358 REMARKS ON 



tion to complete their cargoes, and the natives 

 actively engaged in collecting produce from the 

 interior ; the whole presenting an animated scene 

 of honest and legitimate industry. A slave- 

 trader arrives in the river : the trade with the 

 British vessels is instantly stopped ; the canoes 

 of the natives are armed and equipped for a ma- 

 rauding expedition to procure the slaves ; and un- 

 til those slaves are procured, no legitimate trade 

 is pursued. I submit that this involves a loss of 

 British capital and life in the following way : — A 

 vessel is despatched to the coast of Africa, to 

 procure a cargo of produce in as short a time 

 as possible. She arrives there, and in three or 

 four months has three-fourths of her cargo on 

 board, and the remainder contracted for — most 

 probably actually paid for. A slave-vessel en- 

 ters the river, and the consequences above de- 

 tailed ensue : instead of finishing her lading in 

 four months,' and escaping with comparatively 

 little loss of life, the fair trader has to remain until 

 the smuggler's cargo is complete, and loses one 

 half of her crew ; the owner loses the interest on 

 the outlay, suffers the depreciation of his vessel, 

 and as a consequence, from his vessel being only 



