Mr. Fuller would be extremely glad to hear by what regulations the honourable member's father (Mr. Ward) kept up the population on his estate in Jamaica, and there could not be the smallest doubt of all the other planters being extremely obliged to him, and most cheerfully following his example; he had heard something of its local situation, preventing the negroes from mixing with those on the estates adjoining; their habits were different, and that might in some measure account for the difference iu the maintenance of the population on that particular estate. He cautioned gentlemen, however, against being led away by false notions of popularity and humanity. Those who were planters themselves might easily raise a clamour against the cruelty of the planters, &c. but he would have gentlemen to recollect that the West Indies had been the support of the country for many years, both as to seamen and revenue. We might as well say, Oh, we will not have our chimney swept, because it is a little troublesome to the boy, as that we should give up the benefit of the West Indies on account of the supposed hardships of the negro.

General Vyse vindicated the character of the planters for humanity; but supported the bill most strenuously, on the ground that there was a most shameful abuse of the authority delegated by them.

Sir T. Turton observed, that if the measure of French iniquity was not yet full, we should surrender up to them this guilty trade, that we might acquit ourselves of any further charge as to this heinous offence; whilst it might complete the catalogue of our enemies crimes, we, at the same time, might hope to have taken one great step to wards averting the wrath of Heaven from us.

Mr. II. Addington supported the amendment; but at the same time recommended that a parliamentary com mission should be sent out to every island in the West Indies, and that Parliament might afterwards lay very high duties on the importation of slaves into every island where the traffic was found to be still carried on.

Mr. Whitbread thought it would be a most tedious and impotent measure to wait until we had the report of as many of the commissioners as might chance to reach home with the report, and then leave the measure in a great degree to the discretion of the governors of the different islands. But there was one point which he thought to be particularly

Pp2

particularly worthy of notice; Mr. Plomer, counsel for the planters, had acknowledged at the bar of the House of Lords, that it was intended to have several new pieces of land cultivated, for which a fresh supply of slaves was wanted; and there was another point to which he thought it necessary to advert, did the gallant admiral opposite suppose that we, as christians, could hope, when visited by the wrath of Heaven, as he had stated, with a burricane, could we then hope for a blessing from the Almighty by setting off to Africa to rob and murder in order to recruit our stock?

Mr. Rose entered into a minute detail of the various proceedings of Parliament, and the opinion of the most eminent public men for a century past as to this trade. He concluded by observing, that his late right honourable friend was in his heart a most sincere abolitionist, as well as himself, though there was some difference of opinion between them as to the best means of carrying that principle into execution.

Lord Henry Petty opposed any further delay; he contended that the authorities cited by the right honourable gentleman were not conclusive; on speculative truths the most clear and incontrovertible, there have been in all ages men of probity and wisdom who have had their own peculiar and exclusive sentiments. In the parliaments of France how long was it a subject of discussion, whether torture should be sanctioned or not? and yet could there be at this day found a man in civilized Europe who would profess himself an advocate of torture? so would it be with the slave trade. As to the necessity of delaying its abolition, what had been said? They set out, said the noble lord, with the proposition that the slave trade is inhuman and unjust, and then they propose to prolong that system of injustice, and continue for five years more the practice of that inhumanity.

General Gascoyne contended strongly against an immediate abolition.

Mr. Cunning took a view of the subject in three different relations, with respect to Africa, the slave merchants, and the slaves themselves; the arguments advanced by the honourable baronet (Sir C. Pole) appeared to him to have been completely overturned by the statement of facts advanced by the gallant general in support of them; he was decidedly

decidedly for the most speedy abolition of so disgraceful a traffic.

Mr. S. Stanhope was for the immediate abolition.

Mr. B. Bathurst though the immediate abolition of the trade impossible.

Mr. Barhain was of a contrary opinion, and thought that the measure to be effectual, must be speedy.

Mr. Perceval warmly contended for the necessity of immediate abolition. When, after a few words from Messrs. Wilberforce and Fuller, the question being loudly called for, the committee divided.

For the original motion and immediate abolition 175 Against it

17

158

Majority for the immediate abolition Strangers being excluded on the division, the gallery was not again thrown open before the adjournment. Adjourned at half past twelve.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

MONDAY, MARCH 9.

The brandy duty bill, the Irish duties bill, the sugar bounty bill, and the Sierra Leone bill were read a second time, and committed for the next day.

Mr. Longlands from the Court of Tiends in Scotland, presented a list of augmentations of the stipends of ministers, from 1795 to 1806. Ordered to lie on the table.

The Lord Chancellor stated, that he had received a letter from the Lord President of the Court of Session in Scotland (addressed to him as Lord High Chancellor), purporting to be a memorial from the College of Justice, which was signed by the Lord President and ten other judges, with a note of dissent from the four remaining judges. It adverted to the bill before the House for the better regulation of the courts of justice in Scotland, and stated, that it was of great importance that they should be permitted to lay before the House certain considerations relative to that subject. As he could not from the form of the memorial move that it should be now laid upon the table, he wished to receive their lordships' instruction as to the course of proceeding which he should adopt. He

therefore

therefore moved that the lords should be summoned for

the next day. Adjourned.

Ordered.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, MARCH 9.

On the motion of Mr. H. Leigh, leave was given to bring in a bill for regulating the royal marine forces while on shore. The bill was then introduced, read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time the next day.

On the motion of Lord Temple the oak bark bill was ordered to be read a second time that day se'nnight.

Leave was given to bring in a bill to secure the payment of licences by persons concerned in excisable commodities.

In a committee of the whole House on the South Sea trade, it was ordered that leave be asked to bring in a bill for regulating the South Sea trade, On the House resuming, leave was granted accordingly.

The Irish tea and tobacco importation bills were read a second time and committed for the next day.

The report on the Irish stamp duty schedule bill was ordered to be taken into further consideration on that day se'nnight.

The royal naval asylum bill was committed for Friday

next.

Sir W. W. Wynne got leave of absence till Thursday se'nnight; Mr. O'Hara, for one month; Mr. Cooper, for five weeks; Mr. D. Browne, and Mr. Dugdale for two months; Mr. Huskisson, till Thursday, to attend the trial of Sir Home Popham; and Sir H. Strachan, for a fortnight.

Sir J. Anstruther moved that the hearing of the Worcester petition be postponed to the 16th of April. Ordered.

Mr. Caleraft moved that the Christchurch petition be postponed to the same period. After a few words from Mr. Rose, it was ordered to be fixed for Monday the 13th of April.

Lord Henry Petty moved, that the order requiring the attendance of witnesses on Friday next, at the bar of the House relative to Mr. Paull's petition, be confined to those

only

only who have already given their evidence. Ordered accordingly.

MUTINY BILL.

The House, on the motion of the Secretary at War, having gone into a committee on the mutiny bill,

The Secretary at War made a few observations on the momentous object of the bill, which went to preserve the civil power from all possibility of military encroachment; he then read some of the clauses which he wished to have made part of the bill. Officers or soldiers charged with capital offences, to be turned over to the civil magistrate; but no officer to be ipso facto, cashiered for not aiding the civil power, until convicted of such charge before a court of justice. Another clause was introduced and agreed to, enacting that a mark shall be fixed on the bodies of deserters who have been twice guilty of desertion. Another clause compelled deserters to serve for life, and made such forfeit additional pay and pension. A further clause required that no person should be sentenced to the loss of life or limb, or to transportation, by a general court martial, consisting of less than thirteen officers. The clause relative to the enlisting money, as also that providing compensation for masters whose servants or labourers may have enlisted before the time contracted for had expired, gave rise to a short conversation between Mr. R. Dundas, Sir T. Turton, Colonel Barry, Mr. Rose, and Mr. Secre tary Windham, when, after a slight amendment of the latter, both were agreed to. The remaining clauses, ineluding one declaring all negroes in his majesty's service free to all intents and purposes, were then severally read and agreed to, and (on the House resuming) the report or dered to be received the next day.

A return of the amount of the five per cent. annuities were ordered to be laid before the House.

The sugar drawback bill was read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time the next day..

Mr. Hibbert postponed the consideration of the petition he had presented from certain merchants to Thursday

next.

Mr. Secretary Windham moved that there be laid before the House a return of the recruits raised from the first of January, 1807, to the latest period same can bè made.