The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1804-06-13 00:00:00

jeift of the trial, having been contradicted by other
witnesses. After stating thus much, he would put it to
the House' whether there was any ground to charge
him with having made false statements: they weep
such as he had reason to think were true ; and whicl
persmis exercising the justice of the country thought
to be true. Mr. W. then quoted*some pa.sages from
Mr. Cork and other writers, to shew the horrible
effeets which the Slave Trade had upon the manners
of the people of Africa ' a:id how the temptation
held out for selling slavesird to the commission of
crimes. It appeared from various writers that
the Africans were capable of being highly cul-
tivated and enlightened ; and that they were, in
the interior of the country, skilled in various
mechanical arts; that they were ingenious, pin-
sessed gratitude, a love for truth, an extraordinary
fondness for their children and relatives, and were
remarkable for their hospitality; which, as well as
every other good office, they exercised towards the
English, who, in return, made them the vidlims of
their cruel avarice. He would ask why the popula-
Ocm of the slaves could not be kept up in the West
Indies as well as in America;. where, he could as-
sert, on the authority of Mr. King, the late Ame-
rican Minister at this court, the slaves increased
so match, that their numbers were doubled in twen-
ty-four or twenty-five years. It was evident then,
the number could be increased in the West
Indies, If they wee* well fad and well treated. Abo-
lish the trade, end this mast be done as a matter of
course and necessity. It was said that America
carried on the trade. It was only permitted in the
state of South Cererata. The Congress was unable
to extend the prohibition to that nate, as it had done
to all the others, but it would give satisfaSion to the
House to hear, that m the year ISO% according to
the federal constitution of the United States, the au-
thority of each individual state would cease, and
Congress would then have a power, which it would
certainly exercise, of putting a stop to the trade
for ever.

Sir WILLIAM YOUNG opposed the Bill, and
said, that West India proprietors would only have
a life interest in their estates, if the gap and the
losses in the population of slaves were not to be filled
up by, importatton.
Mr. W. SMITH said, nothing could be so dis-
agreeable as the constant pradice of debating and
contesting every stage of this business, without ad-
vancing one word of new matter upon it. He then
used several arguments in favour of the abolition.
He alluded to a paper which he had that day
found, containing notes of what had been said on
the subjeB of the Slave Trade by Mr. Burke, taken
at the debate in which that Gentleman took a part;
and bad expressed, that merchants and planters
were equally made sensible of the impropriety of
the trade; and he concluded with observing, that
the question of the abolition of the Slave Trade
stood on the broad basis of justice, and could not
be mistaken in its objeß.
The question being loudly called for, the House
divided, and there appeared
For the motion, 79—Against it, .9.o—Maj. 59.
The House then resolved itself into a Committee
on the Bill, in which Mr. Witeritroecr. intro-
duced a clause, mailing, that all ships employed
in the Slave Trade, that should sail from England or
Ireland within twelve days after passing the said Bill,
should not be liable to seizure, or any of the penal-
ties in the AR. Also that all British vessels, under
similar circumstances in Europe, should be permitted
to enter their Slaves, if they cleared out previous to
the Ist of August.
Other parts of the Bill produced some discussion
between Earl TIMPLI, Sir VVILLIAII YOUNG, Mr.
DICKINSON, Mr. Fottia, and Mr. WI4. Stairs',
after which the Bill, with the amendments, was
agreed to; and the Report ordered to be received
to-morrow (this dayi;a
Mr. BARHAM, wing made a few preliminary
observations on the subjeB of redress, which per-
sons were intitled to, who might suffer an injury by
the passing of the Bill, moved that the House
should resolve itself into a Committee for the
pose of granting a compensation to such of His
Majesty's subjeas as might sustain a.i injury by the
Abolition of the Slave Trade.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
observed, if, in any case of injury, it became an aft
of justice to afford redress on the part of the c un.
try, and such a case was satisfactorily made out. it
would then become a subjeet of consideration, but
he bad not beard it supported, by any solid argu-
ment, that until the grants of individuals, who
essiOst complain, had been examined, and their in-
kiest, explained, any compensation could be made ;
the motion was therefore premature.
After a few words from Sir WILLIAM You at o ;
The 8 stated, that any proposition for the
grant of money, was irregular, unless previously
sanftioned by the Crown.
Mr. GREY wished to know of a Right Hon.
Member (the C/AvcCLtoe of the ExcliccitAvi,
whether it were in contemplation to receive the re-
port of the Defence Bill on Thursday, and to proceed
upon it ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
answered, it was intended, with the consent of the
House, to receive the Report on Thursday, and to
take the same into consideration on Friday, in order
to have it read a third time on Monday seat.—
The House then adjourned.