Star.
London, England, 1819-02-20 00:00:00

SLAVE TRADE.

The Order for summoning their Lordships being read,
• The Marquis of LANSDOWNE, pursuant to his
sake of yesterday, rose to move for fume further
information, which he thought of great importa,nce,'
relative to the above subject. On perusing the papers
already before the House, he saw and felt it was in-.
cumbent on their Lordships not to allow a moment
farther tcS elapse, without calling for some explicit
information from the Prince Regent's Government as
to the certain points connected with this great na-
tional question. He would first particularly call their
Lordships' attention to the effect of the Treaties con-
cluded with Spain and Portugal ; the more so when
they considered the magnitude of the sacrifices we
had made, and the amount of the sums given as the
purchase of the acquiescence and co-operation of
those Powers, in the abolition of the nefarious traffic
in question. Those Treaties expressly provided, that
within a definite period after their ratifications, which
was in fold months after that with Portugal, and in
two after that with Spain, mixed Commissions should
be appointed to see those provisions duly carried into
effect and cm-cher, chat a proper British naval force
should be provided for the purpose of enforcing the
execution of their provisions. Those specified periods
*ere long since expired ; and what had been actually
done on the part of the British Covernment towards
carrying such stipulations ints effect, they had yet to
learn. It was too well known, that since that period
the Slave Trade had been carried on to a most
alarming and unparalleled extent North of the Line,
particularly near the Cape de Verd Islands. The
Noble Lord at the head of the Admiralty perhaps
could state why no vessel had been provided, as ex-
pressly stipulated in the Treaty, or with respect to
the instructions given to masters of vessels employed.
And the House should be informed why the mixed
Commission was not sent out, though the interval in
which their appointment should take place had long,
since expired.. Notwithstanding the exertions made,
and the sums expended on the part of this country.'
this nefarious tratlic had increased to an alarmitg
extent, particularly on the part of Spanish subjects.
And in reference to those facts, it was proper the
ncnise should be informed, not only what had been
done with reference particularly to the Treaties ill
question, but generally iu furtherance or execution
of the Act.--The Noble Marquis then moved, agree:
ably to his node of yesterday, for copies of all in
structions issued to the Masters of Vessels, relative
to carrying the Act for alx)lishing the African Slave
Trade into &cat, and Copies of Orders for the ap.

pointment of Commissioners, pursuits; to the Trea-
ties concluded with Spairt and Portugal for ,the
same putpose.
Viscount MELVILLE said, as he did not mean to
oppose the Noble Marquis's motion, he would not
detain their Lordships farther than while he referred
to certain considerations, of which the Noble Marquis
seemed rot to be aware. With respect to the treaties
adverted to, though they were concluded some time
ago, yet their ratifications were not received here till
a comparatively recent period; and it should be con-
sidered that those Treaties could not be acted upon
until they wete sanctioned by the necessary legisla-
tive provisions, and these were not passed until within
a few days of the close of the last Session of Parlia-
ment. 43rovisions were also necessary to authorise
the Naval Officers to 'carry the right of search into
effect. Until such Acts were passed, the necessary
instructions could not be given en the part of Go-
vernment. With respect to the appointment of the
Commission, upon which so muirph stress was laid by
the Noble Marquis, no exertion lks left untried to
procure adequate and proper persons for composing
the Commission. Many persons deemed eompetent
were applied to, and notwithstanding handsome and
favourable terms were offered to them, they declined
the appointments. General instructions with respect
to the execution of the Act were certainly given to
the Masters of Vessels ; but particular instructions
could not regularly be issued prior to the establish-
ment of the Commission. The Noble Marquis should
also be aware how much in these cases depended on
the conduct and co-operatien of Foreign Powers.—
And with respect to the sending out of the Commis-
sion, that being, after the difficulties he had alluded
to, appointed, he could assure the House no time
would be lost in causing it-to enter upon the dis-
charge of its importarit functions.
Lord HOLLAND expressed his opinion that the
causes of delay assigned by the Noble Viscount were
by no means an adequate excuse for the lung and re-
peated procrastinations which were suffered with re-
' spect to due and vigorous exertions on the part of
this country, to procure an effectual abolition of the
abominable, the infernal traffic in questieu. The
greater patt of last Session was suffered to elapse
before the Prince Regent's Ministers had come for-
ward with the necessary legislative provisions on the
subject ; and he could not think it was necessary for
Ministers to wait until the Acts were passed, before
they endeavoured to procure proper individuals to
compose the Commission ; not only that, but it would
appear that several months were suffered to elapse
before the selection was made. He meant not how-
ever to say, that any wilful neglect prevailed upon
the occasion ; but it certainly appeared to him, that
the repeated delays which had evidently taken place
were highly reprehensible, and these were the more
to be deplored, when it was considered that several
thousands of their fellow-creatures bad been immo-
lated in the interval of delay, and in consequence of
this supineness, procrastination, and neglect. He
trusted the House and the country would not relax
in their endeavouts until the exertions of Great Bri-
tain and those other Powers who were disposed to
unite in so great and good a work, had, as far as it
was possible to effect tt, succeeded in totally doing
away with the most atrocious traffic in question.
The Earl of LIVERPOOL,wished by no means to
protract the discussion, bat he could not avoid say-
ing a few words, chietly in consequence of what had
fallen from the Noble Baron. First, with respect to
the appointment of the Commissioners, it could not
be finally done until Parliament had settled with re-

gard to the remuneration. Next, the difficulty in
selecting persons proper to execute the duties, was
found greater than seemed to be imagined. It was
not merely with reference to the amount of salary,
for that, in a certain point of view, he thought a se-
condary consideration. And, finally, he could as-
sure Noble Lords no time had been lost in endea-
vouring to carry the provisions of the Act, or the sti-
puiations of the Treaty, into full and adequate effect.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE in explanation,
enforced and expatiated upon those points which he
had adverted to in the first instance, add which were
touched upon by his Noble relative, Lord Holland.
The question was then put, and the Motion (as the
ground regularly of an Address to the Prince Re-
gent),
was agreed to by the House, and ordered to
be presented by the Lords with white staves.—Ad-
journed till Monday.