HC Deb 28 June 1821 vol 5 cc1444-5

On the motion of Mr. Wilberforce the House resolved, "That an humble address be presented to his majesty, representing that, great numbers of Africans, rescued front slavery by seizure and condemnation of the ships and vessels in which they were unlawfully carried as slaves, have been apprenticed, under his majesty's authority, pursuant to the acts made for abolishing the slave trade, in many different islands and colonies in the West Indies, for terms of apprenticeship which have in a great number of cases expired, or are near expiring; and many other African captives so enfranchised, have been enlisted into his majesty's military and naval services, and have been afterwards discharged therefrom, in the said islands and colonies:—that, from the prevalence of negro slavery in the said islands and colonies, and from other local circumstances, as well as from the ignorance of the said enfranchised African captives, for whose education means have not hitherto been provided, they are exposed to various dangers and sufferings, being also, in some cases, removed from one British island or colony to another, and are therefore no longer within the observation, or the official authority, of the protecting officer of the colony in which they are apprenticed, nor does the protecting authority of such officers Over the said apprentices extend beyond the terms of apprenticeship:—That under these circumstances it appears to this House to be expedient and necessary, that proper measures should be taken by his majesty's government for ascertaining in all the said islands and colonies, the present numbers, names, situations, and circumstances of all Africans liberated from slavery by force of the acts of parliament for abolishing the slave-trade, and which have at any time been apprenticed, or entered or enlisted into his majesty's sea or land service, and afterwards discharged in the West Indies, or which have been liberated there, without having been so apprenticed, entered, or enlisted; and for imparting to all such of the said apprentices, whose terms of apprenticeship have expired, and all Africans so discharged from his majesty's service, such protection, and such remedies and relief, as their situation may require:—and that his majesty will be graciously pleased to take such measures as shall appear advise-able for the future disposal and settlement of the said Africans."