HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
trade; and in his specch on that oc- 
casion, almost the last he delivered 
in that assembly, he declared, that 
so fully was he impressed with the 
yast importance and necessity of at- 
tainiog what would be the object of 
his motion that night, that if, during 
the almost forty years that he had 
had the honour of a seat in parlia- 
ment, he had been so fortunate as 
to accomplish that, and that only, 
heshoald think he had done enough, 
and could retire from public life with 
comfort, and conscious satisfaction, 
that he had done his duty.” 
Soon after the formation of the 
ministry, the attorney general, with 
the entire concurrence of the cabi- 
net, and in his official capacity, 
‘brought in an important bill, which 
passed both houses of parliament 
without any very formidable oppo- 
sition, aud afterwards received the 
royal assent. This bill (46 Geo. II]. 
cap. 52.) prohibited the exportation 
of slaves from the British calonies 
after the first of January 1807, and 
prohibited all subjects of this coun. 
try, residing either at home orin our 
foreign settlements, from being in 
any way concerned in, or accessary 
to the supply of foreign countries 
with slaves after.that period. This 
prohibition, intended to prevent the 
investment of British capital, or the 
employment of British vessels or sea- 
men in the fureign slave trade, and 
thereby to cut off a large portion 
of that commerce, was guarded 
by various salutary regulations 
and well-contrived penalties. The 
ship and cargo of any British trader 
engaged in the prohibited trade, 
either from our colonies or from 
Africa, or from other places to fo- 
reign settlements, were declared to 
be forfeited, and a further penalty 
ef 501. ordered to be levied tor cach 
St 
slave. Asimilar forfeiture was en- 
acted with regard to any vessel em- 
ployed in supplying foreign vessels 
with slaves on the coast of Africa ; 
and a penalty of 100l. was ordered 
to be levied from any British sub- 
ject engaged in furnishing, or indi- 
rectly forwarding such asupply. A 
clause was also inserted for the pur- 
pose of preventing British credit or 
capital from being embarked in the 
foreign slave trade. Every method 
by which British subjects, or per- 
sons resident ia the British domi- 
nions, might be conceived to aid the 
slave trade of foreign nations was 
anxiously enumerated. Investment 
of stock—ivan of money—loan of 
vessels—becoming collector of secu- 
rity to such bonds, &c. were all de- 
clared unlawful, and liable to a for- 
feiture of double the sums advanced ; 
and all bonds or othen securities 
given for such unlawful loans were 
declared to be null and void, except 
in the hands of bon@ fide purchasers. 
Moreover, all insurances on suck 
prohibited insurances were declared 
void and subjected to a penalty of 
5001. it was likewise declared to 
be unlawful to assist in the outfitting 
of any foreign vessels sailing for 
‘Africa, and severe penalties were 
attached to that offence. All British 
vessels clearing out for the slave 
trade, were required to give bond 
not to engage directly or indirectly 
in the foreign slave trade. ‘The same 
declaration was declared to be ne- 
cessary in the case of slaves exported 
from one British settlement to an- 
other; and all vessels arriving in our 
colonies were ordered to make de- 
claration at the nearest custom. 
house, accompanied with evidence 
from log-books, surgeon’s testi- 
mony and journal, and testimony 
of other officers, that no slayes had 
been 
