HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



215 



tWm, from their discontent and 

 Trsentment at being torn from 

 tlieir country, and reduced to bon- 

 dage. It was clearly, therefore, 

 the height of imprudence to aug- 

 ment tile number of o\»r slaves at 

 -a time when the French weie set- 

 ting theirs tree. This transaction 

 •could not long remain concealed 

 from our own 5 and they might 

 claim from us what the French 

 had given to theirs, and insist upon 

 it in such a manner, that we should 

 not dare to refuse it. 



After some remarks by o'her 

 members, the motion for deferring 

 the bill six months, was negatived 

 by 56 against 38. 



The generality of people were at 

 this time extremely anxious about 

 the issue of the question concern- 

 ing the slave-trade. The transac- 

 tions in the "West Indies relating 

 to ihe negroes, were exceedingly 

 alarming. lire Convention at 

 Paris dreaded the difficulties that 

 would atteiKl the preservation of 

 the French colonies ; and that the 

 majority of the planters were in- 

 clined to apply 10 Great Britain 

 for protection against the edict for 

 the emancipation of iheir slaves, 

 and to become its subjects on that 

 condition. Hence they used every 

 exertion to retain the possession of 

 those valuable islands in tlie West 

 Indies, that had been the source 

 of so much wealth ; and wae 

 determined, rather than 10 part 

 with them, to admit the negroes 

 to an ample participaiinn of their 

 benefits. In their principal island, 

 St. Domingo, I'oUerel, the chief 

 agent of the tTon vent ion, i.sued a 

 proclamation so advantageous to 

 the negroes, iliat it cf)uld not lie 

 doubted they would oppose, with 

 all Iheir force, any altempt to de- 



prive them of the advantages it 

 held out to them, in order to se- 

 cure their allegiance to France. 

 By this proclamation, they weic 

 empowered to make choice of a 

 master every year ; and, after the 

 expcnces <if the plantation had 

 been deducted, to share one-third 

 of the profits : the business of the 

 plantation was to be conducted by 

 persons partly chosen by themsel- 

 ves. Privileges of this kind 

 would necessarily interest them 

 deeply in the defence of a country 

 where they had so much property 

 at stake ; and would, at the same 

 time, serve as a dangerous prece- 

 dent to the negroes in our own 

 islands. 



In the midst of these discussions 

 the main questi>on, of the total abo- 

 lition of the slave-trade, remained 

 undecided, to the great discontent 

 of that numerous part of the nation 

 which was desirous it should, if 

 not immediately, yet gradually, be 

 wholly abolislied. Ihe quest-on 

 WHS introduced into the House of 

 Lords on the 10th of March, by 

 Bishop Horsley ; who, after ur- 

 ging the propriety of coming to a 

 speedy di\ision, complained that 

 three sessions had elapsed since the 

 important subject had been laid be- 

 fore the house. In order to procure 

 expedition, hemoved that the hear- 

 ing of counsel and evidence on that 

 trade be referred to a committee 

 above stairs. 



The Duke of Claience opposed 

 the motion, on the ground that it 

 had already been negatived by a 

 great majority. The method ot 

 conducting this business had been 

 already settled, and it was of a 

 nature to retjuire time. The ma- 

 turest deliberation was due to a 

 branch of the British commerce 

 P i and 



