DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
63 
 
activity displayed by the present captain general of Cuba, as well as the

measure of his success, in checking the slave trade. It appears, however,
that 
such are the temptations to unprincipled individuals to introduce slaves
into 
Cuba, and such the facilities still afforded to them by the defects of certain
parts 
of the Spanish laws regarding the subject, that without s'ome modifications
in 
these, his well-meant efforts must continue to fall short of their intended
object. 
The measures to which her Majesty's government would call your excel- 
lency's attention are 
1st. An enactment declaring slave trade to be piracy. This is a measure 
which has been adopted by many nations, including those possessing large

numbers of slaves. Its success has been signal in checking the slave trade
in 
countries where it most prevailed. It has mainly contributed to free Brazil

from the stigma attaching to this inhuman traffic, and that without any injury
to 
her productiveness or material prosperity. Her Majesty's government are not

aware of any sound argument which can be alleged against this measure. 
2d. A modification of the 9th and 13th articles of the Spanish penal code
in 
force in the island of Cuba. 
According to the former of these articles, the authorities cannot seize im-

ported negroes when once they have been conveyed to a property or plantation,

however notorious the fact of such violation of the law having been committed

may be. 
According to the latter, the legal punishment of slave traders and their
ac- 
complices can only be inflicted in virtue of a sentence by the Royal Audencia

Pretorial. NoW, it is well known that the difficulty of producing evidence
be- 
fore this court is so great, that proof to convict those accused of such
charges 
is seldom, if ever obtained, however morally convinced the ruling authorities

may be of their guilt. It is true that the captain general has power to remove

officers of whose delinquency he feels certain, and it is true that the present

Captain General Dulce, his predecessor, the Duke de la Torre, and others,
have 
exercised this power in regard to certain flagrant cases; but how much more

effective as regards public opinion, how much more satisfactory to her Catholic

Majesty's government, would it be that such punishment and degradation 
should result from a legal conviction, rather than from the exercise of dis-

cretional power. 
I believe that in stating that the experience of the Duke de la Torre, as
well 
as that of General Dulce, have caused them to coincide in the opinion that
the 
adoption of both the measures to which I have above adverted would be expe-

dient and necessary for the final extirpation of the slave trade in Cuba.
I am 
not overstepping the truth in bringing, however, these measures under your
ex- 
cellency's attention. I feel confident that they will be-submitted to the
enlight- 
ened examination due to the intrinsic merits of the great end they are meant
to 
forward, and also with the most friendly disposition on your excellency's
part to 
set at rest forever a serious and painful matter of discussion between the
gov- 
ernments of Great Britain and Spain. 
I avail, &c., &c. 
J. F. CRAMPTON. 
His Excllency th  MARQUIS DE MIRAFLORES, yc.,   . 
MADRID, .December 16, 1863. 
My LORD: In conformity with the instructions contained in your lordship's

despatch of the 12th ultimo, I did not fail to express to the Marquis de
Mira- 
flores the gratification of her Majesty's government at the diminution of
the 
slave trade, and the amelioration in the treatment of slaves in Cuba, reported
by