The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-20 00:00:00

put an end t, the slave trade south of the hue. At pro-
s-nt fte slave trade waa superessed all the way between
W:lydah and Lagos, with the exception of a small por-
tion of the cast. It was not, th,reforo, correct for his
Hon. Friend to infcr that the etf,ris to put down that
trade had he,n nesuccessU. His Hoy. Friend hadstated
that the slave trade in Brazil was at this time more ex-
tensive than it had ever been; but his Hon. Friend was
also mistaken iu that fact. By the accounts Ix-fore him
(Viscount Palmerston) it appeared that the importation
of slaves in 1847, though still considerable, he was
sorry to say, fell very much short of the importa-
tion of 1848 into that country. His Honourable
Friend was a1,,0 mistaken if he supposed that
the price of slaves had fallen in the Brazilian
market; on the contrary, the accounts in his
(Viscount Palmerston'.) possession showed that it had
risen. With respect to the question under discussion,
one would suppose, who did not know the fact, that the
object of the vote was to acquire a vast extent of terri-
tory in Africa, at an enortnnus expense to the people of
England, whereas it was the very opposite. The only
question really at issue was, whether this country should
accept an offer made by the Danish Government, of two
or three trading post:, defended by a few black sol-
diers, f the purpose ofaacuring the inlets of commerce
to the interior of Africa from the jealousy of active
commercial neighbours. If these forts were not secured
for England, they would pass into the hands of some
other power ; and all those persbni who knew the
African trade knew very well the difficulty already ex-
perienced by too close a neighbourhood to a jealous
commercial rival. The way the thing happened was
this : the Danish Government had communicated to him
(Lord Palmerston), that, seeing the anxiety of England
to suppress the slave trade, and knowing the extent of
our commerce with Africa, they were desirous of hand-
ing over these forts, of which they had no longer any
us ~ as their traffic with Africa was insufficient to
justify their further maintenance, on condition that the
price of the materials was paid for—a sum of
10,0001. A more handsome offer had never been
made on the part of one country to another; and
a more unwise refusal could nut be imagined if
the House refused that offer. It was difficult, if
not impossible to please everybody. One day the House
was told that it was important to obtain a supply of cot-
ton, and it was engaged to send a Commission to India,
which would not be able to report for a long period,
and which would possibly end in no useful result. And
yet when the Government was now offered two or three
torts on a coast where cotton existed in the interior in
the greatest abundance, the House was asked to refuse
that offer, and forego, perhaps, of all others, the most
likely mode of obtaining an unlimited supply of that in-
' dispensible article. The Hon. Member fur Manchester
seemed to treat the supply of cotton from that quarter as
not available; but Mr. Beacroft bad already gone out to
Dahomey to arrange, in the first place, such au agree-
ment as it was urged would put down the slave trade—
namely, by offering the chiefs pecuniary allowance for a
certain period on condition of ceasing from that trade;
and in the second, to collect specimens of cotton in the
colonies, and arrange for their transmission to this coun-
try. Whether, therefore, it was to afford an additional
opening for the commerce of this country in the centre
of Africa, or for the higher purpose of extending Chris-
tianity and civilisation in that land, he contended that
the acquisition of these trading stations, which filled up
the gap between the posts already possessed by this
country, would materially further those objects.
Mr. HUTT rose to explain. The Noble Lord bad
said that at some time and place he (Mr. Hutt) had ad-
vocated a modified system of slavery. He (Mr. Hutt)
distinctly denied it, and he trusted that when the Noble
Lord made charges of that nature again he would be
prepared with time, place, and circumstances. No one
looked on the slave trade with greater horror than he
did, and it was because lie looked upon it as one of the
greatest possible crimes that he took the course he did
on this occasion. The Noble Lord thought he had put
down the slave trade; but the Noble Lord would excuse
him when he said that ho believed him to be the most
practical promoter of it in existence. The Noble Lord
said that he (Mr. Hutt) was mistaken in saying that
slaves bad fallen in price in Brazil; but he (Mr.
Hutt) had not made that assertion without reason. One
of the great merchants had assured him of the fact; and
that at no period had slaves ever been offered at a price
so low as now in the markets of Brazil. And yet this,
as he (Hr. Hutt) had stated, was the result of 30 years'
efforts.

Viscount PALMERSTON was under the impression
that in an interview which ho had with his Hon. Friend
at the Foreign-office, his Hon. Friend had said that there
was a natural tendeiscy of labour flawing from Africa
to America, and that he wished him to weigh in his
mind whether a limited amount of the slave trade could
not be carried on between Africa and Brazil, subject
to arrangements less injurious to the slaves on the
passage.
Mr. HUTT denied that be had ever stated what the
Noble Lord bad given utterance to respecting him. He
had had an interview with the Noble Lord at the
Foreign-office, in which he pointed out that as it was
almost impossible under existing circumstances to pre-
vent the influx of slaves into Brazil, it might be desirable
to net in concert with that country so as to secure a
sufficient supply of free labour in the same manner as it
took place in the British colonies, which would in his
opinion effectually put down the slave trade.
Mr. HUME did not consider the offer of the Danish
Government so liberal, for they offered these forts to a
private merchant if ho would only hoist the Danish
flag, an offer which was refusk d. He thought it mad-
ness to suppose that they could cultivate cotton in a
territory which was limited to the rauge of a cannon
shot. In one case they would get a fort of 40 guns, a
marten() tower, and a burial. Two or three others were
in complete ruins, which would require repairs, and
which would involve an enormous expense. Three hun-
dred natives were to be raised f,,r the defence of these
forts, which would cost 6,0001. a year, but they were
told this was for the promotion of civilization. He should
oppose the motion.
Mr. MUNTZ sail that they had been discussing all
the night a question respecting a miserable 10,0001.—
(Hear, hear.) Why, he had laid out 10,000/. over and
over again without anything like the consideration that
the House of Commons bestowed on this wretched sum
of 10,000/.—(Laughter.) If England had not slipped in
and purchased these forts some other nation would have
done so. This country had only met the wishes of a
very large portion of the people at a very small cost.
He did not think any reasonable objection could be urged
against such a course.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir W. NIOLESWORTH said that this was not a
question respecting
an expenditure of 10,000/., but a
question respecting the extension of a bad system.—
( Hear, hear.) The settlements of Sierra Leone, Cape
Coast, and Gambia had cog this country 53,0001. in
1846, whilst in that year the exports of -Great Britain
to these places amounted to only 176,0001.; so that, for
p77161.e/w.owof
rot
thrhit ofshoefo
gu
goods
otordoysd
sent
e as
nei
tdn
from Liverpool
rr
pwt
oaaoi
snl
tmaone
sdr
ac
yha
Man-
chester fort s
ete 1
vvi eee
rr pyy e 011
the people of England paid 51. 10s.—(Hear,
hear.) Now, he objected to that, on free-trade princi-
ples.—(Hear, hear.) They had no right to tax the peo-
ple of this country in order to put money into the hands
of certain merchants.—(Hear, hear.) Let it be proved
that the people
not object to the vote.
of England paid nothing, and he would
After a few words from Mr. FORSTER,
The Committee divided, when there appeared—.
For the amendment 42
Against is
—96

Majority ...
The vote was then agreed to.
The following votes were then agreed to:-10,875/.
for St., Helena; 7,3791. for Weser❑ Australia; 1,284/.
for Port Blessington; 1,4861. fur Heligoland; 5,000!. for
the Falkland Islands; 13,2961. was voted to defray the
charge of the Colonial Land and Emigration Board.
The House resumed, and the Chairman reported the
resolutions to the House.
EQUIVALENT COMPANY.

This Bill went through Coalmittoo.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that ho had stated early in the session that he proposed
to apply 250,0001. to pay off the annuity of what was
called the Equivalent Society in Scotland.
EXCISE SUGAR AND LICENCES BILL.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
object of this Bill was two-foldT•first, at the time the
duty on colonial sugar was reduced, no reduction was
made on excise sugar made from beet-root, and the in-
tention was to reduce the duty on home-grown produce
to the same amount as that made from colonial produce.
He proposed to put such a duty on sugar used in brew-
eries as would render it equivalent to the malt.
The Bill went through Committee. Report to be re-
ceived on Monday next.
CHARITABLE TRUSTS BILL.

On the motion for the third reading of this Bill,
Sir W. JOLLIFFE opposed it.
After some conversation, the House divided, when
there appeared—
For the adjournment ... 16
Against it... 74
Majority •.. _5B
Mr. NEWDEGATE moved that the debate be now
adjourned.
Sir G. GREY said that this was a most useful Bill,
and the object of the motion was not to delay it for a day
or two, but to postpone it indefinitely. He hoped that
the House would consent to the third reading.
Mr. HENLEY said that the Government might have
read the Bill a third time a week since if they had so
chosen. All the delay they now asked was until Mon-
day next.
Sir G. GREY consented to fix the third reading for
Monday next.
GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH (No. 2) BILL.
The House went into Committee ou this Bill, and the
several clauses were disposed of.
The House resumed, and the Bill was ordered to be re-
portal on Monday next.
The Savings Banks Bill second reading was fixed for
Friday next.
'rim SUMMARY JURISDICTION (IRELAND'