What happened after 1833?

Song entitled The Slave Chase. Written by Angus Reach and sung to the tune of The brave old oak or Kathleen Mavoureen, c 1855. (DUL ref: XLLL 398.5 WAL/B57)

After the trade in slaves was banned in 1807 the Royal Navy was given the task of patrolling the seas to ensure that the ban was effective. Their powers were limited. They could only stop British ships or the ships of countries who had signed a treaty outlawing the trade in slaves. Their efforts became more pronounced after 1815 when the wars with France and America came to an end and more ships were available for patrols. In fact, in 1816 a permanent West African anti-slavery unit was established by the Admiralty.

This song, printed by George Walker of Durham in c1855, draws attention to this work and displays a sense of pride in England’s refusal to tolerate slavery in her Empire.

Table showing ships stopped by HMS Tyne on suspicion of slave trading, 1816. (DUL ref: GRE/ B52/9/2)

This table gives details of the ships stopped by HMS Tyne on the suspicion of being involved in the slave trade. Although many of the ships are listed as British, it is interesting to see that ships of other nationalities were also detained.

HMS Tyne was a 28 gun sixth-rate ship (small warship) and would have been manned by a crew of between 150 and 240 men. She was launched in 1814 and was taken out of service in 1826.

Note detailing resolutions made by General Gordon regarding slavery in the Sudan. (DUL ref: SAD 250/1/2)

This explanatory note was written by General Gordon in 1884 and shows just how little attitudes had changed since the abolition of slavery 50 years previously. This notes accompanies a proclamation by Gordon stating that no-one would interfere with people’s property and that anyone who had slaves in their service could continue to keep slaves. In his explanation, Gordon makes a distinction between keeping slaves and trading in slaves. His language echoes that of the planters and merchants of the West Indies in the 1830s who argued that slaves were property and so should be compensated for any loss.