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

THE STAIVBiViAti.

The single point kelt:fer their infets/Watiop_was the fact
of slaves being 011 board. This mode has been already
found of practical advantage by
.Fraufe, aa4 the
Nouse may look upon it as' a•pian for amieably de-
ciding io all cases, and for taking away illegal traffic,
as evil of a more matiguanr waters than the former.
The House has already some experience of the zoo-
duct of Spain in reference to ,this object. On a for-
mer occasion, when a 'distinct offer was made of
tot ,0001. fur the Abolition, north of the Line, and
a Lo:lo of ten millions of dollars, she refused her
issseot. The sum now in be paid is very small, com-
pared ssith the former proposed sacrifice—or the ad-
'runlet; .s gained to the cause of humanity. His
Lords' I, ,-oncluded by saying, he trusted that what-
ever differences of opinion exist, they will not mix
rltemselsea with the question of South America.—He
should hist proceed to move the Resolution before
.the Cointiiittee—secondly, to propose to the House
an Act, pursuant to the articles of the Treaty—and
lastly, to propose in the Committee of Supply, a
note of 400,0001. for the purpose of carrying into
effect the articles of the Treaty.
Sir G. HEATHCOTE did not intend to say much
against the motion which the Noble Lord had sub.
misted, but he could not help shortly declaring his
dissent from a considerable provision of the Treaty.
Ile could not but reflect in what a condition many of
his fellow.coun.ryinen were at that moment, and
how much might he due for them by the money that
was now propuse.l to be pealed to a foreign.Coert
and to a Court, and when be said it he did not•mean
to offend any party, to say nothing more of it, which
was not t!.e most popular in Europe. He did think
that it was a false humanity to be seeking means of ex-
pending our money amongst foraigo Courts, however
good the motive or the intension. It was a great ob-
ject, indeed, the Abolition of the Slave 'Nadi., bat it
did not appear to him that Spain had hereafter the
.power of expediting the Abolition of that traffic to
the extent desired. It was a notorious fact, that the
Provinces of South America were in a state of revolt
from the mother country. It was not at all impro.,
baole,bot that South America might be put in a state
of independence; and if such should be the case,:
•where would Spain be, with regard to the provisions,
of this Treaty ? She would be limited to Cuba, the
Spanish portion of St. Domingo, and some other very
small possessions. It was plain, then, that if such
should ever be the 'tote of things, we might be buy.
jig oar humanity too dear. He was indeed 'situ.
niche.' that such a transaction should be allowed by
the Noble Lord and by the Government at such
pelio.; ; because it ought to be recollected, that.
whether in war or peace, if the People were to he
drisen to desperation, there was great reason for dis-
senting from any such proposition. It was in-1
deed impossible that we could long continue to
be the paymasters of Europe ; and if we were to
be compelled to pay money for any phantasy
which might enter into the head of any Monerchrbil
could not see how it would be possible to make the
income of the country meet its annual expenditure.—
He was, indeed, surprised, that his Majesty's Mi-
nisters did not see the folly of the transaction, and'
the policy of employing our money at home, where,
. if 501. a piece should be given to 8000 persons, very
great heoplit indeed might be produced. He hoped,
however, if the practice was, in this instance, to he
•stibmitted to, that ttils would be the last milieu!,
and that a strict Hoe of economy would in future be
acted upon. If the House wished to regain a part
of that public confidence which they ought pro-
perly to possess, it would be by well considering
grants of the same kind with that now before them :
and if they wished to be in the situation of a great
and powerful nation, it would be by acting up to the
principles of the Constitution, and making them-
'elves guardians of the public purse. He was fulls.
aware that the final Abolition of the Slave Trade had
many zealous mid able advocates ; and be could only
say that it was, in his opinion, most detestable, and
no man more desired than himself that it should be
abonslied in every quarter of the globe.—[hear,
hear 1)—He saw one Hon. Gentleman who had been
the must able supporter, and almost the cause of the
Abolition, who would, he hoped, be remembered
almost to the end of time, at least in this. country,
the seat of his exertions. But notwithstandlug he
was so complete an advocate of the Abolition, he
could not but think that there required some care
and precaution before the repeated demands upon the
country were complied with. Hr hoped, as he had
said before, that the present «mild be the last.—
'When so many had stood foremost in sopport of the
just prerogatives of the Crown, he hoped that that
!louse would be alive to the feelings and the suffer-
ings of the People, and would therefore keep a vigilant
eye upon the acts and proceedingi of the Government;
because to make professions of economy without prac-
tice was doing very little fur the country. Ile wish-
ed that the House would consider what they were
'about to do ; they would have to pay to,oool.annual-
ly in addition to the national expences, as interest
for the 400,0001. that was to be paid to Spain in
consequence of the Treaty. There was a maxim,
that one em.h• to be just before one was generous,
which was very applicable to our present situation.—
If the coffers of the country had been full, he should
be willing enough to give the Noble Lord even a
tnillion of money if he wanted it--(lJear ! and a
.10agh);• but now the coffers were empty, and we
could not afford unnecessary espenditure. He should,
for his own part, be against the grant of 400,0001. to
-any power whatever. Were he to follow his own in-
clination, it would be to moves that that part of the
-treaty which .regerded the 400,0001. should not be
carried into.ezecution.. But as it was, he should be
solidest with having entered his protest against such
*.graut.---(lleor, hear!)
Mr. WILBERFORCE began by confessing he
regarded the suns es a serious one; but he should
view its relative• importance to the People 9f this
country in. another way to what the honourable
Baronet had done. Instead of reeerding it as a sum
which might afford 501. to 8000, he should look
at it as so much raised upon the population of this
country, which would amount to not more than two-
pence each householder for a great•national purpose
—(hear, hear !)—s purpose which it has beets the
wish of this country for years to accomplish, and
will he a monument of its benevolence and humanity.
Ile filleted his unqualified praise to the. Noble Lord
for the diplomatic skill and unceasing seal which he
I ad mauifeated la- this interesting business. lie •hati.!

1 now the eatisfactioa of, thinking, that there was a
prospeet,4, getting, .rid of this abontivable trade
throuhostti the whole world. lie was supine
enough to pipit ;hit he should live to see that time,
h for there was alreidy a civilized mid repiilli improv.
ing population of 112,000 persons bn the Shores of
Africa, under the protection ofßritish la as.z-,(l}ear!)
—He thought a great deal of what could have been
done at the Congress of Vienna • and of the enlarged
r principles of policy enforced on that occasion by his
Noble Friend with so much success. As to the Treaty
with Spain, he kneiv there were many interests'which
most be satisfied, and. many persons who were to re-
ceive indemnities for losses. These must be made
good by the Government of Spain to the subjects of
that country. Therefore it was necessary to make
the proposed grant for that purpose. if the question
be taken in a commercial point of view, it 'would
appear, that the total Abolition of the Tiede Ang
the Coast of Africa, would open such facilities to
trade in that country, for ourselves and for others,
as must be productive of incalculable benefits. We
were bound, therefore, by self-interest as well as
generosity, to mate the grant which was now re-
quired.
Sir OSWALD MOSLEM wished the lion. Gen-
tleman would take into his serious consideration how
many millions this Ijouse had lavished of the politic
money, for which it had never received any tiquiva.
lent, and reflect, might not the results be equally un-
fortuuate in the present case. if that Hon. Gentle-
man held that the objection of espence was of no re-
lidity, 'inept it went to the whole of the proposed
vote, he was willing to meet him, and say sooner
then vote for the 400,0001. he would rather object
to the whole measure. The fact was, Spain bad a po-
litical object in now making the sacrifice, for if sever.
ed from her Colonies, as it was most likely she would,
her interest in the trade would cease. Lf so, then this
country would soon he called on for a vote of 400,0001.
to be advanced to the Independent Provinces to pur-
chase the Abolition from them. As for the establish-
ments on the coast of Africa, they had cost an infi-
nite sum of money and several valuable lives without
producing any very encouraging results. The ques-
tion was not now whether we were to abolish the
trade or not. The question strictly was, whether
England would assist in arming Spain against those
provinces, it e.as our interest to keep independeut of
a Power roost unfriendly to this country on all orce.
sions.—[clear'!)—ln other words, should she pre-
vent Spain transporting perhaps for a few years, per-
haps only a few days, a trifling number of slaves
from Africa, or prevent her eit•lavisig millions of
Americans, w hose liver, is and Great atitain'i were
the earns.—[Hear, hear!)—For these reasons he
should, when the RPSOIIItIOII was put, divide the
!louse upon it. _ _ _

Lord CASTLER.EAGH observed, that Spain had
made, before this Treaty, no engagement as to its
Abolition. It had been stated, that, after a lapse
of eight years, an arrangement might he accomplish-
ed; whilst this Treaty at once abrogated the practice
two years sooner, accompanied with the assurance
that this illicit trade should be put au end to alto-
gether.
.Sir JAMES bIACINTOSII could not agree
with the remarks on the impulicy Or the inefficiency
of the present measure. The Stare Trade Ah.dittati
was the greatest question which could come nefore
the House, and to accomplish effectually such an
object, no sacrifice could be reckoned too giest, in-
volving, as it did, not only the greatest prospective
advantages to the nation, but the national mnr4lity
and character.—(llear, hear!) --lie (Sir James
Macintosh) concurred with the Noble Lnrd in the
objections he felt to grant the tight of searching Bri-
tish vessels, except on very strong grounds. lie felt
for the glory of the country as warmly as any man;
he was proud of that commercial prosperity which it
covered, and of those triumphs which it had gained:
but while he coosidered that it had never been dis-
graced by defeat,, or lowered to an enemy ; that it
not only constituted our national security, but was
the source of our national honour, he thought that it
now rose to higher honours by bending to the cause of
humanity and justice.—((.'hcering..)— lie heard with
infinite satisfaction, that there was a general desite
among the Governments of Europe to take the most
effectual means to secure the Abolition. lie heard
these assurances with more pleasure as regarded
France, because appearances in that country were
rather unfavourable. The conduct of llo!land, he
was happy to see, was very different; and the mea-
sures of the Government of that country were the
more honourable to it, as they appeared connected
with a great apparent sacrifice of national interest,
and ran counter to strong national prejudices.—
The lion. Member in concluding said, he would
take the liberty of giving an explanation of a passage
of an eloquent, able, and learned judgment of a
Right lion. Gentleman (Sir %V. Scott), whom he was
sorry not now to see in his place, which as applied
the right of search had been misapprehended. The
judgment was given in the case of the,French
ship Louis, by the first authority in Europe, and a
general observed.° in it bad been misunderstood,—
In opposition to the interpretation put on the pas-
sage to which be referred, he would contend, that if,
after this Treaty, the Commander of a British cruiaer
sees a ship angled in the Slave Trade, which he be-.
lieves to have Spanish property on hoard, and, if it
really turns out that it belongs to the subjectkof an-.
-other nation, any fraudulent use of the dog
protect it against the operation of the 4th, 49cie of
the Treaty. That Article 'Opiates the.right,of
mutual search, and the pficers oresch 'alm' mar
Alit suspected !melt. f ilexes are found on board.
belonging to.Spertish subjects, the condemnation is a
nuttier of coarse: ff they :belong to Spaniards,
Ilseegh wilder the.Dotch, Hamborgh, or tither flag,
toe ostriers could not he hiard.

Sir OS W A LD .M ELY
,eeplainaul.
Mr. C. GRANT supported Abe Rtsolgtiop, and
considered the right of search in t?is rase at stalitly
Wariatited as in cries-of tkeeiptlesisaiiehila fikr maul•
lions of war belligerents.''
Mr. BENNETT could not suffer .the, question to.
pa's without making a few Obtereatious on he pro-
bable execution of the measure. 66 For this purpose,"
said he, " I beg, leave to nokice-a few crieeinstatires
that may tend to4Jecidate the subject. On 17th Jutfr
1815, the Noble II:ord npposlto Was instructed itt
quire of the French' Government whether
,the Slave
Trade eat not -to be considered as abolished to mita-

eir Is 446 ;ft' ---w" • • *berme 'of Itaiblealant atom_ t ..eet,, _wing
Use Oisverdmeut of the ivendieid :sleys'i 'arid tin rn to
more than a month after that battle Is 'Which tit'W
:blood of this country was posred out as water, gt
Iwas answered by thepprice Talleyrand, that all the
acts of the asuiping GeVe6medi were to• tie. consi-
dered 'as void, but that. on the 30th of July an Ordi
mute had been leaved by the King for stoisttiost the'
traffic is, slaves wherever it should appear to have been
carried on. Notwithstanding Ibis Ordinance the trade
flourished with as niveh vigour as ever, and in those
Colonies that had been ceded by • this country to
France it had been renewed with all the hOrrors that
had usually attended it: Sir C. Stuart,oor Ambsuadcir,
was subsequently instructed to esquire of the French
Government respecting the steps that had been taken
for suppressing the Slave Trade in the Qoloaties, and
the Died, Richelieu informed hiaititat an Ordinance
had been sent out, which proved to be :suety a co:
louMi regulation, repressing the trade only in the
Colonies ; bet no Decree hwi been issued for gene-
rally preventing French subjects from engaging in it.'
So that French vessels and French =IOW might still
he employed in carrying on Oda' nefarious traffic, on
the African coast, either North or South of he
Equator. The consequences were, as might have
been expected, responsive to this mode of proceeding,
and in the several places which had been given up to
the French Government, the trade was resumed with
all the horrid scenes which my Honourable Friend
has so frequently and so eloquently enumerated.—
Tribe was set against tribe, wars were fomented along
the whole extent of the coast, and even the Bar.
barian Kings were induced to desolate their ter.
itories, to meet the rapacity of the French traders.
The traffic was restored to all its wonted activity ;
thus throwing bark an extensive country from a state
of security and peace to the misery and disorder
from which they had been rescued by this country. I
wish then to ask the Noble Lord, whether, with
these events before our eves, we are to be still fur.
'her deluded, and whether we are again to be made
dupes to the old French system of tricking and de.
ceit ? We cannot forget the facility with which we
111110 seen the Government of France endeavour to
pickholes in most solemn engagements, to evade the
esecutioo of it, " to keep the word of promise to
the ear and break it to the hopes." We know
the faithlessness of the race that governs that
couotrv, though, God knows ! they are better than
that person whom they displaced; but connecting
these circumstances with the recent expedition to St.
Domingo, and the documents that have transpired
from that expediti.n, 1 think I may expect from the
Noble Lord some explanation, to convince the
/louse that measures will in all faith .be adopted
by the French Government, to prevent the renewal
or continuance of the Slave Trade by the stibjects
of that Pow/4%n

Lord CASTLEREAGH answered, that the French
Government were acting up to the engagements they
had entered into with ;as a proof of which, he
could stale, that the Governor of the isle of Odor-
bon bad been removed from his situation for giving
encouragement to the trade. In the coarse of the
communications that had passed between him end the
French Acnbassador on this subject, the •litter re.:
quested to be put in possession of all the laws mitt=
log to it, in order that the laws of France might bi
made conformable to them.

Mr. GORDON thought this country ought wil-
lingly to advance the sum of 400,0001., even if
we should afterwards be deceived. A 4 to the mer.
chants of Cuba advancing above a million, he doubted
the feet ; for in the 6r•t piece, he did net think the
merchants had the money ; and if they had the King
of Spain might force them to give it to him at any
time.

Mr., MARRYAT said that this country had al-
ready paid, and must hereafter pay, sums of money to
the captors of Slave Ships, which would ultimately
amount to much more than the sum now stipulated
to be given to Spain ; and therefore the Treaty would
be advantageous in point of economy.
Mr. WILBERFORCE said he had no partiality
for Sierra Leone more than any other place, as a
seat of the Commissioners.

Sir W. SintttOliGU conceived that the grant
of this sum was nothing mnie than an act of justice
to Spain, many of the vessels of which country had
been captured in peace, when no Treaty authorised
such a proceeding. No less than 5000 Slaves had
been seized in this way, and the Value of each wet
stared at 751. a head. This alone amounted to
300.0001. ►siothut ioclsding the striae of the vessels,
&c. lie thought the Noble Lord and the 'latish
Ambassador in Spain were Witted to thanks for_the
able 31111111 Pf in which they had conducted 'this sego-
elation. lie hoped those Members isho had ex-
pressed disapprobation of the Treaty would, on better
rellection, withdraw their oppnsitioo, end the motion
would be agreed to unanimously.
The gallery was cleared for a division, when the
numbers were—

For the Resolution
Against it

4

Majority - 52
The (loose resumed, and the Report was ordered
to he received tormorruw.
On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the
tACCHEQUER, the Spanish Treaty was ordered
to be referred to a Committee of Supply on Wednes-
day next. -
Mr,IIIMIETT brought in a Bill for the Pre-
iention, Abuses in the emplorneUt of Climbing
ys to sweep Chimuies ; whilh was reed a lust
'time, and ordered est be read a seilad dine ou Fri-
*ay neat:
• The other Orders of the Day were then proceeded
le, after which the Rouse adjourned to tomorrow'
(this day).

.~

ELECTIONS.

I t

. The; Bill now before the . Mese of Commons, to
alter aml. *plead the Gerry, concerning the Election of
Members, of Periiameot, proposes to. repeal the Act
of the
,lifth of Cat4rgo 11., relative to the erection of
booths, or histings,"and to direct, that the Justices
of the Peace for every county, or place, in England
or Wales, which is entitled to choose any Member
of Parliament, shall at the next General Session of
the Peace and Quarter Session to be holden after the
passing of this Mt, or at some gdjourumeut of the

- - - -
.. vt:t .e.* 4 ._....t)t.get i 1.4.U1',1 .6
• same, vinereor Imbue notice slum given by atta
;lertisenieptieirtittie nrespdper, usualy circulating
`in fihrii 'cooky; city, .11.rnugh, or place,'llirint
`What Otiniber of pollingpleres stall be erereciTur-vaiy
such .Icoutity, city; tiiiroilitYi;idirt, 't'r. Plie.:o"-7 lin"flui
iioal of a contested et•iiiiii, and !het .4ihillt also
ilicify Ind appiiiitt,.. fat `the 'use 'of IthSv tiiiiilfod,
liillisti,•'iiiiird.,•orstitiiiridiflit‘trf; each /41', cli'4l;flijog
places shall ppapplied ;, Of if they kilintlll/ 11e...Wh0
to tre'trioiee'slAtfieili; id iili'ce's leti4l/111t. ossfShiting
*
ii fit ' frieilibri,lfiVe'y Wall "di te.i:l Wilt ..ki., ti •*'; 1 i etVio
'biislPplilit &We ole tif'lliSt vt;ler's'elittakkl• 'y,%i'dy
I,A)
‘WartiV, Companies iiigiiildi,..in stiA allfslh itlll4y
loar.thiotikt; locr'l6.oilikkitig Atli 'lttitioliit Align( it:iitt
apportionment of the number *of polling plti'4l, they
shall, so far as the salifeliii he calculated, proridfi
'hat in all CaserisotiliOiri AMA one itimasaiid inters at
the utmost that Pelf it'liistel polling place" or division
thereof, dtiting the 'whet, if 'any future contested
election ; and such appointthent and apportiOndient
shall be final' and conclkisive,•escept appealed souk.
Sheriff or Returning Oates' lei "erect booths, cte i 6.
cording to appOrtinneent of 'Jiiitices." • In itliCeiiitit
havfog more thin'lso'olectortquiOlies lint ' filiiiiiid
to mike illy ippdrficititnetA, ndi kfikip'stinitlitlifiVe.
Poll to Glow on the second day,- if fOiti'liutulNd
voters shalt not

hive polled.

"On account of the espence that has srlsenfand
great disturbances that hate taken piece, (rout the'use
of cockades, ribbons, and other marks of distinction
at elections, it is enacted, that from and after
the passing of this Act, no person to be'elected to
serve in Parliament shall after the testeof the writ
of summons, or after such place becomes egotist in
time of Parliament, before his election, by himself
or his agent, directly or indirectly, give or allow to
any versos' having a vote in such election, or'tti asp
inhabitant of such county, city, town, borough,
port, or place, any cockade, ribbon, or other mark of
distinction. And any person to gieing or allowing,
shall be declared disabled and incapecitsted, upon
such election, to serve its Parliament."—Another
clans!, after mentioning, that more than one-thitdpf
the latiti.tax has been purchased of Government, and
that difficulty bas arisen in determining which lands
are exonerated, and which are not, directs, that free.
holders be entitled to vote, although not assessed to
the land-tax.

LdW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF KING 9 BENCH. Fats. 9.
tHE KING V. MIMES AND CLEA4NY.
Mr. MAHRTAT and Mr. Dstrespi showed cattail
against a rule obtained by Mr. ?scarlet in Michael-
Anal Term last, for filing a criminal informatioft
against two Gentlemen, named Haber', an oil MeV.
•chant,.and Cleasby, an oil broker, for having con.
spired to raise the price of oil in the London market.
The Learned Counsel recapitulated the grounds upon
which this rule had been obtained, contending, Ist,
.That there was no conspiracy proved between these
perties, inasmuch as the oil, which was, in fact,
purchased, was purchased on Mr. lillbers' role
ettoitet, Mr. Cleasby being merely the broker
'for 'purchasing, and having no intertist wharever
in the oil bought. 2d, Supposing the conspire-Cy
to have taken place, in fact, it was melts adt
upon hearsay evidence only, which could not be **-
seised to support the criminal information ; and, 3d,
They undertook to dentoistrele by the affidavits
filed against the Role, that the supposed conspirier
was a fair mercantile speculation, and that,' ie fatf,
the purchases which were made by Mr. Hithers fore'.
.ed but a very small portion indeed of the oils brought
to market--that Mr. [bitters was an oil exporter, had
purchased in consequence of a deficiency in the fo-
reign market, and had at all times been ready to sell
the oils to any body who chose to purchase them at
the fair market price. They distinguished this frond
the case of the King v. Waddington, 1 Rail R.
which was an information for monopolizing hops, be-
cause there the party had spread false rumours to
raise the prices at market.
Mr. DENMAN was stopped before he had concluded
his argument, and the Court called open "
Mr. SCARLETT to support his rule, and he endee.
retired to shout that the affidavits' were sufficieet to
sustain a criminal information, contending that Itifts
was a case infinitely worse in completion than the
King v. Waddington ; sod there was one feature Art
that case which distinguishedlla, namely; that the
party had made enticipating' purchaies before the
commodity was brought to•ntarket: 11. insisted that
the affidavits, particularly of Mr. Cleasby, demon.
strated that there had been a concerted perpete el
raising the market by illegal meal's. .
Mr TOITING, for Mr. Cleasby, contoedesk.eimt
there was no pretence for this imputation spire like
Client. That Gentlemantiad-sireiely eited ai Wolter
for purchasing part of the all, emit lied-riiittfirg whet.
ever to do with the result • of' the 'Contacts entered

into by Mr. Hilbers.
Mr. Gurney, Mr. Richardson, Mr.F. Pollock, and
Mr. Wilde, who wore on the seine side with Mr.
Scarlett, were not beard.
The Coutcr were unanimously. of opinion, that dm
rule for the criminal itsformatiol could not be sus-
taitted upon the evidence disclos, d, inasmuch a, that
evidence was merely hearsay: A• 4 to the evidence
contained is the Defendant,' affidavits. supposink it
to have the effect of criminating them, it was net ad-
osissible, considering the manner in which it was dis-
closed. Btit as to the allerd conspiracy betweem
these persons, it seemed to toast totally failed upon
the present evidence. One person could not commit
the offence of conspiracy by himself ; now, here it
appeared that Mr. Cleasby had acted only as one of
the brokers for Mt. Hilbers, and had no interest
whatever in the purchases made. by the latter ; and,
a's to the alleged monopoly, it was difficult to 941 at
%bat period a private speculator became criminal its
his porchases,opon the general principle that
his pur-
chases leaded ,to
.raise the price of the commodity it
market. A purchase, no matter .how small, might
have such a tendency. . Upon. the whole, however,
their Lordships decided, as a general prictriple,.thae
a role for a criminal" information meal require the
wee sort of evidence as would he requisite to tel.
Lain an indictment, end such evidence not being ad-
duced,is.this case., the rale oast be ilischarged, Mt
without costs.

, .

'

Kt, tot
A