The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-25 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 25, 1848.

under which that committee stood. With regard to the six
several petitions which had been made the subject of discus-
sion in the house, and of reference to the Cheltenham special
committee, the general committee had deemed themselves
justified, as long as that inquiry was pending, and as Nng
as the Election Rea:Visalia!! Bill was before the house, in
delaying from time to time the striking of the several com-
mittees to try each of those six individunl cages. But that
bill having come after a considerable discussion to a very
abrut termination and the hon. and learned gentleman
(Mr .Walpole) who, had undertaken the charge of it having,
as the author of the measure, declared eight days ago that he
would have nothing more to de with it, the general com-
mittee of 'election had deemed it their duty to appoint a
day, and to give the usual notice" to the panels, for striking
the election committees in thou six several cases. This
declaration had been adopted on Thursday last, and
Monday next and the Monday following hid been
fixed as the two days on which the committees
would be chosen. He did not well see how any
other coure could he taken by the general committee. for
they would not have been justified iu dep.irting from that
course on the mere supposition that the hill being taken up
by the right hon. and learned member for Bute (Mr.
Worthy) would he likely to be more euccesaful than the
measure which had been deserted by the hon. and learned
member for Midhurst (Mr. Walpole). The general com-
mittee had been open to all parties concerned; they had
heard principals and agents; they wool hear them again
fully on Monday before striking the committee, and would
be guided by a sense of what was due in justice both to
the petitioners and to the sitting members.
Mr. WORTLEY repeated that he should move the
second reeding on Monday, when he should ask the house
to take it first tie a measure affecting the privileges of the
house. He had a conscientious conviction that unlees the
house interfered by legislation in this matter it could in no
other way avoid the probability of again being brought into
collision with the courts of law.
After a few words from Sir G. Once and Mr. Wuntteit
in explaaation, the conversation dropped.
CAPITAL CONVICTS AT DURHAM.
Mr. BRIGHT wished to put a question to the right hon.
baronet at the head of the home department on a subject
which gave him extreme pain. It was known to the house
that two men were now lying under sentence of death at
Durham for a murder committed on a gamekeeper in the
s
service of the Duke of Cleveland lie oeved in thrapers
that a respire had been sent down for o bner of these unhappy
individuals, and he (Mr. Bright) had been informed that
the town council of Durham, as also the jury by whom the
men had been tried, had forwarded memorials to the Home.
office in favour of is commutation of the sentence of death to
both criminals. The question he had to ask was, whether
such a recommendation had been made at the Home-office,
and, if so, whether the right hon. baronet would [have any
objection to Otte on the table a copy of the memorial tor-
warded by the wry ?
Sir O. GREY said that, while lie gave the hon. member
for Manchester full credit for the motives by which he was
actuated, he could not help expressing his deep regret that
queetious of this kind were put. (Ileer, hear.) Because it
was impossible for him to bring before the house the whole ,1
circumstances of each care, and thereby it impeded the die.
charge of a most painful duty. The hon. member knew that
this case, after a most serious, anxious, and painful investi-
gation, had been finally decided, and in coming to that de-
cision, painful as it wan, it would have been a dereliction of
the duty imposed on him if he had shrunk from dischartting
It. (Hear, bear.) In answer to the question, he had to
state that the verdict of the jury had nut been accompanied
by any recommendation to tie rey ; but he (Sir G. Grey) had
subsequently received many applications for a remission of
sentence from the neighbourhood where the transaction took
place, and among others a memorial siened by the jury. He
should not consider it consistent with his duty to lay the me-
morial on the tohle, because it would involve the necessity of
his producing counterditatementr—a eour,e which would be
wholly subversive of the proper administration of justice.
(Hear, hear.)
TA ON CANADIAN EMIGRANTS.
Mr. REYNOLDS begged to ask the hon. gentleman, the
Under-Secretary for the Colonies, whether any additional
tax was imprised upon emigrants landing in Canada, or the
North American provinces; and if so the amount of the tax?
Mr. HAWES replied that the house had heard of the
many distressing and appalling circumstances which had
attended emigration last year to the North American pro-
vinces. Ile need only mention the one fact that out of
90,000 emigrants 15,000 had died either on board the na-
sals during the passage, or on their arrival in the colony.
The consequence had been that many reprerentations had
been made by the colonists to the Colonial-office, to protect
them from a system of emigration as conducted ; and the re-
sult was that his noble friend at the head of colonial
affairs hail sueeested certain remedies to the Canadian
and other assemblies for their adoption. These suggestions
were that under ordinary cireumstances the tax should re.
main—that was to say, that every emigrant landed in perfect
health should pay no tax, but that if the ship went into
quarantine, thereby showing her passengers were sickly, the
tax was to be doubled, atol it the detention was protracted,
to be trebled, but in no Cale to exceed 'Ala per head. The
tax was also doubled upnn helpless end aged emigrants.
LEEWARD ISLANDS LOAN.
Mr. MACKINNON inquired from the right hon. the
Charcellor of the Exchequer whether it was the intention
of the government to call in the loans, or any part of them,
made after the earthquake in the Leeward Islands, to the
proprietors of certain estates there, or whether the period of
repayment was to be extended ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied
that he had stated on the first day the house met after the
Christmas recess, that the repayment of the balance remain-
ing unpaid of those loans would be postponed for a further
period of five years, interest to be paid in the meantime.
Mr. MACKINNON asked if that would be five years
beyond the original period.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
exact arrangement was this. From this time, five years
would intervene, during which interest would be charged;
and, at the expiration of those five years, the loan would be
put in precisely the same situation as it was at that moment,
whatever might be the term that remained.
GOVERNMENT MEASURES.
Sir W. VERNER said there were three bills which bad
been postponed from time to time; he wished to know
whether it was the intention of the government to proceed
with them, and when. They were the diplomatic relations
with the court of Rome Bill, the Landlord and Tenant (Ire.
land) bill, and the Health of Towns bill. (Hear )
Lord J. RUSSELL said he would snawer that question in
moving the order ot the day (
generally oin into committee of
supply, when he would etate the course that go-
vernment intended to pursue with regard to their meuures.
NON-PAYMENT OF POOR-RATES IN IRELAND.
Mr. P. SCROPE said it appeared from a recent return
containing the names of lords, ladies, and other landed pro-
prietors, that there was an arrear of upwards of 8,0001. in
the poor rates of the Castlebar union. He wished to ask
whether that arrear still continued, or whether it bad been
materially diminished ? also whether, during its continuance,
any portion of the charitable funds remitted from London to
Ireland, had been implied for the purpose to which those
arrears of rates ought to have been devoted.
Sir W. SOMERVILLE said that no efforts had been
vend by the poor-law commissioners to enforce the culler-
lion of these rates ; every legal step had been taken, but these
law prove-ses were not very speedy. Legal proceedings
were now pending against the defaulters. In the mean-
time the destitution in the Castlebar union had been very
great indeed. The number now receiving out-door relief was
between 17,000 and 18,000, besides about 5,000 who were fed by
the bounty of the British Association. To prevent more dread-
s fel calamities, the committee had been induced to use the
I funds placed at their disposal by the British Association—a
course which would not he disapproved by thou who knew'
the intensity of the distress which prevailed. The lot
report stated that the amount of arrears was now 7,9591.,''
but a great portion of thi<, it was expected, 'would be
ultimately got in, though the passive resistance of man
rate-payers, and the inability of others, rendered it a work
of time. He hoped his hn. friend and the house would
have some consideration for the enormous difficulties in
which the commissioners were placed.
Sir W. H. BARRON said, the question which had been
asked might create an impression that the landlords of the
Castlettar onion were wilful defaulters. Common honesty
ought to have prompted the hon. member to add, that in the '
county of Mayo it was notorious that there were noblemen
possessing a yearly rental of 5,000/., 10,0001., or 1.5,0001..
who had not, either last year or the year before, received
one-tenth of their income on an average. Many of the
largest proprietors had been obliged to sell their carriages
and dismiss their servant., and were themselves reduced to
the greatest difficulties, owing to the destitution prevailing
around them. lie begged to ask the hon. Secretary for In-
land whether it was intended. under the advice of Lord
Devon's commission, to commute leases for lives in Ireland
into holdings for perpetuity:.
Sir W. SOME RV ILLE raid a bill had been prepared for
that purpose, and he hoped it would be very speedily intro-
duced into the house. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. E. B. ROCHE thought the attack uncalled-for which
had been made on the combust and entraeter of the MM.
member for Stroud. The character ot no oar steed higher
for a disinterested advocacy or the cause of the poor in Ire
land. (Hear.)
Mr. P. SCROI'E was not aware that, on this or any for-
mer occasion, he had made say sweeping charge against the
landlords of Ireland. lie had merely drawn attention to
the vast amount of rates which remained uncollected in a
certain union.
Sir W. H. BARRON said it ought to have been stated that
not only rates but rents were uncollectable in that district.
SUGAR AND COFFEE PLANTING.
Lord 0. BENTINCK requested Mr. Hume to postpone
the tuition of which he had given notice toe Tuesday next,
until a later period. He could assure the house that the
committee on surer and coffee planting wld have termi-
nated its labours in about a week, and wouldou then be able to
report to the house.
Mr. HUME said he should be reluetant to postpone the
motion for any lengthen( d period, but on he did not wish to
prejudge the question, and having the noble lord's 'issue-
?Mee that the committee would very soon report to the
house, be would consent to a short postponement of his

notice.
Thr motion for the adjournment of the house at its rising
until Monday, was then screed te.
PROPERTY TAX BILL.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the
second r. ading of this hill (which was 0,.e of the dropped
orders of Thuredayl.
Mr. HUME said he should not oppose the hill in its pre-
nt stage ; but on the rco•ion for going into committee he
should certainly propose to it up stairs to a select
committee.
Mr. OSBORNE asked if the right 11-.. m. the Chancellor of
the Exchequer had taken into consideration, as he had
promised to do, the question of making a deduction from
the assessment of how .c property, in respect of insurance
trots Are ?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he had i
done so • and, after the fullest consideration he scold give I
the subject, he thought the best course would be to pursue
the course adopted in 1845, and ask the house to continue
the bill for three years at it stood, without attempting to in-
troduce matters that might be soppoeed by some hon.
members to be improvements. Whatever he could do by
any arrangement of the schedules he was perfectly rowly
to undertake ; but not to introduce alterations in the bill

The bill was then read a second time, and the committee
fixed for Mondsv.
COURSE OF PRMENT M OCEEDIN WITH THE GOVERN-
LordE G ASU RES.
J. RUSSELL.—Sir, in moving the order of the day
for the house to go into committee of supply, I will take the
upper :unity of stating the course which we propose to pur-
sue with respect to the business government has hrought
before the house, and of submitting to the house some ge-
neral considerations on that subject. With regard to the
business now before the home, I propose to take to night
the mainlines and the vote of men for the army. There is
likewise a vote of money on account in the navy and the
ordnance, which it will be necessary to take in a very short
time. My right honourable friend the Chancellor of the
Exchequer proposes on Monday to proceed with the Income
Tax Bill, aa he has already stated ; and we propose to go
through with that bill on the days on which the government
has precedence. Atter that bill I prom es to proceed with
the committee on the bill for removing Jewish disabilities,
and then to take the third reeding of that bill. Neat, my
noble friend the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests
will propose that the house should go into committee on the
Health of Towns Bill. The hon. baronet opposite (Sir W.
Verner) has asked me with regard to two other hills—the
Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Bill, and the Diplomatic
Relations with Rome Bill. Of these we propose to take first
tee Leindlord and Tenant (Ireland) Bill. I have been in-
formed that a considerable wish has been expressed, if the
house should consent to the second reading of that hill, to
refer it toe select committee ; and, if that shall appear to be the
general wish of the house one subject of such great intricacy
and difficulty, on wltich the government themselves have
had the greatest difficulty in deciding on the different provi-
sioneof the 1011, I can base no objection, if there appears a
chance of improving the bill by an inquiry before a select
committee, to take that course. (Beer, hear.) There will
probably lie a good deal of discuesion on the second reading
of that hill. fleeing stated so much with regard to the
business of the house, and as the Easter recess, is approach-
ing, it is not necessary, perhaps, that I should fix any other
time for the other government business. There is the Diplo-
matic Relations with Rome Bill; there is also a bill which
has met the concurrence of the House of Lords, and has come
to this house—the Encumbered Estates Bill—which we
think a very important measure. (Hear, bear.) Nov, sir, I
wish to make a statement with regard to the general
business of the bowie, so far as legislation is con-
cerned ; and I do so at this time—first, because
it is an early period of the session ; and, in
the next place, because I have every reason to th ink the
bonne for the attention it has given to the business which
has been brought before it by the government for Ido not
know of any lintance in which the government has wished
to press belittles* forward in which the house has not imme-
diately fairly dealt with and disposed of it according to our
wish. (Hear, hear.) Therefore what I am about to say
will be without any sort of complaint either against the
house or against any individual member. My noble friend
the member for Bath (Lerd Duncan) has to-night given an
instance of his wish to accommodate the tem rnment busi-
ness by not bringing forward a motion which he had placed
on the paper (referring to a motion on the subject of
the crown hunts, which Lord Duncan had with
drawn at a previous period of the evening). And
I should also be very glad if another hon. member
(Mr. H. Bantle), who has given a notice with re-
spect to the subject of our squadron on the African
coot, would folio • the course which has just now been taken
by the hon. member for Montrose (Mr. Hume), OR a subject
which is hearty akin to that. My noble friend the member
for King's Lynn (Lord G. Dentinal him anted, that the
committee over which he presides, on the production of sugar
and coffee, is about to enter into deliberation, for the pue-
pme of making some report to the house; whereupon the
hon. member for Montrone has very properly deferred his
motion on that subject. (Hear, hear.) But I do think there
are other reasons why the house, if it wishes that matters of
legislation should lie deliberately considered, at a time when
there is a full attendance of members, should not interpose
other questions on those days which are devoted by the
orders of the house to the business of government. ( Ili ac,
hear.) I beg to submit to the house that there have been, in
the course of the last 30 years, very great changes
in the mode of conducting the business of the
house, both by the g .vernment, and by individual
members. I remember et that time, when I first entered
the house, it was not usual for the government to undertake
generally the subject of legislation ; the government gene-
rally confined itself to those measures which properly be-
longed to the business, of administration, and to any particu-
lar subjects which required their pressing attention. At the
same time I think there were at that period two government
days in the week; and though notices had precedence on
other days, the orders of the day cnuld, come on on any slay
of the week ; so that the business of the government pro-
ceeded at a more rapid pace than it does now. Two great
changes have taken place—and they may be loth changes
for the better—but they are certainly somewhat inconsistent
and incompatible with each other. The one is, that for
many years past—that is, since the passing of the Ite-
form Bill—it has been thought to be for the convenience of
the public that upon every subject on which an alte-
ration of the law wag required, government should prepare '
a bill on that subject, and undertake the passing of it through
parliament. The other great change is, that measures of all
kinds are more discussed in parliament, a greater number of
members take part in their discussion, and a tar greater num-
ber of motions are made by individual members than for-
merly was the case. The consequence is, that subjects of
legislation of very great importance are brought into this
house ; but it is found impossible by any government—it has '
been so found by preceding governments as well as the
present—to bring them on at a time when they can receive a
fair deliberation; and they are frequently put off till quite
the cud of the session, when very few members remain. I
know it is constantly said—and said, I think, without much
reftection—that there are important measures which have not
been pressed forward. But if the house willeonsider what is the
nature of its own orders, they will see how impossible it is for
government to press forward measures, and obtain the time
necessary for their discussion. There are only two days
in the week reserved for government business; considering
holidays and adjourned debates, that gives about eight days
in a month. Now, it seems a great while to up that four
months of the session are gone, and that several bills have
not yet been brought under discussion ; but when we come
to the number of days, we find there have been about 30
days, and no more, on which the government bttsiners could
come under discussion. lam not making any complaint of
this, nor asking for an additional number of days; I only
wish the matter to be before the house, in order that they
may consider it. If they think it desirable that bills should
be brought in and pressed forward more rapidly than they
are now, probably sense mode may be bound of accomplish-
ing that object ; but if they arc satisfied with the present
mode of conducting the business, it least they should
reflect that it will be impressible to press forward hills
for the general purposes of legislation at an early
' period of the sassiest. In the present year theta are
important questions which must come under consideration.
The Income Tax Bill will expire in April next. The Mutiny
Bill must be renewed. The estimates in committees of supply
and the question of the income tax will probahly Mkt up about
' two months of the days which government has to dispose of.
I think that to-night it is desirable that the hon. member
for Inverness shire (Mr. H. Batllie) should not press his
motion, but should allow us to dispose of this night for the
purposes of the government business. (Hear, heat.) With
' regard to any other alteration I do not ask any such at pro-
sent; I only hope that hon. gentlemen will turn the matter
over in their minds, and perhaps some proposition may be
made hereafter which will meet the wishes of the house. I
will now move that the order of the day be read. (Hear.)
SLAVE TRADE—COAST OF AFRICA.
Mr. BAILLIE said he felt it his duly to proceed with his
motion. This was nut a question to be refereed to a com-
mittee of inquiry, but one on which every hon. member was
competent to decide. The qovernment sought to solve all
their difficulties by the magic name of a committee ; but it
was for the house VI dispel the &lesion which had so long
prevailed in the country as to the slave-trade, and to let it be
known that all the valuable lives which had been saarificed.
and all the treasure that had been squandered, to far from
attaining the object in view. had positively augmented the
horrors of the slave trade. These facts pros ed that it would be
highly criminal for any minister, he he who he might, to
persist in such a course. The formation of an
additional treaty with the republic of the Equa-
dor, announced in her Majesty's vetch, was hut a
continuance of that system of deiusion which had been so
Inn& practised on the country. Our squadron on the
African coast had proved totally unavaiing ; and it was the
opinion of eminent naval authocitice that the whole navy of
England would not be sufficient to keep up an effective
blockade on a coast of 6.000 miles in extent. The late go.
mernment hod, in 1815, announced n great addition to the effi-
ciency of the blockade. This consisted in the mutual right
of search, about which both France and the United States
were peculiarly sensitive. Though the late government had
settled that question most amicably, it was not fair that the
people of this country should he saddled with the east of a
squadron which wan nearly uselese. He should show that
the slave trade, so far from being seppressed, had in-
creased, and that the supply of slaves to the markets
of Cotta and Brazil had been quite equal to the
demand, rotwithstanding all our attempts to prevent it. Sir
F. Buxton, shortly before his death. had published all the
evidence that could he obtained on the slave trade : he had
been accused of exaggeratnn, but so far from that, he had
understated the case. He had made the candid avowal that
all his efforts to suppress the slave trade had only augmented
it in a tee-fold degree. (Hear.) Ile (teetered that Great
Britain had expend, d upwards of a million and a quarter,
besides the annual cost of eepperting her squadron—in all,
about fifteen millions sterling; numbers of valuable lives
had been sacrificed ; and yet the traffic had not been
diminished, but the numbers exported had increased, being
as two to one compared with what they were in 1807,
while the Lees of life had been twenty-five per cent.
He would be prepared to show that Sir F. Buxton had
understated both the amount of money which had been
spent and the increase in the loss of human life. As far so
he could ascertain from parliamentary returns the total
amount of money spout by this country between 1808 and
tele was 49,905,705/., including the 2i),000 000!. paid to the
West loth t planters. If to this sum be aided the amount
paid for the increased price of sugar, rum, and itiolessea, the
total would amount to 82,387,1301. Now with regard to the
less of life Sir F. ilexton had stated the increase at 25
per cent.. but he believed it was at least 33 per cent.
Mr. Chit' hail estimated the loss of life on the
p:sinee at one third. and that was also the rah

titillation of the merchants at Havana. Papers which
had been presented to the House of Lords in 1799
showed that the mortality in 1791, three years after the pass-
ing of the Slave Trade Carrying Regulation Act, was only
81 per cent. In 1803 he believed the loss was still less.
Were they, therefore, to continue a system on an idea of
mistaken philanthroPhy which had been attended with such
disastrous results, both in loss of money and loss of life ? It
was shown from official returns, which were quoted in Sir
Fowell Buxton's work, that 49,643 slaves were imported an-
nually into Rio Janeiro between the years 1527 and 1830
and that there were annually landed on the entire coast
of Brasil no leas than 78.331 slaves annually.
60 000 were landed is Havana alone, besides those which
were landed in other places. If the trade hail remained per
free he did not think that Cuba and the Breads cotld
absorb greater numbers. (Hear, hear.) So much with re-
gard to the question up to 1840. From that time up to
1846 it would be shown that the number of slaves imported
depended on the demand for their produce in the markets of
k:urope. It bad been said by the noble lord the Secretary
tar Foreign Affairs, that wily 3,000 sieves were imported in
It td. That might be true, because at that time a great
blow had been struck at the slave trade by the measure of
the late government which admitted tree-labour sugat into
the markets of this country. (Hear, hear.) The house of
Drake and Co., of Havana, had petitioned the Spanish go-
vernment, in consequence of that measure, for a total ex-
tinction of the slave trade in Cuba. They said that the
English market being thrown open to free-labour Roger would
compensate them for any loss that might be incurred. It was
in consequence of th is rocasure,and not from any increased acti-
vity oaths part of the British squadron, that the diminution in
the number of slaves imported in 1846 was to be attributed.
He could show that the profits realised from the trade were
so large, that it would be impossible for any exertions on the
part of this country to put • stop to it. He believed it was
a maxim at the Custom-house that no smuggling on which a
profit of 33 per cent. was realised could be put a stop ti.
But the profits of the slave trade were vastly more than that.
Ile would read to the house a statement of those profile.
Merlee of a slave on the coast of Africa was 41. per head.
If the number of slaves amounted to 556, that would give a
sum of 2,2'241. The amount of freight was 4,0001., and
the cost of water, rice, tic., 6371. The price of a
slave in Brazil was 601. ; now supposing that only 371 of the
636 were landed alive, that would give 18,5501., or a net
profit, alter deducting the expenses, of 11,6891., which was
equal to 200 per cent. (Hear, hear.) The hon. gentleman
quoted several statements of a similar character. AU the
accounts lately received bad shown that a great impulse had
been given to the slave trade by the measure of the present
government. (Hear, hear.) The lion. gentlemen read se-
veral extracts of letters which had been received by mer-
cantile houses in the City, which stated that the slave trade
was annually increasiog. T hose state runts were fortified by the
opinions of Mr. Oldtleld, who net that " it was a perfect farce
to try and put down the slave trade by their present naval
force." But the governor of Sierra Leone himself, in a
letter dated October 1, 1847, stated that, notwithstanding
the extreme vigilance of her Majesty's equadron, tho traffic
in slaves was more vigorous than ever. (Hear, hear.) Sir
Thomas Herbert gave similar testimony. Was it to be
endured then that the government should keep up a
Nucleon at a vast expense to the country for the suppres-
sion of the slave trade whilst they panted a measure
which tended directly to encourage it ? (Hear, hear.)
They must do one of two things—revoke their met-
eor or call hack their squadron. (Hear, hear.)
The people of England were taxed to support a squadron
which was not able to suppress the slave trade, but which
rnhanc,d the price of slaves in Cubs and Brazil. The people
of England were the great consumer; of their produce, and
the consequence was, that they were obliged to buy it at a
much higher price. How long would the people of Eng-
-1 mil endure this ? Ile knew that the government would
answer him by asking if the people el* England were pre-
pared to depart from the course of policy which they had
now followed for several years. Bat he had proved that
it was desirable, on the ground of humanity, that the 40-
, tenement should change their policy. The way the slave
trade was carried on was this the slave trader con-
I traded with the merchant to bring him 1,000
slaves, for instance, and he wrote to his agent
on the man of Africa to send him, not 1.000 slaves, but
3,000, calculating that the difference would be lost on the
passage. He did not believe that the people of this country
were prepared any longer to pay for a state of things at-
tended with such inhumanity. If they were really anxious
to put down the slave trade, they must withdraw their
aqui dron from the coast of Africa, Mock up the ports of Cuba
and Brazil, and refuse admittance for their produce into this
country. It was the will, and nut the power, to suppress the
slave trade that was wanted. if the government were not pre-
pared to take the responsibility of that course, let them at
I least not put forward their desire to suppress the slave trade
as an excuse for persevering in a ss stem which had utterly
failed, and brought nothing but loss and ridicule upon the
country. (Hear, hear.) With regard to their West Iniiia
colonies, he believed they were well nigh ruined, with the
exception, perhaps, of Antigua and Ilarbadoes. There were
some in that house who desired such a consummation. Ile
confessed he was unable to join in their views. The hon.
member for the West Riding (Mr. Cobden) and the free
traders thought that their principle would bind the whole
world in the bonds of peace. They had visions of a coming
golden age; hat for himsell, he preferred even the sad reali-
ties of the present administration to those flattering visions
of the future. (Hear.) He supposed that assurances would
be given of the adoption of vigorous measures, but he en-
treated the house to reflect on the dreadful sacrifice of human
life by which these repeated experiments bad been attended.
lie held in his hand a statement of the deaths of officers and
seamen and of thole who had been invalided in the year
1843. It appeared from this statement that the entire
charges for the squadron in that year amounted to 706,4541.
—Omar. hear)-259 deaths of officers sad men had taken
place, and 271 had been invalided, making a total of 530,
which was a greater sacrifice of life than that
which had gained them some of their most brilliant
i naval Tick/fie!. (Hear, hear.) If this did not move the
house, be called upon them as guardians of the public
1 purse to vote for his motion. To the sum of 706,4541. was
to be added the expense of their establishments on the coast
of Africa, at Sierra Leone, Fernando Po, and Cape Coast
Castle, the courts, the commissions, and the expense of
maintaining the negron who were taken, which would make
a total of 1,200,0001. paid yearly by this country for a pu-
pate which had proved worse than useless. (hear, hear.)
He called upon the hon. member for Finsbury and the other
members who represented large constituencies to aid him in
relieving the people of this country from the unjust burden
of the window tax by supporting his motion—to aid him in
dispelling that delusion which so long prevailed amongst
the people by means of which they had been made to pay •
heavy penalty for the weakness and folly of their governors.
(Hear, hear.) The hon. gentleman concluded by moving
' That an humble address be presented to her Majesty,
praying that she will be graciously pleased to give directions
that negotiations be entered into with foreign powers to
relieve this country from the engagement under which it
labours of maintaining a squadron upon the coast of Africa."
Mr. HUME seconded the motion, and urged that nothing
could stop the slave trade whilst profits remained es great as
they were at present.
Alter a ikon pause,
Mr. O. ntomrsoN said that, abhorringthe slave trade,
he could net hold it to be right to inflict so heavy a burden
as that imposed on ;his country since 1808, in order to put
down the African slave trade. In his judgment it was not
right to seek the attainment of motives, in themselves holy,
by such means as this country had adopted. But it was not
necessary for him to press that argument, for the strong posi-
tion upon the present question was that our existing system was
utterly abortive. We had found nothing but insincerity
among other nations which had entered into treaty with us
to put down the traffic. Scarcely any one of these nations
ever had the stipulated number of cruisers or guns upon
the coast of Africa, and the consequence was that the burden
upon us had become utterly intolerable. He was pretty well
acquainted with Sierra Leone and the syste m in operation
I there, and he could eddy declare that that and like places
had been the hot-beds of fraud and chicanery—places lull of
men who profited by the humanity of this country to carry
on covertly and by fraud the very system they were paid to
suppress. Ile had every confidence that free labour was en-
tirely able to compete successfully with slave labour. If it
were not, he should doubt whether or not free labour was
the law of nature and of mankind. But all experience proved 1
the converse. The condition and circumstances of India'
proved it, where free labour was quite able to cultivate the
soil with success. He was therefore disposed to confine his
efforts to the great object of suppressing the slave trade by
the encouragement of free labour.
Lord H. VANE thought it would be inopportune to de-
cide this question in any way whilst the subject was under
the consideration of a committee.
Mr. URQUHART thought every means ought to be
taken to keep down the expenditure of the country. The
philanthropic objects of the promoters of the present system
had completely failed.
Capt. PECHELL defended the squadron on the coast of
Africa.
Mr. HUTT, as chairman of the committee to which the
horse had devolved the whole of this moat serious and im-
portant question, wished to remark rhea they would scarcely
he acting a wise or a prudent part if they were to pan so
opinion upon any one particular port ion of it, as proposed
upon this occasion.
Mr. MO WATT should support the motisn.
Viscount PALMERSTON did not dispute that this was
a subject deserving most attentive consideration at all times,
and which might very properly be brought forward when a
vote for supply was demanded. But, on the other hand,
considering that the whole of the subject was re-
ferred, not long ago, to the examination of a se-
lect committee, he did not think the hon. member had
exercised a sound discretion in now bringing the subject for
ward. If the hon. member thought he had anything to
prove, the select committee was open to him before which to
prove it. (Hear, hear.) But let him not be understood on'
this occasion as admitting the facts which the hon. member
had affirmed. This was net the season to enter on their
consideration. The house must remember that those means
for the suppression of the slave trade were the result of no
slight consideration They had been framed in consequence
of anxious wishes expressed in petitions by the country,
and of anxious consideration of those petitions on the part
of former parliaments. It was said that they had tried the
!Wein for 30 years, and that it was peered to have failed.
But he denied that they had tried it for 30 years in any
manner likely to be effective. Until the year 1839 the
slave trade was to a great extent free from molestation;
and therefore, up to that time at least, it was not
right to say that the system, in any degree, bad
had a fair teal. If it were said, however, that it
failed since 1839, he begged leave to express double as to the
accuracy of that conclusion. The hon. memo r argued
that the system had failed because the priest, of slams were
so considerable is America; but surely this circumstance of
great price demonstrated that the supply was not equal to
the demand. (Hear, hear.) They must also remember that
successive guernmentabad, by their negotiations, persuaded