The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-21 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, Sept. 20.

Their Lordships -met at half-past three, when Lord
Lowther was introduced by Lords Redesdale and Stuart
Rothsay, and took the oaths and his seat.
BRITISH SLAVE TRADING.
Lord BROUGHAM presented a petition from the
Britlab iind Foreign Anti-Slavery society, praying the
attention of the House to the lamentable fact that Bri-
tish subjects were extensively engaged, and promoted
the traffic, in slaves. He (Lord Brougham) had hoped
that British subjects had long since retired from
all participation in that trade; but the facts which
he had to state would show that some of them
were still engaged in, and seeking profit from,
that infernal traffic. Various Mining Companies
were formed in this country, which carried on their ope-
rations in Brazil and Cuba, working their mines by newly-
imported slaves from Africa, who were illicitly pur-
chased by the agents of these Companies, although such
agents well knew that the importation of the slaves was
illegal, contraband, and piratical. Whatever might be
lawful to a foreigner in his own country, it would not be
felony if he purchased a slave in any part of the British
dominions. But if a B ritish subject so participated in slave-
trading, that is to say, by the purchase of a newly-imported
slave, in a country where the importation was by law de-
dared to be Piratical—such British subjeCt could be seized
in this country, tried, and convicted of felony. Three years
ago he would be Puna. ed with death, but now he would be
liable only to transportata;" fhr life, whether such trade
in the country in which the am
,vas done were legal or
„ petitioners
illegal. In the case referred to by
tine
pm: chase of slavethe
s
only question would be, whether the
newly imported was an act of slave-trading. 'The peti-
tion stated that officers in the army and navy were eng.4ged
in making such purchases, as agents of those Companies ;
and. goods were manufactured in this country which
were called coast goods, and it was known that they
were employed only in the slave trade. He would not
say that the mere sale of those goods, out and out, al-
though knowing the illegal use for whic. they were
destined, was a felony ; but if, as was stated
in the petition, British subjects in the Brazils and Cuba
sold such goods, not out and out, but on condition of a
price to she paid proportionate to the profits of a slave
trading adventure, then such per: were guilty of felony.
The petitioners stated that it was notorious that fetters
and shackles were made in this country for the
purpose of being exportel to Brazil and Cuba,
to be . employed in the slave trade. He had no
hesitation. in saying that such a trade did not come
within die provisions of the Slave-trade Abolition Act.
They also represented that vessels were built in this
country expressly for the slave trade, and one case of
that kind was within his own knowledge. - The petitioners
prayed the House to extend the provisions of the Slave
Trade Consolidation Act of 1324, so as to prohibit all British
subjects from dealing in slaves under any pretence what-
ever, or.they prayed that their.. Lordships would appoint
a Committee to inquire into the . subject. 'The latter
object he would support. Before sitting down he begged
• to ask his Noble Friend the President of the Board of
Trade whether there would .be any objection to lay en
the table of the House the report of Dr. Madden who
had been on the coast of Africa on a mission of inquiry ?
Earl RIPON had not heard anything relating to
the subject. The RepOrt alluded to would most
likely be made to the Secretary of State, and
not to the department over which he had the honour to
preside. He had never beard of the statements con-
tained in the petition, and he trusted most sincerely that
they were untrue.
The Duke of WELLINGTON laid on the table the
correspondence between the late Chancellor of the Exche-
quer and other parties relative to the warming and ventil-
lation of the new Houses of Parliament. It wasimportant
that the papers should be considered as soon as possible.
He would, therefore; move that a Committe be appointed
to sit on Thursday next.—Agreed to.
Lord DE CLIFFORD gave notice of his intention to
move, on Thursday, for copies of certain papers relating
to India.

Lord COTTENHAM said he had Paid on the table
of the House three very important Bills. Al-
'though it was necessary that they should be separate
still the object of the whole of them was to
establish Local Courts, so that greater facilities might be
afrorded to the subject in obtaining justice. As it was
now almost certain that they could not be proceeded with
duricg the present Session, as they could not possibly re-
ceive the consideration which they imperatively demanded,
he did not propose to ask their Lordships
to proceed further with them before the recess.
The Noble Lord concluded, by stating that he would
brin,r forwsrd his Bills on an early day next Session.
The House then adjourned, at a Quarter to Six, until
Thursday next.

HOUSE' OF COMMONS, Sept. 20.
The SPEAKER took the Chair a few minutes before
Four o'Clock.
Sir J. Graham, for Dorchester, and Dr, Nichol, for
Cardiff, took the oaths and their seat&
MAYNOOTH COLLGE•
Mfr. PLUMPTRE presented thirty-fiN,P petitions from
Sheerness and other places in Kent, against any further
grant to Maynooth College.
RAJAH OF SATTARA.

Dr. BO%YRING presented a petition, agreed to at a
public meeting in Dublin, entreating the House to in-
quire into the case of the Rajah of Sattara, and if he
should be innocent to adopt means to restore him to his
former authority._ _