Lord Castlereaghlaid on the table papers relating to the Slave Trade, and minutes of the conferences which had taken place on this subject at the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle.
§ Mr. Wilberforcesaid, that the documents were too voluminous to be taken into consideration to-morrow, as the noble lord had proposed.
Lord Castlereaghconcurred, that members could not be prepared for a discussion on the subject until the papers had been printed; he therefore would postpone his notice until Friday next.
§ Mr. Smythwished to obtain from the noble lord some information on another important point connected with this interesting question. The House were aware that conventions had been signed between this country and Spain and Portugal, for the establishment of commissions for the adjudication of captured slave ships on the coast of Africa, in South America, and in the island of Trinidad. The ratifications of those conventions were to be exchanged within a limited time; and at the expiration of twelve months at the latest, the commissions were to be established. He wished to know whether that desirable object had yet been accomplished, and if not, when it was probable that it would be attained.
Lord Castlereaghobserved, that there 434 had been three conventions concluded of the nature described by the hon. gentleman, one with the government of the Netherlands, which had not been proceeded upon, as it had not yet received the sanction of the legislature. With respect to the conventions with Spain and Portugal, bills had passed which had enabled his majesty's government to act on them. They had followed up all the details of the subject with the utmost anxiety for their completion, and although the necessity of combining their arrangements with the arrangements of foreign powers had retarded the operation, he had the satisfaction to say, that at a very early period the commissions would be in action.
§ Mr. Wilberforcecomplained, that a strange delay had occurred in sending out the commissioners. He did not mean to impute it to the noble lord opposite; but the House should know, that every day which was suffered to pass before they went out, signed the death-warrant of hundreds of their fellow-creatures.