mediately after the cessation of hostilities, they were sent in great numbers. According to the es timate of the Edinburg Review, they were sent to those colonies at the rate of fifty-seven thousand per annum, but Anderson, in his History of Commerce, estimates the annual supply at one hun dred thousand. Most of the English colonies on the American continent earnestly and perseveringly protested against the Slave Trade, but England persisted regardless of all opposition.

The first opposition to the Slave Trade in England commenced about the year 1787 or '83. In 1792, Mr. Wilberforce moved in the English Parliament, the abolition of this trade, but his motion failed by a large majority. From this time until the year 1807, the subject was perseveringly discussed in Parliament; this year they succeeded in passing an act providing for the abolition of the trade. To accomplish this result, however, the opponents of the Slave Trade were compelled to change their ground of attack. At first they attacked the trade on the grounds of humanity and justice, but seeing that these arguments had no effect whatever on the rulers of the Kingdom, they abandoned these, and urged the ground of interest alone.

They urged that the English Colonies wer

ply supplied with Slaves, whilst the Colonies of other nations were not-that these other na

tions, se soon as England abolished the trade, would be bound to follow her example-hence the scheme would greatly benefit the Agriculture, trade, navigation and manufactures of England. The scheme was carried through on the ground that it would secure the supremacy of England in the Agriculture and trade of the tropics, without the least regard to the motives of humanity and justice. As further evidence of the truth of this, the trade, during its discussion in the English Parliament, greatly increased. Take the island of Jamaica: in the year 1787, this island contained a black population of only 250,000, in twenty years thereafter, that is, in the year 1807, this population had increased to 400,000. It was likewise urged by the opponents of the Slave Trade, that if it were abolished, a more lucrative trade could be established with Africa. Presuming that other nations would be bound to follow her example in the abolition of the trade, she supposed that her superior manufacturing industry and skill would enable her to monopolize the whole of the African Trade. Spain, Portugal, and other nations engaged in the trade, commonly made their purchases with such articles of manu

facture, as were calculated to please the fancy of the Negroes. Now England supposed that by inducing other nations to follow her example in abolishing the trade, she could readily monopolize the whole of this lucrative commerce. Mr. WHIT BREAD said, that.

"The suppression of the Slave Trade was regarded in the British Parliament less as a questionof humanity, than as an account of profit and loss, where the gold of England was balanced against African blood."

In furtherance of her policy, England had no sooner abolished the Slave Trade in her own colonies, than she commenced a series of efforts to induce others to follow her example. Lord Lauderdale was despatched by Mr. Fox on this mission, to the Court of France, in the year 1807. The French Cabinet refused to listen to the proposition which was made by the English Government, and gave for reasons "that England was enabled to abolish the Slave Trade, because her colonies were abundantly supplied with blacks. That was not the case with the French colonies; and while it would cause no inconvenience to Eng land, it would operate very disadvantageously to France." After the peace of 1814, England re.doubled her efforts to induce others to abolish the Slave Trade; she was fearful that those colo

nies which had not supplied themselves with Slaves during the war, would avail themselves of the then existing peace in order to get a full supply. England was fearful that if other nations continued the Slave Trade after it was abolished by her, that they would be enabled to outstrip her in the supply of tropical productions, and in navigation, commerce, and manufactures. Hence Lord CASTLEREAGH, in a confidential communication to the Duke of Wellington, asks:

"How England will be able to succeed in wresting from the colonies of other nations the advantage they derive from the possibility of carrying on the Slave Trade ?"

England applied to Ferdinand, King of Spain, to induce him to abolish the Slave Trade, but he refused to listen to the proposition. But when the subject was brought before the Congress of Vienna, the English Minister, Lord Castlereagh, after four successive sittings, obtained the declaration of all the powers represented in the Congress, that they would abolish the trade. This was on the 8th of February 1815, but notwithstanding this unanimous and positive declaration of principle, there was no immediate practical result.

France agreed to abolish the Slave Trade on the third of July, 1815-and Spain, in the trea

ty of Madrid, September 23d, 1817, agreed-for, and in consideration of the sum of £400,000 sterling, to abolish the Slave Trade immediately, north of the equator; and after the thirtieth of Septem ber, 1820, to abolish it altogether.

I will here introduce the language of Mr. WILBERFORCE himself, in reference to the motives of England, in this treaty with Spain. Mr. WIьBERFORCE declared on the 7th of February, 1818:

"That the pecuniary sacrifice would be greatly compensated by the commercial advantages Eng. land would derive from the treaty.' "That Spain, ceasing to carry merchandise to the coast of Africa in exchange for Slaves, England would take her place, and distribute the products of her, manufactures from the Senegal to the Niger, over an immense extent of territory."

Lord PALMERSTON likewise remarked:

"That the abolition of the Slave Trade had served to develope the commerce and navy of England."

I might, were it necessary, introduce a great variety of other testimonies to prove the selfish, policy of England in connexion with the Slave Trade; but having said what is deemed sufficien t on this subject, I shall proceed to make a few re.... marks on the Right of Search, So much of late has been said on this subject, that I deem it prop