Star.
London, England, 1819-03-05 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE .OF LORDS, MARCH 4.
The Earl of Bausorwarte, Viscount Firtatocrn, and Lord
Aavas►ierr, took the oaths and their seats. •
Lord KENYON adierted to certain Papers which were bid]
before the House but Session, principahy relating to the evi-
dence given before the Canoes hlanufactoriee Committee, but
which, It appeared, had not yet been printed. He would there-
fore move for the printing of the same, which was Ordered ac-.
FOrdingly.
The first Report of the Commissioners upon.the Charitable
and other Institutions for the Education of the Poor, was pre-
tented at the Bar by Mr:Carlisle, and ordered to be, primed.
A Copy of the proceedings in the Ecclesiastical Court, tele-
tive to the Divorce case of “ Raiford a. Halford," being laid
before the House, the Bill for legalizing the Divorce nras read
the first time.
Mr. Mame, from the East India House, presented a copy of
the Resolutions of the Court of Directors, respecting Granb,
Annuities, and Pensions, in the last year, pursuant to Act of
Parliament...LW upon the table.
Lord HOLLAND presented a Petition from the Inhabitants
of the Borough of Southwark, in Commonliallassembled. This
Petition prayed that some amendments may be made in the Act;
known by the name of Lord Iledesdales Att. To siss pastille
of this Act be had bete; an sonless contributor, tholigh, with
many others at the time the measure was meant but Us species
of experimer.t, to which subsequent improvements might be
made.—The Petition was. then read, and ordered to lie on

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the table.
The Noble Lord next presented a I:etitioa from Debtors ebb.
fined in the Jail of lichester, in the County of Somerset. •Its
prayer was for the renewal of the Insolvent Debtors' Act, or the
adoption of some other measure to the-s.une general effect, and
Thiel% may meet the exigency of the case.
Ills Lordship then presented a third Petition on the same sub-
ject, which was from the Inhabitants of Aldgete Ward, in the
City of London, praying the Ilo,use that the Insolvent Act may
not be permitted to expire, but that such amendments may be
made therein as might afford due protection to the creditor from
the practices of fraudulent debtors, fitt.—Tiaese Petitions being
read, were ordered to lie on the table,
The Earl of DARNLEY, seeing a Noble Earl in his place,
expressed his wish to be informed if it were likely the Conven-
tion with tie United States of America would soon be laid be-
,fore _ _

_ tke Houk?
The Earl of LIVERPOOL replied in the affirmative.
BRITISH NEORb SLAVES.

Lord HOLLAND, in pursuance of Alm notice he
had given, rose to call the attention of the House to
the measures which had been adopted by. the Colo-
nial Legislatures, in consequence of the Address of
that Hoase, in June, 1816. Though he did not an-
ticipate any objection to the motion he intended to'l
make, he thought, from what had already passed
respecting the Colonial regulations, both in that
House and elsewhere, to make a few observations on
'that subject. Their Lordships would recollect, that
the Address of 1816 arose out of the very unfortu-
nate transactions which hao occurred in the Island
of Barbadoes. It was the great object of that Ad-.
dress to induce the Colonies to, adopt' the measures
calculated to prevent the recurrence of such onfor-
tunate events. The Address accordingly expressed
a wish that his Majesty's Government would recom-
inencl.so the Colonial Governments the carrying into
execution some measures fur preventing the illegal
importation of Slaves, and for the improvement of
those already existing in the Islands. With regard
to the first object of the Address, he was happy to
learn that measures had been readily adopted by all
the Islands for its accomplishment. If any delu-
sions and alarms on the subject of the Address had
existed, they had been dissipated the temperate
and judicious conduct of the Legislatures of the dif-
ferent Islands, He should, therefore, say no
_more
on that part of.the subject, but with respect to the
other objects of the Address, he thought some ob-
servations necessary. The result of the Measures
adopted for the moral and religious instruction of
the Negroes did not appear, so far as he was in-
formed, as satisfactory as those which under the
name of Register Acts, atc. had been carried into
effect to prevent the illegal importation of Slaves'
from Africa. He was, however, happy to say, that
the Colonial Legislatures had shewn no indifference
to this important part of the recommendation
When considerable pecuniary sacrifices were made,
in order to attain an object, it was surely to be pre-
sumed that those who made them were sincere.—
Confining himself to the Island of Jamaica, he had
to state, that an Act had been passed there about a
year and a half ago, to provide for the appointment
of twenty Curates to give religious instruction to the
Negroes, at the rate of eSOO currency each. It had
been found, however, that this sum was not sufficient
to induce the necessary number of respectable Cler-
gymen of the Church of England to' go from this
country and undertake the task. But whatever de-
fect there might be in this measurer he saw .no rea-
son to impute it to any unwillingness 9r want of zeal
in the Colonial Legislatures. It had found, as
he had said, impossible to procure Clergymen, re-
gularly educated for the Church of England, in-
clined to go to the West Indies at the salary offered,
and he knew not what farther measures had been
adopted by the House of Assembly of Jamaica to
obviate that objection; but experience had shewn
that persons educated in a higher sphere of life were
seldom so successful in communicating religious in'
struction to men in the unfortunate situation of
Slaves as humbler instruments—Wear,
doing full justice to the House of Assembly for the
motives which had induced the passing of the Aet
for appointing Curates, it at the same tune ought
not to be disguised, that some Acts framed in avert
different spirit had' been passed—he meant those
against the influx of Missionaries, which placed in.„
the hands of the Colonial Government a power in-
consistent with those principles of religious liberty
which, in his opinion; ought al*ays to be held sa-
cred. However, tvhen even in thit House, in che
Legislature of this country, he could find but r
paratively few persons disposed to•
ciples so far as he was, he could r
conduct of the Representatives
pausing those laws, could,
ground for impeaching their .
mace had proved the adva
was in a humble situation
religioui instruction% to tha
coninieod the ensploymist

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he tkosOght no objection could be maintained—
meant the Moravian Brethren.. He widled that

Colonial Assemblies had given more liberal encou-
ragement to Missionaries ; but at any rate he hoped
they itould avail themselves of the assistance of the
worthy men of the Sect to which he had alluded.--
According to the plan originally adopted for the pro.
,pagadon of Christianity in North America, an esta-
blishment was made, not only for Curates but for
Schoolmasters.. He should' think that this plan could
be adopted with great advantage in Jamaica and the
other Islands, and that Missionaries front the Mora-
vians, or other Sects, might *be appointed Schee&
mastery. fn making,the recommendation contained'
in the'Address, for the general improvement of the
Negroes, their Lordships certainly did not confine
their views to mere physical comforts. The supply
of Negroes from Africa being tut off, the Black po-
pulation pf the West India Islands were placed in a
situatign in which they must necessarily make great
ineproirement. The ColoniSts, doubtless, looked for-
wardiltr this' insprievermene ,but a; the same time it
was 'natural, in their situation, that they should exer-
cise such caution with respect' to the• measures they
were led to adopt in the different stages of irs pro-
Conciliatiens, on all there subjects, was the
I duty of the British Parliament ; what ideas he threw
out, therefore, were merely by way of recommenda-
tion. Many were of opinion that no further im-
provement could be shade in• the condition of the
West India' Slaves,stntil they had acquired a greater
degree of religious instruction; he was therefore in-,
duced to propose a plati embracing that object.-7--
All,colonial proprietors or agents were now com-
pelled by lawao register the number and the ages of
the negroes on their respective estates. He would
propose that in this register there should•besides be
added, the number of the negroes. whe had been
baptized, and arrived at the possession of a compe-
tent knowledge of the Christian religion. As there
was a deficiency of regular Clergymen, chi% register
might be made on the certificates of 'Moravian bre-
thren. All the negroes thus proved to have attained
to a competent religions knowledge, he would admit
to give evidence in Courts of Justice. The Right
'Reverend Prelate who had shewn so laudable an
anxiety for the improvement of the Negroes, would,
be trusted, give his snpport ro a measure of this sort.
When that Right Reverend Prelate saw that tempo-
nel inducements were requisite to procure Clergymen
to preach the Gospel, he could not think it improper
that such inducements shculd be held out to the
Negroes to become Christians. . Such inducement
was the more necessary, when the manner in which ,
the question of conversion to Christianity presented
itself to the mind of the Slave when recommended
to him by those who bad authority over him. It al-
ways appeared to him, that his master has some ,
palish view in the recommendation. On the con-
nary, if he found that a knowledge of Christianity
gave him importance among his companions, he
would be eager to obtain it ; for, notwithstanding
the degraded state into which the original sjn of the
LAfrican Slave Trade had plunged these unfortunate,
beings, they still possessed the ambition of distin-
lguisrring them:elves. The right thus acquired would
'also be to the advantage of the master; and it was
to be presumed that every person of that class, of a
well-constituted mind,, vould be proud to see the
number of Negroes, so marked by moral and reli-
gious improvement, increase" on his estate. Such
conduct -would cement die union which ought to'
subsist between the peaks. The Slave would not
consider the distinction he acquired' as a conquest
from the master, nor would the mastei be jealous 'of
its enjoyment by the Slave. He again wished it to
be understood, that what he stated was merely in the
nature of a recommendation. He had no intention
of proposing any motion or resolution. He would
'not discuss what might be the rights of this country
with respect to colonial legislation. Ile should only
say, th3t nothing but the most dire necessity could
excuse any interference of Parliament with the local
assemblies. If a measure was good, though only
nne-fourth of it should be obtained through the me-
dium of the colonial legislatures, that portion was
better than the whole obtained in a way in which its
execution, if at all possible, would be very imperfect.
For these reasons, tlaciugh he had no motion on the
subject to make, he had thought it right to trouble
their Lordships with these observations. , There was
sometimes a strong inducement thus to travel out of
the record, ps in thatilouse opportunities offered for
esFessing opinions which might, perhaps, have some
weight with those who possessed influence and au-
thority elsewhere. He concluded by moving an Ad-
dress for au Account of the measures adopted by the
Colonial Legislatures, in consequence of the recorn-
atendations contained in the Address voted by their
Lordships in June, 1816.
Earl BATHURST rose, and complimented the
Noble Lord on the candid and judicious manner in
which he had introduced his *don. He could
assure the House it was the anxious desire of his Ma-
jesty's Government towttain in the most practicable
wad consistently expeditious manna., the great object
which they all had in view. In their measures they
'had never lest sight of that object, and their prattip
sal attention had principally been directed to the im-
portant points of a Registration of Slaves, and ;be
moral and religious instruction .61 the Negro pope-
'lol4 Net only that. bet ittong inducements were
out in order to tow.otwago and promote indivi-
goodeonduct and improvement. It was deem-
' expedient likely to contribute much to the
in that. as ' Vissed,

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were brought forweid in the Colonial Assemblies,
being anxious that the pmcedure should not in the
least appear as compulsory on the eat t of thii coun-
try. N ith respect to the consideration of the marsh
or religious instruction of the Negro population in •
oar Colonies, every•attention was and would be paid
to that great object. The salaries were raised for the"
,remuneration of Clergymen who should go to those
'Colonies, and every other fair and proper encourage.
laentt was held out for the purpoge ; and he must
say, with respect to those Revereed Prelates who
were COnsulte4l on the occasion (particularly the Re-
reread Prelate to whose province such matters peens'
liarly belonged), they MI spewed the greatest degree
of zeal and alacrity' to procure propee persons to fill
those necessary situations in the Colonies. The Noble
Secretary. described the nature of •the Episcoeal 34.
trisdiction of the Diocesan of London, which, strictly
speaking, was not, in point of law or regularity, so •
.extensive or powerful in respect to those Colonies air
seemed to be stlpposed, •egb, in the course se:
(6m,ft such matters see.. • generally regalap ;etal%
that locerian. The difficulties in finding
qualified Ckrymen to perform the duties fit those
reolonies, were certainly great ; but every care and
arinneernent should lie taken to surmount...theta...o.
Much of What the Noble Lucd referiva ca• 'es pfig. •
client for improvement, naturally lay in she hands of
the Colonial Legislatures; but no effort, he repeated,
would be wanting oit the part of his Slajesty's Go.
vernment in these respects; and with regard to the
procuration_ of adequate Clerical Instructors, the
Noble Earl again remarked; 'that steps had been
taken particularly with that view,. and further exer-
tions would be made; but their I.ordships would all
be aware how much depended on' the co-operation
of the Colonial Legislatures, which, however, he felt
!so doubt would be cheerfully afforded.
The Bishop of LONDON addressed the House at
some length on the occasion. The Reverend Prelate
dwelt chiefly.on the topic of the religious instruction
of the negro populasitm. He described the nature •
and extent of the jurisdiction which was generally
exercised by the See of London in' such matters—the ,
causes of the difficulties which occurred in the pro-
curation of properly qualified Clergymen for the pur-
pose in question—the nature of the duties to be per-
formed by such persons in the colonies, and the ad-
vances already made with reference to Chiistian in-
struction in those quarters. The Rev. Prelate 0b..•
served, that no steps were untaken on the part of the
Establishment towards effecting the important object
in question, and adverted to the Important and cor-
dial assistancg he had .received from the Noble Earl
'at the head of the Colonial Department, and his
(race the Duke of Manchester (as Governor of Ja-
lmaica.) After expatiating with much' candour, clear-
ness, and ability, on those several heads, his Lord.
'ship joinedtis Noble Friend in assuring the House,
ithat no efforts had been or should' be wanting.' xer •
•promote the great object of religions instruction of
the Negro population in the British West Indies.
1..0rd HOLLAND explained, .that in using the
words temporal inducements, he meant what was ad.
milted, that the salary was thought insufficient for
persons educated for the Church'of England ; he had,
therefore, recommended the Moravian brethren as a
means of removing that difficulty. The Noble Se-
cretary of State was not correct in saying that he
thought a competent knowledge in the Christian•re-
ligion necessary to the admission of negroin to give
evidence in Courts of Justice. He .wished 'it to be
distinctly understood, that he had giveno opinion
on that question. Hi had merely said • that many
persons were of opinion, that a considerable degree
of religious instruction must precede any improve.
meat in the condition of the slaves, and it was with
the view olconciliating that opinion he had suggested
the plan which he•had briefly described.
The question was then put, and carried nisi. di:.
• COAL TAX. '
The Marquis of LANSDOWN had a petition to
present against any equalization of the duty on coals.
was, otcourse, of the same' nature as that which
the Noble Lord opposite (Lord Grenville) had been
yesterday induced tcs withdraw. He could not, how.
'ever, concur in the objections which had been made
to that petition. It appeared from the votes of the
other House of Parliament, that the question on
which this petition was founded had been agitated,
and it was never the practice, as far as he knew, of
either House of Parliament to reject-petitions of this
kind, unless they were against a tax for the imposing
of which there was a Bill before the House. The ;No-
ble Marquis presented die petition, which was from
the borough of Caine.
Lord GRENVILLE also presented the petition
which he yesterday withdrew, and, which prayed,
among other things, thlt the Petitioners might be
heard by Counsel, against the equalization of the
Coal Tax, if any bill for that object should be intro-
`cluced--which petition being laid en the table,
Lord GRENVILLE said, that he had great sad*
faction in learning that it was not the intention of his
Majesty's Ministers to support any proposition for
the equali?.atioa of the duties, on Coal. He was happy
to have the opportunity of stating this, as he was
certain that the information would give great satin-'
faction to the Petitioners, and to all persons in et*
maritime districts.—Adjourned.
itousz or COMMONS. •
Lied GEOILOZ BERESFORD ewe es. a Nekton from
Waterford, ecinplaioing of the inequality 'ef the Cowity.Ratp.
It was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
' The motion for an Inquiry into the conduct of the Vag*.
trate, or Motion of the Bare a 0 of Aberdeen, wee foto.
reed from Id& to the fad of MIMI.
Leaved wok oe separate modem granted to la*
( and Ur. Morton PA no
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OW 'ALLOTS,
prq form, mratioasi
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