The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-18 00:00:00

O'Neale, with the:wretches who joined with him, shalkbemade
acquainted with the shouts of indignation which his conduct
raised here.---(Loud cheers.) But the excellent and patriotic
gentlenian who spoke to you a while ago seemed to entertain
stronger hopes than I do, that the annexation of Texas with
the American republic would not be agreed to. Recollect,
if Texas be united to the southern States, nine new slave
States will be created. Hitherto the progress of slavery in
America has been retarded by the northern States being free
from that taint ; but, if there be nine more slave-holding
States, there is an end of any check whatsoever. The nor-•
them and western States will be completely swamped by the
additional force un the other side ; nine States, where at pre-
sent there are scarcely any, to be peopled by slaves and the
hideous process which is called " raising slaves." Bringing
up human beings as they do cattle in stalls, in the same total
absence. of morality and religion, and by such means that I
would not pollute the present meeting by describing them.
I hardly dare pollute my own thoughts by thinking of them.
—(Cheers.) Yet nine States more are to be so peopled ; and
is humanity to stand heedless by ? and are generosity and
pity for the *retch who is not his own property, but cattle
in the hands of his master—are they to be silent ? Is there
to be no British and Foreign , Slave Society ?—(Great cheer-
ing.) Is there to be no indignant voice to be raised against
it ?—(Cheers.) I want the Government to take a more
active part in this matter.—(Chelrs.) The President of the
United States has actually signed the treaty for this annexa-
tion. It is already on the table, and the only question now
is whether it shall be ratified. Pardon me for dwelling so
long on these topics, strange to you, perhaps, but not indif-
ferent to us.—(Cheers.) They quite come within the scope
of the object for which we have met, and are all in the pro-
vince of the British and Foreign - Slave Society. lam only
an humble advocate ; but I sill on you to become apostles
of this persuasion,. which calls for the enforcement of
rules of humanity and of morality as the first duty
of a Government, which its subjects should stimulate them to
exercise.—(Cheers.) I now beg you to remember that we
are engaged in this mighty strife : recollect that it is our
object to make man his own property, to bring him within
the scope of education—for it is a crime in the North Ame-
rican States to teach a slave to read or write—that it is our
duty to have the book of God opened before him, and to see
that the book of science is not closed to him—that it is our
duty to prevent the child being separated from its father, the
infant being torn from its mother's bosom—to prevent the
mother (instead of rejoicing when a man-child is born) from
weeping with sorrow at her dusky-coloured babe, remember-
ing that she has produced a man not for the purpose of hu-
manity, but of Slavery.—(Great cheering.) The division
which has arisen amongst ourselves will require a stronger
and more general appeal to the entire country. There never
was a period so fit for making that appeal. There never was
so great a necessity for having your ranks increased : the Mi-
nistry and their supporters, every man engaged in the Go-
vernment of this country, should rally, to prevent, if possible,
the annexation of Texas; to prevent murders such as that
contemplated by O'Nealt, to cheer one another on in the
cause, to open the door of Christianity to the ignorant and
uncivilized, and, above all and before all, to place the glorious
name of this Society in-the first ranks of those who battled
nobly and manfully for the liberty of the human race.—(The
Hon. and Learned Gentleman resumed his seat amidst loud
cheering.) _ _ _

The ii(;v. Mr. Aims seconded the resolution, which passed
unanimously.
The Rev. J. SIIER3IAN, of Surrey Chapel, without any
prefatory observation, moved the next resolution, as fol-
lows '

" That this meeting would earnestly call the attention of
the friends of the anti-slavery cause, throughout the United
Kingdom, to the fact that a large portion of the existing
slave population of Brazil, the Spanish colonies, and Dutch
Guiana, entitled under treaties with this country, as well as
by the municipal laws of the States, into whose territories or
colonies they have been illicitly introduced, to their liberty,
are. nevertheless subjected to an atrocious system of bondage.
That to this large and unhappy class of persons must be
added many thousands of Africans, manumitted at various
times by the courts of mixed commission, established in
these countries, in a state of slavery of the most cruel cha-
racter. That in the Spanish; Dutch, and French colonies
there are many British subjects, estimated to amount to
several thousands, illegally held in bondage, who ought to
be free. And that, therefore, appeals should be made to her
Biskjesty's Government promptly and perseveringly to urge
upon the Brazilian, Spanish, and Dutch Governments the
duty of removing every obstacle to their immediate and
entire emancipation. That this meeting having further
learned the existence in countries, or the dependencies of
countries, at peace with Great Britain, of laws which affect
the rights and liberties of British subjects, being persons of
colour, who may have omosion to resort to them on their
lawful business, they would in this case also urgently call on
the Government to obtain the repeal of such laws, 'as at
variance with friendly relations and the stipulations of
treaties."

The Rev. T. Smrrit, of Rotherhithe, in seconding the reso-
lution, expressed his regret that any difference of opinion
should have arisen in the course of the discussion which had
taken place this day.
Mr. BRIGHT, M.P., having been loudly called for by the
meeting, next presented himself to its attention. The Hon.
Member said he had not had any intention to take up the
time of the meeting: but he felt extremely glad that lie was
permitted to make a few observations, particularly after the
.speech of the Hon. and Learned Gentleman who sat next the
Chairman (Mr. O'Connell). He agreed with that Hon. and
Learned Gentleman in every word of reprobation he had used
when speaking of the atrocious trial and sentence which had
taken place and been pronounced in the United States ; but.
at the same time he thought there had been something too
wholesale in the manner of speaking of that country, for he
(Mr. Bright) was prepared to state from what he had known
of its citizens, that there were hundreds and thousands of
men in the United States who would be worthy to stand on
any platform in this country when the interests of humanity
were to be vindicated. It should be borne in mind that the
American abolitionists were not in the same position as the
abolitionists in this country. Here they saw the horrors of
slavery at a distance, and those horrors had been, if it were
possible, magnified.—(Cries of " No, no.") If not magnified,
the difficulty of abolition had been diminished by the dis-
tance. Why, if there had been slavery existing in Ireland
or in Scotland, would there have been that union of parties
engaged in seeking its abolition? No : on the contrary,
there would have been all that bitter party feeling which
arose in this country on the consideration of every great poli-
tical question, and year after year would have rolled on be-
fore that great triumph which Great Britain had effected in
its own colonies would have been achieved over slavery at
home.—(Hear, hear.) It was not the love of slavery that
perpetuated it in America ; on the contrary, look at the
writings of Tappen, Levitt, and all the best men who have
come to this country from America—all of them express a
horror at the system with which their country was accursed.
While the crime of Judge O'Neal() was execrated, let it not
be forgotten, that it required in America the greatest possible
courage and daring to defend abolition at all.—(Hear.) He
(Mr. Bright) equally deprecatedthe argument by which su-
periority was ascribed to the Crown of this country over the
institutions of America. It was not wise for this country to
ridicule the institutions of America ; nor would it be wise
for America to speak harshly of the institutions of Great
Britain. There were in America millions of men who had
descended from English ancestors, and who were carrying on
the great and glorious work of civilising that great continent,
and he thought the object of this and all other meetings
should be to counsel America kindly, but firmly, to get rid
of all that was bad amongst its people, and to endeavour to
draw closer the ties which bind America to her mother coun-
try.—(Cheers.) As he was speaking, perhaps he might be
allowed to say a word or two upon the question which had
very nearly divided the, meeting in opinion. He agreed in
the terms of the amendment which had been moved by his
friend Mr. Thompson, inasmuch as it ascribed every good
and honest motive to the Committee, who, he believed,
had risked much popularity and had encountered agood deal
of odium from the course they had taken, and he was quite
sure that in all they had done they believed they were act-
ing not-only as their constitution empowered them, but that
the course they had taken was likely to serve the great ends
of total abolition. He believed the Committee to have been
purely honest, but mistaken, and it was for the meeting to
decide whether the principle they have adopted was or was
not essential to the working out the objects of the Anti-
Slavery Society. He waS of opinion that it was not essen-
tial.—(Hear, hear.) To lean on the Government (either the
past, the present, or the next), was to lean upon a broken
reed. The moment it served the object of the party in power
they would sweep away all discriminating duties between
slave and free-grown produce, and the great arguments which'
Sir Robert Peel had drawn from the memorials of the Com-
mittee would only be regarded for what they had effected,
and would be useless for the future. He (Mr. Bright) was
persuaded that public opinion was going in the direction to
overthrow such duties as those which they had been dis-
cussing; and he would ask the Anti-Slavery Committee
whether, even if they should succeed for a time, it would
not be but a very short time, in preventing the abolition of
these duties, and whether it was worth the sacrifice they
were making to adopt a principle which had weakened the
Anti-Slavery party in this country ?—(Great cheering,
and cries of " No, no.") He knew that in some towns
many of the most zealous of their body had declined to co-
operate in the measures recommended by the Committee.
He was most anxious to prevent disunion. If the principle
was absolutely necessary for the prosecution of their efforts,
he should be disposed to agree with their recommendations ;
but when ho saw it was a doubtful principle, he contended it
would be wiser for the Committee not to allow the apple of
discord to be thrown among the anti-slavery party, but leave
the matter an open question, and not to act in their official
capacity. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman opposite (Mr.
O'Connell) had said, that the most powerful instrument to be
'used in the matter was public opinion. In that sentiment he
(Mr. Bright ) agreed. There was a proposition now before Parlia-
ment fixing a duty of 345. on free-labour sugar, and 635, on
slave-grown ; and the effect of this he contended would be to
stimulate slavery in Brazil, and evils would arise from the
mode adopted by the Government, and based on the scruples
which the Committee had felt.

Mr. SCOBLE here rose to order; but
Mr. BRIGHT proceeded to urge the necessity for the aboli-
tion of restrictive duties, and concluded by expressing a hope
that, with the abolition of slavery, there would also be an
abolition of all monopolies.
The CHAIRMAN said, before he put the resolution he
hoped, as Mr. Bright had dilated upon matters notliwas
con-
tained in it, he might be allowed to say a few words.
his (the Chairman's) firm conviction that, if the differential
duties proposed were not adopted, and if the sugars of
Brazil, Cuba, and other slave- labour countries were admitted
on equal terms to the market of this country, it would be
produced by the lash, and the lash alone.—(Cheers.) He
was certain it would be the means of consumingthe sinews
and lives of the unhappy slaves of those colonies, and those
lives would only be replaced bi a traffic in slaves from the
coast of Africa.—(Hear, hear.) plat admitted of no dispute;
and he was astonished at the assertions and inconsistent de-
clamation of his two friends, Messrs. Thompson and Bright,
Mr. TuomrsoN rose to order. He had withdrawn his
amendment on the understanding that his proposition was
not to be canvassed.—(Cries of " Order, chair.") He had
not been dealt fairly with ; for It had been discussed by Mr.
O'Connell, by Sir George Stephen, by Mr. Buxton, and now
the Chairman was entering upon it. He called upon the
Chairman to adhere to the strict line of his duty. Terms had
not been kept with him ; and he should now again move the
amendment he had previously witharawn.—(Confusion.)
Mr. O'CcoINELL 'Acilied that he had violated any pledge;
for he was not aware that any had been given.
Mr. TnOSIPSON—You have misrepresented me y and I shall
reply to you, even if there are only twenty persons left in the
room. Renewed uproar.)
Mr. O'CONNELL—Tppeateti that he had only spoken his
own intiiyidpfil sentiments, and they had been ably replied
to by Mr. Bright. Where was the necessity for further dis-
cussion?
Mr. Thom-sox again rose amidst great confusion and
uproar, and insisted that his amendment should be put to the
meeting. He complained of the Chairman designating his
spteell as inconsistent declamation."
A long and angry conversation, carried on amidst the
indescribable uproar and confusion, followed;
was put an end to by anti at length it
• The CHAIRMAN cWiplilg his intention to put le. Thomp-
son's the meeting.
aToncll4o. tp,A show of hands was then
reI.CPI RCTIWWI it the Chairman declared the amendment to
earriect. 'This announcement was received with loud cheers,
Mr. JOSIAH CONnER thentmave4 the resolution which bad
been lost, and in addition to it the fellOWIRg--
" That this weetingz, whilst okleotiug to the various colo-

nial and Government schemes already propounded for supply-
ing the British colonies with labourers, admit the wisdom
and necessity, so long as the present plan is permitted to
exist, of confining emigration from Africa to the West India
colonies strictly to the British settlementS undor the control
of Government. That this meeting, however, offer their dc- •
cided protest against the regulation which authorises the
shipment of male labourers alone to these colonies, as mani-
festly injurious to the moral elevation and religious culture
both of the emigrants themselves and the emancipated
classes among whom, for a time, they will be settled. That •
whilst this meeting loudly protests against this permission in
reference to Africans imported into the West India colonies,
they would especially reprobate it in its application to the
export of coolies to the Mauritius, and the contemplated
emigration of Chinese labourers to the British colonies gene- ,
rally, as fraught with the most melancholy consequences. ;
and would earnestly call on the Imperial Legislature to inter-
pose its authority to prevent the further occurrence of so •
great a social evil."
The R►ev. G. EVANS seconded the resolution, which was
also supported by Mr. ELIJAH WRIGHT, of Boston, who took
occasion to defend his countrymen from the attacks of Mr.
O'Connell. _ _

_________
Mr. O'CONSELI said he had been evidently misunderstood
by Mr. Wright. His censure was upon the American slave-
holders and those who countenanced slave holding in Ame-
rica, and he thought he had made a distinction between them .
and the abolitionist party in America. The abolitionist in
America was to be highly esteemed, because he took part
against the prejudices of his countrymen, and against their ,
supposed interest.—(Cheers.
On the motion of Mr. G. CARLISLE, a Dissenting minister, .
seconded by Mr. SCOBLE, a vote of thanks was passed to the
Chairman ?or his kindness in presiding, which was briefly ac-
knowledged, and the meeting separated.

COURSE OF EXCHA3
Amsterdam CF. 12 6
Ditto, at sight l2 4
Rotterdam 2U. 12 61,
Antwerp
Hamburgh M.B. 13 141
A Rona .

Paris, 3 days' sight 25 65
Ditto, 3 mouths 25 85
Marseilles
Bourdeaux 25 90
Frankfort on Maine 122
Petersburgh, 3Us 36i
Berlin

Vienna, enc. fl. 3 M 954
'lrieste, ditto
Madrid 36

Cadiz

Bilbao 36
Barcelona 36
Sevilla

GE.—(YESTERDAY.)
Gibraltar
Leghorn 3O 45
Genoa 25 90
Milan
Venice .......
Naples 39
Palermo, per oz ll7
Lisbon 634
Oporto
Rio Janeiro 23
Bahia .. 23
Buenos Avres
NewYork:2ldYs sight
Philadelphia
PRICES OF BULLION, PER oz.
Foreign Gold, bars. £3 17 9
Portugal Gold Coin 3 17 5
New Doubloons 0 0 0
Now Dollars 0 4 9i
Silver in Bars 0 4 Ilb

COURT CIRCULAR.

Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Gloucester,
visited her Majesty yesterday afternoon at Buckingham
Palace.

The Queen and Prince Albert walked out yesterday
morning in the Royal Gardens of Buckingham Palace.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert presided yesterday
at a meeting of the Commission for promoting and
encouraging the Fine Arts in the re-building the Palace
of Westminster.

The Commissioners assembled shortly before three
o'clock in the afternoon at Gwydyr House. The Prince
arrived, attended by Colonel Wylde, Equerry in Waiting.
The Commissioners present were the Duke of Suther-
land, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Lincoln,
Lord John Russell, Lord Colborne, Sir Robert Harry
Inglis, Mr. H. Golly Knight, M.P., Mr. Berkjimia
Ilawes, M.P., Mr. Henry Hallam, Mr. George Vivian,
Mr. Thomas Wyse, M.P., Lord Mahon, and the Right
Honourable T. B. Macaulay, M.P.
The meeting broke up shortly before five o'clock,
when Prince Albert, attended by Colonel Wylde, re-
turned to Buckingham Palace.

Their Royal highnesses the Prince of Wales, the
Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice were taken air-
ings yesterday in the Royal Gardens.
The Royal dinner party at Buckingham Palace yes-
terday evening, included the Earl of Liverpool, Mr.
Charles and the lion. Mrs. Bruce, and Mr. George Ed-
ward and the Hon. Mrs. Anson.

Her Majesty the Queen Dowager visited her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday at Glou-
cester House.
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge,
visited the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday. In the
evening the Duchess of Cambridge honoured the Duko
fl Devonshire with her company at the ball given by his
Grace, at Devonshire House.

A deputation from the Committee of Joint-stock
Banks consisting of Mr. Patrick, Mr. Stewart, M.P.,
Mr. Joshua Walker, Mr. Samuel Perceval, Mr. Edward.
Smith, Mr. James W. Gilbart, Mr. Daniel Robertsor.
Mr. John Amery, Mr. George Webb, and Mr. Charles
Geach, had an interview with Sir Robert Peel yesterday
at his official residence in Downing-street.
The Health of Towns Commission had a meeting on
Thursday at Gwydyr House, Whitehall. The Com-
missioners present were, the Duke of Buocleuch, the
Earl of Lincoln, Mr. Robert A. Slaney, Sir Henry
Thomas de la Beche, Dr. Lyon Playfair, Dr. D. Boswell
Reid, Mr. William T. Denison, Mr. J. Ranald Martin.
and Mr. James Smith, of Doanston.

A deputation on the subject of vinegar, consisting of
Sir Thomas Wilde, M.P., Mr. C. Pott (London), Mr.
W. Pott (London), Mr. Edward Evens (Worcester), and
Mr. Joseph Underwood (Norwich), had an interview
with the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone yesterday, at the
office of the Board of Trade.

The Commission of Metropolitan Improvements had a
meeting on Wednesday at the office in Whitehall-place.
The Commissioners present were the Earl of Lincoln,
Lord Lyttelton, Lord Colborne, the Right Hon. J. C.
Herries, Sir R. H. Inglis, Sir Charles Lemon, Mr. 11. J.
Hope. Mr. H. Gaily Knight, Alderman Humphery, Mr.
A. Milne, Hon. Charles Gore, Sir Robert Smirke, and
Mr. Charles Barry. •
The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England had
meeting yesterday afternoon, at the office, in Whitehall-
place. There were present the Bishop of Rochester, the
Bishop of Salisbury, the Earl of Besboroagh, and th©
Right Hon. H. Hobliouse.

The Governor of the Bank of England, and the!
Deputy-Governor, had an interview with Sir Robert
Peel yesterday.
Mr. Wickham, Chairman of the Stamps and Taxes,
and Mr. Higham, Secretary and Comptroller-General to
the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National
Debt, had interviews' with the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, yesterday, at his official residence, in Downing-
street.

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sal
yesterday.
Mr. Burge, Queen's Counsel, was heard on Stephons's
petition (New South Wales).
Mr. Fitzroy Kelly, Queen's Counsel, was heard or
" Panton v. Williams," from the Prerogative Court of
Canterbury. The motion was granted.
Dr. Addams was heard for a protest (on the part of
the respondent) against an appeal, " Handley and Jones
v. Edwards," from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
The Queen's Advocate, and Mr. Erle, Queen's Counsel.
wore heard for the appellant. Dr. Addams replied.
Lord Brougham gave judgment on the part of thele
Lordships, for the first protest and against the appeal
(relating to the rejection of evidence in the Court below),
dismissing this appeal with costs.
As to the second protest. It was necessary for an
applicant to amend his appeal, and this being a matter
of favour, must be upon terms ; their Lordships' there•
fore, directed that payment should be made by the
appellant of the costs of the appeal up to the present tulle,,
The Court then rose.

TODMORDEN.—At the sessions, on Thursday, a
young man, named James Greenwood. of Sowerby, wait
charged with disgraceful conduct in a Wesleyan chapel,
at Cragdale, and with assaulting a parish constable.
It appeared from the evidence, that on Sunday last, the
defendant, in company with a man, named Farrow,eitterecl
the above chapel intoxicated, and created a great dia.
turbance. On the Rev. Mr. Fairbourn, the minister,
remonstrating with them, they pushed him about, and
used violent language. Their conduct was so diegrace
ful, that he left the chapel, and went to the -house
of the pariih constable, who, it appeared, was unable to
protect him. Several of the congregation requested
them to withdraw, and Farrow, who was the most
violent, refused, declaring that the minister had invited
them in, and they should stop. A member stated
to the bench, that the constable was afraid of the par.
ties. After much difficulty, the,y were ejected, and
taken into custody, but made their escape. The bench
was surprised that the constable should allow the
prisoners to escape, and asked where his handcuffs
were and his baton of office. They would recommend
him to go into the county constabulary, under the
training of Mr. Fowler, for three months.—The cone
stable said, he had not done much business, and did not
like to over-run himself ;he was a man of peace.—The
bench asked if there was a pair of stocks in Cragdale ;
if so, they would certainly order the defendant to be
put in them. A more disgraceful case never cane
before them.—The overseer stated that there was nom
The bench convicted the defendant in ss. and costs, and
granted a warrant for the apprehension of Farrow, but
refused to give it to the constable who had acted in so
cowardly a manner.
BEATING THE PARISH BOUNDARIES.—Thursday
being Holy Thursday, or Ascension-day, the charity
children of the various parishes throughout the metro-
polis, headed by the churchwardens and other parochial
officers, made the usual annual perambulation to beat the
bounds of each parish. The ceremony forms a day of
recreation both to the parish officers and the children.
THE WEST INDIA MAIL.—The following notice
was Issued yesterday, at the General Post-office, St. Martin's-
le-Grand, and the branch offices :—" General Post-office,
May 17, 1844.—Letters transmitted by packet, between the
United Kingdom and the colony of Berbice, in British
Guiana, will in future be liable to an internaleolonialpostag©
of 2d. the half-ounce, &c., for the inland conveyance between
New Amsterdam, Berbice, and George Town, Demerara.
where the mails are landed and embarked. The internal rate
will be combined with the packet rate of ls., making the
total postage to ho taken on a letter not exceeding half an
ounce, to or from Berbice, ls. 2d., and so on in proportion.
By covamand.—W. L. MABERLY, Secretary." The next mails
far Madeira, the British and Foreign Colonies in the West
Indies, Venezuela, Mexico, Honduras, Havana, Bahama%
Chagres, and New Granada, will be made up on the morning
of the Ist of June, to be fbrwarded via Southampton.
THE C.B.I.EDONIAN BALL.—The Duchess of Suther-
land and Marchioness of Ailesbury are, we understand,
fbrming fancy quadrilles for this annual ball, now fixed fox
the 28th instant, and two other sets are said to be in contem-
plation. The Ladies Vat renews have already disposed of the
number allotted to them, and they meet on Tuesday next re-
f
speetiag a second issue of vouchers, but the issue is likely to
ho limited, as the original price will not be altered. %addi-
tion to the late Duke of Sussex's piper and the Duke or
Sutherland's piper, the celebrated Stewart piper is engaged to
come from Scotland for the perfbrmance of Scotch reels. The
Duchesses of Norfolk, Somerset, Buccleuch, Montrose, Roz.
burghe, and Sutherland, Marchionesses of Abercorn, Ailes-
buty, and Breadalbane, and twenty other ladies of title COD*
nected with Scotland, have undertaken the patronage, under
the immediate recognition of her Majesty. It is expected
that at least 1,000 tickets will be taken, so that the surplus
fund iS likely to be handsome.