which he could plead in mitigation of the sentence due to the aggravation of his crime. It is known that he had been a surgeon's mate on board of one of his Majesty' vessels; he had been nearly six years in a medical capacity in the employ of the proprietors of Bance Island factory, and he was receiving British pay for attendance on British troops, at the very time he was daily violating the slave felony act; thus acting with practical ingratitude towards the country from which he derived his subsistence. The evidence will prove that the prisoner sold or bartered from the island of Tasso, five, if not six, African person?, who were to be treated as slaves, and for whom he received a valuable consideration. It will also appear that he removed, or caused to be removed, nearly forty unfortunate Africans, who were transported from one place to another, expressly to be treated and dealt with as slaves; and moreover, that the prisoner did receive the benefits of their unrewarded labour. Should the evidence impress the mind and conviction of the jury, as it did that of the counsel for the crown, they could not, however painful it might be, discharge their duty, without finding a verdict of Guilty.
Mr. Biggs went on further to observe, that there was still a circumstance of which particular notice should be taken. The Court would recollect what his Lordship had said from the bench on a former occasion, at the trial of Charles Hickson, respecting the manner of swearing some of the witnesses. There were many of them, in the present case, similarly situated with those who gave testimony in behalf of Hickson. Though they believed devoutly in the existence of an infinite Providence, arid entertained a solemn sense of moral accountability; yet they possessed pot the religion of Christ. Interpreters were in the court, who understood all their languages, and would faithfully interpret what the witnesses should give in testimony.
