PRELIMINARY ESSAY. 



35 



to some other State, for which scheme there are not 

 wanting partisans in GubaP x 



These extracts show the antagonistic positions held 

 by the governments of Spain and Great Britain to 

 the close of the year 1852, and afford a clear insight 

 into the aims of the latter, in regard to the 

 political and social relations of Cuba* In the begin- 

 ning of 1853, these positions were unchanged, and 

 England continued to press her demands with una- 

 bated vigor. This is evident from the following dis- 

 patches : 



LORD JOHN RUSSELL TO LORD HOWDEN. 



[Extract.] " Foreign Office, January 31, 1853. 



"Your lordship may be assured, that however 

 friendly the councils of her majesty may be to 

 Spain, whatever may be the interest of this country 

 not to see Cuba in the hands of any other power 

 than Spain, yet, in the eyes of the people of this 

 country, the destruction of a trade which conveys 

 the natives of Africa to become slaves in Cuba, will 

 furnish a large compensation for such a transfer. 

 For such an exhibition of public feeling the govern- 

 ment of Spain should be prepared." 2 



1 London Daily News, 31st December, 1852. 



2 Report on the Slave Trade, 1853— p. 195. 



