Thomas's Massachusetts spy, or, Worcester gazette. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1811-1821, 1821-04-25
From tie New-York Daily Advertiser.l
SLAVE TRADE.

We have often taken occasion to speak
of this subject, and always in terms of
the deepest adherence and detestation.
During the late struggle in the national
Legislature to confine the evil conse-
quences of its former existence in this
country to their present limits, we felt
much and expressed those feelings with
warmth which the topick never fails,
and never will fail to excite, whenever
it is brought into view. Although we
have laws against the prosecution of this
Internal traffick, it is still carried on by
our citizens vessels under false col
ours, and fictitious owners, are fitted out
from the United States, owned in whole
or in part by our citizens, and the bloody
atrocities Of the business are still prac-
tised by our professedly humane coun-
trymen. The inhabitants of other coma-
tries do the same, Notwithstanding they
have laws prohibiting the. trade and
ali the cruelties and horrours of the
" middle passage" are still inflicted on
the wretched' natives Of far distant
quarter of the globe As sample of
evidence in support of the business of
this remark, we extract the following
passages from Report of Society of
Friends, in Great-BPitain, made to, their
yearly meeting in November last.
Capt. Kelly, of his Majesty's ship PHeas-
ant, captured, on the Both July last. a Portu-
guese schooner, called the Nova Felicidade.
belonging to Princes Island, having on board
II slaves, and a crew consisting of one master
and ten sailors. This re&ssE measured onlue-
leren tons.
She was carried by Capt. Kelly to
Sierra Leone for adjudication, and his
judicial declaration contains the follow
ing statement -
II do further declare, that the state IN
which these unfortunate creatures were found
is shocking to every principle of humanity -
seventeen men shackled together in pairs, by
the legs, and twenty boys, one on the other, in
the main hold-a space measuring 10 feet in
length, feet, inches main breadth, and /
foot, inches in height, and under them the
vans for their support,
The space allowed for the females, "a in
number, was even more contracted than that
for the men, measuring only 8 feet, inches in
length, a feet, inches in main BREADTH and
2 feet, 7 inches in height"
From France, vessels aft out regu-
larly at Havre, Bordeaux, and other
parts. Their chains and handouts are
put on board in boxes, and entered as if
they were other articles, The case of
the Rodeur is very striking she sailed
from in the early part of last
year, 1881 for the river .Calabar.-
Having taken in cargo of slaves, she
proceeded with them TO Guadaloupe.-
On the passage, the poor negroes were.
seized with violent opthalmia, Ca dis
ease of the eyes which soon after COM
mmicated itself to the crew. The dis
order had been increased from the cap
tain's finding himself under the necessi-
ty Of keeping his captives constantly be-
low; for they were so afflicted by their
captivity that, when brought upon deck,
they took every opportunity Of throw
ing themselves overheard: To deter
them, some were hanged and others
shot !. but this having no effect, they
were obliged to be constantly confined
between decka In process of time,
under these cruel circumstances, the
opthalmia spread and affected every in
dividual, both Of the officers and crew,