instance, where it were easy to multiply—a mother demanded to purchase the freedom of her babe, of six months old. Only seven months before, when the law for compulsory manumission was not in force, a child of a year and a half old, equally healthy, having advanced farther in escaping the perils of infancy, and nearer to a capability of usefulness, had been valued at two hundred guilders, (fifteen pounds;) but now, the price wrung from the mother for her babe of six months old, was five hundred guilders, (thirty-seven pounds, ten shillings). Surely her groans entered into the ears of the Lord God of sabaoth!
On May 25, 1829, Mr. Brougham introduced the subject of slave evidence, it being obviously desirable that it should be rendered eligible in all cases where that of another person would be admitted. Sir George Murray fully agreed in the propriety of this requirement, and engaged, early in the next session, to bring forward a bill for the reform of colonial judicature, in which provision should be made for universally admitting the evidence of slaves, on the same footing as that of other persons. The utmost satisfaction was expressed by the friends of abolition at this pledge, which, if carried into effect, would, they justly considered, be the first effective step towards any real reform of the colonial system.
A few days afterwards, a long discussion took place in the house of commons, on the state of the Mauritius, where not only did slavery prevail in its worst form, but even an illicit traffic in slaves was carried on to a great extent, and the persons who practised it, were shielded or connived at by those in authority. A motion was made, with much
