The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-16 00:00:00

THE SLAVE TRADE.

Mr. LAYARD, answering a variety of questions by Mr.
Buxton, said the slaver Nightiosle was a vessel under
American colours, and during e time she was fitting
out at Liverpool there were no circumstances to give rise to
suspicion, or to induce her Majesty's officers at Liverpool to
take any step in the matter. It was only after she waned
that the authorities were informed she was a slaver. Be
wee happy to say that we were enabled by Miasmatic*
transmitted to the African coast to have her seized with a
full cargo of slaves on bard. (Heir, hear.) As to the
second question, he regretted to say that a very consider.
able slave trade had sprung up between the Portuguese
•settlemente and the island of St. Thomas, under the
pretence that they wens free labourers, but he
feared, however, they were slaves. Her Majesty's govern-
ment had thought it right to make a strong remonstrance to
the government of Portugal OD the subject, Rod he trusted,
when the King was made aware of the gross infringement
which had taken place under the sanction of the Portuguese
authorities, steps would be taken to put an end to it. The
third question: related to the suppression of the slave trade
in Cuba. There again be was sorry to say the Spanish au-
thorities had countenanced this detectable traffic, bat he
hoped the Spanish government would give no support,*
their officers in the island of Cuts. We had made a special
remonstrance to the Spanish government on the subject,
and lie trusted that decisive measures would be taken in
consequence. His bon. friend's fourth question refried to
the slave trade carried on in islands in the French posses-
sions on the east coastof Africa. Lord Cowley was instructed
on the 19th of December last to make a representation to
the French government relative to the continued
shipment of slaves from the Canino islands to Reunion and
other French possessions. The French government had sent
out to make enquiries on the subject, but the distance was
great and the means of communication difficult. and up to
the present moment they could not expect to receive any
answer. But considering the treaties we had entered into
with France fur the suppression of the slave trade in those
possessions, and considering the desire which the Emperor
had personally expressed to put an end to that tnffio. he
had no doubt that when the French government obtained
information as to what was going on in the Comoro islands,
they would take energetic steps to stop the trade carried on
in that part of the world under false preteuvea. With I
respect to the employment of large numbers of slaver by
Mr. Consul Sunley, on his sugar ',lmitations at
Johanna soil his collecting them at Anjouan, while
be opposed the prosecution of the French immigration
system from the Comoro islands, her Majesty's government
bad written to Consul Smiley asking for an explanation
which had since been given. The consul was a gentleman of
great activity, energy, and humanity, and had dope a great
deal towards improving the condition of the inhabitants of
the island of Johanna. lie felt it was only due to that
gentleman to refer to the reply to the despetch, which
would be found in the slave trade papers. It would be seen
that Mr. Coaeul Sunley there stated that he employed seve-
ral people on his estate, namely, 300 men and 100 women.
A majority of these people were slaves belonging to inha-
bitants of the island, but 'JO of them were free people. The
whole of them in their relations with him (Mr. Consul Sun-
lay) were perfectly free, and he made no distinction
between them. They received wages and they were free to
woe sedge. That was Mr. Consul Sunley s explanation.
The fact was this, that them slaves belonged to inhabitants
of the island, and were allowed to work as free labourers,and
were employed by Mr. Consul Smiley without any referents
to their state of servitude. At the some time it wee a ques-
tion as to how far that gentleness was justified in employ-
tag ponces in a state of slavery, though he was himself not
supposed to know they were slaves, as they came to him as
free labourers, sod moseyed Her Majesty's govern-
ment hail under their osemidirstins bow far they might ap-
prove of the conduct of Mr. Consul Seeley in this matter.
POACHING CASE AT MAIDSTONE.
Mr. DIGIT 81CYMOUS hogged to We the Soiotory of
State for the Hems Departageot, whether hi athletic bad
been called to s statement in the newspapers that a child of
the name of Thaw, aped Mae years, Inn Islay Sued
Ils. by a bemeh of fa se Maidstone for Wog
found ia pomemisn of a maze fee catching rabbits,
neetilli
Muth of mint, was emit to prism for three
whether he had Wm Asps •to ascertain the feats et Dbl;
case ; and, sortiviely, vbeliow say whim* was
lake
before the magiseraing to dam thin the chid was sag", at
the inatiption ar wag mew the esalaul ef Ohms.