ACT for the more effectual Suppression of the African Slave Trade*. [31st March, 1824.]

WHEREAS it is expedient to make further provision for the suppression of the African Slave Trade, by enacting that Persons committing the offences herein-after specified shall be deemed and adjudged to be guilty of Piracy; be it therefore enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That if any Subject or Subjects of His Majesty, or any Person or Persons residing or being within any of the Dominions, Forts, Settlements, Factories, or Territories, now or hereafter belonging to His Majesty, or being in His Majesty's Occupation or Possession, or under the Government of the United Company of Merchants in England trading to the East Indies, shall, except in such cases as are in and by the Laws now in force permitted, after the 1st of January, 1825, upon the High Seas, or in any Haven, River, Creek, or Place, where the Admiral has jurisdiction, knowingly and wilfully carry away, convey, or remove, or aid or assist in carrying away, conveying, or removing, any Person or Persons as a Slave or Slaves, or for the purpose of his, her, or their being imported or brought as a Slave or Slaves into any Island, Colony, Country, Territory, or Place whatsoever, or for the purpose of his, her, or their being sold, transferred, used or dealt with as a Slave or Slaves; or shall, after the said 1st day of January, 1825, except in such cases as are in and by the Laws now in force permitted, upon the High Seas, or within the jurisdiction aforesaid, knowingly and wilfully ship, embark, receive, detain, or confine, or assist in shipping, embarking, receiving, detaining, or confining, on board any Ship, Vessel, or Boat, any Person or Persons, for the purpose of his, her, or their being carried away, conveyed, or removed as a Slave or Slaves, or for the purpose of his, her, or their being imported or brought as a Slave or Slaves into any Island, Colony, Country, Territory, or Place whatsoever, or for the purpose of his, her, or their being sold transferred, used, or dealt with as a Slave or Slaves, then and

* 5th Geo. 4., cap. 17.

in every such case the Person or Persons so offending shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of Piracy, Felony, and Robbery, and being convicted thereof, shall suffer Death without Benefit of Clergy, and Loss of Lands, Goods, and Chattels, as Pirates, Felons, and Robbers upon the Seas ought to suffer.

II. Provided always, and it is hereby further enacted and declared, That nothing in this Act contained, making and declaring the aforesaid Offences to be Piracies, Felonies, and Robberies, shall be construed to repeal, annul, or alter the provisions and enactments in any other Act or Acts contained, imposing Forfeitures and Penalties, or either of them, upon the same Offences, or to repeal, annul, or alter the remedies given for the recovery thereof; but that the said provisions and remedies shall in all respects be deemed and taken to be and remain in full force, as they existed immediately before the passing of this Act: Provided also, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to repeal, annul, or alter any of the enactments or provisions contained in an Act passed in the 51st Year of His late Majesty, intituled "An Act for rendering more effectual an Act made in the 47th Year of His Majesty's Reign," intituled, "An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade;" except so far as such enactments or provisions are altered or varied by this Act; but that the said Act shall in all other respects remain in full force and effect.

III. And be it further enacted and declared, That all and every the Offences herein-before specified shall and may be enquired of, either according to the ordinary course of Law, and the provisions of an Act passed in the 28th Year of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, intituled "An Act for Pirates," or according to the Provisions of an Act passed in the 46th Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Third, intituled "An Act for the more speedy Trial of Offences committed in distant Parts upon the High Seas."

IV. And be it further enacted, That this Act may be amended, altered, or repealed by any Act or Acts to be passed in this present Session of Parliament.

ORDER in COUNCIL respecting the struction, and improvement of the Slaves in the Island of Trinidad.

Religious In-
Condition, of

AT THE COURT AT CARLTON House, the 10th of March, 1824.

Present:

THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY
IN COUNCIL.

1. WHEREAS it is necessary that provision should be made for the Religious Instruction of the Slaves in His Majesty's Island of Trinidad, and for the improvement of their condition, And whereas the Procurador Syndic of the Cabildo, of the Town of Port of Spain in the said Island, hath hitherto performed the duties of the Office of Protector and Guardian of Slaves in the said Island, and it is expedient that the said Office should be more fully established, and that the duties thereof should be more clearly ascertained, and that provision should be made for the support thereof: His Majesty is therefore pleased, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, that the Procurador Syndic of the Cabildo, of the Town of Port of Spain aforesaid, shall be and he is hereby confirmed in his said Office of Protector and Guardian of Slaves: And that as such Protector of and Guardian of Slaves, he shall receive and be paid, at the time and in the manner hereinafter mentioned, such Salary as His Majesty shall be pleased to appoint; and that such Salary shall commence from and after the 24th day of June, in the present Year 1824, and that on or before that day, if possible, or if not then, so soon afterwards as conveniently may be, the said Protector and Guardian of Slaves shall appear before the Governor, or Acting Governor for the time being of the said Island and in his presence shall take and subscribe an Oath in the following words, that is to say :

"I., A. B. do swear, that I will, to the best of my knowledge "and ability, faithfully execute and perform the duties of the "Office of Protector and Guardian of Slaves in the Island of "Trinidad, without fear, favour, or partiality.-So help me "God."

Provided nevertheless, and it is hereby ordered, That nothing herein contained shall extend to prevent His Majesty from disuniting the Office of Protector and Guardian of Slaves from the Office of Procurador Syndic aforesaid, and from appointing a distinct and separate Officer to act as, and be the Protector and Guardian of Slaves in case His Majesty shall see fit so to do.

2. And it is hereby further ordered, That the said Protector and Guardian of Slaves shall establish and keep an Office in the Town of Port of Spain in the said Island, and shall regularly attend at such Office on such days, and during such hours of the day, as the Governor or Acting Governor of the said Colony, by any General or special Orders to be by him, from time to time, issued, may appoint; and shall at such Office, and not elsewhere, keep, deposit, and preserve, the several Records, Books, Papers, and Writings, hereinafter directed to be kept by him.

3. And it is further ordered, That the said Protector and Guardian of Slaves shall not be the Owner or Proprietor of any Plantation situate within the said Island, or of any Slaves or Slave employed or worked upon any Plantation or in any kind of Agriculture, and shall not have any share or interest in, or any mortgage or security upon, any such Plantation, Slaves, or Slave; and shall, and is hereby declared to be incompetent to act as, or be the Manager, Overseer, Agent, or Attorney of, for, or upon any Plantation or Estate within the said Island, or to act as the Guardian, Trustee, or Executor of any person or persons, having, or being entitled to, any such Plantation, or any Slaves, or Slave; and in case any such Protector and Guardian of Slaves within the said Island shall have, acquire, hold, or possess, either in his own right, or in right of his wife, or in trust for any other persons or person, any Plantation situate within the said Island, or any Slaves or Slave employed or worked upon any Plantation, or in any kind of Agriculture, or any share or interest in, or any mortgage or security upon any such Plantation, or Slaves or Slave, or shall act as such Manager, Overseer, Agent, Attorney, Guardian, Trustee, or Executor, as aforesaid, he shall thenceforth, de facto, cease to be such Protector and Guardian of Slaves as aforesaid, and forfeit such his Salary; and some other fit and proper Person shall forthwith be appointed to succeed to the said Office. Provided, nevertheless, that all