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Trial of Pedro de Zulueta, jun., on a Charge of Slave Trading, under 5 Geo. IV, cap. 113, on Friday the 27th, Saturday the 28th, and Monday the 30th of October, 1843, at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London: A Full Report from the Short-hand Notes of W. B. Gurney, Esq.

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About this book

"Trial of Pedro de Zulueta, Jun., on a Charge of Slave Trading" is a historical account written in the early 19th century. The text documents the prosecution of Pedro de Zulueta, a merchant accused of engaging in the slave trade, detailing the legal proceedings that took place at the Central Criminal Court in London. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the case against him, discussing the complexities of legality in relation to slavery, commerce, and personal integrity. The opening of this account sets a dramatic stage, introducing Zulueta’s sudden arrest on charges of slave trading while he was conducting business in his office. It outlines the procedural irregularities he faced, such as the lack of clarity regarding his accuser and the sudden nature of the accusations that painted a respectable merchant as a criminal. Zulueta's own narrative expresses his bewilderment at the charges and his commitment to providing a truthful defense, as he references earlier testimonies before a House of Commons Committee that supported his innocence. The text hints at broader societal implications about the complexities of British commerce intertwined with the illicit slave trade, highlighting the precarious position occupied by merchants like Zulueta during this tumultuous ethical period.
Language
English
Publisher
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Unknown
Downloads
170

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Cover of Trial of Pedro de Zulueta, jun., on a Charge of Slave Trading, under 5 Geo. IV, cap. 113, on Friday the 27th, Saturday the 28th, and Monday the 30th of October, 1843, at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London: A Full Report from the Short-hand Notes of W. B. Gurney, Esq.

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A clearer way to understand Trial of Pedro de Zulueta, jun., on a Charge of Slave Trading, under 5 Geo. IV, cap. 113, on Friday the 27th, Saturday the 28th, and Monday the 30th of October, 1843, at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London: A Full Report from the Short-hand Notes of W. B. Gurney, Esq. through themes, characters, and key ideas

This reading guide highlights what stands out in Trial of Pedro de Zulueta, jun., on a Charge of Slave Trading, under 5 Geo. IV, cap. 113, on Friday the 27th, Saturday the 28th, and Monday the 30th of October, 1843, at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London: A Full Report from the Short-hand Notes of W. B. Gurney, Esq. through 4 core themes, 4 character profiles. It is meant to help readers decide whether the book fits their taste and deepen the reading once they begin.

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About this book

A quick AI guide to “Trial of Pedro de Zulueta, jun., on a Charge of Slave Trading, under 5 Geo. IV, cap. 113, on Friday the 27th, Saturday the 28th, and Monday the 30th of October, 1843, at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London: A Full Report from the Short-hand Notes of W. B. Gurney, Esq.

Get the shape of the book before you commit: what it is about, what mood it carries, and what ideas readers tend to stay with afterward.

~8h readadvancedHistoricalLegalSerious

What the book is doing

This book is a verbatim report of the sensational 1843 trial of Pedro de Zulueta, jun., a prominent London merchant, on charges of slave trading under the British Slave Trade Act of 1824 (5 Geo. IV, cap. 113). The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, meticulously documents the prosecution's efforts to link Zulueta's legitimate commercial dealings with known slave traders to direct involvement in the illicit trade, and the defense's vigorous counter-arguments. As a full transcript from shorthand notes, it provides an unparalleled primary source into the legal complexities, moral debates, and commercial realities surrounding the suppression of the slave trade in the mid-19th century, ultimately concluding with Zulueta's acquittal.

Key Themes

Abolition and its Enforcement

The trial is a direct examination of the practical challenges and limitations of enforcing anti-slavery legislation in the mid-19th century. While Britain had abolished its own slave trade and slavery, prosecuting foreign nationals or those indirectly involved in the international trade proved immensely complex due to issues of jurisdiction, evidence gathering, and the sophisticated networks of slave traders. The trial reveals the gap between legislative intent and effective implementation.

Justice vs. Law

This theme explores the tension between the moral imperative to eradicate the slave trade (justice) and the strict legal requirements for proving guilt (law). The prosecution's moral outrage against the slave trade collides with the defense's insistence on precise legal definitions and the burden of proof, highlighting how difficult it was to prosecute individuals whose actions, while facilitating slavery, might technically fall outside the letter of the law.

A line worth noting
"The charge against the defendant is, that he, the said Pedro de Zulueta, junior, did unlawfully, wilfully, and knowingly fit out, man, navigate, equip, despatch, use, and employ a certain vessel, called the Augusta, for the purpose of slave trading."
A good discussion starter

To what extent should individuals or companies be held responsible for the illicit actions of their clients or business partners?

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