Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/323

pirates, and punishable with death; also regulating the mutual right of visitation and search.

In 1839 with Chili, by treaty signed at Santiago; with Uruguay, by treaty signed a Montevideo; with the Argentine Confederation, by treaty signed at Buenos Ayres; and with Hayti, by convention signed at Port-au-Prince.

In 1840 with Bolivia, by treaty signed at Sucre; and with Texas, by treaty signed at London.

In 1841 witb Mexico, by treaty signed at Mexico; and with Austria, Russia and Prussia, by treaty signed at London, 16th November.

In 1842 with United States, by treaty signed at Washington, stipulating that each party shall maintain on the coast of Africa a naval force of not less than 80 guns, "to enforce, separately and respectively, the laws, rights, and obligations of each of the two countries for the suppression of the slave-trade; the said squadrons to be independent of each other, but to act in concert and co-operation, upon mutual consultation, as exigencies may arise."

In 1842 with Portugal, by treaty signed at Lisbon. Also, same year, with Argentine Republic and Hayti.

In 1845 with Brazil.

In 1845 with France, by a convention signed at London, by which each power is to keep up an equal naval force on the western coast of Africa, and the right of visitation is to be exercised only by cruisers of the nation whose flag is carried by the suspected vessel.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.

Efforts to Suppress the Slave-Trade. — Operations of the Cruisers

Treaty between England and the United States, signed at Washington in 1842. — U. S. African Squadron under the treaty. — The Truxton captures an American slaver, the Spitfire, of New Orleans. — The Yorktown captures the Am. bark Pons, with 896 slaves on board. — Commander Bell's description of the sufferings of the slaves — they are landed at Monrovia and taken care of. — Squadron of 1846. — Capture of the Chancellor. — Slave establishment destroyed by the English and natives. — A slaver's history — embarkation and treatment of slaves. — How disposed of in Cuba. — Natural scenery of Africa. — Excursion to procure slaves — their horror at the prospect of slavery. — Passage from Mozambique — the small-pox on board. — More horrors of the Middle Passage. — The Estrella — revolt of negroes on board.

THE question of the abuse of the American flag was discussed by the British and American diplomatists in 1842. In the same year a treaty between the two governments was signed at Washington. The treaty stipulates that each nation shall maintain on the coast of Africa a force of naval vessels "of suitable numbers and description to carry in all not less than eighty guns, to enforce separately and respectively the laws, rights, and obligations of each of the two countries for the suppression of the slave-trade." This stipulation was limited to the term of five years from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty, "and afterwards, until one or the other party shall signify a wish to terminate it." The United States have continued to main-