Wheels within wheels in the African Institution, Attempt of the African Institution, to supplant the African Company Systematic abuse of West India Planters, Examination of Report. Intention to emancipate the Slaves avowed,-- Charge of illicit importations of Slaves, into the British West India Colonies, Charge against Colonial Legislatures, of not attach ing Slaves to the soil,... Charge of discouraging manumissions, Specific Charges against the Legislatures of Inexpediency of Parliamentary interference with the internal legislation of the West India Ferment excited in the West Indies, by the appre hension of such interference, 174 183 189 THOUGHTS, &c. &c. So much new light has lately been thrown upon the prospect of accomplishing the complete and universal Abolition of the Slave Trade, and the civilization of the inhabitants of Africa, that it appears no unimportant task, to bring this information into one point of view; for the purpose of enabling the public to form a correct judgment, on the probability of ultimate success in those great objects, which are so justly dear to every friend of humanity. The papers presented to both Houses of Parliament, by command of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, not only detail all the past proceedings of the Powers assembled in Congress at Vienna, respecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade, but develope their actual engagements, and future intentions. The discussions in Parliament, bring to the test of investigation and argument, the merits of the measures brought B forward for more effectually abolishing the Slave Trade by British subjects. All these materials of information, however, lie at present unconnected and scattered; and must be compiled and arranged, before they can be used to the best advantage. A distinct, but highly important branch of this subject, arises out of the very grave charges which have been brought against the West India Legislatures, and indeed the West India Communities in general, by the African Institution, in their late Report, entitled "Reasons for establishing a Registry of Slaves in the British West India Colonies." These charges are of no lighter import, than that they contumaciously and systematically persist in the illicit importation of slaves, in violation of all the laws passed for the abolition of that traffic; that they continue insular laws in force, whose policy obviously depends on the permanence of the Slave Trade; that they pass new laws calculated to perpetuate slavery; that they oppose various obstructions, and even positive prohibitions, to the religious instruction of the slaves; that they sell free coloured persons into slavery, under presumption of law; and that they reject every measure recommended to them, for ameliorating the condition of the slaves. The first of these charges is the foundation of a Bill, |