turies it will take to put all the lands in America under tillage, even though the importation of Slaves should be left perfectly unrestrained.

The question, which we have now to discuss, is, not that of injur. ing Brutes, in order to benefit Men, but of favouring the latter, to the signal and certain detriment of their Fellow-creatures; and it is obviously an unbecoming exaggeration to assert, that, by the prohibition of the traffic, thousands of landed Proprietors would be doomed to lose a considerable portion of their incomes, and, what is a greater grievance, to suffer, without ever being able to remedy it, a great deterioration and defalcation of their capitals. But to this point, human nature is, of course, always alive.

The paragraph alluded to refers to 2 Classes of Persons: in what it expresses, it comprehends Men to be condemned; and in what it conceals, Men to be absolved. Let us examine the number of both, and what it is to which the former are to be condemned, and from what the latter are to be absolved;-whether the Condemned are to be absolved, and the Absolved are to suffer the punishment of condemnation? Who are those that appear solicitous to acquire, and those that strive not to lose ;- whether those that are bent upon acquiring, thereby prejudice others, and whether those who complain, endeavour only to avoid injury and to suffer no loss;-and whether the latter find a resource in what nature has not deigned to deny to them? The number of the Condemned is doubtless large. But, if there are thousands of Landholders, who, by relinquishing the traffic, must lose a considerable portion of their incomes,-the number of the Absolved is infinitely larger. The latter Class are the Africans, who in this case are absolved from the slavery to which these very Landholders would in time have subjected them. It is, therefore, clear that, if every one of the thousands of Landed Proprietors can obtain Negroes, even by hundreds, the number of the latter who, for the sake of argument, at least, would be absolved, would increase to hundreds of thousands. The former, by far the less numerous, are to continue the system employed by the minority, and are to be condemned only to the loss of a portion of their external advantages, whilst their persons remain untouched;-the latter are to be absolved, not from any debt that might abridge their fortune, but from a slavery that threatened them they are to preserve their liberty, and thus to gain themselves. The comparison, therefore, being not between Men and Brutes, but between Men and their Fellow-creatures; let us consider whether the few to be condemned to the loss of a part of their incomes, should be absolved therefrom, in consequence of their having a better cause; in order that the others, who are infinitely more numerous, may be condemned to separate from their relations, and to abandon their Country for ever, in spite of the many objects of their love which it may contain,—and, lastly, to undergo a perpetual slavery, that is to say, to be lost to themselves.

The cause of the former, who are the fewest in number, rests entirely upon their desire to make greater profits to the oppression of the other party, whilst the cause of the latter, who form the majority, consists of a claim not to be injured in their liberty and in their persons, which claim is founded on rights that have been inherent in them ever since they beheld the light. We ought, therefore, never to forget, that the question is not one between Men and Brutes, but between Men and Men, lest our judgment should overlook the cause of humanity and lean towards that of interest.

The circumstance of the Estates continuing to be worked by the same hands, maturely considered, will lead only to this inference, that the Owners of them, fully persuaded of the impossibility of acquiring a fresh supply of Slaves to repair deficiencies, will abstain from overburthening them with work, and will treat them with greater bumanity; for even though the latter feeling should not influence them, their own interest would induce this treatment, convinced as they must be that, by excessive labour during 4 or 6 years, they would exhaust their powers, whereas they might possibly derive benefit from their services during 20 years, or upwards, by not calling upon them for exertions, beyond those which in reason and justice ought to be expected.

Of minor importance is the consideration, that so soon as the value of Slaves shall increase, it will be more difficult for them to obtain their liberty, and that the boon, intended to be dispensed to the Inhabitants of Africa, is, therefore, exaggerated and questionable, inasmuch as it tends to the injury and calamity of their Brethren. This point, indeed, seems to be out of place here: for if, in process of time, any injury should occur in this respect, the Law, as well as the equity of the case, would furnish ample remedies for it. Moreover, if, to avoid this injury to their Brethren, the continuance of the Traffic were to be permitted, the redress given to the unfortunate would consist merely in having augmented their number.

It may be affirmed, that, in the present state of things, the suppression of the Traffic would produce no where in America any considerable sensation, except at the Havana. In New Spain, the abolition would, unquestionably, have no effect. With respect to the Provinces of Venezuela, they have nearly experienced what bad always been anticipated as the eventual consequence of being overstocked with Negroes; and prudent and well-informed Persons of that Country have given it as their opinion, that had not General Don Pablo Morillo so seasonably arrived there, the People of Colour would have put to death every White Individual, in imitation of the scenes of the Guarico, in St. Domingo; consequently the prohibition will not cause any great complaints in those Provinces. The same may be said with respect to the other Points And, generally, although at every period at which Permissions for the importation of Slaves have been granted, they may have been necessary, the Planters have contrived during the

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intervals to manage without fresh importations, and those who had it in their power have substituted other hands, until fresh Licenses were procured.

To induce an apprehension in Spanish America of the recurrence of the scenes of the Guarico, it is not necessary that the precise circumstances should again occur which took place in that Island; a conflux of a thousand other causes, that may unfortunately combine, might give birth to the same result. The examples of so many events produced by the Slaves of different Nations, similar to those of the Guarico, but attended with consequences totally dissimilar, prove that the apprehension is rational and well founded; and it must always be remembered, that upon that apprehension is principally to be justified the policy of not allowing any more Negroes to be imported into America.

Nothing has been alleged against Slavery in general; indeed it is found to have existed in all Nations; nor is it at variance with Evangelical Law. But the question is confined to the carrying on of the Trade in African Negroes. This practice the Council considers as repugnant to humanity, on which is founded the principle of Abolition, a principle that has been recognized by the Powers concerned in the most solemn manner. And, consistently with this principle, it appears to be desirable that the feeling heart of your Majesty, pefetrated by the justice on which the measure would be essentially grounded, should vouchsafe to resolve on the Abolition of the Traffic, which has been already condemned by the unanimous voice of other Nations, without allowing any further delay; which resolution, added to others of your Majesty's happy Reign, will have this effect, that, in process of time, your Majesty will be known by the name of the Just, no less than by that of Ferdinand.

ACT of the British Parliament,*" to carry into effect a Convention of Commerce, concluded between His Majesty and the United States of America.”

[56 Geo. III. Cap. 15.]

[11th April, 1816.]

WHEREAS a Convention of Commerce and Navigation has been concluded between His Majesty and the United States of America :† and whereas it is expedient to give effect to such parts of the said Convention as require the sanction of Parliament; be it therefore enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, * Repealed by Act 59 Geo. III. Cap.54. See Vol. 1818-19. Page 949. + London, 3rd July, 1815. See Commercial Treaties, Vol. II. Page 386.

that upon the importation, into any part of the United Kingdom, of any goods, wares, or merchandize, being the growth, production or manufacture of any of the Territories of the United States of America, imported direct from the said Territories, in any Ship or Vessel built in the Countries belonging to the said States, or any of them, or taken by any of the Ships or Vessels of War belonging to the Government, or any of the Inhabitants of the said States, having Commissions or Letters of Marque and Reprisal from the Government of the said States, and condemned as lawful prize in any Court of Admiralty there, such Ship or Vessel being owned by the Subjects of the said States, or any of them, and whereof the Master and 3-4ths of the Mariners are also Subjects of the said States, no higher or other duties shall be charged or paid, than such as are charged and payable upon goods, wares, and merchandize of the like denomination or description, being the growth, production, or manufacture of any of the Territories of the United States of America, and being imported in British-built Ships or Vessels navigated and registered according to Law; any thing contained in an Act passed in the 49th year of the reign of His present Majesty, intituled "An Act for repealing the several Duties of Customs chargeable in Great Britain, and for granting other duties in lieu thereof," or any other Act to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.

II. And be it further enacted, that upon the exportation from the United Kingdom of any goods, wares, or merchandize, the growth, production, or manufacture of the said United Kingdom, or any of His Majesty's Territories in Europe, direct to any of the Territories of the United States of America, in any Ship or Vessel built in the said States, or condemned as Prize there, and being owned and navigated as hereinbefore mentioned, no higher or other duties shall be paid or payable than such as are charged or imposed upon such goods, wares, or merchandize, when exported in a British-built Ship or Vessel, navigated and registered according to Law.

III. And be it further enacted, that upon the exportation from the United Kingdom of any goods, wares, or merchandize, the growth, production, or manufacture of the said United Kingdom, or any of His Majesty's Territories in Europe, in any Ship or Vessel built in the said United States of America, or condemned as Prize there, and being owned and navigated as herein before mentioned, the same bounty or allowance shall be paid as at the time of such exportation may be allowed, upon the exportation thereof, in any British-built Ship or Vessel, navigated and registered according to Law.

IV. And be it further enacted, that nothing in this Act contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to repeal or in anywise alter the Duties of package, scavage, baillage, or portage, or any other Duties payable to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, or to the Lord Mayor of the said City for the time

being, or to any other City or Town Corporate within Great Britain; or any other special privilege or exemption to which any Person or Persons, Bodies Politic or Corporate, is or are now entitled by Law, but the same shall be continued as heretofore.

V. And be it further enacted, that this Act may be altered, amended or repealed, by any Act or Acts to be passed in this Session of Parliament.

VI. And be it further enacted, that this Act shall continue in force so long as the Convention between His Majesty and the United States of America shall continue in force.

ACT of the British Parliament, to allow British Goods to be exported direct from Great Britain to the United States of America, upon the same Terms as when exported to any other Foreign Country.*

[57 Geo. III. Cap. 58.]

[30th June, 1817.]

WHEREAS, by a Convention of Commerce between Great Britain and the United States of America, signed at London on the 3rd day of July, 1815, in Article the IInd,† it is provided, amongst other matters, that no higher or other Duties or Charges be imposed in either of the 2 Countries, on the exportation of any articles to His Britannic Majesty's Territories in Europe, or to The United States respectively, than such as are payable on the exportation of the like articles to any other Foreign Country and whereas, by an Act passed in the 56th year of His present Majesty's reign, intituled "An Act to carry into effect a Convention of Commerce concluded between His Majesty and the United States of America," it is enacted that, upon the exportation from the United Kingdom of any goods, wares, or merchandize, the growth, production, or manufacture of the said United Kingdom, or any of His Majesty's Territories in Europe, direct to any of the Territories of the United States of America, in any Ship or Vessel built in the said States, or condemned as Prize there, and being owned by Subjects of the said States, and whereof the Master and 3-4ths of the Mariners are also Subjects of the said States, no higher or other Duties shall be paid or payable than such as are charged or imposed upon such goods, wares, or merchandize when exported in a British-built Ship or Vessel, navigated and registered according to Law: and whereas it is expedient that the said United States of America should be placed, with respect to the Duties on goods, wares, and merchandize of the produce of Great Britain exported thither, on the same footing as

*Repealed by Act 59 Geo. 1II. Cap. 54. † See Commercial Treaties.

See Vol. 1818-19. Page 949. Vol. II. Page 387.