It is at present a rare sight to witness the presence of the Chilean flag on the coasts of slave-exporting countries; but the project of the Chilean Government to promote the emigration of the industrious natives of the Canary Islands to this State will, I conceive, augment the influx of Chilean vessels, and thus cause a decrease in that suspicion which would, while no such emigration is carried on, attach to the appearance of the Chilean flag, and of which slave-dealers would undoubtedly hasten to take advantage.

The Earl of Aberdeen, K.T.

JOHN WALPOLE.

(Inclosure 1.)-Colonel Walpole to Senhor Irarrázaval.

Santiago, December 2, 1843. THE Undersigned, &c., desirous of carrying into their full effect the directions received from his Government, and animated by the favourable reception given during the last interview with which he was honoured by his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, &c. to his proposition for a renewal of the negotiations suspended at the desire of his Excellency in the course of the last year, having for their object an extension of the limits wherein may be exercised the right of search of vessels sailing under the Chilean flag, and employed in the conveyance of slaves, begs to refer his Excellency to the note addressed to him on the 12th of September, of the last year, wherein are stated the terms proposed to be annexed, in the form of Additional Articles to the Treaty for the abolition of the traffic in slaves, signed on the 19th January, 1839, and to form a part thereof.

From the contents of the note received by the Undersigned from his Excellency Senhor Irarrázaval, dated November 10th, of the last year, he argues the final and felicitous attainment of an object, the importance of which has been fully recognised by the Government which his Excellency so worthily represents.

In that paper was expressed the desire of his Excellency's Government for the postponement of further discussion, in order that a more attentive consideration might be dedicated to the arguments adduced by the Undersigned, and to that were adjoined its hopes that time and circumstances would throw more light on the question advocated by

him.

To these expressions the Undersigned could not but attach a construction favourable to the object in view; and when he reviews the space of time which has since transpired, and the circumstances and changes which have meanwhile occurred, eminently calculated to extinguish the alarms and remove the ungenerous suspicions created by the clamours of the malicious; when he reflects on the well-known disposition of the President of this State, at all times prone to adopt

the suggestions of justice and general humanity, supported by the characteristic benevolence of his Excellency to whom the Undersigned now addresses himself, he cannot refrain from entertaining the most sanguine predictions of the success of the project now again submitted to the Chilean Government, at the earnest desire of that of Her Britannic Majesty, and from the consummation of which is prognosticated the annihilation of the infamous system still pursued.

The Undersigned, conceiving that the repetition of his reasons. stated in support of his proposal might be viewed as supererogatory and superfluous, will confine himself for the present to a renewal of the terms proposed, viz.:

1st. That the line extending along the western coast of Africa, from the 40th degree of south latitude to the 25th of north latitude, should be prolonged to such a distance as should include the whole of the Canary Islands.

2nd. That a line should be drawn eastward from the 27th degree of west longitude, calculated from the meridian of Greenwich, along the 40th degree of south latitude until it shall attain the 60th degree of longitude east of the same meridian, and thence proceed northward including the eastern coast of Africa, and abutting on the territory of Muscat. The Undersigned &c.

H.E. Senhor Irarrázaval.

JOHN WALPOLE.

(Inclosure 2.)-Senhor Irarrázaval to Colonel Walpole. (Translation.) Santiago, December 4, 1843. THE Undersigned &c. has had the honour to receive the note which Mr. Walpole, &c. has addressed to him, dated the 2nd instant calling the attention of the Undersigned to the negotiations which last year remained suspended, respecting the limits within which the search of Chilean vessels may be effected with the object of preventing the traffic in Slaves.

The Undersigned, informed of the intentions of his Government in this respect, will have much satisfaction in treating on it with Mr. Walpole in this Office of Foreign Relations, on Thursday next, the 7th instant, at 1 o'clock in the day, if Mr. Walpole, should not find it inconvenient. The Undersigned, &c.

The Hon. Colonel Walpole.

R. L. IRARRAZAVAL.

(Inclosure 3.)-Project of a Convention.

(Inclosure 4.)-Senhor Irarrázaval to Colonel Walpole. (Translation.)

Santiago, January 15, 1844. The Undersigned, &c. has the honour to reply to the note dated the 2nd of December of the last year, which the Honourable John Walpole, &c. was pleased to address to him, pressing for a renewal of

the negotiations relative to the amplification of the limits within which the right of searching Chilean vessels which may appear to be employed in the Slave Trade may be exercised, with reference to the Treaty of the 19th of January, 1839.

The Undersigned neither judges it necessary to express anew to Mr. Walpole the sentiments which animate this Republic with regard to this matter, and which stimulate it to co-operate, so far as may be possible, for the attainment of the benevolent object for which the Government of Her Britannic Majesty labours so perseveringly, and with so much credit to itself; nor to reproduce the reasons which, in the opinion of this Government, would embarrass and render abortive every measure which might be directed to extend the limits which were established for the right of visit and search in the Treaty of the 19th of January. In this respect the Government does not think that it perceives a remarkable difference between the present circumstances and those which the Undersigned has had the honour to indicate on previous occasions.

The Undersigned, in compliance with the orders of his Government, sees himself, then, under the necessity of repeating to Mr. Walpole the substance of what he explained to him in the last conference, that it is not possible for the Government to accede to the extension in any sense, of those limits for an indefinite time. The project transinitted by the Undersigned contains the conditions under which this Government could extend them, with a probable hope of obtaining the assent of the Chambers.

The Undersigned, &c. The Hon. Colonel Walpole.

R. L. IRARRAZAVAL.

(Inclosure 5.)-Colonel Walpole to Senhor Irarrázaval.

Santiago, January 18, 1844.

THE Undersigned, &c. has had the honour to receive the note of his Excellency the Minister for Foreign Affairs, &c. dated the 15th instant, in which he conveys the final determination of the Chilean Government, in relation to the extension of the limits wherein the right of search of vessels suspected of participation in the Slave Trade has hitherto been permitted, and which has been the subject of the Undersigned's communications in 1842, of his note of December 2nd, and of the conferences subsequently held. The Undersigned will not needlessly occupy his Excellency with a recapitulation of all the motives which it has appeared to him, and which he already has presented to his Excellency, should have influenced the Chilean Government to a favourable decision.

He had hoped, taking into consideration the diminutive distance over which the right of search is sought to be extended, and by which the actual interests of Chile can in no manner be prejudiced, that its

Government would have cheerfully consented to combine its efforts with those of the British Government in the eternal persecution of the infamous trade in slaves within the limits assigned; much more did he feel himself justified in entertaining this impression, when he reflected that, if current rumours are not deceitful, the Chilean Government are in the contemplation of measures which, in themselves wise, judicious, and well adapted to promote incalculable benefit to the State, will nevertheless offer facilities for the surreptitious continuance of the Slave Trade, which are not actually in existence.

These hopes, however, the Undersigned is now most reluctantly compelled to relinquish ; and having no authority (as he has already had the honour to make known to his Excellency) to accede to the stipulation of the objectionable Article, he will lose no time in forwarding the recorded resolution of the Chilean Government for the information of that of Her Britannic Majesty.

In the meantime he requests, &c.

H.E. Senhor Irarrázaval.

JOHN WALPOLE.

No. 365.-Colonel Walpole to the Earl of Aberdeen.-(Rec. July 6.) MY LORD, Valparaiso, February 27, 1844. On the receipt of your Lordship's despatch of the 12th September, 1843, with instructions to execute, on the part of the British Government, the stipulations of the VIIth Article of the Treaty for the abolition of the Slave Trade, signed at Santiago on the 19th of January, 1839, as also to require their fulfilment by that of this Republic, I addressed a note to his Excellency the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, indicating the station chosen for the establishment of the Mixed Court to reside in a British possession, and soliciting information as to the intention of the Chilean Government in regard to the appointment of judicial officers to act with it.

I at the same time expressed a desire to learn the place selected for the residence of the Mixed Court to be established within the Chilean territory.

To this I added your Lordship's suggestion relative to the small necessity for the immediate appointment of this latter Court, seeing that as Slave Trade is not in practice on this coast, the few isolated cases which possibly may hereafter appear might properly be disposed of by the Mixed Court at Sierra Leone.

In his reply his Excellency states, that his Government does not conceive it necessary at present to nominate any officers to compose the Court at Sierra Leone, reserving to itself, however, to act hereafter in this respect as may appear to it convenient.

His Excellency further states, that the opinion of Her Majesty's Government touching the expediency of delaying the appointment of

a Court in the Chilean territory has its due weight with his own Government, but that notwithstanding, and considering the small expense to which this Government would be exposed by the immediate establishment of such a tribunal, and the advantages to be derived therefrom, it has decided on the adoption of an opposite

course.

His Excellency concludes his note by marking his intention opportunely to communicate to me the names of the said Registrar, Judge, and Arbitrator. But if it is permitted to express a judgment founded on the probable rarity of a seizure on this coast of a vessel under Chilean colours acting in contradiction of the stipulations of the Treaty, on the import of his Excellency's language, and a long experience of the dilatory proceedings of this Government, I should state, that the nomination by Her Majesty's Government of those hereafter to form the members of the Mixed Court to sit in Valparaiso will not call for much precipitation.

I have the honour to inclose for your Lordship's information, copies of the correspondence which has passed on this subject.

The Earl of Aberdeen, K.T.

I have, &c.

JOHN WALPOLE.

(Inclosure 1.)-Colonel Walpole to Senhor Irarrázaval.

Valparaiso, February 10, 1844.

By the VIIth Article of the Treaty between Her Britannic Majesty and the Republic of Chile for the abolition of the traffic in slaves, signed at Santiago, on the 19th January, 1839, it is stipulated, that at the time of the exchange of the Ratifications the 2 Governments should declare, each for its own territories, in what places the Mixed Courts of Justice should be established.

That formality, however, having been hitherto omitted, the Undersigned, &c. has now, by instruction, formally to declare to his Excellency, M. Irarrázaval, &c. for the information of the Government of this Republic, that Her Majesty's Government have directed that the colony of Sierra Leone is to be the station of that Mixed Court which is to reside in a British possession, and that if the Chilean Government should think proper to appoint a Judge and an Arbitrator to reside at Sierra Leone on the part of the Chilean Government, arrangements will be made for their reception.

The Undersigned has, at the same time, to ascertain the intention of the Government of this Republic touching the appointment of a Registrar, and a Judge and Arbitrator, to reside within their own territory, or whether, under the Additional Article II to the Treaty, they are desirous that a Court should be appointed there, the Commissioners of which would, for the present, be British only, and the expense of which would be borne by the British Government.