MR. J. A. PEASEI beg to ask the Attorney General whether it is legal for a British firm to employ slaves in the coaling of vessels in the waters of a British Protectorate; and whether slaves in these waters have a right to claim their freedom and protection when they obtain a footing upon vessels belonging to Her Majesty's Navy?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL (Sir J. RIGBY,) Forfar(who replied) said: With reference to the first part of the question, there is no illegality in employing slaves in the coaling of vessels in waters in the British Protectorate. I may add that so far as is known the slaves offer themselves voluntarily for employment, and their employment is not a result of any bargain with their masters. As to the second part, slaves who are received on board vessels belonging to Her Majesty's Navy, wherever they may be, are not liable to be given up on the ground of their being slaves. This is in accordance with the terms of the Act of the Brussels Conference and the instructions given to naval officers.
§ SIR J. RIGBYI have said they are not to be delivered up on the ground that they are slaves, which involves their obtaining their liberty, save in exceptional cases, where, for instance, they have been guilty of crimes which are recognised as crimes for which they ought to be punished, when it would be right that they should be delivered up.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESDo I understand the Solicitor General to say that when an English man-of-war goes into a foreign port and receives on board slaves recognised as such by the Municipal Laws of the country that the commander of the vessel is to override all those Municipal Laws and is not to allow the slaves to return to their masters?
§ SIR J. RIGBYCertainly; that has been the law- of the land for many years.
§ SIR J. RIGBYNo.
§ MR. PIERPOINTIs there accommodation on board Her Majesty's ships for these slaves?
§ [No answer was given.]