'The Slave Trade of East Africa.' [‎35] (44/108)

35
the ground, in consequence of the Government having deter
mined to liberate no more slaves there. In the meantime, the
Committee continued its labours at home to procure the sup
pression of the trade. The presence of envoys sent by the
Sultan of Zanzibar in 1868 to negotiate with our Government
on the much vexed question of the Muscat subsidy was taken
advantage of, and as thq matter was within the purview of the
India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , a memorial was presented to His Grace the Duke
of Argyll setting forth shortly some of the main facts connected
with the trade, and urging that the presence of the envoys
afforded an opportunity, that should not be lost, of obtaining
from the Sultan a virtual abandonment of the protected slave
trade. The deputation was kindly received by his Grace, who,
from his answer, seemed to think that the condition attached
by the Sultan to the concession—viz., the release from the
subsidy—so complicated the question as to render it impossible
to answer the memorial of the Society until the Indian Govern
ment had been consulted. He expressed a hope that, in the
meantime, the arrangements which were pending between the
Admiralty and the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. would place the East African
squadron on a more efficient footing.
In various ways the Committee continued their efforts to
enlist fresh sympathy and arouse public attention, until at last,
in conjunction with the Anti-Slavery Society, a motion for
enquiry was made in the House of Commons in the Session of
1871. We well remember the anxiety with which we watched
the debate (it could hardly be called one) ; three attempts were
made to count the House, all of which failed, not through any
interest in the subject, but simply because an honourable
member, who had charge of an important Bill to enable muni
cipal corporations to deal in certain ways with their corporate
funds, had secured a House for the second reading of his Bill
that night. So the motion was saved, and when the Recorder of
London rose to speak in support of the motion, the Govern
ment offered a Committee of inquiry, which was at once gladly
accepted.
The Committee sat for nine days, with an average attend
ance of eleven members, and examined fourteen witnesses, and