Page:Thorpe (1819) A commentary on the treaties.pdf/9

5 exercise this laudable traffic, Great Britain has thought it Only just to bestow on him a boon of three hundred thousand pounds sterling, for relinquishing the trade in Africa, north of the equator, after having already nearly desolated its western coast!!

Article 5. “ The two high contracting' powers, for the more complete attainment of' their object, namely, the prevention of all illicit traffic in slaves; On the part of their respective subjects, mutually consent, that the ships of war of their royal navies, which shall be provided with special instructions for this purpose, as hereinafter provided, may visit such merchant vessels of the two nations, as may be suspected, upon reasonable, grounds, of having slaves on board, acquired by an illicit traffic ; and, in the event only of their actually finding slaves on board may detain and  bring away such vessels, in order that they may be brought to trial before the tribunals established for this purpose, as shall hereinafter be specified."

“ Provided always, that the commanders of the ships of war of the two royal navies, who shall be employed on this service, shall adhere strictly to the exact tenor of the instructions which they shall have received for this purpose.”