Page:Substance of the speech of His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, in the House of Lords.djvu/30

 Leone Company, renewed and confirmed all their former Acts in favour of the Slave Trade. So tender was the Parliament of that period, namely, that of 1790, about the acknowledged right of the British Trader to Africa, that fearful of affecting the interest of the West India Merchants and Planters, by the monopoly or prohibition of the Slave Trade, they cautiously introduced in the Bill, for the Establishment of the Sierra Leone Company, the following protecting Clause:

"Provided also, and be it further enacted, That it shall not be lawful for the said Company, either directly or indirectly, by itself or themselves, or by the Agents or Servants of the said Company, or otherwise howsoever, to deal or traffic in the buying or selling of Slaves, or in any manner whatsoever to have, hold, appropriate, or employ any person or persons, in a state of slavery, in the service of the said Company."