The Sun.
London, England, 1819-03-05 00:00:00

BRITISH NEGRO SLAVES.

Lord HOLLAND, pursuant to his notice. tote to
bring forward his promised motion on this sub-
ject. He prefaced it with a speech of some length,
in the course of which he first adverted to what
had formerly passed in that House on the subject,
particularly in the Session of ISI6. An anxious
hope was entertained from the. powerful influence
with which his Majesty's Government could re-
commend to the Colonial Legislatures, not only
the adoption, but the execution, of measures ef-
fectually conducive to the improvement and ex-
tension of Christian knowledge and moral in-
struction among those unhappy persons. He had
the satisfaction of being aware. that in no small
degree these expectations had been realized.—lt
was with pleasure he learnt (he now spoke prin-
cipally if not entirely of the colony of Jamaica)
that the conduct of Government and of the Colonial
Legislatures had completely removed all delu-
sions which the Negroes were found to labour
under, with respect to what was really intended
relative to altering their conditions ; and which
would necessarily be productive of the most salu-
tary effects. He was happy in being able to say,
that the,provisions of that great measure, which
terminated legislatively this abominable traffic,
was so cordially acted upon in Jamaica, that since
June 1816, not a single slave was imported.—
With respect to their system of moral anti reli-

glut's instruction, though sonic improvements had
undoubtedly taken place, much remained to be
done. Oa the point of religious instruction, his
Lordship principally dwelt. The Colonial Assem-
blies 11,1,1 first allotted to the Curates a salary of
three hundred pounds West India currency •' but
this being found insufficient to induce qualified
Clergymen to go to that Colony, it was Hug.
mewed to 5001. cm rency.—There was no doubt
that there was some degree of unwillingness on
the part of the Church of England Clergy to go
thither ; but he thought some regulations might
be adopted, which would authorize or afford
encouragement to persons of certain other per•
auasions to act in these colonies as a species eof
subordinate assistants, but particularly io what
might concern the business of scholastic educa-
tion. He particularly referred to the Mora-
vian sect. This might be done, he thought,
without the least prejudice to the employmvnt
of teachers of the Established Church. Another
object of the Address of the House to which he
had alluded, was, a due improvement in the phy-
sical condition of the Negroes. This, he was
happy to say, appeared to be gradually taking
place. A plan which he had generally conceived

some time since, and turned over in his mind, as
likely, if acted upon, to produce no small benefit,
he begged leave to state a general outline ot, viz.:
that the competent Authorities should provide
that proprietors of slaves, or their agents, should
keep a regiati y of all their Negroes actually bap-
tised, and also or the number who receive a com-
petent share of religious instruction ; that the
testimony of such persons should be made admis-
sible in Courts of Justice ; that some description
of small reward should he given to Negroes, in
proportion to their improvement in Christian
knowledge, which would nfford to these indivi-
duals a species of relative interest in their respec-
tive improvement• Their admissibility as evi-
dences would also ti•nd much to an amelioration of
the Negro character. These were the principal
points which he threw out as suggestions, hut on
which he would not propose any Resolutions.--
Ile felt very cautious, however he might regard
the rlignity and importance of the British Par-
liament, in passing any thing that appeared
like an interference in the internal policy of
those countries. The grand object of ame-
lioration in the condition of these unfor-
tunate persons, were it obtained only in the
halt or quarter degree, would be a great attain-
ment for the interests of justice and humanity.—
The Noble Lord concluded by moving an Address
to the Prince Regent, for the production of cer-
tain acts or proceedings of the Colonial Legisla-
tures on the subject of the Negro population, •
which took place, pursuant to the Address- of

-Their Lordships) at the period whiLh he ha
stated.

EarIBATHURST rose, and complimen►ed the

Noble Lord on the candid and judicious manner
in which be had introduced his motion: He
could assure the House it was the anxious desire
of his Majesty's Government to attain, in the
most practicable and consistently expeditious
manner, the great object which they all had in
view. In their measures they had never lost sight
of that object, and their practical attention had
principally been directed to the important points
of a registration of Slaves, and the moral and
religious instruction of the Negro population.--
Not only that, but strong inducements were held
Out in order to encourage and promote individual
good conduct and improvement. It was deemed an
expedient likely to contribute much to the desira-
ble ends in view, that an Act should be passed, pro-
viding that all mortgages or sales of estates, trans-
acted here, should he held illegsl, without they in-
cludeda specification and enumeration of those staves
on such estates; but it any were not so specified and
enumaated,t hey should not he considered as trans-
(erred by the sale or mortgage ; thereby render-
ing it the interest of the parties to make correct
registrations. He was desirous such a measure
as this were brought forward in the Colonial As-
senthlies, being anxious that the procedure should
not in the least appear as compulsory on the part
of this country. With respect to the considers-
Lion of the moral or religious instruction of the
Negro population in our Colonies, every atten-
tion was and would be paid to that •great object.
The salaries were raised for the remuneration of
Clergymen who should go to those Colonies, and
every other fair and proper encouragement was
held out for the purpose ; and he must say, with
respect to those Reverend Prelates who were con-
sulted ou the occasion (particularly the Reverend
Prelate to whose province such matters pecu-
liarly belonged), they all showed the greatest de-
gree of zeal and alacrity to procure proper per-
sons to fill those necessary situations in the Co-
lonies. The Noble Secretary described the na-
ture of. the Episcopal jurisdiction of the Dioce-
san of London, which, strictly speaking, was not,
in point of law or regularity, so extensive or
powerful in respect to those Colonies as seemed
to be supposed, though, in the course of things,
such matters scented generally regulated by that
Diocesan. The difficulties in finding properly
qualified Clergymen to perform the ditties in
those Colonies were certainly great ; but every
care and arrangement should be taken to surmount
them. Much of what the Noble Lord referred

to, es expedient for improvement, naturally lay
in the hands of 'the Colonial Legislatures ; but
no effort, he repeated, would be wanting on the
part of his Majesty's Government in these re.
spects : and with regard to the procuration of
adequate clerical instructors, the Noble Earl again
remarked, that steps bad been taken particularly
with that view, and further exertions would be
made ; but their Lordships would all be aware
how much depended on the co-operation of the
Colonial Legislature, which, however, he felt no
doubt, would be cheerfully afforded.
The Bishop of LONDON addressed the House at
some length on the occasion (but our restricted
limits will not allow but a very general reference
to his 'Lordship's speech, or of what subsequently
took place). '!'be Rev. Prelate dwelt chiefly on the
topic of the religious ins!ruction of the negro.po.
pulation. lie described the nature and extent of
the jurisdiction which was generally exercised by
the See of London in such matters—the causes of
the difficulties which occurred in the procuration
of properly qualified Clergymen for the purpose
in question—the nature of the duties .to be per.
formed by such persons in the Colonies, and the
advances already made with reference to Christian
instruction in those quarters. The Rev. Prelate
observed, that no steps were untaken on the part
of the Establishment towards effecting the im-
portant object in question, and adverted to the
important and cordial assistance be bad received
front the Noble Earl at the head of the Colonial
Department, end his Grace the Duke of Marches.
ter (as Governor of Jamaica). After expatiating
with much candour, clearness, and ability, on
those several heads, his Lordship joined his
Noble Friend in assuring' the Elouse, that no ef-
forts had been or should be wanting to promote
the great object of religious instruction of the
Negro population in the British West Indies.

_ .
Lord HOLLAND spoke in explanation ; atter
which the questio❑ was put, and the motion agreed
to by the House.

COAL TAX.
The Marquess of LANSDOWNE had a petition to
present against any equalization of the Duty on
Coals. It was, of course, of the same nature as
that which the Noble Lord opposite (Lord Gren.
ville) had been yesterday induced to withdraw.—
He could not, huwever, concur in the. objections
which bad been made to that petition. It ap-
peared from the votes of the other House of Par-
..

tiament, that the question on which this petition
was founded had been agitated, and it was never
the practice, as far as he knew, of either House
of Parliament to reject petitions of this kind, un-
less they were against a tax for the imposing of
which there was a bill before the House. The
Noble Marquess presented the petition, which was
from the Borough of Caine.

Viscount GRANVILL.t also presented a petition,
(it was understood to be thesan►e which be yesterday
withdrew),and which prayed, among other things,
that the petitioners might be heard by counsel,
against the equalization.of the coal tax, if any bill
for that object should be introduced.
long conversation took place on receiving this
petition, in the course of which Lords Shaftes-
bury, Kenyon, Holland', and Harrowby, spoke,
but which terminated in the petition being laid on
the table.

Viscount GRANVILLE said, that be had great satis-
'actionin learning that it was not the iuiention of

his Majesty's Ministers to support any proposition
for the equalization of the duties on coal. He
was happy to have the opportunity of stating this,
as he was certain that the information would give
great satisfaction to the petitioners, and to all
persons in the maritime districts.--Adjourned.