planters chose to attribute it to the Registry Bill now mentioned.  They gave out also, that the slaves in Jamaica and in the other islands had imbibed a notion, that this Bill was to lead to their emancipation; that, while this notion existed, their minds would be in an unsettled state; and therefore that it was necessary that it should be done away.  Accordingly on the 19th day of June 1816, they moved and procured an address from the Commons to the Prince Regent, the substance of which was (as relates to this particular) that “His Royal Highness would be pleased to order all the governors of the West India islands to proclaim, in the most public manner, His Royal Highness’s concern and surprise at the false and mischievous opinion, which appeared to have prevailed in some of the British colonies,—­that either His Royal Highness or the British Parliament had sent out orders for the emancipation of the Negroes; and to direct the most effectual methods to be adopted for discountenancing these unfounded and dangerous impressions.”  Here then we have a proof “that in the month of June 1816 the planters had no notion of altering the condition of their Negroes.”  It is also evident, that they have entertained no such notion since; for emancipation implies a preparation of the persons who are to be the subjects of so great a change.  It implies a previous alteration of treatment for the better, and a previous alteration of customs and even of circumstances, no one of which can however be really and truly effected without a previous change of the laws.  In fact, a progressively better treatment by law must have been settled as a preparatory and absolutely necessary work, had emancipation been intended.  But as we have never heard of the introduction of any new laws to this effect, or with a view of producing this effect, in any of our colonies, we have an evidence, almost as clear as the sun at noonday, that our planters have no notion of altering the condition of their Negroes, though fifteen years have elapsed since the abolition of the slave trade.  But if it be true that the abolition of the slave trade has not produced all the effects, which the abolitionists anticipated or intended, it would appear to be their duty, unless insurmountable obstacles present themselves, to resume their labours: for though there may be upon the whole, as I have admitted, a somewhat better individual treatment of the slaves by their masters, arising out of an increased prudence in same, which has been occasioned by stopping the importations, yet it is true, that not only many of the former continue to be ill-treated by the latter, but that all may be so ill-treated, if the latter be so disposed.  They may be ill-fed, hard-worked, ill-used, and wantonly and barbarously punished.  They may be tortured, nay even deliberately and intentionally killed without the means of redress, or the punishment of the aggressor,