Description:

King George IV DS Re: Emancipation of Slaves

Manuscript Document Signed, “George R”, at the head, beside a papered wax seal, 5pp stab-stitched in vellum wrappers, 9.25” x 13”, Brighthelmstone (now Brighton), February 6, 1824. Counter-signed by Secretary of State George Canning, “George Canning”. Strengthened at fold, with soiling, scattered foxing, and rodent damage to upper edge not affecting text. A bit of wear to the impressive 3.5” x 2” royal signature. 

A warrant, rehearsing the agreement between George III and the King of Portugal for preventing the “illicit Traffic in Slaves” and for appointing commissions on the coast of Africa and Brazil to arbitrate cases of captured slave vessels, hereby confirming Daniel Molloy Hamilton as the new Commissioner of Arbitration in Sierra Leone in succession to Edward Fitzgerald, deceased, and James Woods as his new secretary.

The document, in part, and separated by paragraphs for ease of reading, “George The Fourth, by the Grace of God, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, King of Hanover &c. &c. &c. To All and Singular to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting! Whereas, by an Additional Convention concluded at London on the Twenty-eight day of July One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventeen, between His late Majesty of Blessed Memory, and His Majesty The King of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and Algarves, for preventing Their respective Subjects from engaging in any illicit Traffic in Slaves, it is amongst other things stipulated and agreed that in order to bring to adjudication, with the least delay and inconvenience, the Vessels which may be detained for having been engaged in an illicit Traffic in Slaves, there shall be established within the space of a year at furthest, from the exchange of the Ratifications of the said Convention…the said Convention to be always held upon the Coast of Africa, and the other in the Brazils…”

“…all Cases of Capture of Slave Vessels which , in pursuance of the stipulations of the said Convention might be laid before them; and that the said Mixed Commissions should also take cognizance of and decide, in manner therein mentioned, on all claims for Compensation on account of losses to Vessels detained under suspicion of having been engaged in the illicit Slave Trade…a Convention made between his Majesty and the King of Portugal for the preventing “Traffic in Slaves” it is amongst other things inacted…and empowered to examine and decide all such cases of detention, captures and seizures of Vessels and their Cargoes detained, seized, taken, or captured…”

“…And Whereas Our Trusty and Well beloved Daniel Molloy Hamilton Esquire, Secretary of Registrar to the said Mixed Commission at Sierra Leone was by a Commission issued…decide all such Cases of detention, captures, and seizures of Vessels and their Cargoes detained, seized, taken, or captured under the said Convention…”

The Slave Trade Act of 1807 had made the British slave trade illegal, and established a Vice Admiralty court in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to process slave ships captured by the Royal Navy. This was the first court in the British Empire with an explicit mandate to release people from slavery. After the end of the Napoleonic Wars, the court developed into an international Court of Mixed Commission through a series of international treaties. The aggressive actions of the Royal Navy in pursuing slave ships of other nations in the following decades did much to undermine the trans-Atlantic trade, and the court at Freetown emancipated more than 80,000 people between 1808 and 1871.

George IV (1762-1830) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover from the death of his father, King George III, on January 29, 1820, until his own death ten years later. At the time of his accession to the throne, he was acting as Prince Regent, having done so since February 5, 1811, during his father's final mental illness. George IV was the eldest child of King George III and Queen Charlotte. He led an extravagant lifestyle that contributed to the fashions of the Regency era and was a patron of new forms of leisure, style, and taste. 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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