§ Mr. Briscoewished to put a question to the noble Lord respecting the Manumission of Slaves. A short time since, he had asked the noble Lord whether orders had not been sent out to emancipate the Slaves in the Colonies belonging to the Crown, when the noble Lord, to his surprise, answered him in the negative. By merely changing the form of his question, he believed he should obtain an answer in the affirmative; and he trusted he should, for such an answer would be hailed with delight throughout the empire. He now wished to ask the noble Lord, whether orders had not been sent out to the Crown colonies to emancipate those slaves that belonged to, and were part of the property of the Crown.
§ Lord Althorpsaid, that the hon. Member had, sometime ago, asked, whether orders had been sent out to emancipate all the slaves in the Crown colonies. He was surprised, that such a question should have been put, and he answered, that he never heard of any such order, because it was impossible such directions could have been given. Now, however, that the ques- 101 tion was put in a different form, he could at once state, that directions had been given for the emancipation of all slaves who were the property of the Crown.
The Marquis of Chandoswished to ask the noble Lord, if his Majesty's Government meant to submit any motion to Parliament on the subject of Slavery in the Colonies?
§ Lord AlthorpNot at present.
§ The Motion was then put, that the Speaker leave the Chair.