



300 



IMPOLICY OP THE SLAVE-TRADE. 



The government of Brazil may, and ought to be 

 persuaded by all peaceable and friendly means 

 which independent states possess of urging each 

 other, to do its utmost in accomplishing the 

 much to be desired end ; but still, whatever our 

 wishes may be, and however much the inclin- 

 ations of the Portuguese ministry may coincide 

 with them, they must consult the state of the 

 country over which they rule. 



A Brazilian writer who has published several 

 pamphets at Rio de Janeiro with the permission 

 of the Regent, has spoken against the trade, as 

 far as it is possible under present circumstances. 

 Slavery he styles " a terrible cancer in the body 

 politic, which tends to impede the increase of 

 the white race, and as he rather quaintly ex- 

 presses himself " to Africanize the New World." * 

 This is not the only place in which the same 



of her naval superiority, has been removed at least on this 

 score ; for a sum of money was agreed to be paid by Great 

 Britain to the government of Brazil for the purpose of reim- 

 bursing those of its subjects whom it might judge to have 

 been unjustly treated. 



The captures, of which complaint was principally made s 

 were effected under the impression that all ships which bore 

 the Portuguese flag, trading to the coast of Africa for slaves, 

 ought to be of Portuguese build. This was a mistake arising 

 from misunderstanding the treaties which were concluded 

 between the two Powers in 1810. 



* Observacoens sobre a prosperidade do Estado pelos prin- 

 cipios liber aes da Nova Legislacam do Brazil) p. 16. 



