Page:Substance of the speech of His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, in the House of Lords.djvu/36

 their own islands with Negroes, from the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope. I beg leave, my Lords, to impress upon your memories a few stubborn facts. The Portuguese and native merchants in India, carry on at this time the Slave Trade through Bombay. Since that period, a tax has been laid upon the importation of Negroes into that place by British merchants. I am the last man in the world, my Lords, to detract from the merits of those concerned in the management of this business; and I dare say, the Court of Directors of the East India Company were actuated by the most laudable and humane motives, when they imposed a duty upon the importation of Negroes in British bottoms.

But with all deference to that high and respectable Association, I think it a matter of great national importance, seriously to consider, how far it is prudent to encourage not only the Portuguese, but even the native