Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-04-07

of the i've Courts. to the King Oh for'usai'
urging his Majesty to decree the final abol'-
ton Of the Slave Trade in his dominions,
at the period already agreed to by Spain,
namely, the Goth May, 1890; and sdly,
That the Powers there represented should
accept the principle Of qualified right OF
mutual visit. His Lordship adds, sit was
impossible not to perceive, in the short dis
cussion which ensued, that there was con.
siderable hesitation, especially in the
French Plenipotentiary, with regard to the
principle of the latter measure" The prin-
cipIe Of mutual right of search seemed to
involve the greatest difficulties. Their is
paper. addressed by Lord Castlereagh to
the Duke de Richelieu upon this subject,
in which his Lordship combats the various
objections which had been taken to the a.
bove measure. He also obtained an inter-
view with his Grace, the day after the con-
ference, and entered into a full examination
of the measure in all its bearings; "and
though observes his Lordsbip) cannot
say that I succeeded in shaking his Grace's
opinions, Hatter myself reduced the
weight and number Of his objections; and
that brought bis mind to feel the extreme
inconvenience, as well as moral objection
to leaving the question where il IS"
In subsequent sitting of the Congress
(No. ~ a proposition made by Lord Cas-
tereagh, was adopted unanimously, that
letter should be written to the King Of
Portugal, in the name Of the 'sovereigns,
in the most pressing, and at the same time
the most afectionate TERMS" in order TO
engage him to fix the Goth May, 1890, as
the final term OF the traffic in bis dominions.
Lord Castlereagh also proposed that +" it
would be useful, and perhaps necessary,
to consider the trade in slaves as a crime
agains, the law of nations, and to assimi-
late it to piracy" This was submitted
as matter for consideration merely.
Ina letter from the noble Lord to Earl
Bathurst, dated Aix-la. Chapelle, Novem-
Der 90, transmitting the notes ofthe Rus
sian, French, Austrian, and Prussian plen-
ipotentiariss, upon the two propositions
submitted to Congress, his Lordship says,
the results Of these notes being extreme.
ly discouraging 10 our hopes, it was deter.
mined to review the objections brought for
ward 10 the measure Of mutually conce.
ding the right of visit, especially oy the
plenipotentiary Of France.
latter presenting this review to the
consideration Of the conference, and in an
audience with which was honored by the
Emperor Of Russia, I took occasion to re.
present 20 his Imperial Majesty, in the
strongest terms, the necessity Of taking
some effective measure OF this nature
without delay, and without aitiDg for the
decree of final abolition on the part OF
Portugal.
"His imperial Majesty listened with his
accustomed interest to my representation
on this subject, and promised NC to give
directions to his ministers, to propose that
the consideration of the question should be
re opened il London under fresh instruc-
tons.
The modification which have finally
urged of this measure, and trust, with
considerable hope of success, is, that in
addition 10 the limitation of the righs OF VIZ
sit to the coast of Africa, and Ito specific
number Of ships ofeaeh power, the dura-
ton of the convention should be for a Ii.
mited number Of years, say seven, at the
end of which period the several powers
would again have il in their power to re-
view their decision after some experience
|of its convenience or Inconvenience, OF its
efficacy 10 the object, and of the necessity
ofits being renewed, regard being had to
the state OF the illicit slave trade. This
arrangement would sufficiently meet our
most pressing wants, whilst it would 60
less permanently 10 disturb the acknow-
lodged principles Of maritime law, as re-
gulating the right Of visit. By the aid OF
this latter expedient, l Aa.ter myself that
have made considerable impression in re.
moving the strong repugnanee which was
at first felt to the measure"
The result Of all these deliberati ons was
declaration on the part of The allied sove.
reigus, represented at congress, that they
would instruct their respective ministers
in London to continue the discussions upon