The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-23 00:00:00

TURNPIKE TRUSTS.

The Earl of RADNOR presented a petition pray-
ing for the consolidation of turnpike trusts, and for
the introduction of a measure regulating parish
highways.
The Marquis of LANSDO\VNE said the subject
was undsr the consideration of the Government, and
that a measure would be introduced for the regula-
tion of parish highways.
PETITIONS.

Lord BEAUMONT presented a petition from
the Odd Fellows of Manchester, praying for the
legalisation of their society.
Earl ST. GERMANS presented a petition against
the publication of the bull in ccena Domini, and also
against denunciations from the altar.
The Bishop of EXETER presented several peti-
tions from clergymen in the diocese of Exeter against
the removal of the Jewish disabilities ; also a petition
from some clergymen in Cheshire, complaining of the
conduct of the Tithe Commissioners.

CRIME AND OUTRAGES (IRELAND) ACT.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, in moving for a
return of all arms delivered up or seized under the
provisions of the recent Act in Ireland, stated that
the operation of the Act had been satisfactory, and
that a great number of arms had been delivered up to
the authorities.

REGISTRATION OF MORTGAGES
(IRELAND).
The Nonuu MARQUIS then moved for certain
returns of the incumbrances registered on landed
property in Ireland.
The Earl of ELLENBOROUGII thought it
would be desirable to have an accurate return of the
various sums advanced on the security of landei pro-
perty in Ireland, and of the amounts at present
remaining unpaid of such advances.
Earl 1' ITZ WILLIAM complained of the expenses
incurred by these encumbered estates getting into the
Court of Chancery.
The LORD CHANCELLOR reminded the Noble
Earl that it was in consequence of the faults of the
landlords of Ireland that the estates got into Chancery..
They burdened their estates, neglected to pay up the
interest, and got their properties into such a state
that they could not manage them themselves, and
that the incumbrancers were, in self-defence, obliged
to apply to the Court of Chancery.
After a few words from the Marquis of Clanricar&,
Earl Fitawilliam, and Lord Campbell, the motion
was agreed to.
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCIAL DISTRESS.

The Marquis of LANSDOIV NE moved that a
message be sent to the House of Commons, requesting
the House to permit certain Members to be examined
before the Committee on Commercial Distress.

HEALTH OF THE AFRICAN SQUADRON.
The Earl of ABERDEEN, in allusion to the re-
turns of deaths in the squadron stationed on the
coast of Africa to suppress the slave trade, com-
plained that that squadron had been much misrepre-
sented. He regretted to see that, in consequence of
the recent commercial changes, a partial change had
taken place in the public mind on the subject of the
slave trade. He regretted to find that suggestions
were made by persons supposed to be in the confidence
of the Government which would not some years since
have been listened to, and therefore he thought it most
advisable that some declaration should be elicited from
the Government. His Noble Fri, nd below him had
on the first night of the session been represented to
have said that so great were the horrors of the mid-
dle passage, and so numerous the deaths in our
squadron, that he would willingly see that squadron
withdrawn from the African coast. There could
be no doubt that the sufferings of the staves
were augmented in consequence of the necessity
of concealment, but they might, he thought, hope that
in a short time the trade would be put an end to.
The mortality in the squadron had been greatly ex-
aggerated. With these precautions, the climate of
the coast of Africa was not more injurious than any
other tropical climate. Its unhealthiness had been
greatly exaggerated. No doubt there was a very
lamentable loss of life in that squadron, but it was
not such as to induce us to give up our
efforts and to withdraw our squadron from
the west coast of Africa. The injurious effects of
the climate might be diminished .by due pre-
caution, and they had a right to expect
that those precautions should be used rather
than that the squadron should be withdrawn. In
1842 he had indulged in sanguine hopes of the
suppression of the slave-trade. At that time
General Valdez was Governor of Cuba,
and, in consequence of his exertions, the importation
of slaves had been diminished from 13,000 to 3,000
per annum. General Valdez was removed, and
succeeded by General O'Donnell, under whose go-
vernment the import increased to 8,000 in 1843,
and to 10,000 in 1844. At the same time the im-
port of slaves into the Brazils was increased.
At that time Captain Denman proposed a
plan for the destruction of the slave trade
which he had, when in office, adopted, and
which consisted in maintaining such a blockade as
should stop all exportation of slaves from the coast of
Africa. This plan had been acted on in 1845, and
the consequence was that not more than
six cargoes of slaves, amounting to 1,300 in
number, had arrived in Cuba. This proved
the benefit that had been derived from the
employment of the squadron on the coast of Africa.
In 1846, the Commissioners of the Havannah wrote on
October 7, after having in their monthly reports stated
that no ship had art ived from the coast of Africa with
slaves, that they did not hear of any slave dealers enter-
ing into engagements, and were much surprised at it,
considering the profit to be derived from the trade. In
another letter they said there were no signs of continuing
the traffic, and added, " the trade, therefore, seems sup-
pressed;" arid there appeared not to have been a single
case of importation into Cuba in 1846, it having been
reduced to a low amount in 1845, The Commissioners
went on to suggest reasons why there might be a renewal
of the trade, but our own legislation had tended to dimi-
nish it. With respect to Porto Rico, there had been no
dealing in slaves in 1846, and that was owing in a great
measure to the praiseworthy conduct of the Governor.
The British Consul there wrote to him in June, 1846,
and said there had been no slave transactions since his
arrival there. In July, 1846, ho wrote again, and
said he trusted • he (Lord Aberdeen) would
be satisfied that there would be no longer any
dealings in slaves whilst the present Governor remained
there. In Brazil, in 1845, the number of slaves imported
was 16,000, but from 1836 to 1840 the average number
amounted to nearly 100,000 a year; and he was much
inclined to think that a considerable number of the
16,000 were imported from the east coast of Africa,
where the squadron had not been effectually employed;
but, perhaps, one or two more vessels on the Mozambique
coast would suppress that traffic. He had stated enough
to show that our efforts had been attended with gratify-
ing results in 11845 and 1846: what might be stated during
the last year he trembled to think of. Of course the
Government were in possession of information on the
subject before now. Independent:of our exertions, there
were other circumstances of the most promising nature;
for after years of remonstrance, the Portuguese Go-
vernment had changed its policy and discouraged the
slave trade. They had employed, under the late treaty, a
squadron to co-operate with ours; and in 1845 they had
taken 11 or 12 slave vessels. He did not know what they
had done in 1846, but he intended moving for a return
applying to that year. The chief officers employed in
that squadron were entitled to our respect for the zeal
they had manifested. So again, the United States
squadron captured six vessels in 1845. He should also
move for a more correct return of what they had done
since. And during the last few years we had had
French squadron of equal amount with our own acting
with us. He considered this a most valuable and im-
portant change. Instead of that system of search which
had led to so much dissatisfaction we had now a squa-
dron aiding our efforts to suppress the trade. Altogether
it presented :an example of a most encouraging cha-
racter.—(Hear, hear.) A valuable 'part of the French
convention was the condition which enabled us to destroy
the slave factories on the coast, for, by making treaties
with the chiefs we were able to destroy these settle-
ments, and he believed forty-three were already done
away with.—(Hear, hear.) The French had a black
corps in Senegal, seasoned to the climate, who were em.
ployed in this work. He had been a little disappointed
since he left office, a year and a half ago, at not
knowing any further results of this co-operation of the
French; and he should also move for returns of what
had been done by the French squadron. He did not
think our intentions, or the measures we adopted on the
coast, had had fair Play.--(Hear, hear.) We were now
encouraging the slave-trade in one hemisphere while we
were endeavouring to suppress it in another.—(Hear,
hear.) In 1814, when, at the treaty of Paris, we proposed
the abolition of the slave-trade, ho remembered M.
Talleyrand saying that he fully believed in our sincerity.
But what would he, or any one of common sense, say
now? Why, either that we were the greatest hypocrites,
or, if sincere, we must be mad. It was, he understood,
to be proposed that an application should be made to the
French to release us from the obligation we were under
with them to suppress the slave-trade. He did not envy
the Minister who might propose such an application. If
such a determination were adopted, they must give up
all hope of suppressing the slave-trade. After years of
noble exertion it would be a disgrace and shame to this
country; and what could be expected from every part of
the civilised world but a dismal hiss of scorn and indig-
nation?—(Hear, hear.) Ile had only further to move
for the returns which be had mentioned, and which
would show the number of vessels captured by the dif-
ferent squadrons of different nations during recent years.
The Earl of AUCKLAND commenced by saying.
that there could bo no difficulty in giving the returns.
He was anxious, however, to say a few words in corro-
boration of what bad fallen from the Noble Lord; and
he was the more desirous to do this, as it enabled him
to pay a deserved tribute to the gallant officer is coal-