36 
months) of our fellow-creatures, torn 
from their homes, and to be made mi- 
serable during the remainder of their 
lives, to gratify the avarice of their in- 
human masters. 
The number of slaves imported into 
Rio de Janeiro, from the Ist of January, 
1818, to the 3Ist of December in the 
same year, was nineteen thousand eight 
hundred and two; the number embark- 
ed from the African coast was twenty- 
two thousand two hundred and thirty- 
ne, in fifty-three ships, of whom two 
thousand foar hundred and twenty-nine 
died in the passage. 
Perola de Norta, lost 161 ovt of 425 ; 
another, the Uniao Feliz, lost 229 out 
of 659; a third, the San Jose Deligente, 
less 238 out of 464, more than half. 
It is to be regretted that this account 
has not been continued, and also that 
the importations into the other cap- 
taincies of the Brazifs, has net been 
mentioned ; but I think the above facts 
are sufficient to show that this trade is 
not discouraged by the Portuguese go- 
vernment. 
“ With respect to France,”’ says Sir 
G. Collier, commander of the British 
ships of war on the African station— 
“ France, it is with the deepest regret 
that I mention it, has countenanced 
and encouraged the slave trade almost 
beyond estimation. France is engross- 
ing nearly the whole of the slave trade ; 
and she has extended this traffic beyond 
what can be supposed bat by one only 
who has witnessed it: In truth, France 
now supplies the foreign colonies north 
of the Line, with Africans. I exagge- 
rate nothing in saying, that thirty ves- 
sels, bearing the colours of France, have 
nearly at the same time, and within 
two or three leagues distant, been em- 
ployed slaving ; and, [will add, that 
in the last twelve months, (the letter 
was dated 16th Sept. 1820,) not less 
than sixty thousand Africans have been 
forced from their country, principally 
under the colours of France; most of 
whom have been distributed between 
the islands of Martinique, Gaudaloupe, 
and Caba. France has certainly issued 
her decrees against this traffic, but has 
‘lone nothing to enforce them. On the 
contrary, she gives the trade all coun- 
tenance short of public avowal.”’ 
The vast extent to which the slave 
trade is carried on under French co- 
lours, will be seen in an account received 
from the river Bonny, on the western 
coast of Africa, dated July, 1819, which 
states, that from March to that time, 
Enormous extent of the Sique Trade. 
One vessel, the. 
(Feb. 1, 
there liad been usually fron mine to 
sixteen vessels slaving at the same time” 
in the river Bonny, each capable of 
carrying from three to seven hundred 
slaves, and that two of tiese vessels, _ 
which were there in Mareh, had sailed 
to the West Indies, and had returned 
on a second voyage; and during the 
above period of five or six months, 120 
saibof French, Spanish, and Portuguese 
had visited the river Bonny. 
A letter received from a gentleman 
on board the Cyane American sloop, 
which was sent ta cruise on the coast 
of Africa, to suppress the American 
slave trade, states, that the number of 
vessels engaged in this inkuman traffic 
is incredible; and, that not fewer 
than two hundred sail were on the 
coast at the date of the letter, all of them 
fast sailers, well manned and armed, 
and. that the Cyane had beeu chasing 
night and day since her arrival on that 
station, and had five’ or six slave ships 
in sight at the same time. 
A letter received from a resident at 
Gaudaloupe, states, that on the 29th of 
Oetoher, £820, were landed there two 
hundred and nine slaves, eight havin 
died on the voyage, and were disposed 
of at L501. per head. On the 18th of 
November in thesame year, were land- 
ed at Capisterre, in Gaudaloupe, about 
two hundred slaves. There ean be no- 
thing, le says, which prevents the sei- 
zure of these vessels but a good under- 
standing with the custom-house officers, 
or the private zastructions of the Gover- 
nor, to favour this criminal traffic. 
On the 24th of February, 1821, arriv- 
ed the brig Fox at tlie same island,. 
after an absence of a year, with a cargo 
of three hundred slaves (28 having de- 
stroyed themselves during the voyage), 
and were all sold, exeept about eighty, 
the following Sunday, for 1501. per head 
of an average. 
In this manner are many thousand 
slaves introduced into Gandalonpe, and 
he likewise adds, that seamen have 
a great temptation to go on the slave 
trade; that they receive from twenty 
to thirty dollars per month, and some 
have to receive on their return two 
hundred dollars balance of wages ; and 
T cannot conclude his communication 
without expressing his horror and in- 
dignation when he has to relate, that 
the Sabbath is the day on which, gene- 
rally speaking, the sale of slaves takes 
place; and he adds, that he could have 
caused one of the vessels above-men- 
tioned to have been seized, could he 
have 
