under various pretences of abolishing the slave trade, cease to England.

The question, of the absolute necessity of an universal abolition has been long since determined, and made national; it rests now solely with his Royal Highness the Prince Regent's ministers to carry it into effect, and through the executive alone can it be finally accomplished: the nation paralysed, on discovering the delusions that had been practised, by those who so long professed benevolence for Africa, has sunk into apathy; but she is only slumbering after the shock her sensibility has received, not dead to the undeserved sufferings of the negroes, or the injustice which has so long held that continent in barbarism: the noble lord to whom, as the executive minister, the accomplishment of this most desirable work is now entrusted, will not require either petition or address from parliament or people to interest the Prince Regent further; all have expressed their ardent desire to have it quickly concluded, and every necessary aid to secure its final ratification, he has already provided, by having induced the Plenipotentiaries of the Powers composing the Congress at Vienna, to declare "That they could not better honor their mission, fulfil their duty, and manifest the principles which guided their august Sovereigns, than by labouring to realise their engagement to effect a universål abolition of the slave trade, and by proclaiming in the name of the Sovereigns, their desire to put an end to a scourge which has so long desolated Africa, degraded Europe, and afflicted humanity; and in making this declaration known to Europe and to all the civilised nations of the earth, the said Plenipotentiaries flatter themselves they shall engage all other governments, and particularly those who, in abolishing the traffic in slaves, have already manifested the same sentiments, to support them with their suffrages in a cause, of which the final triumph will be one of the greatest monuments of the age which undertook it, and which shall have gloriously carried it into complete effect."

Nothing can be added to this, it breathes the most benevolent and the wisest sentiments of enlightened humanity, and proves the determination of the greatest Sovereigns on earth to annihilate a pestilence, which has so long been suffered to infest the most inoffensive of God's creation; this declaration shows the inclination, no one can doubt their power to effect any thing, that does not belong to that Omnipotence which could "stop the rolling earth, or stay the flowing deep." But it is four years since this declaration was made, and it is evidently now full time to have it carried into effect; that the African should burst his fetters and revel in new found liberty; that innocence should be rescued from unprovoked persecution, and induce a blessing for the inter

position; that the door of misery should be closed against the merciless depredator, and the gate of commerce opened for the civilisation of millions; the noble lord into whose care this great cause has been entrusted, I have no doubt will do his duty with active benevolence, and by its final accomplishment, erect for himself a monument of fame, consolatory in this life, and recommendatory to the supreme Dispenser of inestimable rewards.

FROM THE

SECRET COMMITTEE

ΟΝ ΤΗΣ

EXPEDIENCY

OF THE

BANK RESUMING CASH PAYMENTS.

LONDON:

FIRST REPORT,

&c. &c.

THE Committee of Secrecy appointed to consider of the state of the Bank of England, with reference to the Expediency of . the Resumption of Cash Payments at the period fixed by law, and into such other matters as are connected therewith; and to report to the House such information relative thereto, as may be disclosed without injury to the Public interests, with their Observations thereupon,

Are engaged in deliberating upon their Report; which they hope to be able to present to the House on an early day after the approaching recess.

The Committee having a confident expectation that, in that Report, they shall be enabled to fix a period, and recommend a Plan, for the final removal of the present Restriction on the Bank, think it their duty to submit to the House, that the execution of any such Plan would, in their opinion, be materially obstructed and delayed by a continuance of the drain upon the Treasure of the Bank, on account of the engagement of the Bank to pay in Cash all its Notes outstanding, of an earlier date than January 1st, 1817, and on account of the payments in Cash of fractional sums under 5l.

That the Committee therefore think it their duty to suggest to the House, the expediency of passing forthwith a Bill, restraining all such payments in Gold Coin, until the Report of the Committee shall have been received, and considered by the House, and a legislative measure passed thereupon.

5th April, 1819.