152] ANNUAL REGISTER, !792. 
committee, for the discussion of 
this business. 
Mr. Dundas strongly contended, 
that in this matter the sentiments 
of the British planters ought to be 
consulted, and have great weight. 
He would also propose some regu- 
lations necessary to prepare the way 
for a measure of this importance ; 
which might facilitate its accom- 
plishment, and remove the many 
obstacles which would otherwise 
stand in its way. 
That branch of thetrade which was 
not applicable to the direct supply 
ofthe Britishislands,should instantly 
cease. In order to prevent the im- 
portation of aged negroes into the 
colonies, no males past the age of 
twenty-five, nor formals exceeding 
twenty, should henceforwards be 
exported from Africa in British 
bottoms: the whole tonnage em- 
ployed in that commerce should be 
limited, and strictly ascertained: the 
duty on negroes, when imported, 
should be proportioned to their 
size; a collateral security for their 
being rated according to their 
worth: laws should be enacted for 
the punishment of the white people 
who maltreated the blacks; and for 
the term of cessation, he would fix 
on the commencement of the ap- 
proaching century; a space of eight 
years from the present date. 
It was here noticed by Mr. Pitt, 
that the world in general having 
utterly reprobated the idea that it 
was just and proper to carry on the 
slave trade for the cultivation of 
the West India islands, no valid 
motive could be alleged for its 
continuation:—Jamaica excepted, 
no island required any addition of 
negroes to aid its population. 
In reply to Mr. Dundas, Mr. Fox 
denied the consistency of his pro- 
posals, and the practicability of 
carrying them into effect: he dis- 
approved of any interference in the 
regulations which the planters had 
framed for their own domestic ob- 
servance, and asserted, that when 
the importation of negroes was 
stopped, their interest would imme- 
diately lead them to adopt proper 
measures to supply this deficiency, 
by amore judicious ana considerate 
treatment of their slaves. 
‘In speaking of the barbavity ex- 
ercised over the negroes, Mr. Fox 
quoted those sanguinary laws of 
Barbadoes, by which a master kill- 
ing his slave in the act of chastising 
him, was absolved of all criminali- 
ty. He concluded by representing 
the projects of 2 gradual abolition 
as replete with difficulties, inef- 
fectual in its operations, and ini- 
mical to the real interest of the 
planters; whom it would delude 
into expectations of being able to 
prolong, and possibly to put off for 
ever, the term of a final cessation of 
theslave trade. Aninstant abolition 
was, on the contrary, @ plain and 
positive measure; attended with no 
conditional limitations and intrica- 
cies; and of which the execution 
was simple, and could not be mis- 
construed. It was founded on 
equity and sound policy ; whereas 
the other was manifestly a conti- 
nuation of injustice, equally impo- 
litic and indefensible. — ~ 
The cause of the slave trade was 
warmly cspoused by Lord Shef- 
field. He charged the friends of 
the abolition with credulity, and of 
acting with malice and_precipita- 
tion towards the colonists, and 
those who contended for the neces- 
sity of their enjoying the benefits 
of that trade. 
Colonel Tarlton, who spoke - 
the 
