The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 32, July 1928 - April, 1929 Page: 198
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Southwestern HIistorical Quarterly
and he himself was exceedingly well liked at the British court as
"a man of excellent capacity, calm reflection, and holding sound
opinions respecting the position and interests of his country."34
When he protested against the mission of the "Tappan Committee"
as intrusive so far as Texas was concerned," Aberdeen refused to
receive them again, and assured Smith that there was no disposition
to interfere improperly in the affairs of Texas. But he reiterated
the "continued anxiety of Her Majesty's Government to see slavery
abolished not only in Texas but in all parts of the world,""' and
he informed Smith of his instructions to Doyle.37
Abolition was the open and avowed policy of the British govern-
ment, pursued in the interest of their own commerce, manufac-
tures, and colonial interests.38 English statesmen and business
men believed that the abolition of slavery would destroy the cotton
plantation of the South, and the fall of the American merchant
marine and the manufactures of the North would inevitably fol-
low. Thus, Smith summed up the situation.39 "Should money
be necessary," he wrote in a private letter to Jones, "they will give
it, as they have done to Spain, because they anticipate, and in my
opinion, justly, that more than counterbalancing pecuniary ad-
vantages will accrue to Great Britain from abolition."40 It was
Smith's belief that "on the side of humanity, the British govern-
ment did not care a hair about slavery."41 Granted this open and
avowed abolition policy, then the instructions to Doyle, the reply
to Brougham in the House of Lords, and Elliot's communications
to his government, all seemed to show a "practical purpose on the
part of the British government to accomplish the object of its con-
"Aberdeen to Elliot, December 31, 1844. "British Correspondence
Concerning Texas," in SOUTHWESTERN HISTORICAL QUARTERLY, XIX, 415-8.
"Smith to Aberdeen, August 1, 1843; autograph document.
s"Aberdeen to Smith, September 11, 1843; letter press document.
"3Smith to Jones, July 31, 1843. Garrison, Diplomatic Correspondence
of Texas, III, 116-9 in American Historical Association Report for
1908, II.
"Smith to Jones, August 2, 1843, "private"; Smith to Bee, October
17, 1843; also Smith to "My dear Doctor," May 30, 1851.
"Smith to Jones, August 2, 1843, "private"; Smith to Bee, October
17, 1843; Smith to Van Zandt, December 28, 1843; letter press docu-
ment; also Smith to Van Zandt, November 29, 1843; autograph document.
"Smith to Jones, August 2, 1843, "private."
"'Smith to Henderson, October 14, 1843; letter press document.198
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 32, July 1928 - April, 1929, periodical, 1929; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101089/m1/203/: accessed May 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.