The deepest concern has naturally been expressed at the decision
of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone that the owners of slaves in the Sierra Leone Protectorate have the right to recapture escaped slaves with such force as may be necessary. The Protectorate of Sierra Leone must, of course, not be confused with the Colony. The slave-owners in the Protectorate are natives who have not yet become amenable to the laws of civilization. The intention of the Government of the Colony is known to be that all recognition of slavery shall be withdrawn at the earliest possible moment. All the same, it is a shock to discover that owing to the faulty drafting of an ordinance a majority of the Bench in the Supreme Court could lay it down that cwners have rights of recapture. The two judges who formed the majority were only literally interpreting the law. Judge Petrides dissented from this interpretation.
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