The National Register. — London, England, 1822-05-13 00:00:00

.• • • • • • • , ~.. 14, --, 1 • ,7/ 1 --- 7 50e ji).__, ' . ✓ .1 - • .4 . ~„.- • --7- -- e" - - 7,74.-• ~.---, N .. , 'W 7 ' -- - 2 : ---19-", c.../- ers , d' -;•,---•-•.• • ..• • ..-- atio nal( traitittr+ Our Uing, eongtitution, anZr nat)34. No. 1,369.—V0L. XV.] SL AVE TRADE. On Friday the 15th Annual Meeting of the African Institution was held at Freemasons'-hall; the attendance was numerous; several ladies (particularly of the Society of Friends) were present. At half-past one o'clock his Royal Highness the Duke of Glocesier took the chair, and opened the business of the meeting by calling upon Mr. Harrison, the him. secretary, to read the lath annual report, which that gentleman did, and the following are the principal ex tracts:a—After alluding to the Altering continuance of the slave trade by the subjects of severalEuropeau powers: the report proceeded to allude to the increase of the slave trade within the last year. The chief seat of this traffic on the west coast, is the rivers Bonny and Calabar • and it ha.' been ascertained on good authority, that in fifteen months front Judy, 18'10, to October 1821, 190 ships. under different flags had eivered the former river, and that Of had entered the latter, for the purpose of pur chasing slaves—a fact which may afford some idea of what must be the dreadful aggregate of misery inflicted during the last year, on this unhappy portion of the glohe. In this work of irrquity Portugal still takes a pre-eminent part. Portugal, it will be recollected, is I the only European Power that has refused entirely to prohibit' her sub j ects from trading in slaves; she retains the guilty distinatiots of still legalizing a traffic which she acknowledges at the same dine to be a crime of the worst description. An active slave trade has been car ried on between the adjoining continent and the islands of Biscao and the Cape de Verde, with the view of the slaves being afterwards shipped to the Havatinalt. or to the French West India Islands. But the rivers which run into the Bight of Benin, and into that of Malta, are chiefly frequented by the Portuguese slave ships. —Thy report then goes on to notice, in terms of the warmest approbation, the fact, that throughout the whole range of Spanish America, now become indepen dent, nut only has the slave trade been effectually prohi bited, but the very incentive to the crime been removed by the gradual abolition of slavery itself, and the decla ration that colour is to constitute no bar to the attain- Iliel4t of rank honours. In allusion to the proceedings of the King of the Netherlauds, the report complains of the lame introduction of slaves i n to Surinam, to the number of several thousands, ever since the sitting of the mixed commission there. In allusion to France, the report is as follows :—Tne directors will now advert to the slave trade carried nu under the ffig of France, which has maintained under the last, as in some for mer years, its guilty pre-eminence. It will appear from the documents inserted in the appendix, that almost every part of the African coast, whether oil its western or eastern shores, is crowded with French contrabandists. The coast appears literally to swarm with theist: as one instance, iii October, 1821, Lieut. Wright of the Sassp per, durtitg a cruise of only IN days in the neighbour hood of Cape Mount, fell in with nine slave ships ; tine was a Dutch vessel, full of slaves, which escaped; the oilier eight were French, several of them full of slaves. But the tavages (tithe French slave trailers are not con fined to the western shores of that devoted continent. The eastern coast, and especi-lly the island of Zanque bar, have recently attracted the citaidity of these lawless adventurers; and an extensive traffic has been carrying on thence for the supply, not only of the Isles of Bour bon, but even of the island of Cuba. A vessel with 344 chives on talon', named Le Succes, was detained in April I tra I, by his Majesty's ship Menai, Capt. Moresby, and carried into the Isle of France, where no claim of pos session or property being preferred, she was 1 . 011(lehilled, and the slaves liberated. The correspondence and other daciiittents found on board this vessel throw a flood of light an the enormities of this traffic, and it is now car red oar by the 'injects of Fiance. Ii will be sufficient to mention. that it appears from these papers that this very teasel. Ls •S*l4ca, had already made a successful slave voyage fr o m Zampichar to the Isle of Bourbon, where she had safely landed 248 slaves; that the Governor, M. having been in untied of the tratisaction, iini instituted jittliClJl proceedings ag.iiiisther; but that the judges whose office it was to try the collie, baring them seises participated m the crime by purchasing some of her slates, cm:curled tit acquitting her; acid that, encou raged by this impunity, she was immediately despatched for another cargo of Attica:is, and was returning with them to the Isle of Bourbon, when site was detained by the Aleuti. A variety of other prooi will be found in the Appetidix, of the pertinacity with which the slave trade is prosecuted outlet. the French flog, as well as of the impunity with which its prosecution is commonly attended The report then details the unsuccessful ctr,rt of the DutLe de Broglie ill the French Cliamber of Peera, last March, to render the laws of France mote eilieaciotts against this trade; but the greatest SUCCeSso was panel (rout the diffusion of information upon the hil bpet on the Continent. Most flattering rllusioni were aisu Ilia le to the conduct of the United Stres of America, whirls had made a:is traffic piracy; and a reftreuee is MONDAY. MAY 18, 1822. made to a very elaborate opinion pronounced by J tidge Van Ness in one of these cases, which deserves to be recorded. He intimated, that even if this ship and cargo, taken under the Spanish flag, bail toot been proved to he American property, he would have held that the demand of restitution by the Spanish claimant ought to be reject ed. on the ground that the trade, being prot ttttt need illegal and even criminal by the municipal laws of Spain, a nil the property being liable to confiscation lit the courts of his own country, no Spanish subject could have a right to Maim restitution in the courts of the United States.—Another very important document has reached the Directors (tom the United States. It is the report of a committee of the House of Representatives in their last session, relative to the mutual exercise of the right of search, by Great Britain and America, with a view to the suppressiou of the slave trade. This committee gave a very clear opinion in favour of the exercise of this right. Lord CALTKORPE rose to propose the motion of thaiiks to the Directors of the African Institution. He la mented the inadequate manner in which the efforts of the abolitionists were supported by foreign powers, but he anticipated a more favourable result from the consti tutional govertunents of the continent. - - Lord NIMENT, in seconding the motion, animad yerted in severe terms upon the odious trafic of the slave trade, and expressed a hope that the time was not far (Natant, when, by the COIIIIIIOTI co•nperation of all civilized goverittn, tits, a termination would b: put to the depredations of that monster of all mankind—the trader in human flesh. The Marquis of LasraciowNE proposed the second resolution, which was declaratory of the abhorrence of the society at the manner in which the slave trade sub. seated. He lamented the indisposition which was ma nifested by foreign power to take the only step that could renddr the abolition eflective, tianitly, by making it piracy. He congratulated the meeting upon the great example set in this respect by the United States of Ame rica, whose goveruuten took the proper attitude that it became freemen to assume in the cause of freedom. Mr. NVILIIER,ORCE, in seconding the declaratory resolution, deeply regretted the necessity which existed of enlightening the public mind of p rance respecting the odious measure of the slave trade. Mr. BROUGHAM proposed a resolution expressive of the gratification of the soci?ty at finding the slave trade made piracy by the United States of America. In doing so, he was grieved to say, that instead of being lISWIII. bled, as they had hoped, this day, to witness the con summation of their le years' labours in enforcing the act of abolition, they had now the ne.riification to find a new series of troubles risinj, to their view, fmm a Lingo lar combination of unhappy circumstances. As long as their own laws had to be watched over to be enforced— as long as their own colonies declined to give their own slaves the equal bmefit of the law, and withheld from them every thing which was not extorted (mitt the mas ters, by the necessity of fostering the slaves now risen in price, if that degraded epithet must still attach to Mimeo beings—as lung as other nations refined to redeem their own plighted promises—so hug the African iiisti union must obviously and necessarily have much to ac complish. It would seem from the interesting report which had been read, that the chief countries ofEtirope since the peace, exhibited nothing, but a irrits of pledges given to be forfeited—opportunities of benefiting 111•111. kind only afforded to be scandalously thrown away— chances held forth to the nations of the world, but cast aside, of recovering themselves, anil of gaining imperish able renown. (Applause.) fie looked with toidignation at the contrast presented by the republican sot jeCIS of a tree country, in the performance where they had not promised so much, to those govemnents who had pio onset' so much and performed so liitle.—(Applatic4 Too much could slot be said of the labours of the Society of Friends, who had been forcibly compe:le,!, by the greatness of their own doings, to encroacit upon that meekness of habit which itititomily induced Mein to " Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame." (hear), aod forced them to receive that public approba tion from their fellow sulueccs, which they were toe fist to earn, but the last to claim. (llear.)—There were, however, some of the foiefAti got ertintenis Who res,in bled the Society of Friends, but it was °illy tit this one habit—that they made no claim for the approbation of mankind. (Laughter.) If they were slow iii claiming, they took especial care to be also slow in deserriiig—.. their modest and retired lialpts were never broken in upon by the applause of stills ring humanity; they kept the left ha 1)(1 111 retire ignora 110: of what was dont ) ; by the right, 31111 to Ohs iate the pois i bili t v of a charitabl e expostne, tiny took particular care to keep both hands tile (Renewed bnros of lat Otter.) Tilear goVer 1111 l ruts :moil wholly without occult., and (IC oi Mild press upon thud scovetimulits, if they could hear hen-.--he woolil press ilium their people, tit ttttt It whoa, those gotern :items lIIJat soutieg air lathe tletl It, that sato will ue Paicx 94d. their plea of England's example of indifference to this traffic for a series of years, even if plea were stronger than it can be pretended to be True it is that this is the 40th year since the wrongs of Africa first caught the attention of the English ear. At that time a small society (prin. cipally from among the Societe of Friends), six in num ber, of whom alone George Harri on was the survivor, met in conclave upon this tr.tfie. Trite, their conclave was as secret in its deliberations as were other congresses that had since assembled. though composed of very dif ferent members, influenced by very different feelings, and having very different objects to promote. This society sought information respecting the traffic; they were followed by Thomas Clarkson, and, treading on his heels in the great work, came his hon. friend (Mr. Wilberforce), who had rendered his name illustrious by his services in this holy cause. (Loud applause.) And yet, notwithstanding the great exertions of such men, 25 years elapsed from the beginning to the conclusion of their Aims, so far as the passing of the abolition act. %Thy did he refer to these pacts?—first, that they had to take to themselves the deep shame of allowing so many years to elapse in the progress of such a question; and next, to discourage despair. under any present circuity. stances, by showing, that in whatever cause a free and enlightened people resolve to embark, success meat olds mately attend their stritiTgle. (Applause.) It was not one year before their final ttiumpti, that after the question of abolition was carried in the Commons, it was flung ant in the Lords. (Hear, hear.) He referred to these facts to discourage despair, not to vindicate foreign powers, oe allow their plea of the example of England. Vk'hest she subject was first taken up in England it was new. ita details and atrrcities were unknown, the of of meta sures was untried; hut would it be contended that the powers of the continent could plead that ignorance/ Had they not had the progressive experience of Enj. land ? They might, indeed, have come into the discus. lion at the i Ith hour, but they did so with all the advantage of hearing the 10 hours' previous debate, and acquiring all the experience of the past to regulate their decision.• (Loud cries to hear.) They must start. there fore, with us at the present time. and not Litter them selves with the delusive dope, that either among the wise or the good men of future times, they would stand justified in a delay, which in the case of England was without defence, but which in their case would he ut terly without palliation. (Applause.) The hon. and learned gentleman then p►onounced a warm panegyric upon the exaltilile set lay the United States of America, in frisking the slave trade piracy, and upon Mr. Ran dolph's great efforts in promoting that act. The Rev. JOHN CUNNINGHAM seconded the motion. Mr. HANDOLPU (the distinguished American) thew tow to return thanks for this mark of respect towards this United States of America. lie was impetled by a double motive, which he could mint resist, to offer himself for a few momettis to their attention. First, to discharge an act of duty in behalf of his native land, in the absence of its official represeittative-311 absence as unexpected by him as it was unforeseen, and which had Cast 111 , 013 hive a duty he felt inadequate to perforin—that or :hank ie this tweeting for the crateful sense they had expressed towards America, and also to assure them that all that was exalted in station, in talent, and in moral character, among its toutitrymea, was (as was also to be futon! its Eitcland) firmly united for the suppression of this infa. mous traffic. (Loud applause ) lie repeated his thanks to the meeting for the flattering reception they had gives' [l'he plainness of Mr. Randolph's appearance, hie repuhli au simplicil or wanner, and cal and unatlectest address, attracted touch attention: he sat dew!' amides a burst of applause.] Mr..lotisr WANK', M.P., proposed a resolution of thanks to Spain, for the 'recall tole of the Cortes, which made the slave trade penal, by confixation and tell years' hard labour at the public works. Mr. STEPIIeN rose to propose a resolution of thanks to the new it,.)vertnitents of South America, for the ready manlicr of which they (Columbia in particular) had come i..rward to atod.sll the slave trade. Mr. W. Surest svcon ied this resolution, and enforced the necessity 01 inure effective steps to secure the abuli. tutu of its odious tralfici. llib Hopi Iligimes.. the Duke of GLoucteraft, in acktiowletlAine me thanks of lite ineetiug. took occasion to introduce the name of an illuanuus relatise of his. 55 60 had also steadily omitted the aonlition of the blave trade--.iie meant the King, of Denmark. (Aimlstise.) His royal highness also stated , that he had the pleastire of a personalacquaintatic.: with Gen. who had tiroill isrd ttttt , %viten in k...itglatitl in the year !SUS, that the moment the Americans had acquired their liberty, the slave trade suould be abolished. Getieral 13 liar had at leas► redeemed the protonic he had 111.111 C. (Loud applause.) When his royal highness quitted the chair. it was taken by Mr. Wilberforce, and ilson:‘s were then trued to Mr. Morison, the honorary secretary Tile meeting did out break up till r t v fits tiolosek. )(" S I -_r \ ; ‘: