be adopted. But, whether it was wise or not, the Gen tlemen in the Coloniee must know, that they could not loog resist° it. • If they did not agree to such a measure, and state what they thought was proper to be done, it would be carried into effect without their concurrence, and, perhaps with more force and seve rity towards themselves and the %Vest India Islands, than they had imagined. He was anxious that the Colonists themselves should sanction such a measure, because, if they did, it would operate in a much shorter time, and more fully and effectually, than if it were the work of any other body. If they did not agree to a registration, it would be necessary that the measure should arise tromp some other quarter; fur it would be throwing dust into the eyes of the West India Co lonists to say that they could do without it. If they did not sanction it, the feeling of the people and of the Parliament would force measures on them which he should be sorry to see—but fur wl:ich, wider toe circuitistences to which he had alluded, lie should certainly vote. LI theuccessity of a itigistet believed 'a nitwit* or persems in this country cordially s p„,, and he trusted that the measure weuld b e et ci ( 3 , 14 before the question was again discussed in Parlia re ' rm: 4 ,, He hoped the Colonists would not confine th emstlr : merely to that measure, but that they would &eve,: thing in their power to ameliorate the condi t i on • the Shaves, and to introduce amo!‘tzst the m re : and rel4,ious habits. He was attaid thist l ie h fatigued their Lordships, particolari7 a s th e with which he sho.tht conclulr th,l not demand very extended opening speedi—hat, cz 3e di etz 111, dtd, perhaps their Lords:sips (ia G.:lie:Li ng the slis: he had taken in the question ot the Abolition, the good fortune which he had, the only time he ee represented his Mdjerty in that House, a % nee of r,. .Lords Commissioiivri, in giving the R o y a l lanai, to t h e Ahn!itiii t s Act) ss mild ercese h im le l" i. stated, that the opinion which he formerly h e ld i t mained unchanged, an:! that the disgust and abbe. rence with velicit he v7.:vrecl the milk iu Slates, so i continuA. But, on the other hand, as justice sue 4 to be done to all percons, he thought it was n ecessasi for the st:cress of the great work which th e y all bt. at heart, neittely, the arnelipration of the state of tr , Negroes, that nothing precipitate slitaild be do ne ... Those who rightly omit tstood the ble:sinr,s 0: 6, Biitibh Constitution, must feel the dept.rahle sit u ,. tion in which the hlave was placed, and tousl e anxious to alleviate it—and it was by reconcili ng ti , e jarring opinions of parties, on both sides of the tine s• tion, that they could hope to obtain this desi ra bl e end. His Lordship concluded by rrioeiag—. 1 " That an humble Addreis be presented to his g rl gli k ,,_ nest the Primer Resent, praying that Ise will be geasiru l i v i - ,;; to cause etinimunications to be made to the Ciovermto 0 1 ik West India 14and4, conomandog them to state his eitreme tla pleasure at the recent sanguinary insurris inn at Barbsd on .... l4 the concern and surprise which his Royal ibghaess felt on Lat. ing that it arose from rumours which were propagated row" to the Emancipation ot the Negroes. Alio ditettiug them to nee their best endeavours to ameliorate the tituatiou Ul the Population, and to take the most effectual means to resat sty breach ot the Abolition Act." . . . . I - .1; • i / TUI Pd l of tali do of tel w I of F.arl BATHURST expressed his entire C33Cl2f. rence in the motion, which, he conceived, would tend to do away the delusion that had cleated so much mischief in the %Vest Indies. That delusion had arisen, in some degree, from the indiscreet zeal of those who were in liorour of emancipation, but what share of it WAS attributed to them, he could not 547. He was extremely happy to find that ;lie inserter. tionary movement was put down, though with co 4 siderable loss. But, considerabie as it was, ae7 might congratulate each other on its not havii,g l am much greater. The terms of the Address, ti, ge it at with what had passed in the course of the Sation, both there and elsewhere, would put an end to t h at delusion, which ought to be banished from the West India Islands, and would have a powerful tffott is allaying the apprehension which was entertained, dut there was a disposition in the British Parliament, um naturally to interfere with the local authorities, in the Colonaret. He believed their Lordships must feel, that whatever was necessary to the good govern. meat of the Colonies, had better oligulate with the inhabitants. Such internal regulations should te adoir.ed as would remove all jealousies, and would render the slaves happy and contented. However they might hope, that there was something in the British character which wowld secure to slaves the kindest possible treatment, he believed it would be found, that foreigners, who possessd slave', were, in general, mere humane than eur countrymen were. 'Meek was no wish, on the pars at tais eouniri. to in:erfcre with the local authorities. At the rata time there was a great diiietence between an unxd. lingness to interfere, under ordinary circumstance, and a total indisposition to interfere at all, waette the case required it or not. We could not, with any propriety, act on the latter principle. We had gor from Court to Court, making stipulations relative the Slave Trade—and it would be most uspardona ble in us, if we became indifferent about au on laws. Every principle of humanity, of hmaanatt& of policy, pointed out a contrary course. it was that sanctioning new laws on this subject was nothiog more than passing acts of condemnation on the Cola nists. This was not the facts He did not believe that there was a general disposition, in the islands,to carry on 3 clandestine trafficnone, he believed, wa carried on—but still it was necessary that legislative means should be taken to remove the (Wheelies which the new state of things had occasioned. The Duke of SUSSEX said, atter the able speech with which his Noble Friend had 'fleeced his motion, and after the handsome manner in which the Nible Earl had agreed to it, he would not have claimed their Lordships' attention, it he had not, frem tier commencement, been a conscientious friend to tot Abolition of the Slave Trade. He now felt it be duty to say, that his principles, on this subject, wee in no degree altered from what they formerly were. Time, instead, of weakening, had strength en e d and confirmed them. The Noble Earl had very fai stated the course which they ought to pursue—fires they should leave the local authorities to :IC( for the Colonies—and, afterwards, if they did nut proceed properly, it would Le in the pewer of PdaliaaiLat Id take such measures as tzt:glit appear sle et ssary.. Lord HOLLAND said, that thel words ! n tie Irni 3 ti°n Went rt/Gre directly to prLveLt any iiiiracaa of the Abolition nee, rh ea. those er!lich were in V' Resnint:aii that had bees: carried in another piace•-• He had the concurrence or these persons with wh'l that ltesolittLn had riginated, and klso of int! other persons, connected with the West Indies, a making the Ai:cr.-16Ni. 'Vile motion was then agreed te, nerve. din. Earl STANHOPE moved, in the Committee ca Sykes's Hydrometer Bill, fur the intioductioa Of a Clause, restricting the operation of the Bill to the la of August, IBlB.—Agreed to. The 13..rer Duty 1311, the Claremont Estate Bill. Mutiny Act Amendinent• Bill, and the S'U C. Expprtation Bill, west severally through a Conituitwa reonoNCILS . BILL. On the second reading of the Coroners' Allowaata , Bill, the Earl of EGREMONT rose, and, havi:ig s stated his convictio:• that the Bill was unjust acrd tr. necessary, proceeded to encase--"• Th a t it be reac s second time tHs day furtnieht." Lord ROLLE coincides' in tha opinion cf 'he Noble Lord aiso had just sat dawn. The nit:a:err would entail an unnecessary experhe on the aw•fatri* Their Lordships then divided, For the Atneraiment, G—Against 4—Majority. The Bill is co:lir:in.:tatty last fur the etraaa So' ned. when there appeared. k al