Star.
London, England, 1824-08-17 00:00:00

THE SLAVE TRADE.

•
We have received a file of Sierra Leone Papers, which,'
though not of so recent a date as the last accounts
from Cape Coast Castle, are interesting, inasmuch as
they enable us, in some degree, to judge of the diffi-
culties with which our countrymen have to contend in
Africa. It appears that for a long time previous to the
commencement of actual hostilities, Sir Charles Al.Car-
thy had been on very bad terms with the African Chiefs,
on no other ground than his desire to put an end to the
Slave Trade, in which they were engaged with the
French and Spaniards. At one time, however, they
had consented to hold a council, for the purpose of ar-
ranging the existing differences, and a Mr. Caulker was
appointed by Sir Charles to represent him. Of the sin-
cerity of these Kings we can form a correct idea, from
the simple fact, that when they had all assembled, and
Mr. Caulker was in expectation of bringing matters to a
satisfactory close, the arrival of a slave-ship at Shebar
caused them to break up, so eager were they all to ob-
tain a share of the cargo.—The Royal Sierra Leone Ga-
zette, of the 10th of January, contains some observa-
tions on the Slave trade, which we subjoin. When we
consider that they appear in a Government Paper, it
will be allowed that they possess a deep interest :
" We have only had three captures sent into this har-
bour since the squadron dispersed for cruising in April
last, and those were captured by the Owen Glendower,
under the command of our late much-lamented Com-
modore. It would afford us much satisfaction if we
could say that the small number of captures (less than
have ever been made in any preceding year) could be
attributed to a diminished and diminishing slave
trade--a fact which would be most cheering to every
friend of Africa ; but such, we fear, is not the case.
That there has been less slave trading last year than
ever was known on the coast, we believe ; and it is gra-
tifying to say so, for though the cause is temporary, the
effect has been good. There have been some thousand
fewer instances of rapine, bloodshed, and murder com-
mitted in this unhappy country during the last nine
months, than there would have been had matters gone
on in their usual quiet way in the Brazils, or than them
will be again when their present difficulties are arranged.
It is extraordinary that these men, in their democratical
brawlings for the fights of man,' never bring it home
to themselves, or think of the Africans claim to the
same rights.
" The slave trade under the Spanish flag has also, we
think, diminished, though we do not believe fewer slaves
are imported into the Spanish Colonies. • But the Spa-
nish flag—the Spanish character are dangerous. They
subject them to capture by our cruizers, and might,
perhaps, to trouble with their own authorities ; and H ho,
would run such risks, when the white flag of the Bour-
bons—the now-named pride of France, is freely offered
to protect every one who will engage in this career of
rapine, murder, and death ? The infamous conduct of
France in regard to the abolition—the blood shed by
her, and under her protection in this devoted Continent,
has caused a stain in her lily flag which all her former

glory only renders more visible, and which all the waters
of the ocean cannot wash out. ft might have been sup-
posed That the sufferings of. the last thirty years would
have taught the present governing party in France,
mercy. It has not done so. Let them take heed before
it is too late, lest Ha, who, in the last instance, executed
judgment in mercy, may leave them to their own de-
vices, and Fiance become the scene of atrocities, more
hon id, if pos-ible, than those she is daily inflicting upon
unhappy Africa.
" The Slave Trade, under the French flag, has been
increasing, without any attem;rt on the part of that Go-
vernment to prevent or punish it; indeed, from the zeal
and violence with which the French Ministry took up
the seizture of La Caroline, by Captain Grace, of the
Cyrene (Danish property, under the French fl rg), we
fear they are determined not only to protect their own
subjects in this.4niquitous trade, but all wha choose to
buy a set of papers and a piece of white banting in a
French colony. They have, to be sure, a few cr niters
about Senegal and Goree to protect their trade, and for
, colonial purposes; and these, they state to the Powers
of Europe, are cruizing 'against the Slave Trade; and
in-cause no captures are made, they wish it to be be-
lieved no French Slave .Trade exists. We have often
exposed the duplicity of the French Government and of
their cruizers on this head: we have only now to state
one fact. There have never been less than three or four
vessels, under the French flag, slaving at the Gallinas
and Shebar, at any one time during the last twelve
months. 'fhe French authorities to windward—civil,
military, and naval—knew this, yet not one capture
has been made ; we believe not even a vessel of war was
sent to look after them."
EX FRACT OP A LETTER FROM TRINIDAD, JUNE 25.
" The Order in Council respecting the treatment of
slaves, which has given rise to so much discussion and re-
monstrance here, was put in force ye;terday, for the first
time. I foresee infinite difficulties in the way of its com-
plete execution, and although the experiment is but just
beginning to be tried, they are already springing up on
all sides. The ambiguity of the order is such, and that
even on very essential points, that the planters in general
are at a loss how to act, and have memorialized the
Governor for information, which it will puzzle him to
give. To oblige the female slaves to work, new devices
and punishments are recommended, and sanctioned by
a proclamation published to-day, and among which I
observe solitary confinement, field-stocks, handcuffs,
collars, and padlocks; all punishments quite out of date,
and some of them never before heard of in this colony.
They will inevitably tend, in my opinion, to worry and
disgust the negroes, as well as the proprietors, and to
produce the worst feeling between them. In fact, the
consequences will be injurious to all, and beneficial to
none. I have already received a summons from the
manager of one of my estates, to say that my presence
is necessary on account of the insubordination of the
gang, who have taktn it into their heads that they are
how working for the King. I shall set off the.day after
to-morrow in the steam-boat, with an order from the
Governor to have the whole affair investigated by the
Commandant. On my return, 'I shall inform you of the
result of my expedition. Even if these matters are to
proceed no further, and not to assume a more dangerous
shape, where is compensation to be found for such em-
barrassing vexations, and such continued loss of time
and labour ?"

The following extract off' a recent letter From GuaBa-
loupe, of the authenticity of which we are assured, fur-
nishes proof of the enormous cruelties still exercised
towards the wretched Africans. Ships of war are con-
stantly cruising against the slave-dealers, but they re-
gard it as nothing, and can always manage to arrive at
port ; indeed it may almost be said that the cruisers pro-
tect them :—" The schooner La Louise, Capt. Armand,
arrived at L'Anse ala Barque, Guadalonpe, early in
the month of April, 1824, with a cargo of 200 negrees,
the remainder of a purchase of 275, which she brought
out with her. The vessel not being found to be suffi-
ciently capacious to contain so large a number, the
surplus were thrown alive into the sea by the Captain.
Nature still shudders at this atrocity. The principal
owners are Mesirs. de Rattle and Co. and proprietors of
the cargo, Messrs. Moser, Hart and Co. Pedemonte, all
of them merchants at La Pointe a Petre. It is said that
Captain Armand left at the Gallinas the ship Sabine,
Captain Avernay, belonging to the port of Bourdeaux,
armed at La Pointe a Petre by Messrs. Segend and Son ;
the brig l'Auguste, Captain Allain, armed at La Pointe
a Petre by Messrs. Verginis and Lemoyne, Dourneaa
and Durlos, Lamoisse and Darnste, and Bartel and
Colloniau ; and the schooner La Daphne, Capt. Mares-
tin; Messrs. Dourneau and Durlos, owners :. she also
was armed at La Pointe a Petre. Hence it appears that
the force established for the suppression of crime has
tended to the, encouragement of it."

01le of the letters from Bogota, of the 9th of June,
by the last arrival from Jamaica, states, that 5,000 men
had been ordered to proceed from Carthagena. to
Panama, to ieitiforce Bolivar, and that a levy of 5,000
more upon the upper provinces of Colnmbia was to take
place iinmediattly. •
'Letters from BitOglia, of the 13th tilt. say, that during
the first days of that month, many Turks lost their lives
in consequence of an explosion of gunpowder, which
took place in the magazine of theSeraskier, Derwich
Pacha. • The details are not yet koown. The Greeks
of Belgrade and Semlin, speak of new advantages ob-
tained by their countrymen in Thessaly. It appears
that a Turkish column has been cut 'off at Thermopylw,
and that Odysseus, who had for a short time evacuated
the city of Athens, has retaken it. .
Extract of a letter from Barbadoes, dated July it:—
" The SUPERB, GANGES, and Scour, are now lying in
the Bay. The Governor of Guadaloupe will allow no
vessel to come nearer than nine miles from the coast,
and 6ted on the EDEN a few days since. One of Ca-
' van's (merchant of Barbadoes) ships has been detained,
bound from Trinidad to Barbadoes. The BUSTARD
has, sailed from hence to ascertain the particulars. The
Barton arrived the 2d instant, the Hopie this morning.
The rainy season has commenced, and we expect the
large vessel will leave us very soon. Mr. COTTMAW, a
subaltern of some years sanding in the army (60th re-
giment), died here, and was buried yesterday. He ar-
rived on the 16th ultimo from St. Bartholomew's."