w observations on the
present state of the African trade, and its dependencies.

My object is, to submit to your Lordships a statement of the British
capital involved in that commerce, as exemplified by the present amount of
export, diligently ascertained from the most authentic sources of
intelligence, and to offer some brief remarks on its importance to the
United Kingdom, and the necessity of a more adequate naval protection.

In the first place, permit me to solicit your Lordships' attention to the
estimate of annual export from the Windward Coast of Africa. (Vide page
54.)

Your Lordships will perceive, that the amount of export _only_ is here
under review; and I submit to your consideration the capital vested in the
necessary shipping, also the property of British factors, resident on the
Coast, and factories belonging to merchants at home, which forms another
article of great importance.

During the present war, from the Rio Noonez to the river Sierra Leone, 660
slaves, and more than the value of 100 slaves in craft, have fallen into
the hands of the enemy; which were forcibly seized upon the premises of
factories, the property of British subjects, to the amount of 35,000_l_. at
the computation of 50 each, valuing them upon an equitable average:
moreover, about one hundred resident free people have been involved in this
violence, of incalculable importance, and ground of indefinite claims from
the natives.

When your Lordships contemplate these facts, and the annual emolument
derived from this commerce by the government, and a numerous body of
merchants, it may be presumed that its magnitude is of sufficient
consequence to justify the expense of _adequate naval protection_.

British subjects connected with, and resident on, the Coast, are
consequently become deeply interested, and are earnestly solicitous for an
extension of your Lordships' paternal care towards their possessions. The
principal amount, as before shewn, necessarily in the progress of business,
passes into currency through their hands, which, with the surplus property
they have in their stores, their buildings, and people, creates a momentous
risque, which is exposed to the predatory ravages of piccaroon privateers,
and to the hostile squadrons and depredations of the enemy.

With all due retrospective reference to your Lordships' vigilance and
watchful guardianship over our commerce, I take the liberty to remind your
Lordships, that only on