92 
been landed contrary to the intent 
of the act. Such were the multi- 
plied regulations by which this wise 
and humane law prevented any Bri- 
tish subject from being accessary to 
the foreign slave trade. But it went 
a step farther, and lent its assistance 
to the order in council, which was 
issued in Mr. Pitt’s last administra- 
tion, for preventing the importation 
of slaves into the colonics conquered 
by our armies, during the present 
war. That order would, of course, 
onlybegin to operate on the vessels 
when they came to the conquered 
settlement. The power of the crown 
extended no further. But this act 
extended its whole provisions in. the 
case of the foreign slave trade, to 
the supply of the conquered colo- 
nies in every stage of its progress ; 
so that the intention of the order of 
council was carried into complete 
effect, and a stop put, with a few 
trivial exceptions, to the whole im- 
portation of negroes into the exten- 
sive settlements of Dutch Guiana, St. 
Lucia, and Tobago. 
The zeal of ministers did not step 
here; for soon after they brought 
another bill into parliament, which 
passed without opposition, for the 
purpose of preventing the increase 
of the British slave trade in al! its 
branches. The object of this bill 
(46 Geo. LI. cap. 119.) was to 
prohibit any vessel, under severe 
penalties, from being engaged in 
the African slave trade, which had 
not been actually employed in that 
traffic before the Ist of August 1806, 
er contracted for to be employed in 
it before the 10th of June in that 
year, and unless the same could be 
proved before commissioners to be 
appointed by the treasury for that 
purpose, This act was limited in its 
duration to the term of two years 
ee 3 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806 
after the conclusion of the session of 
parliament then sitting ; but, fortu- 
nately, long before the expiration 
of that period, every provision for 
the limitation or regulation of this 
iniquitous traffic was rendered un- 
necessary by the total, and we trust 
final abolition of the British slave 
trade on the coast of Africa. 
The next measure which ministers 
brought forward upon this subject, 
was the resolution formerly alluded 
to, moved by Mr. Fox in the house 
of commons, with which that great 
statesman closed his parliamentary 
career, The words of the resolu. 
tion were, ‘‘ That this house con. 
ceiving the African slave trade to be 
contrary to the principles > justice, 
humanity, and sound policy, will, 
with all practicable expedition, pro- 
ceed (o take effectual measures for 
abolishing the said trade, in such 
manner, and at such period, as may 
be deemed advisable.” The reso 
lution was opposed by Mr. Rose, 
lord Castlereagh, the two members 
for Liverpool, and some other pers 
sons, but on a division taking place 
it was carried by a majority of 114 
to 15. The resolution was then sent 
up to the lords, and a conference 
demanded, ‘‘ upon a matter in whieh 
the reputation of the country, for 
justice, humanity, and sound policy, 
was deeply interested.” Accord 
ingly, after this conference, the lords 
joined in the same resolution, on the 
motion of lord Grenville, by a mas 
“jority of 41 to 20. 
The last step taken in this great 
work, was an address from both 
houses of parliament to the king, 
*¢ beseeching him to take such mea- 
sures as may appear most effectual 
for obtaining, by negociation, the 
concurrence and concert of foreign 
powers in the abolition of the slave 
trade, 
