it necessary for him to submit the Question to the Cabinet before he gave me an Official Answer. It was agreed that I should present a Note upon the subject, which I did on the following day; a Copy of it I have the honour to enclose. A week having elapsed without an Answer, I thought it advisable to speak again to His Excellency upon the subject. This second conversation produced the Note, a Translation of which I have the honour to enclose. It appears to me to leave nothing to be desired; and I cannot but congratulate His Majesty's Government on having at length obtained so positive a Pledge of the determination of this Government to concur in putting an end to this detestable Commerce. I have, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. WILLIAM à COURT. (Enclosure 1.)-Sir W. à Court to Don Francisco d'Almeida. Lisbon, September 23, 1826. THE Undersigned, &c. has been directed to call to the attention of His Excellency Don Francisco d'Almeida, His Most Faithful Majesty's Secretary of State and Minister for Foreign Affairs, that the moment is arrived when it will be necessary to come to some clear understanding upon the subject of the Slave-trade, and that Portugal should redeem the Pledge which she gave in 1810, and again at Vienna in 1815, for the total abolition of the Commerce in Slaves throughout her entire Dominions. England has distinctly and repeatedly declared, that she never will consent to sign any Treaty with Portugal that does not contain an Article for the final and total abolition of this inhuman Traffick, and the Undersigned has now been directed to avail himself of the suspension of the Negotiations which were begun, for a Commercial Treaty, to obtain an assurance from the Portuguese Government of its willingness to concur in such an Article. There cannot be a doubt that, from the moment at which Brazil ceased to be a Colony of Portugal, the single condition on which a respite was claimed by Portugal, and conceded to her at the Congress of Vienna, was done away. For the better understanding of the Question, as it now stands, between the two Governments, a Memorandum has been forwarded to the Undersigned, a Copy of which he has the honour to enclose. The just and liberal opinions which His Excellency Don Francisco d'Almeida is known to entertain upon the subject of the Slave-trade, leave no doubt with the Undersigned of his ready compliance with this Proposal, and of the willingness of the Portuguese Government to concur in an Article, having for object the final abolition of so inhuman and disgraceful a Commerce. The Undersigned avails himself, &c. His Excellency Don Francisco d'Almeida. WILLIAM à COURT. (Enclosure 2.)-Don Francisco d'Almeida to Sir William à Court. (Translation.) Palace of Ajuda, October 2, 1826. THE Undersigned, &c. has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Note and Memorandum addressed to him by His Excellency Sir William à Court, &c. on the 23d ult., pointing out, that the moment is arrived when His Most Faithful Majesty's Government ought to execute the promises given in 1810 and 1815, for the total abolition of the Traffick in Slaves in the Portuguese Dominions; and declaring, at the same time, that England will not consent to sign any Treaty which shall not contain an Article by which His Most Faithful Majesty binds himself to a final and total abolition of this inhuman Commerce. The Undersigned is authorized to declare to His Excellency Sir William à Court, that the Portuguese Government acknowledges that the moment is come to put an end to the inhuman Trade in Slaves, and that, consequently, it will have no hesitation to insert in the Treaty of Commerce (which the Undersigned hopes will be shortly concluded between Portugal and Great Britain,) an Article by which His Most Faithful Majesty binds himself, not only to the total Abolition of the Slave-trade in the Dominions of Portugal, but also to co-operate with His Britannick Majesty for the total extinction of so barbarous a Traffick, in the Countries where it unfortunately still exists. The Undersigned avails himself, &c. His Excellency Sir William à Court. D. FRANo. D'ALMEIDA. No. 23.-Mr. Secretary Canning to Sir William à Court. SIR, Foreign Office, December 30, 1826. YOUR Excellency's Despatches of this Series, to the 3d of October last, have been duly received. His Majesty's Government have learnt, with the most cordial satisfaction, the Declaration of the Portuguese Government, conveyed in your Excellency's Despatch of the 3d of October, that they will have no hesitation to insert, in any future Treaty, an Article, by which The Sovereign of Portugal shall bind himself to the entire and immediate abolition of the Slave-trade in the Dominions of Portugal, and to a co-operation with His Majesty for the total extinction of this barbarous Traffick in other Countries where it still exists. I am, &c. His Excellency Sir W. à Court, G.C.B. GEORGE CANNING. No. 24.-Mr. Consul-General Clarke to Mr. Sec". Canning.— (Received April 26, 1826.) SIR, St. Jago, September 18, 1825. I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, for the information of His Majesty's Government, that the French Sloop Frouiza Packet, commanded by Carlos Francisco Folite, arrived at this Anchorage, from Martinique, on the 28th of August, from stress of weather, having received considerable damage in her mast and main-boom. Repairing her defects, she proceeded, on the 10th of September, with her cargo of rum and tobacco, for the Coast of Africa, with the intention of taking on board 100 Slaves for the Place above-mentioned. She being a remarkable dull-sailing Vessel, I trust some of the French Cruizers may fall in with her. I regret, at this Season of the Year, I have not the power of communicating with the Commodore of His Majesty's Squadron on the Coast, to make him acquainted with the circumstance, but shall take the earliest opportunity of so doing. I am, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. J. P. CLARKE. No. 25.—Mr. Consul-General Clarke to Mr. Sec". Canning.— (Received April 26, 1826.) SIR, St. Jago, September 28, 1825. I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, that the Liberale Portuguese Schooner, belonging to Brandon, arrived here from Bissao on the 27th ult., after having landed to Windward 50 Slaves. She being so fast a Vessel, I am thoroughly convinced that not one of His Majesty's Cruizers on the Coast, with fair sailing, will ever take her. His Majesty's Government may rely on my exertions in gaining every information, and communicating it immediately. I am, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. J. P. CLARKE. No. 26.-Mr. Consul-General Clarke to Mr. Sec". Canning.(Received April 26, 1826.) SIR, St. Jago, October 1, 1825. SINCE I had the honour of addressing you, on the 28th ultimo, respecting the arrival of the Liberale with Slaves, I have great pleasure in stating, for the information of His Majesty's Government, that on the morning of the 30th, at 6 A.M., during a heavy gale of wind from the South, the Liberale drove from her Anchors, and was totally wrecked on the Rocks in this Harbour, not a vestige of her remaining. I hope, after the severe loss the Owners have sustained, (this being their fourth Vessel,) that it may be the means, in some degree, of checking their nefarious Traffick. I am, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. J. P. CLARKE. No. 27.—Mr. Consul- Gen. Clarke to Mr. Sec". Canning.—(Rec.May 11.) I BEG leave to acquaint you, that, in consequence of the Liberale Slave-vessel having been wrecked in this Port on the 29th September last, Antonio Jacinth Pinnelho, the Partner of Brandon, has purchased an American Schooner at Bonavista, of 50 tons, which went from hence to the Coast of Africa on the 27th December last, and is hourly expected to return with a Cargo of Slaves. I have also to acquaint you, that a small Oporto Yacht of about 45 tons burthen, called the Porpoise, the Owner John Antonio Gimmerains, a Merchant resident here, is also a Trader from these Islands to Bissao and Cacheo in Slaves. I have further to acquaint you, that a very fine American-built Schooner, under Portuguese Colours, named the Carolina, commanded by Victor Nobre de Britto, is at present at Bissao, on a Slaving-voyage; she is owned by a Person at Fogo, and, from the best information I am able to obtain, so far from this Trade decreasing in these Islands, it is rapidly increasing, more particularly now the Brazilian Ports are open for their reception. I have the honour to be, &c. The Right Hon. George Canning. J. P. CLARKE. No.28.-Mr.Consul-Gen. Clarke to John Bidwell, Esq.—(Rec. July 10.) Ville de Praie, St:Jago, April 10, 1826. SIR, I HAVE the honour to acquaint you, for the information of Mr. Secretary Canning, that, on the 4th instant, arrived at this Port the Juliana Filles, Portuguese Schooner, commanded by Joao Jacintho de Freitos, from Bissao, late American, (first attempt,) belonging to Brandon and Jacintho Pinnelho, bringing the former Governor of that Settlement, Joachim Autonio Mattas, and 2 Companies of Troops attached to this Island, with 80 Domesticks (Slaves); they represent having been boarded by an Officer of His Majesty's Sloop Bustard on the 21st ultimo, between the Coast and these Islands; a strict search could not, I presume, have been made, or she must have been detained, if these Slaves were seen, as, from ocular demons'ration, I can assert, that 20 were landed here on the evening of the arrival of the Surry Transport, and were sold (not publickly) to various Persons here; the remainder, I have every reason to think, were landed at Brava. I am, &c. J. Bidwell, Esq. J. P. CLARKE. No. 29.-Mr.Consul-Gen. Clarke to John Bidwell, Esq.-(Rec. Aug. 17.) I BEG leave to acquaint you, for the information of Mr. Secretary Canning, that the Juliana Fills, Portuguese Schooner, (with Brandon) arrived at Brava on or about the 12th instant, with upwards of 50 Slaves; likewise another Schooner, (formerly Spanish,) but whose name at present I have not been able to learn, arrived at the same period, with nearly 100 Slaves; I regret I cannot give the necessary information to the Authorities at Sierra Leone, having little or no communication with that Settlement, or the Gambia. The Brig that Brandon purchased about 2 Years since is at present laying at Brava, with the intention of proceeding with a large Cargo of Slaves direct to the Brazils. I would beg to suggest, that, if one of His Majesty's Cruizers were stationed between Bissao, on the Coast of Africa, and the Island of Brava, it would in all probability intercept the Vessels trading in Slaves from the former Place to the latter, as that Island now appears to be the principal depôt. I have, &c. John Bidwell, Esq. J. P. CLARKE. No. 30.-Mr.Consul-Gen. Clarke to J. Bidwell, Esq.-( Rec. Aug. 17.) I BEG leave to acquaint you, for the information of Mr. Secretary Canning, that since the intercourse between the Portuguese and Brazilians has been renewed, a system of Traffick in Slaves, foreign to the intentions of the English Government, is carried on from these Islands to the Southern Ports, (Rio de Janeiro, Maranham, &c.,) in which it is presumed they (the Portuguese) act strictly with the existing Treaties. Slaves (termed domesticks) are sent from hence, openly, with a regular Passport; there is now lying in this Harbour a Portuguese Brig with 67 Slaves on board, going direct from hence to Rio de Janeiro; there are also 3 other Vessels, 2 Portuguese and 1 American, with a deputation from the Governor-General of these Provinces to the Court of Brazil, in which every Person composing that Deputation takes a certain number of Slaves, nominally as Attendants, but actually for Traffick. While Passports can be obtained with such facility as is now the case, and the Trade between these Islands and the Portuguese Settlements on the Coast, is conducted in the manner it has been hitherto a final stop cannot take place to the Traffick in Slaves, they having little or no other returns to make for Merchandize imported there, but these unfortunate Beings. Mr. Secretary Canning must be perfectly aware that the Americans have great intercourse with the various Settlements on the Coast, and although they may not appear openly in the Trade, they are finally paid by the produce of Slaves shipped to these Islands; one circumstance I am well aware has taken place within a very short period; a Merchant, in Boston, (United States) sent a Cargo of Merchandize to Bissao, which was disposed of to the Governor, and a note of hand passed by the latter for the Amount, which has been compromised by a return of Slaves. By the arrival of His Majesty's Ship Leven, Captain Owen, I am informed, it is the intention of Commodore Bullen to visit this Island |