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

Step into the bustling courtroom of the Old Bailey in October 1843, where the fate of a young merchant, Pedro de Zulueta Jr., hangs in the balance. This meticulously transcribed report captures the shorthand notes of a seasoned clerk, presenting the charged atmosphere, the formal address to Britain’s traders, and a wealth of contemporary legal opinions. Listeners will hear the clash between mercantile interests and the nascent abolitionist legislation, as counsel debates whether ordinary African trade could be deemed criminal support for the slave market.

Beyond the courtroom drama, the volume offers a window into early‑Victorian legal reasoning, featuring excerpts from judges, parliamentary speeches, and parliamentary committee correspondence. The document lays bare the ambiguities of the 1833 Slave Trade Act and the practical dilemmas faced by merchants, governors, and jurists on the African coast. It is an essential listening experience for anyone curious about the legal and moral battles that shaped Britain’s fight against slavery.