110] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1818. 



negotiations with the other powers 

 of Europe, imposed upon us the 

 additional task of preventing, in 

 future, all this improper inter- 

 course between Africa and the 

 West Indies. — The hon. gentle- 

 man then moved " That there be 

 laid before this House, Copies of 

 all Laws passed in or for any 

 British Colonies since the year 

 1812, and not already presented 

 to this House, respecting the 

 condition and treatment of Slaves, 

 or the prevention of the illicit 

 importation of Slaves ; and also 

 respecting the condition of the 

 free coloured Population.'' 



Mr. Goulbiirn assured the hon. 

 member that nothing could be 

 more gratifying to his feelings 

 than to promote any measure 

 which had for its object the bet- 

 tering the condition of the slaves, 

 and the prevention of any further 

 clandestine importation. To the 

 measure of a registration he was 

 not hostile, but he believed the 

 object would be best accomplish- 

 ed by first conciliating the good 

 disposition of the colonists to its 

 introduction. Hehad ever thought 

 that the abolition of the slave 

 trade must be the first point from 

 which an amelioration in the con- 

 dition of the slaves must flow. 

 He hoped that the day was not 

 far distant when such a change 

 would take place in the condition 

 of the black population of the 

 colonies as would be most bene- 

 ficial to them, and highly honour- 

 able to the character of this 

 country. 



The motion of Mr. Wilber force 

 was agreed to. 



His next motion was for " Co- 

 pies of Extracts of such accounts 

 as have been received from the 



said Colonies respectively since 

 1807, and have not been hitherto 

 laid before this House, showing 

 the increase and decrease of the 

 number of slaves ; and also of the 

 free coloured and white popula- 

 tion ; also, the present numbers 

 of the above classes ; and as far 

 as the same can be given, the 

 changes in the relative proportion 

 of Males and Females in the Slave 

 population. 



This motion was agreed to. 

 As were also motions for " Co- 

 pies or Extracts of acts passed in 

 furtherance of the objects of the 

 address of this House to his 

 Royal Highness, of June 19, 

 1816 :" and " Copies of all exe- 

 cutive and judicial proceedings 

 held in any of the said Colonies, 

 connected with, or in furtherance 

 of the objects of the said address; 

 together with copies or extracts 

 of all such correspondence rela- 

 tive to the said objects as may be 

 communicated without detriment 

 to the public service." 



On the same day Sir Samuel 

 Romilly made a motion concern- 

 ing the treatment of slaves in the 

 island of Dominica. He said, 

 they had been often told of ef- 

 forts made by persons in the co- 

 lonies for the purpose of amelio- 

 rating the condition of the slave 

 population ; but of what avail 

 were laws if they were not carried 

 into effect ? He believed liis 

 statements would clearly prove, 

 that the laws which had been 

 made in the colonial assemblies 

 for the rehef of slaves had not 

 been acted upon. He would not 

 on this or any other occasion ad- 

 vance what the hon. gentleman 

 opposite denominated inflamma- 

 tory statements ; he would rather 



under- 



