§ Mr. Fowell Buxtonurged that the interests of the natives ought not to be neglected. Perhaps it would save the House the trouble of going into the motion of which he had given notice for to-night, if he took this occasion to ask a question of the noble Lord, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs; it was, whether it was true that a treaty was now pending with Portugal for the purpose of suppressing the slave-trade?
§ Viscount Palmerstoncertainly concurred with those who thought that if there were no rational prospect of obtaining from Portugal ampler means, by treaty, for putting an end to the slave trade carried on under her flag, the British Government would have just ground of complaint; because Great Britain had paid to Portugal a very large sum on a distinct understanding that the slave-trade should be terminated in all parts of her dominions. But he had great satisfaction in informing the House that the negotiations for a new and ample treaty with Portugal for the suppression of the slave trade, had been brought to such a point that there remained only one, and that a collateral question between the two Governments. His Lordship trusted that the same spirit of good faith which had induced the Court of Lisbon to agree to the rest of the treaty, would also lead it to concur in the point to which he referred, and he was in daily expectation of receiving from the British Minister in Portugal official intelligence of the completion of the treaty.
§ Mr. Fowell Buxtonadded, that if the remaining question respected the conveyance and removal of slaves in the capacity of servants, he hoped that the British Government would not yield the point, as it would open the door to frauds of every kind. Certain islands in the possession of the Portuguese were at present nests of slave-traders. He begged to know from the President of the Board of Control whether there was any objection to lay upon the table a copy of the despatch sent by the Directors of the India Company to Calcutta, dated Feb. 20, 1833.
§ Sir John Hobhousereplied, that he should prefer not laying it upon the table, 1267 A motion for its production had been made in the Court of Proprietors, and there it was, and there the hon. Member, if he thought fit, might consult it. If the hon. Member wanted any assurance on the subject, he (Sir J. C. Hobhouse) had no objection to say, that unless that despatch were properly acted upon, it would be his duty to urge the adoption of such measures as might seem necessary.