The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-17 00:00:00

THE CUBAN SLAVE TRADE.

An American gentleman named Corbin has written
to Lord Howden in • friendly manner to inquire whether
there is any ground for the statements of the American
press that England was treating with Spain with a view to
the introduction of mote Degrees into Cuba under the name
of apprentices. The following is Lord llowdea's reply
" Yates, Nov. 14.
My dear Corbin,—l have this moment received your
letter of yesterday, and I can assure you that it has not in
the least embarrassed me. Our long friendship gives you
a perfect right to ask me any questions that, in a public
situation, I can answer with propriety, and your tact
will have told you that in the present ease I must be
full as anxious to impart the truth as you can be to know
it. I have read the strange statements you have sent
me about England wishing to Africanus' Cuba, and
about the arrangements which I have been making
at Madrid to that effect. I give you, in the most
solemn manner, such laughable (though wicked) fabrics.
tions allow, my unqualified contradiction of the whole
matter. I have not the slightest hesitation in telling you
what have been, during the last three years, my negotia-
tione with the Spanish government respecting Cul,a, and
you will sea whether !ten is even the slightest foundation
for rumoer winch seem to have been most sedulously
spread abroad in the United States. Firstly, I have been
making unceasing representations at the number of slaves
annually imported into the island, and complaints of the
almost open manner in which the traffic was carried on
under the very noses of the captains-general, always ex-
cepting the excellent General Concha. Secondly, I have
been making fruitless attempts to get the Spanish govern-
ment to declare the abominable traffic in men piracy, that
is to say, to follow the example of the United States
in this particular. Thirdly, I passed my time in
anxious solicitations to obtain the ultimate and com
pieta freedom of those negroes called Emancipados,'
whisk have been fraudulently detained in bondage since
16e gear 1817, in disregard of treaties. I rejoice to say that
ibe Spanish government has listened to the dictates of
jaMice and humanity, and has granted me this boon
/earthly, I have been endeavouring to procure an abroga-
tion of that intolerant and immoral law, by which
lereignen, wishing to settle in Cuba, are obliged to change
their religion, on the somewhat startling principle (nut
understood elsewhere) that becoming bad men is a utifac-
tory preliminary to becoming good subjects. To these official
=ions I have added, at various times, friendly and
exhortations to improve the internal system of the
bland by facilitating the administration of justice, and by I
liberalising the nominations to office and employment
I among the natives of the island. You will see what I
really have done, or rather attempted to do, is very '
I Stunt from what I am said to have done in your papers.
When the true state of the cue is known, and ignorance or
malevolence dispelled, I even reckon upon the good wishes
of your countrymen in the success of the measure I ask, so
consonant with your own laws and Institutions. In all that
I have here told you, with entire candour, the United
States can only see the natural working of England'. de-
clared and unchanging policy in a cause which is dear to
her, and Spain herself must feel that, in days like these,
unless she executes her engagements, and modifies her in-
tolerance, she can never hops to enter again, and as she
ought to de, iato the hierarchy of nations.—Believe me, my
dear Corbin, with great regard, yours sincerely,
"F. Corbin, Esq., Paris." NOWDEN.