MR. WHITEsaid, he would now beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, with a view to re-establish friendly relations with Brazil, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to bring in a Bill this Session for the repeal of the Act (8 & 9 Vict. c. 122) called the "Aberdeen Act"?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONNo, Sir, it is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to bring in any Bill to repeal the Act, and for this reason, that if the Act were repealed the slave trade between the coast of Africa and Brazil would be resumed to any, even to the most unlimited, extent. And, with the best intentions on the part of the Brazilian Government, it would be futile to prevent it, as we see by the example of Cuba, where the Captain General is most honestly and sincerely anxious to put an end to the trade, but the venality of his subordinate officers entirely defeats and frustrates his intentions. 1370 I may, however, state, and the House will be glad to hear, that negotiations are going on through the intervention of the Portuguese Government with a view to the re-establishment of friendly relations between Great Britain and Brazil.