Page:Thorpe (1819) A commentary on the treaties.pdf/6

2 of the nation, the desire of the Prince Regent, and his own benevolent feelings, in bringing this inestimable work to perfection; therefore with real concern I feel myself, as an avowed advocate of the cause, called on publicly to state, that the treaties, lately ratified between Great Britain, Portugal, and Spain, must tend greatly to augment the traffic in slaves, and that the Commission Courts, about to be established under those treaties for the detection of an illicit trade, will become a legalized protection to that commerce, and the means of deterring any spirit of enterprise in our navy for its suppression.

I shall commence with the first in order of date. “The Treaty entered into between His Britannic Majesty and His Most Faithful Majesty, for the purpose of preventing their subjects from engaging in an illicit traffic in Slaves; signed at London, on the 28th day of July, 1817.” The declared object of this convention (as stated in the preamble) is “to employ effectual means to prevent Portuguese vessels trading in slaves, inconformity with the laws of Portugal and the existing treaties, from suffering any loss or hindrance from British cruizers ;" at the same time, to, preclude any necessity for an illicit trade, the treaty has allowed a most extensive range of the African coast, on the east and westside, south of the equator, in which