further stipulated
that, within a specified period, Portugal should treat with this
country for the final abolition of the slave-trade, and assimilate its
legislation on the subject with that of Great Britain. His lordship
went on to say, that when Portugal ceased to hold the Brazils, the
slave-trade ought to have been abolished, as there were no longer any
transatlantic possessions to which the terms of the treaty would apply.
Yet, notwithstanding these engagements, the traffic had been carried on
almost entirely under the flags of Portugal and Spain. With the latter
country, however, we had concluded an efficient treaty, which gave
us the power of seizing vessels equipped for the slave-trade, without
waiting till they had taken on board their miserable cargo, which gave
rise to hopes that this would have the effect of extinguishing the
trade. It was desirable that we should obtain similar conditions from
Portugal; and he was bound to say that the persons opposed to the
abolition were not the Portuguese people, but certain influential
parties who were interested in the maintenance of the contraband
commerce, and continued to violate the treaty with the sanction of the
Portuguese government. In conclusion, his lordship entreated the house
to pass this bill, which had been introduced in redemption of the pledge
given by government in the last session, and formed an indispensable
preliminary to any undertaking upon a greater: scale. Through the
influence of the Duke of Wellington the bill was rejected by a majority
of thirty-eight against thirty-two.

On the 2nd of August Lord Brougham moved the following resolution on
the same subject:--"That an humble address be presented to her majesty,
praying her majesty, by all the means within her majesty's power, to
negociate with the governments of foreign nations, as well in America as
in Europe, for their concurrence in effectually putting down the traffic
in slaves; and also, that her majesty will be graciously pleased to
give such orders to her majesty's cruisers as may be most efficacious
in stopping the said traffic, more especially that carried on under
the Portuguese and Brazilian flags, or by the Brazilian and Portuguese
ships, assuring her majesty that this house will cheerfully concur with
the other house of parliament in whatever measure might be rendered
necessary, if her majesty shall be graciously pleased to comply with
this prayer." Lord Brougham intimated that h