283] ANNUAL REGISTER, 18165. 
the ostensible support of the mi- 
nisters. Its fate may serve as a 
warning against rash and incon- 
siderate efforts in a good cause. 
Another measure, as well for 
the more effectual prevention of 
the traffic in slaves, as for securing 
their more humane treatment in 
our islands, was the object of a 
bill brought into parliament by 
Mr. Wilberforce,on June 13th.— 
He had been informed, he said, 
that the illicit introduction of 
slaves into the West-India islands 
(Jamaica excepted) was still car- 
ried on to a very great extent, one 
proof of which was, that there 
had been but little increase in the 
price of slaves since the passing 
of the abolition act: also, that 
dreadful abuses in the treatment 
of those unhappy beings still pre- 
vailed. As the most effectual re- 
medy for these evils, he looked to 
a new mode of registering the 
slaves. He was aware that a re- 
gister of them was already kept 
in every island, but it was not so 
exact as to render it a specifica- 
tion by which the identity of a 
slave could be ascertained. The 
mode of registry he intended to 
propose would fully accomplish 
that object. A duplicate of it 
would also be transmitted to this 
country, where it would consti- 
tute the title of the owner to the 
negro, so that to prove that title 
it would be absolutely necessary 
to produce the register. The il- 
licit introduction of slaves would 
thus be effectually prevented, as 
all falsification of the register 
would be subjected to heavy pu- 
nishment. With respect to the ob- 
jection, that this. measure would 
imterfere with the colonial legis- 
” 
latures, he denied its cogency, the 
paramount right of control on 
the part of the legislature of this 
country being an acknowledged 
principle. After other observ- 
ations in favour of his proposal, 
Mr. W. moved for leave to bring 
in a bill “for better preventing 
the illicit importation of slaves 
into the British colonies.” 
Mr. A. Browne spoke in oppo- 
sition to the motion, chiefly on the 
ground of its implying that inter- 
ference with the colonial legisla- 
tures, which might occasion un- 
pleasant and dangerous discus- 
sions relative to matter of right, 
and ought not to be hazarded 
without due proof of an exist- 
ing necessity; and he said he 
should propose as an amendment, 
‘«‘ That a committee be appointed 
to inquire whether any clandes- 
tine importation of slaves into the 
colonies had taken place since the 
abolition act.” 
After several other members 
had spoken, on each side, the ge- 
neralsense of the House appeared 
to be, that at this advanced state 
of the session, a measure of so_ 
much importance ought not to be 
pushed. Mr. Wilberforce said he 
should yield to this consideraion ; 
and Mr. Browne having with- 
drawn his amendment, leave was ~ 
given to bring in the bill. 
On July 5, a motion being made 
for the first reading of the bill, 
much hostility was displayed 
against it by members connected 
with the West Indies, and an op- 
position was declared in all its 
stages. It was, however, read, 
and ordered to be printed. 
It was remarked, in the his- 
tory of the Jast year, that the 
