An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade , 1806
(Statutes at Large, 47 Geo. III, c. 36, LXI, pp. 140-148: in A. Aspinall and E. Anthony
Smith, eds., English Historical Documents, XI, 1783-1832, New York: Oxford University
Press, 1959, pp.803-04.)
Whereas the two Houses of Parliament did, by their Resolutions of the 10th and 24th
days of June 1806 severally resolve, upon certain grounds therein mentioned, that they
would, with all practicable expedition, take effectual measures for the abolition of the
African slave trade, in such manner and at such period as might be deemed advisable: and
whereas it is fit. . . that the same should be forthwith abolished and prohibited . . . be it
therefore enacted . . . that from and after the 1st day of May 1807, the African slave trade,
and all manner of dealing and trading in the purchase, sale, barter or transfer of slaves, or
of persons intended to be sold, transferred, used or dealt with as slaves, practised or
carried on in, at, to or from any part of the coast or countries of Africa, shall be . . .utterly
abolished, prohibited and declared to be unlawful; and also that all . . .manner of dealing,
either by way of purchase, sale, barter or transfer, or by means of any other contract or
agreement whatever, relating to any slaves, or to any persons intended to be used ... as
slaves, for the purpose of such slaves or persons being removed or transported either
immediately or by transshipment at sea or otherwise, directly or indirectly from Africa, or
from any island, country, territory or place whatever, in the West Indies, or in any part of
America, not being in the dominion, possession or occupation of H.M., to any other
island ... or place whatever, is hereby ... utterly abolished ... and declared to be unlawful;
and if any of H.M.'s subjects, or any person or persons resident within this United
Kingdom, or any of the islands, colonies, dominions or territories thereto belonging, or in
H.M.'s occupation or possession, shall from . . . the day aforesaid, deal or trade in,
purchase, sell, barter or transfer, or contract or agree for the dealing or trading in ... any
slave . . . he or they so offending shall forfeit ... for every such offence .... £100 ... for
each ... slave so purchased ... the one moiety thereof to the use of H.M.... and the other
moiety to the use of any person who shall inform, sue and prosecute for the same.
[II. Vessels fitted out in this Kingdom, colonies &c. for carrying on the slave trade shall
be forfeited.
III. Persons prohibited from carrying as slaves inhabitants of Africa, the West Indies or
America, from one place or another, or being concerned in receiving them, &c. Vessels
employed in such removal, &c. to be forfeited, as also the property in the slaves. Owners
to forfeit £100 for each slave.
IV. Subjects of Africa, &c. unlawfully carried away and imported into any British colony
&c. as slaves, shall be forfeited to H.M.
V. Insurances on transactions concerning the slave trade unlawful: penalty, £100 and
treble the amount of the premium.
VI. Act not to affect the trading in slaves exported from Africa in vessels cleared out
from Great Britain on or before 1 May 1807, and landed in the West Indies by 1 March
1808.
VII. Slaves on foreign ships taken as prizes of war or seized as forfeitures, shall be
condemned as prize, or forfeited to the King and freed from slavery, and may be enlisted
in the armed forces or bound apprentices for 14 years.
VIII. Bounties to be paid to the captors of such slaves]