MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government are aware that the Slave Trade is carried on to a large extent from the Gulf of Sydra and adjacent ports of the State of Tripoli, on the north coast of Africa; and whether they have any recent informatiou on this subject?
* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOE FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GEEY, Northumberland, Berwick)We have no reason to believe that the Slave Trade is carried on to a large extent from the ports mentioned. In May last the Consul at Benghazi reported on four cases. The first one referred to one slave embarked under suspicious circumstances; in each of the next two cases a slave dealer was found guilty, and condemned to one year's imprisonment; in the fourth case the Consul has pressed for a thorough investigation. Only 17 slaves were concerned in all four cases.
* MR. GIBSON BOWLESCan the hon. Baronet inform me whether it is a fact that no fewer than 219 slaves have applied for manumission papers?
§ * SIR E. GREYI cannot say, but I shall be glad to receive any information which the hon. Member wishes to give.