4
18                   MEMORANDA RESPECTING THE
only the carrying of Slaves to the French Colonies, and does
not forbid their removal from the colony of Senegal. And in
proof of this they state, as a notorious fact, that * every
' any part whatever in this traffic, engage to renew conjointly their
' efforts, with a view to ensure final success to the principles which
' they proclaimed in the Declaration of the 8th of February, 1815 ;
' and to concert without loss of time, by their Ministers at the Court
' of London, the most effectual measures for the entire and defini-
' tive abolition of a traffic so odious, and so highly reprobated by
' the laws of Religion and Nature.'
But, notwithstanding this solemn treaty, and the previous decla-
ration of Prince Talleyrand, that his most Christian Majesty had
given directions, that on the part of France this traffic should
cease every where and for ever; when in January, 1817, the British
Minister at the French Court requested a communication to his
Government of all laws, instructions, or ordinances, which had
been promulgated on this subject, he received in return an ordon-
nance issued by the King, only on the 8th of the same month, as
if framed to meet his demand ; before which no step whatever
appears to have been taken by the Government of France to give
effect to the treaty.
Now, besides that this tardy ordonnance had in no respect the
force of law, it was in itself perfectly inefficient to the object of
abolishing the Slave Trade..    It was as follows, viz.
' Article I. Every vessel, whether French or foreign, which
' shall attempt to introduce into any of our colonies purchased
' Blacks, shall be confiscated ; and the captain,if a Frenchman, shall
' be held incapable of holding a command. The whole cargo shall,
' in like manner, be confiscated, although not consisting of Slaves.
' With respect to the Negroes, they shall be employed on public
' works of utility in the colony.
' Article II. The contraventions forbidden in the preceding
' article, shall be tried according to the same forms as contraven-
' tions of the laws and regulations for foreign commerce. As for
' the produce of the confiscations pronounced in conformity to the
' said article, it shall be realised, and applied in the same manner
' as the produce of confiscations pronounced in matters of the con-
' travention of the laws concerning foreign commerce.'
This is evidently the law to which M. Allain refers in his petition.
This ordonnance proving notoriously ineffective, and the com-
plaints of the British Government continuing, in April, 1818, a law
was at length passed by the French Legislature on the subject, to
the following effect.
'Article I. Any participation which maybe taken by subjects
' or ships of Flauce, in whatever place, under any circumstances, or
' on any pretext whatever ; or by individuals, or ships, of foreign
' nations, within the dominions of France ; in the traffic known by
' the name of the Slave Trade, shall be punished by the confisea-
' tionofship and cargo, and by the incapacity of the captain to
' hold a command.
' Article II. These matters shall be decided by the tribunals
' that take cognizance of contraventions of the revenue laws.'
A royal ordonnance of the 24th of June, 1818, to give effect to
this law, ordered a cruise (line croisière) to be formed on the coast ot
Africa.  But this measure, highly proper in itself, has proved almost