The Sun.
London, England, 1827-06-18 00:00:00

AFRICAN INSTITUTION.

Meeting of the Members of the African Institution,
concluded from our Paper of Saturday.)

The Report being read,
W. SMITH, Esq. rose to move the first resolu-
tion, expressive of the approbation with which the
Meeting viewed the Report, of their desire that it
be printed, and of their thanks to the Directors of
the Society for their care and attention in its pro-
duction. He commenced by observing, that it was
melancholy to perceive that not one European State
had ket good faith with England upon the subject
of abolishing this infamous traffic—not one State
which had preserved its faith, or fulfilled its com-
pact, either from purchase or from treaty, according
to the terms in which it was bound to fulfil them.
No remonstrance had been spared, no means of per-
suasion had' been neglected, to induce Foreign
Powers to consent to the abolition of the trade in
slaves; and if our remonstrances had not been so
effectual as we could have wished, there was enough
to make the bosom glow with a feeling of delight'
when they reflected that we could not now be our-
selves subjected to the reproach of any desire to
continue the traffic. It was a comfort, too, to re-
flect, that in despite of many natural and artificial
difficulties, the success of the colony at Sierra Leone
was no longer equivocal, and that whatever com-
mercial benefits might promise to arise from it as a
station to promote our trade—benefits which he be-
lieved were not likely to be small—yet, that at all
events it was certain to prove, as it were, the nu-
cleus from which the blessings of civilization were to
be disseminated throughout the whole of Africa.—
(Hear, hear.)—The Hon. Gentleman concluded by
moving that the Report be received and printed: To
this resolution was also added, a vote of thanks to the
Directors, and an approval of their re-appointment.
Mr. Wleuseet WOLRYCHE WHITMORE seconded
the remehition.
Lord CesereloaPs moved the second resolution.
" That the Meeting regarded with the highest satis-
faction, the declaration made in the report, that the
Government of Portugal and the Brazils had con-
sented, at last, to abolish the slave trade throughout
their dominions—the former immediately, the latter
at the end of three years, from March, 1827 ; and
returned their best thanks to His Majesty's Govern-
ment, for their exertions ie securing the great object
of the abolition of the inhuman and atrocious traffic,
in slaves, all over the civilized and Christian world."
It was a subject of the most sincere congratulation,
that His Majesty's Government had so strenuously
exerted itself for the final extinction of this odious
traffic, and had so strenuously acted in accordance
with the wishes of Parliament and the British public.
His Lordship concluded by observing, that it was a
subject of most sincere congratulation, that the dis-
tinguished person now at the head of His Majesty's
Government had, when he held the office of Se-
cretary of Foreign Affairs, employed himself, not in
the etfoets to subvert the rights and interests of other
nations, but in strenuous exertions to procure from
them a distinct recognition that they had no right to
continue this detestable traffic, so decidedly con-
demned by the laws of God and man. This great
object had been pursued by our Government in a,
manner that made the British name identical with
universal justice and humanity.—(Applause.)
Mr. SPRING RICE seconded the motion. The.
resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. BARCLAY proposed a resolution of thanks to
the Duke of Gloucester, for the uniform support 1)55
had given to the objects of the institution. his
Royal Highness had watched with great care over
their interests, and had attended to the minutest
parts of its proceedings, and the report allowed that
his exertions had not been in vain. The exertions
of tile Society had attracted the notice and raised
the indignation of the Christian world against the
atrocious traffic.—(Applause.)
The Earl of Eteseres seconded the resolution.
The Duke of Geotteeseen, in returning thautee
expressed the gratification which he felt ire being
present on this occasion. His Royal Highness therm
passed a strong eulogium upon the meritorious ex-
ertions of the members of the Bawd, many of whom
he recollected to have been constant in their attend-
ance during the whole time of its existence, it was
a subject, however, of additional gratification to
know that the same Right Hon. Gentleman, who,,.
during the time he presided over the foreign affairs
of this country so successfully laboured in the cause
of humanity, bad been now placed at the head of ins
Majesty's Councils, and that there was every 'reason
to believe he would persevere in the cotrese he had
so happily begun, and bring his htbooes to a glorious
and successful conclusion. It', however, that Right
Hon. Gentleman was to succeed in prevailing on,
every Power in the world' to consent to the aboli-
tion of the slave trade, hie efforts would prove in-
effectual without the consent of the people; for, if
the voice of the country did not go along with the
Government on this question, the power of the Go-
vernment would be as nothing. His Royal High-.
ness then alluded to the inconsistency of allowing
that trade to be carried on on one side of the At-
Louie which was prohibited on the other; and con-
cluded by declaring, that as the exertions of the so-
ciety
,ought not to be relaxed, he hoped the appeal
made to the meeting, on the subject of the funds
Of the society, would not be in vain, and that tltey
would enable them to prosecute their labours to a
successful teemieation. His Royal Highness then
left the tbairt and the meeting separated,