The Sun.
London, England, 1849-06-28 00:00:00

THE SLAVE-TRADE POLICY OF

ENGLAND.

The following letter from the Western Coast of
Africa gives a picture of the results of our shve-trade
policy, which, though drawn by no favourable hand, is
yet, we believe, in the wain correc!:--

_
(From the U'eser Zeitung.)
You have desired me to give you some account of the
measures which England takes for the suppression of the
slave nude, the rep, its in the English papers being such
that no implicit reliance can be placed upon them. I
will, therefore, state to you a few of the facts which
have come to my knowledge during the last few months.
They will enable you to get a clear view of the state of
affairs, and the chances of security fur life and property
of the traders on this part of the coast.
The Fame, and the Seymour Taylor, two British
vessels, which in October, 1848, were to be sent from
Sierra Leone to the British West Indies with a cargo of
so called "free emigrants," lay, with a number of emi-
grants or slaves that had la, en stnt on board shortly
atter the arrival of the vessels, abut four weeks in
the harbour of Sit era one. The reason of
this delay was the impossibility of procuring
the full number of what they phase to call
pasrengers." There was, indeed, a large number
of thcan in the Queen's slave•i ard, but the slaves
refused to quit Africa, end, in spite of all the per-
suasions of the British agents, and, indeed, in spite of a
liberal distribution of victuals and drink, but a very
few could be induced to go on board. All means were
found unavailing, and, as the vest“ is could not remain
any longer, a lot of blacks, sufficient to make up for
the deficiencies of the cargo, acre put into British
unitorms and marched on board with a strong escort of
troops. The smaller boys and girls, from six to twelve
years of age, had a►reaoy been shipped as free emigrants.
It is hard to conceive bow these children could be made
to understand the object and the manner of their emi-
gration.
Slavers with their cargoes are frequently brought to
the harbour of Sierra Leone. The blacks are frequently
transferred on board an English emigrant vessel. Of
course, it is said they are voluntary agents, and care is
always taken to pick out the best and strongest men for
the special service of her Majesty. They are kept back,
drilled, and sent to join the regiments in the East and
West Indies. This proceeding is called a free enlist-
ment.

Above three hundred slaves who absolutely refused to
be shipped off were lately brought to a village near
Sierra Leone. They all ran away the very first night
which they had to pass in their new abode. The reason
for their flight may be found in the fact of their being
locked up in the slave yard for many month--a
course of treatment which they cannot bear. As for
colonization, they are ntterly ignorant of the meaning of
the word.

At this moment we have an inquiry into the conduct
of an overseer, who it appears curtailed the rations
given out for the slaves by one half and more, while
e appropriated the profits of this infamous proceed-
ing to his own use. Dr. Lawson, an eminent physi-
clan, by whom the inquiry was set on tout, found
that however well and healthy the slaves might be
when brought from the slave ship, no sooner had they
passed some weeks in the slave yards than they grew '
week and debilitated, and complain, d of pains in the
aowels. The mortality too increased at a fearful rate.
In the course cl the inquiry it was found that the con-
,rect for rice which the Government had made with Mr.
C. Hedda had not been made use of, as the overseer
used to teed the slaves with inferior victuals, keeping
the profits to himself.
The practice of taking the slaves to Sierra Leone
increases their sufferings. The voyage from the
'ower coast to this port is often longer than that
to the Brazils, and it has happened that a vessel
which was taken about sixty miles from a Erszilian
port was brought back to Sierra Leone. Of course,
this caused mail deaths on board, fur the slavere
having lost all interest in the cargo are very niegigent
of the wants of the staves on their passage to an
English harbour. Many of the slaves too are
killed and wounded by the English guns, for
the British sailors, anxious to take possession,
give the slavers at once full broadsides of
grape and canister, without caring for the lives
of those on board. The prize money is calculated at so
much per head, no matter whether the blacks are alive or
dead; and as for the vessel, which is burnt or cut up
after its reaching shore, all the sailors care for is is
tonnage.

Of —course no mention is made of these facts in the
English papers, and John Bull flatters Limself he f.ir-
wards the ends of philanthropy with the money which
he expends tor the suppression of the slave trade.
Truly one might ask the question whether it can be the
intention of tae nations 01 Europe to allow England to
support the slave trade in this manner, while she pursues
hvr own ends? And is it right in us to connive at such
proceedings, which du not protect the Africans, and
which, by a course of arbitrary vexations, endanger the
lives and properties of the traders on the coast?

And ? Only because the policy of England de-
mands the annihilation of the trade of the Brazils, of
Cuba, and of other places; since even her own West
Indian colonies are sacrificed to the possession of the
East Indies. Fo if the populations of Africa were really
to be benefited it would be necessary to adopt yui:e
onother system; which might perhaps in 25 years do
that which the present system has nut done for th4,ni in
the last 50 years, and which it is very far from doing
now.

Tma LA-Tia Dastsmeru. CoAx..-7-yr Accm,ENT AT
DUDLEY PORT.-11 LDNLSDAY —We regret to say th rt e
01 the unfortunate men who were injurtd in the mine on
Tuesday morning have died, making in all fourt(eu
dead. The inquest will be held by G. Jtlinchclttle, Ezq ,
coroner, to-morrow.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
COURT OF QULENS BENCH, June 27.
(Sittings at Nisi rriutt. at Westminster, betore Lord
Chief Justice I)ENMAN, and Special Juries.)

PRIVILEGE OF COUNSEL.-THE DUKE OF BRUNSWICK V.
JAMES, BARRISTER.
_

This was down in the cause paper for trial to-day; but
when called on it was announced that the cell. n aas
withdrawn. It was an action brought by his Highness
the Duke of Brunswick, to recover compensation in
damages for expressions uttered by the defendant, Mr.
Edwin James, in the delivery of a specch to the jury in
a cause wherein his Highmss was the plaintiff, and the
Learned Gentleman was Counsel for the defendant. The
expressions were regarded by his Highness as derogatory
to bis character and feelings, and actionable. The point
at issue excited considerable interest among the "gen-
tlemen of the long robe," and in the minds of the curious
in matters passing in Courts of law, involving the ques-
tions how far a barrister may go in attaching, in his
fort nsic eloquence, the plaintiff or delet.damt against
whom he may happen to be engaged as c unsel, and
whether he is liable, if be pass a certain limit, to be pro
ceeded against by scion, and subject to be amerced in
damages by the verdict Of a jury for any imputations
which he may, in his z-al, cast upon his client's oppo-
nent, and for any tongue. flugellations which be may
choose to inflict and delight to revel in. Both the public
and the profession were, however, disappointed, and the
question, " like Mahomet's coffin between heaven anti
earth," is poised in doubt.