§ EARL RUSSELLmoved that the Bill be now read the second time. He said he would not describe the provisions of the Bill, which were like those of other Bills for suppressing the slave trade. The Bill carried into effect a treaty with the United States, giving the right of search in American vessels, and courts were to be established at Sierra Leone, the Cape of Good Hope, and New York.
§ THE EARL OF DERBYsaid, that this was undoubtedly a Bill of great importance. It was well known that the main encouragement to the slave trade for a long period had been the refusal of the United States to permit the right of search, and that the flag of the States had covered a large portion of the horrible traffic. It might, perhaps, happen that the flag of some other Power might be abused in a similar way, but he trusted that in such an event there would be no desire to give that tacit encouragement which he was afraid the United States had given to the slave trade. If the noble Lord should detect any indisposition on the part of a foreign Power to punish such a prostitution of their ensign, he would, no doubt, take care to make an early and efficient representation on the subject in order to prevent a repetition of the offence. He hoped that the Bill would meet with no opposition, and would be attended with the utmost success, which the best friend of the negro 15 and the most determined enemy to the slave trade could desire.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.