The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-30 00:00:00

tctrlnbll,tition

SUN OFFICE Three o'Cloch.

Since the emancipation of the slaves throughout
the British Colonies, great complaints have been
made by the planters of the high price of labour, and
various plans have been proposed, and some partially
adopted, for furnishing the necessary supply. Hitherto,
however, no sufficient remedy bas been found, and the
consequences are that the price of sugar in this
country has been greatly increased, an additional
stimulus has been given to the slave trade for the
supply of Cuba and Brazil, and a premium thereby
given to those countries for competing with our
colonists in the European market. A Select Com-
mittee, appointed last session to inquire into the state
of our possessions on the west coast of Africa, directed a
considerable portion of their inquiries to the evils
complained of, and whether any remedy could be
provided by means of emigration from Africa. The
Committee consisted of some of the leading Members
of the House of Commons, and the representatives of
a few of the large sea-ports, and confined their in-
quiries upon this subject to three points,—namely,
whether there are materials for a free emigration
from Africa to the West Indies? whether it would be
desirable for the African to make
.the change ? and
whether it could be carried on without the possibility
of creating or encouraging a new slave trade ? To
all these questions, after mature inquiry, they re-
turned✓`' answerein -the affirmative. In Sierra Leone
alone, it appears, the liberated Africans and their
descendants amount to about 50,000, independent of
those who may be released from slave ships, or who
may hereafter come into the colony for the purpose of
emigration. The Committee, therefore, consider that
emigration from that quarter, if it were permitted
and encouraged, would prove to be considerable. The
more important question, however, was whether the
change would be desirable for the people themselves ;
and in order, as far as possible, to ascertain
this point, they referred to various authorities ;
among others to Sir C. METCALF, Governor
LIGHT, and Mr. BLACKWELL, a Wesleyan mi-
nister in Trinidad, who are unanimous as to
the improved condition of the emancipated negroes.
" The thriving condition of the peasantry," says Sir
C. METCALFE, "is very striking and gratifying. I
do not suppose that any peasantry in the world have
so many comforts or so much independence and enjoy-
ment. Their morals, I understand, are much im-
proved, and their sobriety is remarkable." Contrast-
ing, therefore, their condition with that of the liber-
ated slaves on the coast of Africa, removal to the
West Indies would be a great blessing, both as re-
gards moral and religious instruction and increase
of wages. " It would be well," adds the Com-
mittee, " for the African in every point of, view,
to find himself a free labourer in the free British West
India Colonies, enjoying there, as he would,higher ad-
vantages of every kind than have fallen to the lot of
the negro race in any other portion of the globe."
With proper regulations, they come to the conclusion
also, that not the slightest danger exists of creating
even a plausible suspicion of a real slave trade. They
propose that a free passage should be offered to the
Africans settled within the colony, and to the free settler
or other native, on the public authorities assuring
themselves that the circumstances under which they
came were entirely free from all suspicion of fraud or
force. We have read this part of the Report with
great interest, because it involves considerations of
' vast importance, not only as regards the property
of our West Indian settlements, but the moral and
physical improvement of a numerous and ill-used
race. Were a legitimate system of emigration es-
tablished, with full liberty to the labourers
to return, in a more civilised state, to their native
soil, carrying with them increased knowledge of the
useful arts, as well as religious knowledge, they would
establish what Sir JOHN JEREMY calls " the reflux
of the West upon the East," and form the first great
step to the civilisation of Africa.

The whole of the French Journals of Sunday have
reached us. The Moniteur and the Journal des Debats
alone publish the Report of the Peers upon the Re-
gency Bill—that document having been absurdly and
unfairly refused to the other papers. It is an able
document, drawn up with great care, as if to show
that the Peers are fully qualified to act as an inde-
pendent branch of the Legislature, notwithstanding
their being deserted by the Deputies and the
KING. The Duke de BROGLIE, the reporter,
is unquestionably one of the best read men
in the Chamber, M. GUIZOT only excepted. We
have not space for the whole of this Report, which is
very long.; and we regret this, inasmuch as it is very
eloquently written, and abounds in more just obser-
vations than so ordinary a sukeet would seem capable
of eliciting. The following extract from it will show
our readers in what way the Peers have dealt with
this question
The Regency is a temporary royalty, which takes the
placeofterueenrny royalty during the minority of the Prince
called to the Crown. It i 4 to be established at the mo-
ment of the accession of that Prince, and to cease on his
his majority. Ilow then should. this Regency
ba attaining
established
? Is it to be established on the principle
of right, according to a simple and invariable rule ; by
a general law which shall govern all affairs which human
prudence has to regulate ; or by a special law, which
shall nominate on every occasion the person who shall
be called to the Regency ? The reply to this question,
the first, and perhaps the mosi; important, of all which
the proposed law calls forth, should, we consider, be
founded on the nature of the Government it is meant to
support. _

11 the Regency be a temporary royalty it should be
formed in the image of true royalty. The rules applied
to the establishment of the one are equally applicable to
the other. By declaring the Regency elective, at the
approach of each minority parties would be formed
threatening each other in voice and gesture ; and
pretenders would arise. The Ministry would be nu
longer for citizens the highest point of ambition ;
powerful orators, 'generals beloved by their soldiers,
would set their regards and hopes on a higher point.
The Royal Family would incur the risk of being divided.
When the clay of election arrived, what intrigues and
cabals would there not happen in the Chambers ? Tht
press, the tribune, and public assemblies would become
the arena where the best reputations would perish. The
Princes of the blood royal, those who would eventually
be called to the throne, would have their slightest actions
criticised with an unsparing 'hand, and every fault exag-
gerated to suit the purposes of party. Should the
choice fall on him who is not heir-presumptive, what
will become of that Prince while waiting for the throne.
after having been deposed as Regent ? Some powerful
reason must be given for incurring such a risk ; immense
advantages must be proposed tq weigh vgainst such im-
mense dangers.

The debate on the Regency Bill commenced and
terminated in the Chamber of Peers yesterday (Mon-
day). Only four Peers addressed the Chamber. The
Bill was passed by 163 votes against 14. There will
be no occasion for the Deputies to assemble again to

deliberate upon the Peers' amendments. Not4th,-,,
standing their ill-humour, they have adoptOd itte.l3M4
as seat up to them.
The °Meml part of the Moniteur of the 28th contains
only the notice of the receipt of a letter from the Queen-.
)f Spain, to the notification of the death of the Duke of..

Orleans.
The fleet of Admirrl Hugon 'swan to leave Ajacc!o on
the 23d of August. It is said that it will return to.the
anchorage at the Hycree Islands, where it will be:as-
sembled towards the end of the month.