proposing a further enactment to render the abolition effectual; and the directors have learnt that a promise to the same effect was actually made to our go vernment. The vast extent to which the slave-trade on the west coast of Africa continues to be carried on, is further proved, by accounts received from the river Bonny. During the above period of five or six months, 120 sail of French, Spanish, and Portuguese vessels had visited the river for the purpose of procuring slaves. The French flag is also prostituted to the protection of the Spanish slave-trade, which has now ceased to have any legal existence. This fact is confirmed by recent intelligence from the Havannah, which represents the slave-trade there as in a very flourishing state, and as chiefly carried on under the flag of France. A flagrant instance of the barbarities which a familiarity with the slave trade has a tendency to produce, recently occurred in the case of a Portuguese vessel called the Volcano do Sul. She was captured by his majesty's ship Pheasant, with 260 slaves on-board; and, in the passage to Sierra Leone, her captain and crew rose upon the British officer and sailors, murdered them all, and then carried the vessel into Bahia, where the slaves were landed and sold. The directors derive great satisfaction from being enabled to state to the meeting, that the colony of Sierra Leone continues in a state of progressive improvement. The total amount of the -population of the colony, on the 8th of July, 1820, was 12,521, at giving an increase, since a former census in December, 1818, of 2,956 persons, including 943 liberated Africans landed Sierra Leone from slave-vessels, eighty-five persons sent thither from Barbadoes, and the discharged soldiers of two West India regiments, and of the royal African corps, amounting, with their families, to 1,030 individuals. Accounts received from Antigua state that, in consequence of the benevolent exertions of some individuals, subscriptions had been raised in the town of St. John's (the capital of the island), sufficient to enable the Committee of the Wesleyan Sunday-school Institution to erect, at Parham-town, a school-house calculated to hold 1,000 scholars. This school, it appears, was opened towards the middle of the last year, with about 700 slave. children from estates adjacent to the town. There are besides, two Sunday-schools established in St. John's, connected with the Parham school, and one at East Harbour independent of it. An American squadron has been stationed on the coast of Africa for the purpose of seizing and bringing to adjudication such American vessels as may be found violating their Abolition Laws. With respect to the plan of planting a colony in Africa with free blacks from the United States, the hopes of success of the American society have led them to form the project of an establishment on an extensive scale. We must add, that the praiseworthy exertions of this asssociation are made out of funds not exceeding 600l. per annum ! II. FOREIGN. DECREE of the KING OF THE NETHERLANDS respecting the SLAVE TRADE. DECREE. We, William, by the Grace of God, King of the Netherlands, &c., considering that, according to reports which have been received, slaves are now and then imported into the colony of Surinam from certain foreign colonies, where the slave trade with Africa direct is still permitted; referring to the treaty concluded between the Netherlands and Great Britain on the 4th of March, 1818; to the law of 20th November, 1813; and having examined the reports of our Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Justice, Public Instruction, National Industry, and Colonies, by the advice of our Privy Council, have thought fit and determined to prohibit the importation of slaves into the colonies of our kingdom, and especially into that of Surinam, from those colonies where the direct slave trade with Africa is still permitted, as we do by these presents, and under the same penalties as are denounced against the importation of prohibited goods there. Our Minister of Public In- J. G. D. MEY VAN STREEFKERk. SPEECH of the KING of the NETHERLANDS at the opening of the States General, on the 15th of October, 1821. "Noble and mighty lords; I experience a lively satisfaction at the opening of the present session in being able to inform you that our relations with all the powers continue to be maintained with reciprocal good understanding. Although the troubles in the Levant have created uneasiness, a well-founded hope of preserving the peace is still entertained. May Providence bless the efforts which tend to this object may the Divine Goodness re-establish tranquillity where trouble now reigns, and allow us to enjoy without interruption a VOL. LXIII. blessing which is the first element of prosperity, and which must be dear to all who sincerely love their country. "The interior situation of the kingdom offers in general a favourable view. The fear of a scanty crop is happily dissipated in most of the provinces, and we can promise ourselves abundance of provisions, and at a moderate price. "Trade and navigation have not diminished, and we can cherish the hope of seeing them in future receive a new increase. "Notwithstanding the favour 20 able influence of several years of peace, the situation of our manufactures does not present in all its parts an aspect equally prosperous; yet several of the most important among them have increased in activity, and almost no-where does the want of employment give ground for wellfounded complaints. "In the report presented recently to your lordships, you will have found proofs of the ardour with which the sciences are cultivated, and of the rapid developement among the less wealthy classes of the community of the blessings of an education suited to their wants. "More than one honourable competition-more than one exhibition attest the progress of the fine arts. "The administration assumes every where in the provinces, as well as in the cities and rural communes, a more regular and more secure march. Improvements which experience recommends to my care become the objects of my serious deliberation. The communication between different parts of the kingdom becomes more and more easy. That between the two seats of the court has been considerably ameliorated, and I entertain the hope that, with the co-operation of the provinces most interested in the result, there will be opened a new source of prosperity to trade, to agriculture, and to industry, by the construction of a canal between Bois-le-duc and Maestricht. "Among the improvements on which the happiness of my subjects fixes my attention, I regard as most important the changes made in the direction of the waters of the Rhine for the purpose of preventing the disasters to which a considerable portion of the kingdom is exposed during the season of thawing or high tides. This object is at present subjected to a particular examination. "For a long time the discipline of the prisons has appeared to me susceptible of useful modifications, having caused the subject to be examined in its details. The report which I have received has confirmed me in the opinion. "If the system which, in consequence of the inquiry, is at present the object of my deliberations, and some provisions of which I have already adopted, is capable of being put into full execution in all its parts, the result will be not only an improvement in the moral condition of the prisoners, but a diminution in their demands on the public treasury. I shall endeavour to realize these ideas in the trials which I shall successively make. "Unforeseen calamities have afflicted some parts of our transmarine possessions, but it is easily seen that they will surmount their consequences; and we have reason to flatter ourselves that the importance of the relations of the mother country with the East Indies will continue to increase. "It is not less agreeable to me to announce to your assembly than for you to hear, that the view of the receipts and expenses on the second division of the budget presents a desirable equilibrium. This result, of which the nation will reap completely the advantages as soon as the new system of finance shall be put in execution, has been prepared in a great part both by the retrenchments which are introduced wherever the well understood interests of the state permits, and by the plan which I have to propose to your lordships to meet the wants which must otherwise have been provided for in the budget, and to cover the arrears and extraordinary expenses, with particular means which will introduce no augmentation of the public burthens and no charge on the inhabitants. "The special ordinances which were to be passed in consequence of the last law of finance are already, for the most part, drawn up; and will as soon as possible be presented to your assembly. In drawing up these ordinances, we have constantly kept in view the object of reconciling the efficient collection of the revenue with as great an alleviation as possible of the public burthens. "The produce of the revenue during the present, announces results similar to those of the preceding year. If the produce of certain taxes is improved, others, on the contrary, have been less productive; and the experience of this year establishes anew how necessary is the revision of our financial system, if we wish to put an end to an annual deficit, which would in time destroy the best constituted state. "I am pleased to have seen disappear in the last ssion the difficulties which at first arose on the mode of examining the projects of the civil code. I have endeavoured on my part to facilitate on this subject our common agreement. In a short time new projects relative to important points which belong to this code, on which you have already deliberated, will be presented to your lordships. I rely on your constant co-operation in promoting the public welfare in this as well as in the other objects which during the session will be submitted to your deliberations." PLAN of the Military Constitution of the GERMAN CONFEDERATION. different descriptions of force is regulated according to the principles of modern military tactics. "3. The army of the confederation is formed even in time of peace, in order to be prepared, if it should be necessary, to march. Its strength and its internal division are regulated by particular resolutions of the diet. "4. The army of the confederation consists of complete armycorps, partly unmixed, partly composed, divided into divisions, brigades, &c. 5. No state of the confederation whose contingent forms one single or several army-corps can unite the contingents of other states with its own in one division. on every occasion on which the assembling of the army shall be decided. "14. The general-in-chief shal take an oath to the confederation before the diet, which is the sole authority. "6. With regard to the mixed army-corps and divisions, the states of the confederation which that object concerns shall arrange among themselves the manner of forming the necessary divisions, and giving them a complete or-in-chief. He is personally ganization. If they do not agree, the diet will decide. "7. In organizing the military force, regard shall be had to the interests resulting from the particular relations of the different states in as far as the same shall appear reconcileable with general objects. "8. Pursuant to the legal and fundamental equality of rights and duties, all supremacy, even in appearance, of one state of the confederation over another, shall be avoided. "9. In each state of the confederation the contingent must always be maintained in such a state as to be within the shortest delay after the of the confederation, completely equipped in all respects, ready to march and to take the field. summons "10. The force and the as sembling of the army to be put "15. The formation and exe cution of the plan of operations are left entirely to the gener sponsible to the confederati and may be tried by a court martial. "16. The general-in-chief m treat all parts of the army the most perfect equality in a far as depends on him. H cannot change established dir sions. He is, however, at liberty to make detachments for a c tain time. "17. The commanders of pr ticular divisions are appointed by the states to whom the troopi belong. When divisions are com posed of the troops of severa states, the commanders are chosen by the respective governments conjointly. 18. The rights and duties of these commanders in their relations with the confederation are analo gous to those of the commander in-chief. They must exact in plicit obedience from the infer on foot are regulated by particu- officers, and must themselve lar resolutions of the diet. obey their superiors. 19. Jurisdiction belongs the commanders of divisions, "11. Measures are to be adopted for keeping the army of the confederation complete, and cording to the limits prescribe for re-enforcing it if necessary. For this purpose there must be a special reserve. 12. The military contingents of the confederation form one to them by the states of the ỡ federation. "20. Provision shall be mad for the subsistence of the ar of the confederation by comm army, under the command of a saries for all the army-corps under general-in-chief. "13. The general-in-chief shall be elected by the confederation the direction of the commander in-chief, and in the interior d states of the confederation, in |