The Sun.
London, England, 1818-02-10 00:00:00

SECRET' COMMITTEE.

i)lr. BROUGHAM t(;ftsii—tile Noble Lord
opposite when it might be expected the Secret
Committee would ►cake their report ?
Lord CASTLER'EAGH said, he looked for the re-
port to be made in a day or two.

Mr. litrocronAm expressed a hope that the Hon.
Gentleman near him would move that the very
important petition which he hud presented from
Manchester should be referred to a separate
Committee.

The Reports of the Committee of Supply and
Ways and Means were brought up and agreed to.

THE TREATY WITH SPAIN.

Lord CAsTLEREAGH moved that the Address of
the House to the Throne on the subject of the
Slave Trade, agreed to in the last Session of Par-
liament, should be entered as read.
An Hon. Member put a question respecting the
Treaty with Portugal.
Lord CAsTLErteAGH said, the Treaty was in
principle similar to that concluded with Spain.
,but the consideration of it would not be clogged
with any at rautzemeats more on advance of mo-
ney. The sum which it had stipulated should he
had been advanced two years agO. The
Noble Lord moved that the House should resolve
'itself into a Committee.

Lord CASTLEREAGH, in bringing under the con-
sideration of the Committee the 'treaty concluded
with his Catholic Majesty, and in bringing for-
Ward a resolution in order to carry it into effect,
was desirous that the Treaty shoold be ~e-teed in
connexion with the Address voted by the House
in the last Session of Parliament, in which, not
for the first time, they bad expressed their desire
to proceed with that great cause, which circuan.
stances had placed under the. special care of the
British LegislAture. He wished the House to bear
in mind what had been the prospect before them
at the close of the last Session, with respect
.to the abolition of the Slave Trade, and doing this
they would better appreciate the alteration which
had since been made in the state of that question.
He would also-have them always remember, not
only the actual state of the law tencintf to abolish
that'grear moral evil, but also the illiCit Slave
Trade, which they knew from experien,7e had
grown out of the measures adopted heretofore, in
order that they might consider of the means by which
they could form their designs for putting an end to
(Italic Slaves, into successful execution. It the
was sAtistactosy to mark the progress the cause
,had made front year to year, but in none had it
made greattr progress than iu the last, for ®s far

, .
A 9 11%t Went, there veal now, With the leecePtn24,'
of Portugal (which, however; retained but one
branich of the Sieve Trade, es her Subietts wer
onlV pet mitted'let trade south of the line) no po.•er
in 2terslie that hid nee Abolished this Trade, ()1'
peeiod At which it shoeld terminate. It
was true, that linless the subject was Still f"l7.
lowed pp; so a; Ito make the execution of the law
correspond with the law itself; the result wouhl
not be very Saii-sfactor, as in that case tile',
would only have thined leghl into an illicit tiakle?
But with respect to the leW; it was certain that
an inimense wide loid been tli tie sincethe sub"
ice( was last' betore (he Honee. There' was 119, ,
power in Ettropewhose cOrttihnetiCe or Whose ilisy
continuance oethe Shiee Trade was oi equal int-
pottance with that 'of Spelt). When he ECMCM7
beret!. the 'disappointment •which had been expre3'7
Sett in that Hoese, on the occasion 'of atoyber
great Power—France, in 1814, having; fieed,o
distant' period (which would now have been 41"
most eepired) for the abolition of her Slave Trade
and when be recalled the. satisfaction which was
marked when sebsequeutly its inunediitteternthtn-7 •
tion ryas decreed, he was confidetst that the Flottee
would exult with him that. Spain had at 10,013
been brought to consent to take so decisive a nit's-
'lure as that announced by this Treaty. !Twee not
Merely the.eitent of the Coloniesdf Spain drat
made this measure important. So long -as the
subjects of Spain could carry on an unrestricted
traffic' in Slaves, both tO the Nofth • mid to the
South of the Equatof, the ettbieete of Dentaseli
end Sweden, and of other counts is e whose 13°'
!vernments bad abolished the Slave Trade, tcere
enabled to do the same. While the Spauislr il"4
would•cover such a ttafftc, it way earned 0:01 -
tttber countries illicitly almost to an unlimited ex"
ent. But Spain having beett prevailed upon
take, the course she hest taken; the Slave Tilt"'
was placed in quite A. different geographical sit axe,
don, and a great diminution Of it thisit necessarily
follow. Spain having engaged to give op hurtle'
diately 'the whole of her trade in Slates (l) Old!
North of the line, and to name May 1820 " tti
latestperiod at Which she Will suffer it to he cO""
tinned to the South of the Lint no Slave,
could in future be carried on to the Notch ot, -
Equator., , From the time at which the ere'srrr
Treaty should take effect, there could only he 4,
'trade in Slaves to the South of the Line, and-
those engagedits' the tratlic must be ituturdieto',O.,
excluded from die IVest litdics Till now, 0(1.,
Inioatriine of demarcation could safely be drew",
hut muter thii-freaty no Slave Trade, as he hall
alreadv'said, could eeist North-of the Lioe ; art
1820, it would only remain to pre"l-
on ttegal to adt upon the saine principles
had received the 'Sanction of eve' y other
power, to abolish the teaffic in" Slaves in all
of the world. But there was a wide distioctlo9'
,bi'tweee abolishin.gahe trade by law, and bring-
ing about that state of Olives which toede tt
practicable to carry such !mai into execetion.--e
Though. the several ,Powers. in Europe saucer( If
wished teapot en, end,to the Slave Trade ; audehe
Congrese.at Vitene, if it bast ac.7.onsiilt:lled.t.
thing else; would hive deqerved well of flee te;tll,:ifl:
humanity
,for havingefer the
.first time. brottg:'''
„11 "the great Powevs of P.;:rop.-.;t0.,v,.'t1w-ir--!--",
nonnce a sentence of
it bad d•ins iu4de 1"
t ot it as soon as this co,d,od Withont
volving any • great of (he'll-
That sentence of coiefeetnatien Which bad beet
contained in the ot the proceediogi:,a,
V(enna, had been since. earrie;l itao every sate.' ,
State, Hod sideserihed to by all who had' not ii?
tire
first instance sent representatives to the
Though much had abeedy b,'en done, it wat;tl a-
to mislead the 1-louse to say that all that the
venal Sovereigns who adopted our policy 'll9`
t.
willed, had as yet been accomplished. Notivi,ll)l,
standinlg tint stipulations made, and the laws
had been framed, the illicit trade of which he 1"
tc
before spoken was carried on to a considestable
ex-
tent, and especially since the terminall" ttF
the war. He would not say it was cote'.cl
c
on to_ a greeter extent than formerly, trt,..
be %could say it- was carried on with more degf
iteration, and with greater circumstances 'II
inhumanity, than was customary hefore so neucee,
had been done to abolish it. This, it was nu'
viuus, must be expected, as the individnate w 1;::
engaged in it would be more desperate than t} c
former traders, and would fit up their vessels, Or
with any regard to the comfort of the 10(1;
wretches they were' intended to receive, bull 11
such a way as would best prepare them for e°11%.,-•
bat or escape. It was in vain to disguise
fact, that the traffic was thin continued under Cl
cornstances of More disgraceful inhumanity 011
formetly. Still, however, it was fit that he sho'l
state, that there existed no reason for sosneetili•sf
tiny of the Powers engaged to abolish it of a sOni,
of sincerity. France had shown every eispo,itit
to take the most efficient measures for putting. Ile
end to it. He had not had occasion to apply
that Gtivernnient on the subject on a late Ocea''' •
sion, as he had been reqeested by the French
sister to furnish him with all the necessary in-.
formationao he forwarded to his Court, that a stop •
might be put to the proceedings which had transa-:
Aired, and he believed already effectual steps 113
been taken foe that purpose by the French Ga.'
ye; meet. Becense all was not done that We •
could wish• to see accomplished. we ought 00C
therefore to suspect other Governments of beif,,P4
unwilling, to go along with us in this great WI;
:But in a greater fraudulent ,Slave
was cart iterouelian in wir; and we had not tfre
same means oriedressing the evil now as forn'e..eer..
:y belonged tit us in mir belligerent character.
The right of visiting neutral ships was gOl'e'
that if this right were not, to be menially
ceded to each other by the Powers erigagieer '"
, put all ef•ill,io tuts Slave Trade, it was
for the same remedy to be applied in peace as e`l
wee. lie admated this to the House, that Ic
might not be supposed, becastat they had en; •f`►
i •
the 13" stage of their diffieulties, that they
got to the I.atstageof exertitel. It ;vas desire"
We to take this trade from the protection of o'er!
slag, As if blit. (Me reinained c,,,vce it, 100".
that flag it would he carries; on by the yeople et' t!
all countries. Under thee present Treaty, tle? •
peace might 110 longer brand between us ,tier 0' r
object, for the first time, a mutual 'right It :I',
been given" by the High Contracting Powas to

\iv

„Silt

at it

a
1

ry

;lc of'
C
1 ot r

to tv

• .
Visit par
I ter s mereneets' elope. Tee, teodse
ileeer eeet! the eeee'ery of (lee sobject, etel the
t''''c(e of giterdr,-es et'aittsr oily
er uridit:e
ehlnems cacti other's trade itt c"nsetl'e,nce
it %vas (lees t.' .Portugai to
vose "'via she liaq.ipit yet named the precise
Whic.li tier Slave-I'rade shoeld he finally
the
os'ed,.vet et the 'Coligress ;she had given
eioe :hers I:)o‘vers reaun .to believe that the pe-
lt., not very di toil, 'and. it Was she wilteisr,illt"! ft"t to !;ive that right of visiting
4tl e
I'lW ships ii,hieta was nceleesarY to pot
'lathier° t° the Slave Tre;le. This sel'iicet had
wit 'l4°Tle much
%viten the .I:tet Tl:eaty
itae b'°ll"gel was eoiteluded. 'That (Ese"”ioir
~elttNse ,„„diterted iv, a -Mato-ter Mitch to the
Portugal, ;the r teeee to the honou of its
litsetlintative io this country. The Treaty was
jopill spit it to that now before the
.ette,e'-e,and thong', the ratification of the Portue.
Ileetlijreall hid nut vet been received, he had
t'forieed that it t'vas approved, and the rati-
e• '°rl
ef It 30,)n be expected to arrive. Tile
see l'ic'k he had spoken, the- ottie would.
cre "tie
ty „ Which could wily be claimed by this
Peeee " a prinei of rcciroeity. No inde-
vit'i • rtt stitte
to submit to our
titig - could! De expected ,
1116 t the time of peace, if site received
~„„s
I'llsieee ^it ef visiting ours in return- et was
he, etseie.
ermony
1" the t 4 :1C to;preserve the hi
3flould w"nsti deo the eeei rise of this right /etre '0 one,
n'es'S( trot to stend dispatable ground.
of the
eetfee( , Ire flee "louse would approve -
,e •„„, which hhit been adopt-
ao„ ttt I( ,11 et!
~p(•eita. provieed, that no ship should be
'!')C'tf•
rtles slates•ere found on board.
s v. actually
l'tiesee'`4atioes for their reception, or other ap-
estei,..e'.'whice admitted of a doubt, were to be
lee:.ft :4eilettfficeent grounds toe (let ai"ing a vessel.
slit ty .kviiich would tall on the Officers of the
r3;011116.." • t: .search would be of
? do. itsed to eimee t
.oidd itetute!, and the questions wh.ich
, °'ne before the ultimate ttibtinal
.appoit,it-
ttis„,(ec6le on sur:ll 'ch'ses, that much inconse-
the ;ft' and disveiisfacrion etinst arise. It was
tltr‘;`)re b• est ,o ;farrow tht 'exercise of this right,
ea.nygli ships should wily. be deti-,inecl wberc the
'ce was most palpably made out, in Order to
urevein the ships of one Power being the means
meitoyetice to the other. He ehould mislead
t!l4e !loose it he were to state that this system
trlr
sl;~,ctlbe made el-ken-tat till all the other Prayersl°'lld agree to-Conte into it. The illicit Slave
A vt'"le 01 Spain and Portugal, and of this Coun-
;F't'i l"'' though lie was ashamed to say it, mitch
1"4„ele Slave Trade,—lie might indeed 'say the great
.1 (.f it, was citified on lay British subjects.—
Might be the moral character ot this or
hells, ."ItY, souse sordid individuals world be
tit 111 every nation read efty to prt by that Colli-
-11, eie hick its laws Tite system_
li was Doe., eSiabli,hed, 'to be effectie I
te.,i4kc`l he general ; and they had now to try to
the extent of the means to re press illiciti,
Itetle eouel to the tteiversality of the
.a
t's,4'l"" it• II; •li I.e hoped the feeling whic
'''"eirtiea • 'Lis Letiiistry would, go through the.
cloile4l,;,e'eY ot ght not to expect that all' could
10, 1-";1,1.‘,„ meet remember tit
.",ffer e re ,he cruse tt moll) tet here,
try
lair,
-.11.1
141"
"s'j
• I I andit t‘lYiaast
tt ate 'iiare Trade had been aboltshec
tlit. I"' easy task to , prevail on our servants In
(11('‘lies to execute 'that law, and to make
't s,t, h s"l'!facts obey. Itetteeeciating this Treaty
tth°Light best to put it now, for the first tittle,
es:'aii"leti dud conceded nit safe principles. It was
• lc' to cot ftite the operation of the law to
wiiere slaves Were actually found on board,;
at
• tTIY became without such a provision t
ex:tY of the cases that
te
erought hefere would have been
tit the Tribunals, woule have beetea
of continual complaint, but because that
IselPle for wide)) he contended mede the dia-
;setts of
"'e ari'ettgement now', egreed upon such
w°lll(l'he most likely to induce the other Powers
I,ralle to come into it. When the blench
6°-
Aeinthent resolved upon the Abolition, he had no
el"ltt it did so in the largest sense, and twirls the
:tetetination of following it up by sech teerisaresi
:lereetectesery to make it spite effective. Pen,:
's were the me hires required to make the ett-
-IC.l2'ted Abolitien effecti,e ; and these Ile had "
411;:lbt bad betti passed, and of such statute as
'Ceti" 1)'("Itlee the
.desired effect. Portogitl had
410 "wed the example of France in .this respect ;
Spnie, recogeized tee principle in tse present
1s y• If the Abolition was inipe.eita, those
s
teli -
regulation to enforce the Anelition were
sebot,ithes more ifnportant, for without them- the
C"(loll was but a name. What mule these re-
ations of 4611 greater importance was, that
lift Slave Trade, as carried on since the Alio-
f,:)1.1 had comMenced, was st'airied with unich
heel horrors than berme the Abolition had
D'e'l adopted by any State. One vet y
b°ttant question in set cling the present Treaty bad
teffen the hrrallgetrietit of a 'Tribunal before which
to ences against the Treaty should be tried. As
e,this, it was evident that a mixed 'Tribunal,
ei
.t."ereof the Jntlges should be subjects of the na-
ts
conceraed, was by far the best. On this
Lti.'"eiple, therefore, such a Tribunal rtes esta-
e„lB,l'ed. The fellow-subjects both of the captors
11'1 t'f tbe captured were to be the Judges ; and
tit"! were empowered to decide stmintatily iii
'','lestions where, the issue was whether Slaves
1";!re actually found on board a vessel or not.—
'heti the other meastires were followed up by the
P44ointment of such a Trintinaleile thought it
eust-he allowed on all hands that very little was
• lift to he done in the war of uegociation. Still
1,4 e point of the greatest importance was, that the
f "wer which had agreed to the Abolition should
1e °llow it tip by regulations to enforce it tinder
penalties. TQ press the adoption of such
?gtilations involved much difficulty. Arrange-
Items were now in progress forellis purpose ; and
alluding to these arrangements lie could not
'emit to notice the great diligence end ability ma-
.,"l‘lllA4eitar'estisortniead by our flepresetitetive at the Court of
%(vShior letsilieey),,,fllacni:lll also by the
:..cue'utt.ls
,rtitsee%.poritry
jilts h. duties dm.-
al>sence frorn the Spanish
difficulty of making effectual re-
gulations f I
he e'll •
ioate° tee kiml Ise alluded to might
Beforetef, il considerints how long it was
`tool the ' been adopted in this coentrY
stev "'"e".ey must
which be the sam titi
e in every co bad exteuetee commercia. and colouhil

interests to attend to,. To pr,-;ve thlt money was
not the Ora! object witll -the Spattkil GOverntoont
iu accetiiiig to the present Trea:v. it wlu4 enontt!,
for bin) JO mention, th-kitthe nierch3ots tat

Yaraoaft 118 CI Offered to the Sp4oish GOi-erumeot, as

it pretruom for rejecting rhe.Abolition, a slim five
tittles as Itrge as that stipnlated to be pail under.
the 'present Treaty fur effecting the Aboittiori.—
(Clear, hear, heard)—As to the peciiniary part of
this Treaty, he begged it might be recollected
that in 1815, with the unanimous approbation of

the al4 offer was made to Spaio of pre-.

miam of 850,0001. and a loan of 10,000,000 of

doilars. to i-ndtiza that coontry co 31301.1!•11 the
Slave Trade North of thF Line. At that time the
total Abolition of the Slave Trade by Spain %VHS

ao far fron► being expected. that it was not. even
thought of. He therefore hoed that the )louse
would come to the question. upon the pecuniary
part of the present arrangement with a falr con-
sideration of the advantages obtained by the
Treaty, and of the awn which the House was
willing to give on a lot mer occasion for for much
smaller advantages. At the same time be telt
bound to say, that it was not because the Court
of Spain was not desirous of the Abolition that
the payment of any sum was stipulated for. He
believed that Court to be sincerely desirous of the
Abolition"; and the same feeling, be
.was coro.
vinced; pervaded the other European Courts.—
Since the Declaration of the Congress at Vienna
a general feeling had been diffitsed in favour of
the Abolition. It was a sure proof that this
feeling was at least as strong in SpaiO as else-
where, that so great a. body in that State as
the council of the Indies had declared in .favour
of it. In settling the pdconiat y part of the Treaty
his Majesty's Government found themselves very
notch embarrassed by the magnitude.ot the oilers
made by this country to
.Spain in 1515. After
such offers, it must naturally be expected that
Spain would be averse to any terms less favourable
than those beore offered. But then, on a repre-
sentation that the stare of this country after an
expensive war did not enable it to advance so
large "a sum even•for so desirable an object—that
we had, purchased safety at so high a price that we
could not now afford so large a sum as formerly
for the attainment of a moral object—it was on a
representation of these circumstances that Spain
bad agreed to take a son► so much less tl►an that
which we had formetly offered fur the same pur-
pose. With respect to.the mode of payment, it
♦vas agreed that it sit-mild he made at different
times, and. pari•passu with the progress of the
abolition—that a part of the stint should be paid
in a short time, but the principal part not till ihe
Abolition was. 'effected. Four hundred thousand
p6Onds was- the total sum to he paid, and he
thought the amount would not be deemed unrea-
sonable. It was to be considered that at least
one half of tie autoiror ►►f this sum would, its
auy case, have been payable. from this country to
Spain as the value of vessels captured which
Iliad not been condemned. All claims, in le-
spect of such vessels, were released, in -con-
sideration of this sum of 400,0001.; so ti►at, in
fact, the sum paid for the Abolition amounted
to no more than 200,0001. Whatever difference
of opinion might atise on any part of this 'Treaty,
he trusted that no question respecting the present
state of South America would be mixed up'in the
present discussion. Future opportunities wool('
occur, whet► that subject might be
.more appro-
priately treated of. But, on the present occa-
sion, he was particularly desirous that a feeling of
Cordiality might be shewn towards the Spanish
Government for what it had done in this Treaty ;
that :he House would look at the commercial sa-
crifices which had been made by Spain ; that they
would consider Spain, in agreeing to this Treaty,
as having entered into a bond ()tuition with us on t he
great subj,_ct of Abolition. It would be unfair, in
evety point of view, to mix up any question con-
cerniog the state of South America ,vith the pre-
sent discussion, became it would,prevent a proper
view from being taken of either subject What he
coosidvred 'lie most ►mportant part of the Treaty,
as that which would have the strongest operation
in attaining the ultimate object, was the mutual
right of search as established by it. So long as
the Spanish flag was a protection to the Slave
-Trader, it would be in vain to expect that any thing
effectual could be done to put an end to the traffic,
except Merely in our part of the West ladies, for
in the Spanish colonies, and in the Southern parts
of the United States, it would have found an.
asylum, and Would have been carried sin probably
with more horrible atrocities than ever. It the! e-
fore seemed to t►im, anti he hoped.it would be the
opinion of the House,' that the stipulations in the
present Treaty were of such a nature as tended
very closely to that complete and final success of
the Abolition, which,he trusted, was not l'ery far
distant. It was his intention first, to move a
Resolution stating it to be the opinion of the
Committee, that it was expedient measures
should be taken for carrying this Treaty into exe-
cution : secondly, to move that Bills be brought
in for that purpose ; and he would follow up these
two motions by a motion in the Committee of
Supply that the Sum of 400,0001. be granted to
carry the Treaty into effect. With respect to the
second part of the motion it would be necessary,
on account of the right of search which was to be
granted, being such as wo:►ld so tar affect the
prerrigative of the Crown, that the authority of au
Act of Parliament would be necessary. To such.
an Act, made with such views, he could mot an-
ticipate any objection. It would be a great ex-
ample to the world, that the rnwer, which of
all others it► the world is the most jealous of• its
maritime rights, should be ready to make those
rights give way for the purpose of preveriting their
being made a cloak for the perpetration of those
horrible crimes which were inseparable from the
Slave Trade. The Noble Lord, concluded, amidst
cheers from all parts of the Noose, by moviog
Resolution, that " The Committee deem it expe-
dient that measures should be taken to carry this
Treaty into execution."
Sir GILBERT HEATIICOTE was sorry to disturb
the unanimity of the House, butt reeling as he did
the distressed state of the country, he could not
consent that !bestial of 400,000/. should be paid
for any purpose to a foreign Court. lie would
wish the House to consider;- that if this sum of
-100,000/.. were laid out in Great Britain amotug
the.helpless and the poor, it would ailord relief to

:he extent of 25/.fo no less titan 16,000 persons, I
or 501• a-piece to 8.000 persons ; and yet a suurl
which might 'oe dispose'l of so advantageously: to,
the poorer part of the• people of Great Britaiß was
be paid away to a Foreign Court,:which, if he
knew. any thing of the people. of England, was hir
from the most popular.. It
.was said, indeed, ehat
in consideration of this sum the Slave. Trade was
to be abolished. No man more heartily detested
that inhuman traffic than he did. Bot it really. did
not appear. that Spain had the power of ettforcing
that abolition for which she stipulated on the pre-
sent occasion. Without entering into it diseßssion
nn the state of Sun h America, he wind(' only oh-
serve, that it. was notorious that the lcolonies of.
Spain in that Q tarter %Vele in a State of rerol,t, and
_might become,indepeodeut stares. If these c,olonies
succeeded in the contest, what woold remain to.
Spa- in Only Cuba and. some other Such ,small
dependencies, If this t►bould turn,, wit to be the
case,. this Treaty would be very far from.. being
the means of the Abolition, which it was held out
it would effect. There was therefore no good
ground for making a call upon the, pockets of the
people for thi5,400,9001. It would no longer do
for this country to be .the paymaster of Europe
As the same time he wished it to he understood
that he cousidered the Traffic in Slaves as most
detestable and inhuman—that no man more cor-
dially approved of all measures, for its total abo7
!kiwi '; that no man .more honoured the efforts of
ail Holt. OC11;101):111 (Mr. Wilberforce), who
might be saitJ to have devoted his whole life-to the
attaiumeut of that great object, and had thereby
innnortaliSed bis'naine. But lie could not consent to
any grant. o! the public money to a Fo;eign Court
even for the purposeof putting down the SlaveTt ade.
If our coffers were repleoished the case would be
very different, and he would allow the Noble Lord
to take a million if he pleased; but as things now
stood be would object to the advance even of
40`0m00 pence. He would, if he followed op his
feelings on this point, move au Address to his
Royal Highness the Prince Regent, praying that
this Treaty, so far as it related to the payment of
400,0001. to the Court of Spain, might not be
But as. he did not mean to move an
amendment he would content himself with :thus
entering his protest against granting any such
sum.

Mr. WILBERFoRca said, that the Hon. Baronet
who spoke last did nor Inirly state the question.
It' was not whether the Honse should vote
400,0001. to the Court of Spain, or 501. to each
$.OOOl. poor persons of the people of England.
He would appeal to the good \sense of the Hon.
Bainnct, whether patting the question so was not
making it se...m as if the son-i of 400,0001 , if not
granted to Spain, would he granted to the people
of England. On the contrary, the question was
whether such a sum shoold he advanced to obtain
a great moral benefit--to obtain a great com-
mercial advantage to the nation at large. Tote
Treaty was made, .and must either be accept.=
eel subject to the condition of paying the
motley, or rejected altogether. It was also
to be consi:!ertd that If this stun were nit
paid, the. Abolition by Spain would not be ob-
tained. But in point of fact, as his Noble Friend
(Lorti Castlerca2lq had explained, only one half
of this >utn of 400,0001. was an actual payment,
for to the other half Spain would hare been etiti-

tied as the„value of captures uticondeuined, even
if this Treaty had not been made. The question
as to the Money then was reduced to the stun of
200,0001. As to the whole Treaty, it met with
his inlast hearty approbation. When he consider-
ed the long conrse of diplomatic attention which
the Noble Lord had bes'oWed on this great
subject, and the .great ability and buccess which
had attended his efforts 'in the cause, lie
could not but feel how much was due to
the zeal and the talents of the Noble Lord. For
his own part, he was sanguine enough to, expect
that he might live to see this country reap the be-
nefits of a commercial intet course with that people
who had been so loug the victims Of so barbarous
a trade.' Even already was such an intercourse
begun. It was the fashion to disparage the prin-
cipal Colony, on the coast of-Africa, But when
he.considered that there was there a community
now amounting to 10,000 or 12,000 free persons,
mostly negroes, he could not but look forward to
the extension of such a settlement, and to the pro-
digious commeicial advantages which would be
thereby obtained. Nl,tch of the success which had
attended the negocia:ion with Spain must be at-
tributed to what been done at the Congress- of
Vietina. It Was the declaration that issued from
thence which Made Spain and Portugal completely
ashamed of the traffic. - Ile could not think the
sum of 200,0001. (for in fact it was no wore) was a
great- price for the Abolition by Spain, secured in
the present Treaty, as it would prob Ably be ne-
cessary to dispose of the larger part of that sum
as an indemnity to her merchants. But the ques-
tion was not so much about the pecuniary part of
the arrangement. The gist )f the whole was
► whether the Slave Trade should be abolished or
not. He could not but look forward to the time
when the various powers, acting in concert, would,
completely effect the Abolition, and when the
Slave Trade would he called by the name which
it really desetved—Piracy—and not only called.
by the name but visited by the punishment. ,Even
on fl dry commercial calculation be was convinced
;bat the sum stipulated by the present Treaty would
Produce advantages to us of a'valtie more than com-
mensurate to its amount. Bat above all, when it
was considered that a higher and nobler object
was to be attained, surely no objection would be
made to it. The sum of ail was this---that if it'
was at all intended to go on in the work of abo-
lition, some such arrangement as that tinder con-
sideration was absolutely necessary. It was not
enough for its to have discontinued the traffic if
others were to carry it on. It was not until it
was universally abolished that the commercial
advAntages of the trade could he felt by opeoiog
the resources of Africa to the nations of Europe
for their mutual benefit. Ent ert dioiog (hese views,
he.could only say, lie entirely approved of the
Treaty ; and he trusted enough hid been said to
prove that it was advantageous and wise, and ho-
nourable to this nation.

bit. OSWALD MOSELRY said, that no mallfelt
more strongly than himself the okligutions which
even/ trite Friend of hinnamity owed to the Holt:
Gentlemt-th who spoke last, for hi constant and

exertions to-vo 'flie :most (115-
.
gr,piceini tr.,tile in S:ave:: ; but. at t same time he
felt, that in the present sitnatinn't,f he country,
the condition' ;nine-Ned ip the iiiesent T.reaty in-
volved a peettniary sacrifice which Ave wcre not in
a state to make, • The ,preSettt 'l'i'aty _was no

more, than an , acceleration; .of that Abolition.
w-filch. Spain , had, at 'the Congress :of ,Vientta,
promised', should take, place eight y,ars.--.
lie would ask whether in the present state of .
our finances it would not..have been better to
allow. the eight years to expire than to put chase
the accelerated abolition, at. such -.a price as
400,0001. The present „coedition of Spain, with
relation-. to her :colonies, of orded no very. satis-
factory; grounds to expect that. she Would be able
to effect that Abolition An, which by this Treaty
she was bound. And then, forsooth, it the color
tiles were, successful in their struggle, and esta.,"
blished their independence, we must .have new
treaties for Abolition with them, and pay a new
price for it. As to the ',advantages which the
Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Wilberforce) expected from
the trade with Africa, he could not help thinking
they %vete over-rated. He would ask, ,whether
much money and many lives had ,not been sacs
fleetl in endeavouring to- establish a colony at
Sierra
,Leone ?—(No, mil from several parts of
the If ouse.)=-if the Hon. Gentleman examined
his memoranda in his.closet, he believed he would
find the statement cotreet. As to the other parts
'of this Treaty, he did not object. But thinking
that .the stipulation in it for the payment of
400,000!. was 'one .of the most impolitic, nefa.'
riot's, and ruinous ever meted into with any fo-
reign Power, he should feel it his duty to take the
sense of the House upon it.
Lord CASTLEREAGII said, the lion. Baronet who
spoke last was mistaken in stating that Spain had
agreed at the Congress of Vienna to abolish the
Slave Trade in eight years. There was no such
agreement or engagement, although that period
was the one mentioned, as that within which
Spain might probably be able to effect the Aboli-
tion.

Sir O. Mossmv still thought it was not our
duty to teach Spain humanity.
Sir JAMES MACINTOSH would have been 'con-
tented to give a silent vote in favour of this Treaty,
were it not fur the sentiments expressed by the •
Iwo Hon. Baronets who spoke on this question.
He concurred with both of those Hon. Baronets
in their views of economy. He concurred also
its their wishes for the emancipation of South
Ainalica, and if he did not say more on those
subjects, it was because he thought- no higher
one could engage the • attention of the House
than the Abolition of the Slave Trade. The most
important, part of the prtsent Treaty was, that it
not only bound Spain-to the Abolition, but pro-
vided the meaos of enforcing that abolition. Ile
wondered very macli at the Fl in. Baronet who; -
spoke last, thinking, as he seemed to do, of the
good faith of foreign Govertllttl'ilta, should nut see
the importance of this part of the Treaty, whicll,
gave ns the power of enforcing its fulfilment. Ile
could not but concur in the greater part of what
had been said by the Noble Lord (CasAureaglill
un this subject. He thought that the
flag, which 'had never been lowered to any
power,' to Which we had always clung as tt point
of national honour, now rose higher than evar.,
,as bending only to the rights - of humanity.—
Ourjealousy on t hat subject was gone, where
the interests of humanity luterfered. Our p:ide
was suspended. That which bud resisted the
powerful and the mighty, was now lowered to as-
sist the feeble and the defenceless ;,the hapless
victims of barbarity ; thoSe %vim perhaps would
never know the sacrifice which we made on their
behalf. He heat d with great pleasure front
the Noble Lord that all the European Powers
had resolved to put an end to the Slave
Trade ; he ha:l heard with particular plea-
sure the Noble Lord's statements respectits
the conduct of France, because same doubts had
been thrown upon the heartiness of her concur-
rence, or her acting up to her stipulations respect-
ing the Abolition. 'nurse doubts arose from the
letter of Prince Talleyrand, in July, 1815, an-
nouncing that the Slave Trade was to be discon-
tinued; and the Treaty in November following,
which stated that the Trade was abashed it. all
the territories of France ; and yet it afterwards
appeared on certain proceedings in the Admiralty
Court, that up to January, 1818, no actual mea-
sure had been adopted for carrying the Abolition
into execution, excepting one partial colonial
regulation. Those who knew nothing of the
diplomatic arrangements, implied from these
circumstances that. thsae was it want of good
faith on the part of France respecting the Aboli-
tion.• He could not but notice the iatulable and
early activity maailested by the Court.of the Ne-
therlands in the cause of Abolition—the more
laudable when it was considered that the colonial
system of that Vower being its proportion tar more
extensive than any other in the world, it neces-
satily involved a more 'considerable commercial
sacrifice by that Power than any other. He should
vote heartily ita favour of the present Treaty, be-
cause it established the right of mutual search, and
because it followed up the pledges of the House in
its repeated addresses to the Throue to proceed iu
the great work of time Abolition. Connected with
the right of
.search as established in this Treaty
were the principles laid down in a late celebrated
decision by a most Learned and Right lion. Gent.
(Sir %V. Scott), whom it was not too much to call
the highest authority in Europe upon questions
of iuternational law. ' The decisom to which
lie alluded was that in the case of the ship Louis,
and as some misunderstanding prevailed as to the
principles of that decision, he. took this opportu-
nity of stating what he conceived to be the prin-
ciples laid down iu it. As ha understood it, t
cruiser, Otherwise duly authorised, was empower-
ed to detain 81;y ship, under ‘rhatever colours, if
there was strong.ground of suspicion that there
were Slaves on .board;: and if the suspicion flow-
ed out to be just, the flag fraudulently assumed
by is vessel was to be no protection, nor
would it prevent her conclemoatioo. The detet,-
tiros would be at the Officer's peril on t be circum-
stances of the case ; but under such eiremnstancea
it 'would be lawful.
Alr-Ctiarmas (iaANT, inn. thought that the
judgment alluded to by the Hon. and Learned
Gentleman who spoke last admitted of uo !Ms.

undeystandin;.•,i-of the principles laid down in it.
I: be might venture to add toy thing to what was
sir -e!,,opreittlY said in Liviog down those principles,
i would he by•refetriog to the right of belliger,
rhis• ag-Vins.t neutrals. Under whatever sem-
blarrce-. a' vessel might appear, if there was
porno, to think that she was a neutral trans-
eressing, the belligerent has a power to de-
t,,in and srareli—i power, indeed, to be exercised
at the risk of the.paity so detaining and search-
ing, hot the power and the right was movies-
tionalde. The check to insolent and vexations
ingeiries was not by prohibiting all inquiry, but
by foliowilig up by panishment such as were vex-
wirries. With respect to the Treaty before the
llnfise, the only objection made to it was on the
grohrd of the motoy which was to be paid to
..Spain. To what might be said of the application
of the to 'trey by Spain, or to motley being the
only thing which could induce that Court to agree
to the al;oli-ino, it was enough to refer to the
offer of the Havannah merchants,' who offered
2,000,000/. for the -continuance of that traffic
which Spain had now •a reed to abolish for
400.000/. When he lOoked at the Trerties which
had been lately made, as rdating to the Slave
Trade, and compared them with those of former
times, the comparison was most consoling inhuma-
nity. About 100 years- ago, our whole diplomatic
skill was employed in-securing to ourselves the pH-
vile4e of being carriers to the rest of Europe in the
Slave 'raffle. At the "friiaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, we
Nv e were higgling to secure to ourselves the be-
nefit. of that pritilege for the four
.ears of it
that then remained. And at the Treaty of Madrid,
ire 1750, we took a large ston as the price of those
benefits for the two remaining years that they were
to continue. In short, for the last century and a
half, Africa was only-mentiOned in any Treaty as
the theatre for carrying on this horrible trallie.
:•;,► late even as the Treaty of 1783, after it had
allotted to the Contracting, Powers their various
stations on the coast of Africa, it is stated
that the rest of the coast of that country
should be frequented as usual ;• that was to
sry, for the purposes of the Slave Trade.—
contrast exhibited by recent Treaties was to
be attributed to the march which the efforts of
the lion. Geroletnan (Mr. ‘Vilherforce) had given
to public opinion. The efforts of the lion. Gen-
tleman had succeeded--his victory was the vic-
tory of peace. It used to be the pride of this
nation, that in the charter of its liberties, provi-
sion was made for the freedoni and prweetion of
foreign merchants. It was now a higher pride,
that the freedom and protection of the Africa!'
was a chief article iu our Treaties with foreign

nations.
Mr. BENNET professed himself friendly to the
Treaty. He took occasion to shew that France
had not acted up to the provisious for the aboli-
tion which she had errzred into iu the Trea,y of
Nov. 1815. Every one knew the faithlessness of
the race which at present governed Fraried (thongh
he rejoiced that her former Chief was where he
now lay;) awl he thought that..he country had
a right to expect from the Noble Lord. an expla-
»mho) of the mantler in which the abolition of
the Slave 'Trade was carried on by France. lie
concurred entirely in the Noble Lord's measttre.
Ltrd GASTLFIZEAGH blinetl the romments made
on (he couduct of the Fiend' Government, as
teieirig to discourage that Government in its ef-
forts to put down the Slave 'Trade. He was not
enough of a French lawyer to know whether in
that kingdom, as in Portugal, any engagement
entered into -with- a Foreign Power was con-
snieled as fpirmiag part of the law of the court •
try. Ent he knew that the department of
the navy in France %vas in the practice of act-
ing. under the existing engagement, and issuing
Orders to the ports to give it effect. If those
orders bad not been always strictly obeyed, it was
unfair to lay the blame On the Government. He
tpioted the case of the Governor of the Colony of
Bourbon, who had been deprived of his situation
for not having been sullicietrly attentive in re-
pressing the .f:dave Trade. lie also mentioned
that the French Ambassador had applied, by or-
der of his Court, for a collection of all the laws in
this country respecting that traffic, in order to
-amend lhoSe of France, on the•saille Subject.
Mr. Goentes thought, that even considering the
present measure as an experiment, both the Coun-
try and the Home would be most willing to ad-
vance the boot proposed.
Mr AIARRYAT observed, that some Gentlemen
opposed the question 011 acCotila of ,the expense,
but the present mode of proceeding was much
more expensive. Government was at present ob-
liged to pay from 30/. to 401. to the captor of
every si ive found in a ship seized by our cruizers,
if such ship were emleinned, and a situ of 701.
for each slave where the ship seized was restored.
He should therefore support the question. It was
intended, by the present Treaty, to appoint Com-
missioners on the coast of Africa, to decide on
ail cases of dispute on (lie capture of slave ships ;
but Sierra Leone was not a proper place for them,
as vessels were frequently six or eight weeks beat-
ing 'op to that port, when they could reach other
);arts of the coast in half of that time.
Mr. WILBERFORCZ explitined.
Sir V. BURROI:GIis thought the sum stipulated
Dothipg more than an act of justice to' Spain, for
the vessels which we bad .captured in time of
peace, and whop there was no Treaty 'to give us
the power of doing it. lie concurred in the pro-
pesal of the Noble Lord, and thanked hint for the
able manner in which he hail conducted the nego-
ciAtion, and the zeal which he had displayed in
the cause. He thought also his thanks due to the
Bri ish Minister in (Sir H. Wellesley) for.
Cie ability with which he had acted under the di-
rection of the Noble Lord.
The House then divided— •

For the Treaty ►,g

Against it

Mliority
• mom-cm,: OF SUPI►LY.
On reading the Order of the pq for going into
a toualliTtee of Sufsply;
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER expressed
his intention of moving that the Treaty with Spain
be !Timed to that Committee.

LOll CASTLERF Gil explained, taint i► would be
thcpurt of the I rent), relating to tlic sum pro-

posed whith would be referred to the Committee
Of Supply.
The Committee was then postponed to Wed-
oephy next.

The Chimney Sweepers' Regulation Bill was
btought in, read a first time, and ordered for a
second. reading next Friday.—Adjourned.

NO rICE TO Al: FLATS.
ROYAL ACADEMY, SOMERSET-lIOLNE.

NOTICE is hereby given, That ail \YORKS
.I.NI intended for the ensuin4•EXHIBITION must he sent
to the 110IAL .4TADEMY on MONDAY the tith, orTUES-
DAY the 7th of APRIL, after which time none can he re-
ceired.—l'uttlier Particulars will he given in a future Ad-
vet tiseineat.

HENRY HOWARD, R.A. Secretary

~►xa

THEAFRICAL REGISTER.
Performed Lust NiArht.
THEATRE ROYA h, DRIPSY-LANE.—(3d time), The Bride of
Abyilos: Selioi, Mr. Kean ; Mrs. Marlyn. After
whi::11, The Children in the Wood.
Tut:ram: ItoyAh, E NT-GA ttnEN.—(2d time), Fazio: Gi-
raldi FaZio, Mr. C. Keqible; Bianca, Miss.O'Neill. After
which, tiariegain Gulliver.

MAILS.
ARRIVED-1 1 Rio Janeiro. DtTc-1 Waterford,
1 Gottenburgb, 1 Holland, 1 France, '2 Haarburgb.

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