7172. You observe that the case in question is not the case of a merchant carrying on a direct trade with a slave dealer, but a merchant obeying the orders of his correspondent, to make consignments merely as his shipping agent?--I think myself it depends in a great measure upon the place to which the cargo is to be delivered. I think at New Cestos, for example, there might be a doubt to what trade the cargo would be applied; but there are many cases which will not admit of a doubt. Now if a merchant has been in the habit of acting as agent to a foreign house for a length of time, I think he must somehow acquire a knowledge of the trade which this foreign merchant is embarked in. I think it becomes the duty of the merchant to endeavour to make some inquiry, because the Act of Parliament is very decisive; it says, “Or in any other manner to engage or contract to engage directly or indirectly therein as a partner, agent or otherwise, or to ship, tranship, lade, receive or put on board, or to contract for the shipping, transhipping, lading, receiving or putting on board of any ship, vessel or boat, money, goods or effects to be employed in accomplishing any of the objects or the contracts in relation to the objects, which objects and contracts have hereinbefore been declared unlawful.” The law is very decisive. 7173. Mr. _Forster_.] What are the objects and contracts which have been previously declared unlawful?--“For any persons to deal or trade in, purchase, sell, barter, or transfer, or to contract for the dealing or trading in, purchase, sale, barter, or transfer of slaves or persons intended to be dealt with as slaves.” 7174. Do you consider the lawful shipping of goods at Liverpool a dealing in slaves?--A lawful shipment of goods cannot be unlawful. 7175. But if the shipment had not been lawful, would not the custom-house officers at Liverpool have seized the goods?--It is possible that the custom-house officers at Liverpool may be ignorant of what caused the shipment of the goods to be unlawful. 7176. But the custom-house officers cannot be ignorant whether the goods which they pass at Liverpool are lawfully shipped?--The parties and the port to which the goods are to be delivered of course stamp the character of the trade in which they are sent out. 7177. _Chairman._] Would it be convenient if the custom-house officers were informed from time to time to what ports vessels might clear with safety, and to what they might not?--I think in the case of such a port as the Gallinas, it would have been convenient, and perhaps have been attended with some benefit, had the custom-house officers in our different ports in England been made acquainted with the trade that was there carried on, to prevent goods being shipped direct for that port; but that again would be evaded by shipping goods, as is frequently done, for the coast of Africa, without specifying any port.