x POSTSCRIPT TO PREFACE. 



European Governments, shut them out from commerce and 

 every civilizing influence. 



This Portuguese pretence to dominion is the curse of 

 the negro race on the East Coast of Africa, and it would 

 soon fall to the ground, were it not for the moral support it 

 derives from the respect paid to it by our own flag. The 

 Emperor Napoleon III. disregarded it in the case of the 

 " Charles et Georges," while only by the aid of English sailors 

 has the Government of Mosambique, on more than one 

 occasion, been saved from being overturned. Our squadron 

 on the East Coast costs over 70,000?. a year, and, by our 

 acquiescence in the sham sovereignty of the Portuguese, we 

 effect only a partial suppression of the slave-trade, and 

 none of the commercial benefits which have followed direct 

 dealing with the natives on the West Coast. A new law for 

 the abolition of slavery has been proposed by the King of 

 Portugal ; but it inspires me with no confidence, as no means 

 have ever been taken to put similar enactments already 

 passed into execution, and we can only view this as a new 

 bid for still further acquiescence in a system which per- 

 petuates barbarism. Mons. Lacerda has unwittingly shown, 

 by his eager advocacy, that the real sentiments of his 

 employers are decidedly pro-slavery. The great fact that 

 the Americans have rid themselves of the incubus of slavery, 

 and will probably not tolerate the continuance of the 

 murderous slave-trade by the Portuguese nation, has done 

 more to elicit their king's recent speech than the opinions of 

 his ministry. 



