Brazilian Empire, and others were carried, we know, to the Island of Cuba. I believe that the Emperor of Brazil, with Great Britain, consents to put an end to the Slave Trade. And so did Spain, but after the Treaty between that Government and Great Britain, the Slave Trade was prosecuted with undiminished vigour in the Island of Cuba, the real or imaginary interests of Brazil induce her desire to import slaves. One costs 8 or 10 dollars in Africa, and in Brazil is worth some hundreds of dollars. As a friend of mine said, if horses in Virginia cost 5 dollars a-piece, and in New York sell for 100, do you think it would be proper to employ any particular means to prevent them from going there? And if slaves can be purchased in Africa at one-thirtieth the part they sell for in Brazil (and notwithstanding the Treaty which the Emperor of Brazil entered into), it will be impossible to suppress it by any squadron. We have solved a great and interesting question as to the mode by which the Slave Trade should be suppressed-and that is by colonization, 350 miles of the western coast of Africa are now occupied by the colonists sent out by this country; and in the entire extent of that coast there is not a solitary slave-depôt ; not a solitary slave is exported from that 350 miles of coast to any other part of the world. And all this is the result of the labours of the Society. Colonization is the only certain, sure, and effectual remedy for the suppression of the Slave Trade. If Her Majesty Victoria were present, I would appeal to Her. I see that we are honoured on this occasion by the President of The United States. [Applause.] If I could persuade her and him to employ the whole amount expended by the 2 nations in keeping up the African squadrons (not less than 2,000,000 or 3,000,000 per annum), if I could persuade Her Majesty and him, instead of keeping up these squadrons to apply the money to colonization, extending the settlements until the whole coast would be occupied by an uninterrupted line of colonies, there would be a vast saving of money, and what is not of less importance, a vast saving of human life. Ah! we all know the inhospitable coast-not in respect to the black race, for our colonists have suffered less than those of Jamestown and Plymouth in the space of 30 years-but inhospitable to the white man's constitution, and a grave almost to him. If we could diminish the number of deaths, and appropriate the money saved, by removing the squadrons, to the scheme of colonization; as soon as that could be done, as soon as the Western Coast could be lined with colonies, all mankind would exult in the glorious termination, and the complete suppression of the most odious and inhuman traffic, which all are so anxious to witness. It was not my purpose to say so much. I am not very well. I feel perfectly conscious that I have occupied too much of your time, and I hope that the secretary will now read the report of the Society. [Applause.] VENEZUELA. No. 577.-Mr. Belford Wilson to Visc'. Palmerston.-(Rec. May 22.) (Extract.) Caracas, April 13, 1850. HEREWITH I have the honour of inclosing to your Lordship, copies of a notice dated the 30th ultimo, and published in the 270th number of "El Republicano," the most influential journal at present at Caracas, which, in the execution of the instructions contained in your Lordship's despatch to Mr. J. Riddel, of the 9th of February, I have addressed to British subjects resident in Venezuela, calling again their attention to the fact that, save in the exceptional cases described in the Act 6 & 7 Vic., cap. 98, they incur guilt by their being engaged in slave-dealings in Venezuela; and I have expressly included, under the general denomination of slaves, "manumisos" and "apprentices," that is, children born of a female slave subsequent to November, 1821, who, as I have frequently explained in my Slave Trade despatches, are practically treated as slaves until they attain the age of 25. I have likewise considered to be included within this prohibition, Guayana Indians, "Indios Guaraúnos," "Concertados," or "Parias de Upata," for as much as they clearly come under the character of "pawns," or persons intended to be dealt with as slaves, as your Lordship will perceive by the inclosed copies, with translated extracts, from an official report published in the 979th, 980th, and 981st number of the official gazette, made by M. Andres Eusebio Level, visitor on the part of this Government to the Indian missions in Guayana. M. Level unequivocally reports that these Indians are, in the name of the Venezuelan Government, and by the authority of the law, publicly bought and sold as pawns, and treated as slaves. I beg likewise to forward herewith a copy of a despatch which I have addressed to Mr. Vice-Consul Mathison on the 11th instant, desiring him to state whether any British subjects in Guayana hold or possess Indians under the circumstances described by M. Level; and finally, I herewith send a copy of a circular that, under date of the 9th instant, I have addressed to the British Vice-Consuls in Venezuela, inclosing, for their information and guidance, copies of my public notice of the 30th ultimo. Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B. BELFORD HINTON WILSON. (Inclosure 1.)-Notice to British Subjects resident in Venezuela. British Legation, Caracas, March 30, 1850. HER Majesty's Government have deemed it right that the special attention of Her Majesty's subjects resident in Venezuela should be again called to the Act 6 and 7 Victoria, cap. 98, intituled "An Act for the more effectual suppression of the Slave Trade," an abstract of which was given in a public notice, issued from this Legation, and inserted on the 25th of March, 1844, in the 485th number of "El Liberal," at the time an influential journal published in this capital. Accordingly, in the fulfilment of instructions from Viscount Palmerston, G.C.B., Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, dated the 9th ultimo, herewith are subjoined for the information and guidance of Her Majesty's subjects resident at Venezuela. 1st. A copy of a circular addressed on the 31st of December, 1843, by the Earl of Aberdeen, K.T., to Her Majesty's Consuls abroad. 2nd. The material substance of the afore-mentioned Act 6 and 7 Vic., cap. 98, so far as relates to possible misdemeanours and offences against that Act by British subjects in Venezuela, and of the 5th George IV, cap. 113, the provisions of which have by the before-recited Act 6 and 7 Vic., cap. 98, been, from and after the time it came into operation, namely, the 1st of November, 1843, made applicable to British subjects, wheresoever residing or being, and whether within the dominions of the British Crown or of any foreign country. The attention of British subjects is likewise called to the public notices issued from this Legation, dated the 14th December, 1846, and 28th of July, 1847, inserted respectively in the 630th and 633rd numbers of " El Liberal," and the 662nd, 663rd, and 669th numbers of "El Liberal," announcing in the former, that Her Majesty's Government have prohibited all British functionaries residing in slave-holding countries from administering to the estates of deceased persons in which slaves form a part of the property of the deceased; and in the latter, that the proper law officers of the Crown having been consulted in the matter, they have reported, that a British subject in a foreign country renders himself liable to punishment under the statute of the 6 and 7 Vic., cap. 98, either by receiving and becoming owner of slaves in payment of debts due to him; or by selling such slaves and exchanging them for the money in lieu of which they were received; and stating that this opinion applies equally to the case of slaves seized in execution for debts due to a British subject. British subjects will therefore distinctly understand that, save in the exceptional cases described in the Acts 6 and 7 Vic., cap. 98, they incur guilt by purchasing, under any pretext, bartering, trans ferring, exchanging, selling, employing, hiring, holding, or contracting for their own use or otherwise in Venezuela, domestic or other slaves, or the offspring of a female slave, known in Venezuela under the denomination of "manumisos" and "aprendices," and practically treated as slaves until they attain the age of 25; or Guayana Indians, " Indios Guaraunos," "Concertados," or "Parias de Upata," described as slaves by M. Andres Eusebio Level, in the 979th and 980th numbers of the official Gazette of Venezuela. A disposition having been evinced to deny the right of Her Majesty's subjects to the protection of their Government, and to claim the privileges secured to them under the Treaties with the several States within whose territories slavery exists, upon the plea that from the fact of being holders or hirers of slave-property they have forfeited the protection of Her Majesty's Government in cases: of their mal-treatment in those States, British subjects in Venezuela are hereby informed that such a pretension is untenable and has not been acquiesced in by Her Majesty's Government, but that misdemeanours and offences committed by them in any foreign country against the before-mentioned British Acts are, except in places where the British Admiral has jurisdiction, to be taken cognizance of, inquired into, tried and determined by the Court of Queen's Bench; and that for the more ready trial and punishment of such offenders, evidence of their guilt may be taken abroad and transmitted to that court. Copies of the British Acts of Parliament upon the above subjects may be read, and copies thereof taken by any British subject, at Her Majesty's Legation at Caracas, or at the British Vice-Consulate at La Guaira, on any day, excepting Sundays, Good Friday, and Chrismas-day. God save the Queen! BELFORD HINTON WILSON, [Copy of a circular, of December 31, 1843, to Her Majesty's Consuls abroad.] [Material substance of Acts 6 and 7 Vic., cap. 98, and of 5 George IV, cap. 113, so far as relates to possible misdemeanours and offences by British subjects in Venezuela against those Acts.] (Inclosure 2.)-Mr. Belford Wilson to Vice-Consul Mathison. (Extract.) Caracas, April 11, 1850. I HAVE to request that you will state to me whether British subjects in Guayana hold or possess Guayana Indians, "Indios Guaraúnos," "Concertados," and "Parias de Upata," under the any circumstances described by M. Andres Eusebio Level, in his official report to the Venezuelan Government, published in the 979th, 980th, and 981st numbers of the official Gazette of Venezuela. If his statements be correct, and as the Venezuelan Government have allowed them to be published officially in the official Gazette, they at least can give credit to them; it is clear that such Indians are no more nor less than slaves, and as such are publicly treated, bought and sold. A British subject would, consequently, by purchasing, bartering, transferring, exchanging, selling, employing, hiring, holding, or contracting for these Indians, or "pawns," render himself liable to punishment under the Statute of 6 & 7 Vict., cap. 98; and I havo accordingly so warned them in my public notice of the 30th ultimo. K. Mathison, Esq. BELFORD HINTON WILSON. (Inclosure 2.)-Circular to the British Vice-Consuls in Venezuela. SIR, Caracas, April 9, 1850. HEREWITH I have to inclose, for the information and guidance of yourself, and of all British subjects resident in Venezuela, a copy of a public notice which I have issued on the 30th ultimo, warning British subjects "that, save in the exceptional cases described in the Act 6 & 7 Vict., cap. 98, they incur guilt by purchasing, under any pretext, bartering, transferring, exchanging, selling, employing, hiring, holding, or contracting, for their own use or otherwise, in Venezuela, domestic or other slaves, or the offspring of a female slave, known in Venezuela under the denomination of 'Manumisos' and 'Aprendices,' and practically treated as slaves until they attain the age of 25, or Guayana Indians, 'Indios Guaraúnos,' Concertados,' or Parias de Upata,' described as slaves by M. Andres Eusebio Level, in the 979th and 980th numbers of the official Gazette of Venezuela." I have to request that you will cause a copy of this notice to be hung up in some conspicuous place in the Vice-Consulate. I have, &c. BELFORD HINTON WILSON. No. 582.-Mr. Belford Wilson to Visc. Palmerston.-(Rec. Sept. 19.) WITH reference to my despatches of the 7th of May and of the 19th ultimo, respecting the freedom obtained for Louisa and her 3 sons, unduly held in slavery in Venezuela, herewith I have the honour of inclosing copies of a further correspondence which has passed between Mr. Vice-Consul McWhirter and myself upon that subject, and from which it will appear that General Beluche, in [1850-51.] 2 R |