The Sun.
London, England, 1833-07-25 00:00:00

competent to the House to limit the 12 years which Government
had proposed to a somewhat shorter period; and, looking
to the opinion expressed last night, while. the Government felt
it absolutely essential not only by way of compensation to the
master, but also for the welfare of the slave population, that
there should be an intermediate state, as a real and effec-
tive apprenticeship, he must state, that anxious as he
was consistently with the claims of Government to other parties
to make proper concessions to the wishes of the House, it was
deemed expedient, instead of retaining the period for predial
apprenticeship twelve years, and non-predial apprenticeship
seven years, to confine the former to seven years and
the term of the latter to five years.—(Cheers.) This substitution
he hoped would meet the wishes of the House, while he
still thought it would not be inconsistent with the principle of
a real and effective intermediate apprenticeship. Indeed, he
might say that the periods would virtually be reduced to six
and four years, because, by the new arrangement, the plan
would come into operation in 1833 in place of 1834, and the
time would end in 1840 in place of 1845.
Lord HOWICK expressed his gratitude for the concession
which Government had made, but at the same time he was not
quite satisfied. He wished the Right Hon. Gentleman to push
his concession a little further ; and although there were a va-
rsety of provisions in the Bill which he decidedly objected to,
he would in that case decline entering his opposition.
He was anxious that the grant, whatever its amount might be,
which the country was to give to the West India Proprietors
by way of compensation, should not, as to one half, become
payable in any colony, until complete personal freedom had
'been obtained by all the slaves,—in short, that one half of
the sum should be reserved till the period of apprenticeship
had been fulfilled.

Lord ALTHORP said the sense of the House had already
been taken upon that point, when the principle had been re-
jected. Undoubtedly, although Government were anxious to
disarm the opposition, and gain the assent of the Noble Lord
to other parts of the Bill, they could not for that purpose
abandon what they considered the only just and right course
which the House had already determined on.—(Hear, hear.)

Lord SANDON complained that a direct violation had been
committed of the contract which had been made by Govern-
ment with the West Indian body, for the purpose of gaining
their co-operation, and without the least communication
having been made on the subject.—(Hear, hear.) He
considered the modification in itself a direct depar-
ture from a specific contract ; and he thought he had
good reason for charging on Government a direct breach of
good faith, in regard to the West Indian body.

Mr. Secretary STANLEY said, the negotiation into which
Government had entered with that body, as to the precise
period of twelve and seven years' apprenticeship, was undoubt-
edly binding on them as Members of that House, but
it only bound them as Ministers to propose that term to Par-
liament.—(Hear, hear)--it was quite competent for the House

to accede to or reject it. He called on his Noble Friend to say
whether there had not been on the part of Government every
endeavour to maintain their part of the agreement; but sur-
rounded as they were with difficulties on all sides, notwithstand-
ing their utmost exertions to keep Inviolable their portion of
the contract,there were circumstances, as was evident from the
close division of last night, which might render it impossible
for them to carry the term of twelve years to its full extent.
Undoubtedly if the Noble Lord had called on him he should
feel obliged to vote with him, as an individual, for the full
period. He must redeem his pledge; "but," continued the
Right Hon. Gentleman, " I must then look to my character as
a Minister."
Lord SANDON did not hold the Government as pledged
to carry the measure; but he did not think that the resolu-
tion of last night involved the necessity of the views since
adopted by the Government.
Mr. STEWART would not be influenced by any thing that
had taken place, so as to lose temper ; but he protested against
the.alterations which were proposed. He could not but express
his regret at the alterations that had already taken place.
Mt. MARRYAT feared the consequences that would ensue
among the colonists when the news of the alteration reached
the islands:
Sir FRANCIS BURDETT hoped that:the peculiar claims
of those whose negroes had already fallen in value, would be
taken into account when the comperikation was awarded. He
could not concede that the negroes were unfitted for freedom.
Lord ALTHORP—The Noble Lord seemed to think that
Ministers ought to have waited for a division, but it should
be remembered that Ministers had the means of ascertaining
pretty nearly how the question would be decided.—(Hear.)
and it was more respectful to the House to adopt the course
that had been adopted.—(Cheers.) If Ministers had been
moved by any force, it was by the force of opinion in that
House.—(Cheers.)
Mr. GLADSTONE thought it hard that the West India

body should be thrown overboard by a mere inference upon
the division of last night. He did not consider that the reso-
lutions of last night involved any necessity for the coming to

such a conclusion as that come to by the Government. It was
hard to overthrow a definite contract by an indefinite supposition.

Mr. STANLEY—If it should ever occur to the Hon. Member
to have a place in the Government, he would come to different
conclusions upon such divisions. He believed the Ministers
had pursued the soundest and best course for all parties.—
(Cheers.)
Mr. BRISCOE as an independent Member, referred to the
resolutions which had been sent out by the Government to the
Colonies. These, he contended, were a matter between the
Government and the Colonies. But still they referred to a
time to be fixed by Parliament, and it was not fair to charge
Government with running from their agreement under such
circumstances— (Hear.)

Mr. O'CONNELL was in favour of the shorter period

Mr. BUXTON was quite convinced' that the present period,
even after the modification, which had just been announced,
was too long. There was a strong apprehension that they
would not have the cordial cooperation of the West India
body, and that was a strong argument against the granting of
the whole compensation fund before the apprenticeship had
terminated.
Lord SANDON reminded the Hon. Member that the sum
was only to be granted when the measure became law. If the
plan did not take effect, the sum would not be granted.
Lord ALTHORP said the utmost limit he could go as a
Minister, was that now stated by the Right Hon. Secretary.

Mr. POULTER was glad to find that some concession had
been made to public feeling, and he hoped the Right Hon.
Gentleman would not attempt, by merely nominal alterations,
to—

" Cloy the hungry edge of appetite,
By bare imagination of a feast."

Mr. EWING vindicated the West Indian body from the
attacks which had been thrown upon them as parties to the
contract made with Government. There was great difficulty
in steering clear of the rocks of enthusiasm on the one hand,
and those of prejudice on the other. At the same time,
he hoped it would be discussed fairly and impartially. The
West Indians were anxious to give their best efforts for that
purpose.
Mr. SHEIL asked whether, as Government had reduced the
period of apprenticeship, they intended to add to the com-
pensation ?

Lord ALTHORP answered, No.

Mr. GLADSTONE deprecated the conduct of Gentlemen
in having made so important alterations in the plan, without
communicating their previous intention to Government.
The Chairman then reported progress, and obtained leave to
sit again this day.
Lord. ALTHORP expressed his hope that Hon. Members
having notices of motions this evening, not of pressing moment,
would postponethem till the House had got through Committee
on this Bill.—(Hear.)
The SPEAKER left the Chair at three o'clock.

EBEN ERSKINE.—A new novel by GALT,
the inimitable Author of " Lawrie Todd," " The Annals
of the Parish," &c., and one, too, embodying a narrative
of portion? of his own life and adventures, is, indeed, well
calculated to attract attention. It would be a work of
supererogation now for us to record our opinions of Mr.
GALT, he has been too long known to the lovers of fiction
as one of England's most successful writers to need com-
mendation at our hands. The present work, like all his
former productions, is full of observation and variety. In
every page we have indications of the vigorous, and sa-
gacious, the meditative, and reflective mind ; ay, and
blended too, with that sly, caustic humour, which Lord
BYRON so much admired in his writings. GALT uni-
formly thinks for himself ; his pictures are of his own
sketching, nor is the filling up such as any other hand save
his own could accomplish. " Eben Erskine" adds another
wreath to his literary fame.
THE NEW VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY.—
,4 The voyages of which ' Captain Owen's Narrative' gives
an account, were undertaken by command of the Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty. Any one who looks at
the map of the world," the Athenceum remarks, " will
observe that the line followed was laid out chiefly for the
purpose of correcting and confirming th! opinions and ob-
servations of earlier voyagers ; and any one who reads these
narratives will perceive that much new and interesting
matter has been added to the stock of public knowledge.
From such works as the One before us we reap the only
harvest which literature presents of originality voyages
of travels—and the present work partakes of the nature of
both—open up new Scenes for contemplation : they ex-
hibit new manners and strange customs, and remarkable
incidents, and really contribute more to our amusement
than the most voluminous novelist, whose trade it is to
supply with agreeable
world." Octions the great market of the