épuisé les moyens d'une discussion amicale et conciliante, le but de leur désir mûtuel n'eût pas été complétement atteint, l'arbitrage d'une 3ème puissance, également amie des Parties, sera invoqué d'un commun accord, pour éviter, par ce moyen, une rupture définitive. XXVII. Le présent Traité sera en vigueur, pendant 10 ans, qui commenceront à courir 6 mois après l'échange des ratifications. Si, un an avant l'expiration de ce terme, ni l'une ni l'autre des Parties Contractantes n'annonce, par une déclaration officielle, son intention d'en faire cesser les effets, le Traité restera encore obligatoire pendant une année, et ainsi de suite d'année en année. XXVIII. Le présent Traité sera ratifié, et les ratifications en seront échangées à Bruxelles, dans le délai d'un an et demi, ou plus tôt, si faire se peut. En foi de quoi, les Plénipotentiaires respectifs l'ont signé, et y ont apposé leurs cachets. Fait à Bruxelles, en double original, le 14ème jour du mois d'Octobre de l'an de grâce 1862. (L.S.) CH. ROGIER. CORRESPONDENCE of Great Britain, relative to the Slave Trade, 1860, 1861; viz.: 38. Earl Russell to H.M.'s Acting Com- Aug. 22 Domestic slaves sent to missioner. Island of St. Thomas. Angola 41. H.M.'s Acting Commissioner to Aug. 9 Recall of United States' Lord J. Russell. 43. 531 vessels of war from Aug. 23 Reported emigration of free negroes from Lo anda to St. Thomas.... 534 REPORTS FROM NAVAL OFFICERS. AFRICA (WEST COAST). No. Date. SUBJECT. Page 62. Commodore Edmonstone to Rear- Jan. 4 Slave Trade on West Admiral Sir H. Keppel. 1860 Coast 536 destroyed by natives in ....... 95. Commodore Edmonstone to Rear- Oct. 29 Commander Douglas' reAdmiral Sir B. Walker. port on Niger expedi 96. Captain Walker to Mr. Hamilton. Sept. 28 Abstract of journal of steam-ship Sunbeam, 97. Commodore Edmonstone to the Nov. 2 Report on proceedings Secretary to the Admiralty. 548 555 565 on West Coast of Africa 605 No. Date. SUBJECT. 108. Rear-Admiral Sir A. Milne to the Feb. 21 Act of piracy on board Secretary to the Admiralty. The United States' 110. Rear-Admiral Sir A. Milne to the June 9 Regret that decision of Secretary to the Admiralty. 111. Vice-Admiralty Court Aug. 7 Commander Wood's pro ceedings on recent visit to Page 620 624 Bahama Is 625 LOANDA. No. 35.-Her Majesty's Acting Commissioner to Lord J. Russell.(Received July 31.) MY LORD, Loanda, May 29, 1861. I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that, on the 24th of April last, Her Majesty's ship Wrangler, commanded by Captain Hamilton Beamish, captured and sent to St. Helena a barque, having 488 negroes on board, about 30 miles west of the River Congo. The identity of this vessel was so studiously concealed from the captors, that, after a most diligent search, nothing could be found descriptive of either name, port, or nationality. It was inferred from the build that this barque was American, but the crew were nearly all Spaniards. From subsequent information which I have obtained here, there is little doubt of the captured vessel being the Ardennes; and I further learn that the negroes were taken on board at Mangua Grande, a short distance south of the Congo. I beg leave to avail myself of this occasion to inclose to your Lordship the copy of a despatch which I addressed to his Excellency the Governor-General upon the rather unusually frequent practice of sending domestic negroes by the Portuguese mail-steamers, to the Island of St. Thomas, under the legal representation of their being the "property" of passengers going there. Lord J. Russell. I have, &c. H. V. HUNTLEY. (Inclosure.)-Her Majesty's Acting Commissioner to the GovernorGeneral of the Province of Angola. EXCELLENT SIR, Loanda, April 29, 1861. I AVAIL myself of this occasion to remark to your Excellency that much activity seems to prevail amongst certain residents of this city in transferring "domestic" slaves from hence to the Island of St. Thomas, under the representation of a renewed disposition to cultivate that unquestionably fertile colonial possession having sprung up. This may be true, but the facility of selecting and embarking slaves from that island are so prominent, that the vigilance which I am aware your Excellency extends to the southern coast will equally be exerted to impress upon the Governor of the island mentioned the necessity of sedulously guarding the coasts of his Government. Having myself often been cruizing about that island, your Excellency will allow me to point out the ease with which a laden vessel might get away from it: 1st. The sea-breeze scarcely ever fails. 2ndly. The vessel sailing from it will almost always make good a west course. 3rdly. Before the meridian of Greenwich is reached, the ship will have crossed the Equator into the first or second degree of south latitude. The south-east trade-wind will then enable the vessel to sail freely off. I may also observe that there is scarcely ever any cruizer between St. Thomas and the meridian of Greenwich, near the Equator. I venture to offer these remarks, because I am so fully sensible of the views your Excellency entertains upon the subject of slavery, that should I even fail to convey any fresh information, I shall certainly not be considered intrusive. I have, &c. The Governor-General of the H. V. HUNTLEY. Province of Angola. No. 38.-Earl Russell to Her Majesty's Acting Commissioner. SIR, Foreign Office, August 22, 1861. WITH reference to your despatch of the 29th May last, I have to acquaint you that I approve the letter which you addressed to the Governor-General of Angola, calling his Excellency's attention to the frequent exportation of slaves as domestic servants from the mainland to the island of St. Thomas, under the pretence of their being the property of passengers going to that island. Her Majesty's Acting Commissioner. I am, &c. RUSSELL. No. 41.-Her Majesty's Acting Commissioner to Lord J. Russell.— MY LORD, (Received October 12.) Loanda, August 9, 1861. I HAVE the honour, but with great regret, to report to your Lordship the retirement from the west coast of Africa of The United States' ships of war named in the inclosed return, in consequence of which there will now be left upon the African coast only the corvette Saratoga, commanded by Commander Alfred Taylor. The recall of this squadron, under the orders of Flag Officer William Inman, which has been so distinguished for its efforts to suppress the Slave Trade, and so earnestly endeavouring to prevent the fraudulent use of The United States' flag by those engaged in that traffic, as a means of averting search by ships of war of other nations, combined with the most disinterested desire to co-operate with Her Majesty's ships of war upon this station in every available instance where unity of action appeared useful, whether to counteract the views of the slave-trader, or to protect commercial interests, must be considered as a most unfortunate event, threatening to re-open channels which had been closed against the Slave Trade, and encourage those already conversant with that traffic to recommence operations, which, virtually opposed but by one ship of war, The United States' ship Saratoga, cannot fail to offer vast inducements, with little risk. Under the supposition that no measures have been agreed upon between Her Majesty's Government and that of The United States as an equivalent for the recall of the squadron employed on the West African coast by Treaty, and feeling that the removal of every impediment to the increased action of Her Majesty's squadron becomes now a consideration of greater import, I beg leave to ask the notice of your Lordship to an extract, inclosed herewith, from the Slave Trade instructions, supplied to Her Majesty's ships on this station for their guidance, with reference to the treatment of vessels or boats acting in aid of that traffic, but not in waters within the jurisdiction of any recognized civilized foreign State. Your Lordship will see by this instruction that Her Majesty's officers are, in the event of meeting with vessels or boats as already described, enjoined to seize the slaves intended for traffic, and take them to a British colony to be liberated, permitting the vessel or boat in which they were found to proceed with any property which might be on board. The removal of slaves from place to place by water-carriage is at present an undoubtedly favoured practice, and should the British cruizers give their attention to this system, in preference to occupying an office out of sight of land, I think they would frequently meet the vessels and boats mentionod, having from 20 to 70 slaves on board; these, of course would be taken out. Having so done, the officer commanding would have the choice of one of two alternatives: first, to retain them on board until want |