§ Mr. Wilberforcein consequence of a difference of opinion, which took place the preceding night, on a matter of fact respecting tin Slave-trade, thought it was necessary for him, in support of his opinion, to move for certain papers. It had been stated, that very considerable trade in slaves had existed for a long time between the merchants o this country and the Spanish colonies it South America, He thought, in justice to his late right hon. friend (Mr. Pitt), and to himself, it was necessary to state the nature and origin of this trade. In the year 1797, when this country was actually at war with Spain, the government, having understood that there was no objection to receiving certain quantity of British manufactures in the Spanish colonies, issued an order of council from certain free ports in the West-Indies to the Spanish colonies. Afterwards they found, with gnat pain, that this order, which was made only with a view to the introduction of British manufactures, was made use of to cover a slave-trade. They therefore, in March, 1798, issued another order in council, and directions to the commanders of his Majesty's cruizers, in which order the word slaves was purposely omitted. The intention of the government had therefore been manifested for a long time against this branch of the slave-trade, 1028 and what was carried on was by a species of smuggling, that was perfectly unauthorised. There were subsequent orders that the trade should be allowed to be carried on during the present war as it was during the last. To confirm his statement in this respect, he should move for copies of the instructions given to the captains of his Majesty's cruizers upon this subject, on the 20th of November, 1797.
Mr. Rosecontended that the Slave-trade, which was carried on in this manner with the Spanish colonies, was the means of introducing an immense quantity of British manufacture, which would otherwise have been excluded. In the course of a single year he had known no less than 113 vessels, laden with British manufacture, to arrive in the ports of Spanish America, carrying with them on an average about seven slaves each, which was but a colour to the more important trade, the sale of British manufactures. From the acquisition of Jamaica, down to the present reign, there had been always a trade with the Spanish colonies; and it appeared to him that the orders which were only relative to prize and capture could not interfere with the legality of the trade.
§ Mr. Francisasked what the right hon. gent. supposed to be the average value of the cargoes of manufactures which had been in tins manner introduced?
Mr. Rosereplied, that vessels worth 50,000l. had found a market in the Spanish colonies for their cargoes under the colour of selling 12 or 15 slaves.
§ Mr. Wilberforcedenied that the sale of British manufactures was at all connected with that of slaves. The Spanish colonists could be supplied directly with slaves from the free ports under neutral flags, and therefore the 7 or 8 that might be brought in a British vessel could not be the reason of allowing the sale of British manufactures. He did not like the defence set up by the rt. hon. gent. (Mr. Rose) of the morality of smuggling, if the parties were content to run the risk of capture. He thought that this would not be a very safe doctrine for him to preach to his friends on the southern coasts of England.
Mr. Rosedeclared himself to have been a friend to the abolition originally, and that he thought it might have taken place long before this, if it had not been for the ill-judged manner in which the rt. hon. gent. introduced it, and the pertinacity with which he persevered in it.
§ Mr. Wilberforcesaid, that it was an odd 1029 way for the hon. gent. to shew his friendship to measure, by constantly opposing it in every stage. As to the manner he had thought proper to bring the measure forward, it was a manner that had been approved of both by the late and present first lord of the treasury, and by many persons for whose judgment he had the highest value.
§ Mr. Manningsaid, that the laws of Spain prohibited the introduction of British of manufactures into its colonies; and it was only having slaves on board that protected the vessels from seizure by the Guarda Costas.— After some further conversation the motion was agreed to.