4.—Returns.
| Value of vessel at auction, | $3,950 00 |
| Proceeds of 217 slaves, | 77,469 00 |
| $81,419 00 |
Resumé.
| Total Returns, | $81,419 00 |
| “ Expenses, | 39,980 46 |
| Nett profit, | $41,438 54 |
[C] The treaty with Spain, which was designed by Great Britain to end the slave-trade, failed utterly to produce the desired result.
All profitable trade,—illicit, contraband, or what not,—will be carried on by avaricious men, as long as the temptation continues. Accordingly, whenever a trade becomes forced, the only and sure result of violent restriction is to imperil still more both life and cargo.
1st.—The treaty with Spain, it is said, was enforced some time before it was properly promulgated or notified; so that British cruisers seized over eighty vessels, one third of which certainly were not designed for slave-trade.
2d.—As the compact condemned slave vessels to be broken up, the sailing qualities of craft were improved to facilitate escape, rather than insure human comfort.
3d.—The Spanish slavers had recourse to Brazilians and Portuguese to cover their property; and, as slavers could not be fitted out in Cuba, other nations sent their vessels ready equipped to Africa, and (under the jib-booms of cruisers) Sardinians, Frenchmen and Americans, transferred them to slave traders, while the captains and parts of the crew took passage home in regular merchantmen.
4th.—As the treaty created greater risk, every method of economy was resorted to; and the crowding and cramming of slaves was one of the most prominent results. Water and provisions were diminished; and every thing was sacrificed for gain.