change for a pound note; and that, in order to make small purchases, it was necessary for three or four people to join to purchase what would altogether make up a pound note. It was impossible that trade could go on in the country unless this calamity was remedied. Thinking this to be an evil of the greatest magnitude, he had taken that opportunity to call the attention of the House and of Ministers to the subject.

Mr. George Vansittart said, that the accounts which he had received from the country were exactly similar; and letters which he had received from the neighbourhood of Abingdon and Oxford, mentioned the same difficulty of getting change.

SIERRA LEONE.

Mr. Wharton stated, that if the Chief Justice appointed for this colony had remained in England for two years, the delay was not by any means his fault, but arose from a considerable delay which took place after his appointment, before the charter was perfected. The charter did not receive the Great Seal till September last, and there had been no opportunity for the Chief Justice to go out to Sierra Leone until a few weeks ago. He was now at Portsmouth, ready to sail the first opportunity. After having thus explained what he conceived to be the most objectionable part of the grant, he concluded by moving, that a sum not exceeding 14,4957. 10s. 6d. should be granted to his Majesty for defraying the expence of the civil government of Sierra Leone.

Mr. Dent wished this grant to be postponed, and gave notice, that, after the recess, he should submit to the House a motion with respect to this colony. If this charter was not signed till very lately, why had the salary of Chief Justice been paid so long before?

Mr. Wharton said, that the appointment of Mr. Thorp as Chief Justice of Sierra Leone took place in the summer of 1808, at which time it was expected that the charter would be signed without delay. The delay which had taken place was not imputable to him, but arose principally from doubts in the mind of the Lord Chancellor as to the propriety of affixing the Great Seal to the charter.

Mr. Abercromby conceived, that blame must attach somewhere. Either this office of Chief Justice was necessary to the colony, or it was not. If it was necessary,

why was the colony so long left without a resident Chief Justice? But if the office was not necessary, why was a man appointed to that situation with so large a salary as 1500l. per annum?

Lord Castlereagh thought it necessary for him to state the reasons of his having originally appointed Mr. Thorp to that situation. The object of the establishment of the colony of Sierra Leone, was not only as a place of arms, but as an institution to produce a great moral effect on the coast of Africa, and to assist in the abolition of the Slave Trade. It was very hard to find a man of liberal character, and knowledge of his profession, that would go to the un wholesome climate of Sierra Leone for a salary of 1500.Besides the duties of Chief Justice, he was to be Judge of the Admiralty Court, and there was no other Judge of a Prize Court who had less than 20001. per annum. It was a situation which required legal knowledge; and as a Judge of Prize Courts has to determine on the rights of foreign nations, it evidently requires a man of legal knowledge, and of delicate conduct. It was not easy to find a person so qualified that would accept the situation. Mr. Thorp had held a judicial situation in Upper Canada, and although he was removed from that situation for particular reasons, yet he was conceived to be well qualified for the situation of Chief Justice of Sierra Leone; and from his having formerly held a judicial situation, he had some claims upon the Government. As to the office itself, Parliament had considered it necessary, and the delay was not imputable in any way to the individual appointed.

Sir John Cox Hippisley made some general observations on the unhealthiness of the climate, which made him think it was not a place which should have been selected as a colony.

Mr. Peele said, that the salary of 1500l. a year was certainly given very much on account of the unhealthy nature of the climate: but as it had happened, without any fault of Mr. Thorp, that for above two years after his appointment, the charter had not received the Great Seal, it was not possible to make any deductions from his salary, on the ground of England being a healthier country than that which he was appointed to. He might well say, that he bad made his arrangements according to the income of the

situation.

Mr. Whitbread said he must express his strong anxiety that the subject should be thoroughly sifted, and he would not hesitate to express this opinion, even though it had been supported by an Anti-Abolitionist. The honourable gentleman on the opposite side (Mr. Peele) had made out an amusing conversation between the public and Mr. Thorp, and spoken of the dignity of character necessary for a Judge of Sierra Leone. But was that House to be gravely told of the splendour of appearance necessary for such a situation? A noble Lord (Castlereagh) had talked of the climate meeting those who were to visit the settlement, but Mr. Thorp had no intention of meeting the climate. It was said that there was a difficulty in finding a person fit for the situation, and that Government was forced to bring Mr. Thorp from Canada: but the whole affair had the look of a job. Why was not the remuneration to wait for the service? Why was the salary to run on from the very moment of the appointment? This all savoured of an arrangement for the exclusive benefit of Mr. Thorp. But if judicial splendour was the sole object of the large salary which the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone was to have, why were the Judges of the other colonies thrown so much be hind? When the Judges in the West Indies had seldom more than 5007. a year, and the Chief Justice of Canada only 1,1001. why was the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone to have 1,500/.? His (Mr. Whitbread's) wish was, that the grant should be postponed till larger means of inquiry were afforded to the House. (Hear!) He wished that such Inquiry should be entered into, if it were only for the single advantage of Africa. If jobs were prevented in the Settlement, great good might follow at some future period. We owed a large reparation to Africa. If the inquiry into the present circumstances of the case preceded the grant, and proved its necessity, the House would, in his opinion, not be narrow in the bounty which they were disposed to expend on the wants of a colony, which miglit yet be highly important to this country.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer was glad to find, at least from the conclusion of the honourable gentleman's (Mr. Whitbread's) speech, that he was not hostile to the grant of money for the support of the colony. It was to be desired that full inquiry should be had upon the subject, and then gentlemen would probably be of opinion, that 14,000. was not a very extravagant estimate for the service of the VOL. 11.-1811.

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colony. It was to be remembered, that before any vote of the House could reach the colony, about half a year would have elapsed, and it would be necessary therefore to provide by the vote for that half year. It would be better at once to vote the whole sum, as any deduction could be made afterwards, and the proper expences at the same time provided for. The dismissed officers must have their salaries until their return home. It was well that the question should be examined, and set to rest at once and finally. The question had very serious and weighty considerations belonging to it. The future civilization of Africa, the possession of an immense line of coast, the protection of a great number of persons received in the colony under pecu liar distress and misfortune, were among the objects connected with the colony. There were others, too: he must allude to the case of the Maroons, who when in Nova Scotia cost the State upwards of 10,000l. yearly. This was the computation of Mr. King, the Under-Secretary of State. Those charges were certainly to be included in the expence of the colony. There was, on them, an actual saving to Government. It was extremely difficult to find persons qualified for the offices which Mr. Thorp was to fill. There could scarcely be found any person to go to the settlement. It was to be remembered by those who objected to the amount of the salary, that besides the usual duties of a colonial justiciary, there were those of a Prize Court: and it was better that no such Court should exist in a colony, than that it should be inadequately administered, as bad prizes might be taken to that colony for the easier condem

nation.

Mr. Dent had heard reports extremely prejudicial to the conduct of the colony. It was publicly said, that the Maroons were treated like slaves, that the native population was decidedly hostile, and there was every expectation that, at no distant period, they would rise and make an attempt to extirpate the whole establishment. There was reason to fear, that not a white would be left alive in the colony: and yet upwards of 20,000/. had been expended on this unproductive speculation, and the House was now called on for fifteen or twenty thousand more.

Sir John Newport could not see why the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone should have 1,5001. a year, when Newfound, land had a Chief Justice at 7007. and a Judge of Admiralty at 5007, both only amounting to 1,2007. The Chief Justice

of Prince Edward's Island had only 5007. though he was first in Council. It was said that the salary must continue where the officer was abroad; but Mr. Thorp was at home, and he ought to be kept there.

Mr. Stephen was glad to hear a promise at last, that the whole subject would be brought before the House. He, however, thought it improper that the honourable member (Mr. Dent) who commenced the inquiry on this night, should not have contented himself with making his motion according to his promise, without wandering into charges which were so lightly thrown out against the Government and the colony. There were many profligate and flagitious rumours; but that which the honourable member (Dent) brought forward last was preposterous and burlesque. What, was it to be supposed, that the Militia of the colony, the men who carried arms for the defence of the settlement, were actually treated as slaves? This idea was extravagantly absurd. As to the appointments, he believed it was not possible to fix on an instance of any appointment, except Mr. Thorp's, which had taken place since the beginning of the settlement, without the particular recommendation of the independent, the pure-minded noble patrons of the original undertaking. He was anxious to say thus much to an honourable member, (Mr. Whitbread), who had greatly distinguished himself in the cause of humanity, and whose speech on the Slave Trade had made an indelible impression on his heart. He had heard that speech before he sat in that House, and when he was only a listener in the gallery. Perhaps that honourable meinber would not peculiarly like compliments from him, but he must acknowledge the influence which that speech had on him. As to the other honourable member (Mr. Dent), the question could not come with any peculiar gratification to him. Africa might in his (Mr. Dent's) opinion have had some value, when it was the country of the Slave Trade; but now, when Africa could no longer supply that delectable article of human flesh, it was not good for any purpose whatever. It ought to be known, that there was a Prize Court in Sierra Leone, to adjudicate the claims on neutrals and others. The hurry of the appointment which had been complained of, arose from this:- -on the abolition of the Slave Trade in 1807, it was made a law, that ships carrying slaves should be captured, and the slaves set at liberty. It was dangerous to bring those vessels to a West-Indian port, and let the