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diff --git a/old/10633.txt b/old/10633.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..de5bbbd --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10633.txt @@ -0,0 +1,23347 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The History of the Rise, Progress and +Accomplishment of the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade, by the +British Parliament (1839), by Thomas Clarkson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the +Abolition of the African Slave-Trade, by the British Parliament (1839) + +Author: Thomas Clarkson + +Release Date: May 16, 2007 [EBook #10633] +[This file was first posted on January 8, 2004] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ABOLITION OF SLAVE-TRADE *** + + + + +Produced by Carlo Traverso, Amy Overmyer, and PG Distributed +Proofreaders from images generously made available by the Bibliotheque +nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at http://gallica.bnf.fr + + + + + + + + + +THE HISTORY OF THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE ABOLITION +OF THE SLAVE-TRADE, BY THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT + +BY THOMAS CLARKSON, M.A. + +1839 + + + +[Illustration: Thomas Clarkson] + + * * * * * + + + + +TO + +THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM, LORD GRENVILLE, + +THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES, EARL GREY, + +THE RIGHT HONOURABLE FRANCIS, EARL MOIRA, + +THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GEORGE JOHN, EARL SPENCER, + +THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY RICHARD, LORD HOLLAND, + +THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THOMAS, LORD ERSKINE, + +THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EDWARD, LORD ELLENBOROUGH, + +THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD HENRY PETTY, + +THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THOMAS GRENVILLE, + + * * * * * + +NINE OUT OF TWELVE OF HIS MAJESTY'S LATE CABINET MINISTERS, + +TO WHOSE WISE AND VIRTUOUS ADMINISTRATION BELONGS + +THE UNPARALLELED AND ETERNAL GLORY + +OF THE ANNIHILATION, + +AS FAR AS THEIR POWER EXTENDED, + +OF ONE OF THE GREATEST SOURCES OF CRIMES AND SUFFERINGS, + +EVER RECORDED IN THE ANNALS OF MANKIND; + +AND TO THE MEMORIES OF + +THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM PITT, + +AND OF + +THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES JAMES FOX, + +UNDER WHOSE FOSTERING INFLUENCE + +THE GREAT WORK WAS BEGUN AND PROMOTED; + +THIS HISTORY + +OF + +THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE +TRADE, + +IS RESPECTFULLY AND GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED. + + * * * * * + + + + +CONTENTS + + + PREFATORY REMARKS ON THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY + + CHAPTER I Introduction.--Estimate of the evil of the Slave + Trade; and of the blessing of the Abolition of it.--Usefulness + of the contemplation of this subject + + + CHAPTER II Those, who favoured the cause of the Africans + previously to 1787, were so many necessary forerunners in + it.--Cardinal Ximenes; and others + + + CHAPTER III Forerunners continued to 1787; divided now into four + classes.--First consists of persons in England of various + descriptions, Godwyn, Baxter, and others + + + CHAPTER IV Second, of the Quakers in England, George Fox, and + his religious descendants + + + CHAPTER V Third, of the Quakers in America.--Union of these with + individuals of other religious denominations in the same cause + + + CHAPTER VI Facility of junction between the members of these + three different classes + + + CHAPTER VII Fourth, consists of Dr. Peckard; then of the + Author.--Author wishes to embark in the cause; falls in with + several of the members of these classes + + + CHAPTER VIII Fourth class continued; Langton, Baker, and + others.--Author now embarks in the cause as a business of his + life + + + CHAPTER IX Fourth class continued; Sheldon, Mackworth, and + others.--Author seeks for further information on the subject; + and visits Members of Parliament + + + CHAPTER X Fourth class continued.--Author enlarges his + knowledge.--Meeting at Mr. Wilberforce's.--Remarkable junction + of all the four classes, and a Committee formed out of them, in + May, 1787, for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. + + + CHAPTER XI History of the preceding classes, and of their + junction, shown by means of a map. + + + CHAPTER XII Author endeavours to do away the charge of + ostentation in consequence of becoming so conspicuous in this + work. + + + CHAPTER XIII Proceedings of the Committee; Emancipation declared + to be no part of its object.--Wrongs of Africa by Mr. Roscoe. + + + CHAPTER XIV Author visits Bristol to collect + information.--Ill-usage of seamen in the Slave Trade.--Articles + of African produce.--Massacre at Calabar. + + + CHAPTER XV Mode of procuring and paying seamen in that trade; + their mortality in it.--Construction and admeasurement of + slave-ships.--Difficulty of procuring evidence.--Cases of + Gardiner and Arnold. + + + CHAPTER XVI Author meets with Alexander Falconbridge; visits + ill-treated and disabled seamen; takes a mate out of one of the + slave-vessels, and puts another in prison for murder. + + + CHAPTER XVII Visits Liverpool.--Specimens of African + produce.--Dock duties.--Iron instruments used in the + traffic.--His introduction to Mr. Norris. + + + CHAPTER XVIII Manner of procuring and paying seamen at Liverpool + in the Slave Trade; their treatment and mortality.--Murder of + Peter Green.--Dangerous situation of the Author in consequence + of his inquiries. + + + CHAPTER XIX Author proceeds to Manchester; delivers a discourse + there on the subject of the Slave Trade.--Revisits Bristol; new + and difficult situation there; suddenly crosses the Severn at + night.--Returns to London. + + + CHAPTER XX Labours of the Committee during the Author's + journey.--Mr. Sharp elected chairman.--Seal engraved.--Letters + from different correspondents to the Committee. + + + CHAPTER XXI Further labours of the Committee to February, + 1788.--List of new Correspondents. + + + CHAPTER XXII Progress of the cause to the middle of + May.--Petitions to Parliament.--Author's interviews with Mr. + Pitt and Mr. Grenville.--Privy Council inquire into the subject; + examine Liverpool delegates.--Proceedings of the Committee for + the Abolition.--Motion and Debate in the House of Commons; + discussion of the general question postponed to the next + Session. + + + CHAPTER XXIII Progress to the middle of July.--Bill to diminish + the horrors of the Middle Passage; Evidence examined against it; + Debates; Bill passed through both Houses.--Proceedings of the + Committee, and effects of them. + + + CHAPTER XXIV Continuation from June, 1788, to July, + 1789.--Author travels in search of fresh evidence.--Privy + Council resume their examinations; prepare their + report.--Proceedings of the Committee for the Abolition; and of + the Planters and others.--Privy Council report laid on the table + of the House of Commons; debate upon it.--Twelve + propositions.--Opponents refuse to argue from the report; + examine new evidence of their own in the House of + Commons.--Renewal of the Middle Passage Bill.--Death and + character of Ramsay. + + + CHAPTER XXV Continuation from July, 1789, to July, 1790.--Author + travels to Paris to promote the abolition in France; his + proceedings there; returns to England.--Examination of + opponents' evidence resumed in the Commons.--Author travels in + quest of new evidence on the side of the Abolition; this, after + great opposition, introduced.--Renewal of the Middle Passage + Bill.--Section of the slave-ship.--Cowper's _Negro's + Complaint_.--Wedgewood's Cameos. + + + CHAPTER XXVI Continuation from July, 1790, to July, + 1791.--Author travels again.--Examinations on the side of the + Abolition resumed in the Commons; list of those examined.--Cruel + circumstances of the times.--Motion for the Abolition of the + Trade; debates; motion lost.--Resolutions of the + Committee.--Sierra Leone Company established. + + + CHAPTER XXVII Continuation from July, 1791, to July, + 1792.--Author travels again.--People begin to leave off sugar; + petition Parliament.--Motion renewed in the Commons; debates; + abolition resolved upon, but not to commence till 1796.--The + Lords determine upon hearing evidence on the resolution; this + evidence introduced; further hearing of it postponed to the next + Session + + + CHAPTER XXVIII Continuation from July, 1792, to July, + 1793.--Author travels again.--Motion to renew the Resolution of + the last year in the Commons; motion lost.--New motion to + abolish the foreign Slave Trade; motion lost.--Proceeding of the + Lords + + + CHAPTER XXIX Continuation from July, 1793, to July, + 1794.--Author travels again.--Motion to abolish the foreign + Slave Trade renewed, and carried; but lost in the Lords; further + proceedings there.--Author, on account of declining health, + obliged to retire from the cause + + + CHAPTER XXX Continuation from July, 1794, to July, + 1799.--Various motions within this period + + + CHAPTER XXXI Continuation from July, 1799, to July, + 1805.--Various motions within this period + + + CHAPTER XXXII Continuation from July, 1805, to July, + 1806.--Author, restored, joins the Committee again.--Death of + Mr. Pitt.--Foreign Slave Trade abolished.--Resolution to take + measures for the total abolition of the trade.--Address to the + King to negotiate with foreign powers for their concurrence in + it.--Motion to prevent new vessels going into the trade.--All + these carried through both Houses of Parliament + + + CHAPTER XXXIII Continuation from July, 1806, to July, + 1807.--Death of Mr. Fox.--Bill for the total abolition carried + in the Lords; sent from thence to the Commons; amended, and + passed there, and sent back to the Lords; receives the royal + assent.--Reflections on this great event + + + Map + + + Plan and Sections of a Slave Ship + + * * * * * + + + + +PREFATORY REMARKS + +TO + +THE PRESENT EDITION. + + * * * * * + + +The invaluable services rendered by Thomas Clarkson to the great +question of the Slave Trade in all its branches, have been universally +acknowledged both at home and abroad, and have gained him a high place +among the greatest benefactors of mankind. The History of the Abolition +which this volume contains, affords some means of appreciating the +extent of his sacrifices and his labours in this cause. But after these, +with the unwearied exertions of William Wilberforce, had conducted its +friends to their final triumph, in 1807, they did not then rest from +their labours. There remained four most important objects, to which the +anxious attention of all Abolitionists was now directed. + +_First_,--The law had been passed, forced upon the Planters, the +Traders, and the Parliament, by the voice of the people; and there was a +necessity for keeping a watchful eye over its execution. + +_Secondly_,--The statute, however rigorously it might be enforced, left, +of course, the whole amount of the Foreign Slave traffic untouched, and +it was infinitely to be desired that means should be adopted for +extending our Abolition to other nations. + +_Thirdly_,--Some compensation was due to Africa, for the countless +miseries which our criminal conduct had for ages inflicted upon her, and +strict justice, to say nothing of common humanity and Christian charity, +demanded that every means should be used for aiding in the progress of +her civilization, and effacing as far as possible the dreadful marks +which had been left upon her by our crimes. + +_Lastly,_--Many of those whom we had transported by fraud and violence +from their native country, and still more of the descendants of others +who had fallen a sacrifice to our cruelties, and perished in the course +of nature, slaves in a foreign land, remained to suffer the dreadful +evils of West India bondage. It seemed to follow, that the earliest +opportunity consistent with their own condition, should be taken to free +those unhappy beings, the victims of our sordid cruelty; and all the +more to be pitied, as we were all the more to be blamed, because one +result of our transgression was the having placed them in so unnatural a +position, that their enemies might seem to be furnished with an argument +more plausible than sound, drawn from the Negro's supposed unfitness for +immediate emancipation. + +In order to promote these four great objects, a society was formed in +May 1807, called the African Institution, and although, at first, its +labours were chiefly directed to the portion of the subject relating to +Africa, by degrees, as the extinction of the British Slave Trade was +accomplished, its care was chiefly bestowed on West India matters, which +were more within the power of this country than the slave traffic, still +carried on by foreign nations. But it is necessary in the first place, +to recite the measures by which our own share in that enormous crime was +surrendered, and the stigma partially obliterated, which it had brought +upon our national character, Thomas Clarkson bore a forward and +important part in all these useful and virtuous proceedings. His health +was now, by rest among the Lakes of Westmoreland for several years, +comparatively restored and his mind once more bent itself to the +accomplishment of the grand object; of his life, we may he permitted +reverently to suggest, the end of his existence. + +Mr. Stephen and others, at first, deemed the certainty of the Act passed +in March 1807, being evaded under the stimulus, and the insurance +against capture afforded by the enormous profits of the traffic, so +clear, that they expected the law to become, almost from the time of its +being enacted, a dead letter. There soon appeared the strongest reasons +to concur in this opinion, the result of long and close observation in +the Islands where Mr. Stephen had passed part of his life. The +slave-dealers knew the risk of penalty and forfeiture which they ran; +but they also knew that if one voyage in three or four was successful, +they were abundantly remunerated for all their losses; and, therefore, +they were no more restrained by the Abolition Act, than by any moderate +increase of the cost or the risk attending their wicked adventures. This +was sure, to be the case, as long as the law only treated slavetrading +as a contraband commerce, subjecting those who drove it to nothing but +pecuniary penalties. But it was equally evident that the same persons +who made these calculations of profit and risk, while they only could +lose the ship or the money by a seizure, would hesitate before they +encountered the hazard of being tried as for a crime. And, surely, if +ever these was an act which deserved to be declared felony, and dealt +with as such, it was this of slave-trading. Accordingly, in 1810, Mr. +Brougham, then a member of the House of Commons, in moving an address to +the crown, (which was unanimously agreed to,) for more vigorous measures +against the traffic, both British and Foreign, gave notice of the Bill, +which he next year carried through Parliament, and which declared the +traffic to be a felony, punishable with transportation. Some years +afterwards it was by another Act made capital, under the name of Piracy, +but this has since been repealed. Several convictions have taken place +under the former Act, (of 1811,) and there cannot be the least doubt +that the law has proved effectual, and that the Slave Trade has long +ceased to exist as far as the British dominions are concerned. + +That foreign states continue shamefully to carry it on, is no less +certain. There are yearly transported to Cuba and Brazil, above 100,000 +unhappy beings, by the two weakest nations in Europe, and these two most +entirely subject to the influence and even direct control of England. +The inevitable consequence is, that more misery is now inflicted on +Africa by the criminals, gently called Slave-traders, of these two +guilty nations, than if there were no treaties for the abolition of the +traffic. The number required is always carried over, and hence, as many +perish by a miserable death in escaping from the cruisers, as reach +their destination. The recitals of horror which have been made to +Parliament and the country on this dreadful subject, are enough to +curdle the blood in the veins and heart of any one endued with the +common feelings of humanity. The whole system of prevention, or rather +of capture, after the crime has been committed, seems framed with a view +to exasperate the evils of the infernal traffic, to scourge Africa with +more intolerable torments, and to make human blood be spilt like water. +Our cruisers, are excited to an active discharge of their duty, by the +benefit of sharing in the price fetched when the captured ship is +condemned and sold; but this is a small sum, indeed, compared with the +rich reward of head-money held out, being so much for every slave taken +on board. It is thus made the direct interest of these cruisers, that +the vessels should have their human cargoes on board, rather than be +prevented from shipping them. True, this vile policy may prove less +mischievous where no treaty exists, giving a right to seize when there +are no slaves in the vessel, because here a slave ship is suffered to +pass, how clear soever her destination might be; yet, even here, the +inducement to send in boats, and seize as soon as a slave or two may be +on board, is removed, and the cruiser is told, "only let all these +wretched beings be torn from their country, and safely lodged in the +vessel's hold, and your reward is great and sure." Then, whenever there +is an outfit clause, that is a power to seize vessels fitted for the +traffic, this mischievous plan tends directly to make the cruiser let +the slaver make ready and put to sea, or it has no tendency or meaning +at all. Accordingly, the course is for the cruiser to stand out to sea, +and not allow herself to be seen in the offing--the crime is +consummated--the slaves are stowed away--the pirate--captain weighs +anchor--the pirate-vessel freighted with victims, and manned by +criminals fares forth--the cruiser, the British cruiser, gives +chace--and then begin those scenes of horror, surpassing all that the +poet ever conceived, whose theme was the torments of the damned and the +wickedness of the fiends. Casks are filled with the slave, and in these +they are stowed away; or to lighten the vessel, they are flung overboard +by the score; sometimes they are flung overboard in casks, that the +chasing ship may be detained by endeavours to pick them up; the dying +and the dead strew the deck; women giving birth to the fruit of the +womb, amidst the corpses of their husbands and their children; and +other, yet worse and nameless atrocities, fill up the terrible picture, +of impotent justice and triumphant guilt. But the guilt is not all +Spanish and Portuguese. The English Government can enforce its demands +on the puny cabinets of Madrid and Lisbon, scarce conscious of a +substantive existence, in all that concerns our petty interests: +wherever justice and mercy to mankind demand our interference, there our +voice sinks within us, and no sound is uttered. That any treaty without +an outfit clause should be suffered to exist between powers so situated, +is an outrage upon all justice, all reason, all common sense. But one +thing is certain, that unless we are to go further, we have gone too +far, and must in mercy to hapless Africa retrace our steps. Unless we +really put the traffic down with a strong hand, and instantly, we must +instantly repeal the treaties that pretended to abolish it, for these +exacerbate the evil a hundred fold, and are ineffectual to any one +purpose but putting money into the pockets of our men of war. The fact +is as unquestionable, as it is appalling, that all our anxious +endeavours to extinguish the Foreign Slave Trade, have ended in making +it incomparably worse than it was before we pretended to put it down; +that owing to our efforts, there are thrice the number of slaves yearly +torn from Africa; and that wholly because of our efforts, two thirds of +these are murdered on the high seas and in the holds of the pirate +vessels. + +It is said, that when these scenes were described to an indignant nation +last session of Parliament, the actual effects of this bad system were +denied, though its tendency could not be disputed. + +It was averred that "no British seaman could be capable of neglecting +his duty for the sake of increasing the gains of the station." But +nothing could be more absurd than this. Can the direct and inevitable +tendency of the head-money system be doubted? Are cruisers the only men +over whom motives have no influence? Then why offer a reward at all? +When they want no stimulus to perform their duty, why tell them that if +the ship is empty, they get a hundred pounds: if laden, five thousand? +They know the rules of arithmetic;--they understand the force of +numbers. But, in truth, there is not an individual on all the coast of +Africa who will be misled by such appeals, or suffer all this to divert +them from their purpose of denouncing the system. There are persons high +in rank among the best servants of the crown, who know the facts from +their own observations, and who are ready to bear witness to the truth, +in spite of all the attempts that have been made to silence them. + +The other great object of the African Institution regarded the West +Indies. The preparation of the negroes for that freedom which was their +absolute right, and could only be withheld for an hour, on the ground of +their not being prepared for it, and therefore being better without it, +was the first thing to be accomplished. Here the friends of the +abolition, all but Mr. Stephen, suffered a great disappointment. He +alone had uniformly-foretold that the hopes held out, as it seemed very +reasonably, of better treatment resulting from the stoppage of the +supply of hands, were fallacious. All else had supposed that interest +might operate on men whom principle had failed to sway; that they whom +no feelings of compassion for their fellow-creatures could move to do +their duty, might be touched by a feeling of their own advantage, when +interest coincided with duty. The Slave-mart is now closed, it was said; +surely the stock on hand will be saved by all means, and not wasted when +it can no longer be replaced. The argument was purposely rested on the +low ground of regarding human beings as cattle, or even as inanimate +chattels, and it was conceived that human life would be regarded of as +much value as the wear and tear of beasts, of furniture, or of tools. +Hence it was expected that a better system of treatment would follow, +from the law which closed the African market, and warned every planter +that his stock must be spared by better treatment, and kept up by +breeding, since it no longer could be, as it hitherto had been, +maintained by new supplies. + +Two considerations were, in these arguments, kept out of view, both of a +practical nature, and both known to Mr. Stephen,--the cultivation of the +Islands by agents having wholly different interests from their masters, +and the gambling spirit of trading and culture which long habit had +implanted in the West Indian nature. The comforts of the slave depended +infinitely more upon the agent on the spot, than the owner generally +resident in the mother country; and though the interest of the latter +might lead to the saving of negro life, and care for negro comforts, the +agent had no such motives to influence his conduct; besides, it was with +the eyes of this agent that the planter must see, and he gave no +credence to any accounts but his. Now the consequence of cruelty is to +make men at war with its objects. No one but a most irritable person +feels angry with his beast, and even the anger of such a person is of a +moment's duration. But towards an inanimate chattel even the most +irritable of sane men can feel nothing like rage. Why? Because in the +one case there is little, in the other no conflict or resistance at all. +It is otherwise with a slave; he is human, and can disobey--can even +resist. This feeling always rankles in his oppressor's bosom, and makes +the tyrannical superior hate, and the more oppress his slave. The agent +on the spot feels thus, and thus acts; nor can the voice of the owner at +a distance be heard, even if interest, clearly proved, were to prompt +another course. But the chief cause of the evil is the spirit of +speculation, and it affects and rules resident owners even more than +absentees. Let sugar rise in price, and all cold calculations of +ultimate loss to the gang are lost in the vehement thirst of great +present gain. All, or nearly all, planters are in distressed +circumstances. They look to the next few years as their time; and if the +sun shines they must make hay. They are in the mine, toiling for a +season, with every desire to escape and realize something to spend +elsewhere. Therefore they make haste to be rich, and care little, should +the speculation answer and much sugar bring in great gain, what becomes +of the gang ten years hence. Add to all this, that any interference of +the local legislatures to discourage sordid or cruel management, to +clothe the slaves with rights, to prepare them for freedom by better +education, to pave the way for emancipation by restraining the master's +power, to create an intermediate State of transition from slavery to +freedom by partial liberty, as by attaching them to the soil, and +placing them in the preparatory state through which our ancestors in +Europe passed from bondage in gross to entire independence--all such +measures were in the absolute discretion; not of the planters, but of +the resident agents, one of the worst communities in the world, who had +little interest in preparing for an event which they deprecated, and +whose feelings of party, as well as individually, were all ranged on the +oppressor's side. All this Mr. Stephen, enlightened by experience, and +wise by long reflection, clearly and alone foresaw; all this vision of +the future was too surely realized by the event. No improvement of +treatment took place; no additional liberality in the supplies was +shown; no abstinence in the exaction of labour appeared; no interference +of the Colonial Legislature to check misconduct was witnessed; far less +was the least disposition perceived to give any rights to the slaves, +any security against oppression, any title independent of his Master, +any intermediate state or condition which might prepare him for freedom. +It is enough to say, that a measure which every man, except Mr. Stephen, +had regarded as the natural, almost the necessary effect of the +abolition--attaching the slaves to the soil--was not so much as +propounded, far less adopted; it may be even said, was never mentioned +in any one local assembly of any of our numerous colonies, during the +thirty years which elapsed between the abolition and the emancipation! +This is unquestionable, and it is decisive. + +As soon as it began to be perceived that such was likely to be the +result of the abolition in regard to the emancipation, Mr. Stephen's +authority with his coadjutors, always high, rose in proportion to the +confirmations which the event had lent his predictions; and his zealous +endeavours and unwearied labours for the subversion of the accursed +system became both more extensive and more effectual. If, however, +strict justice requires the tribute which we have paid to this eminent +person's distinguished services, justice also renders it imperative on +the historian of the Abolition in all its branches, to record an error +into which he fell. Having originally maintained that the traffic would +survive the Act of 1807, in which he was right, that Act only imposing +pecuniary penalties, he persisted in the same opinion after the Act of +1811 had made slave-trading a felony; and long after it had been +effectually put down in the British dominions, he continued to maintain +that it was carried on nearly as much as ever, reasoning upon +calculations drawn from the island returns. Hence he insisted upon a +general Registry Act, as essential to prevent the continuance of an +importation which had little or no real existence. The importance of +such a measure was undeniable, with a view to secure the good treatment +of the negroes in the islands; but the extinction of the Slave Trade had +long before been effectually accomplished. + +In the efforts to obtain Negro Emancipation, all the Abolitionists were +now prepared to join. The conduct of the Colonial Assemblies having long +shown the fallacy of those expectations which had been entertained of +the good work being done in the islands as soon as the supply of new +hands should be stopped by the Abolition, there remained no longer any +doubt whatever, that the mother country alone could abate a nuisance +hateful in the sight of God and man. Constant opportunities were +therefore offered to agitate this great question, which was taken up by +the enlightened, the humane, and the religious, all over the empire. + +The magnitude of the subject was indeed worthy of all the interest it +excited. The destiny of nearly a million of human beings--nay, the +question whether they should be treated as men with rational souls, or +as the beasts which perish--should enjoy the liberty to which all God's +creatures are entitled, as of right, or be harassed, oppressed, +tormented, and stinted, both as regarded bodily food, and spiritual +instruction--whether the colonies should be peopled with tyrants and +barbarians, or inhabited by civilized and improving christian +communities--was one calculated to put in action all the best principles +of our nature, and to move all the noblest feelings of the human heart. + +Thomas Clarkson, as far as his means extended, aided this great +excitement. He renewed his committees of correspondence all over the +country; aided by the Society of Friends, his early and steady +coadjutors in this pious work, he recommenced the epistolary intercourse +with the provinces, held for so many hopeless years on the Slave Trade, +but now made far more promising by the victory which had been obtained, +and by the unanimity with which all Abolitionists now were resolved to +procure emancipation. He also recommenced his journeys through the +different parts of the island, and visited in succession part of +Scotland, almost all England, and the whole of Wales, encouraging and +interesting the friends of humanity wherever he went, and forming local +societies and committees for furthering the common object. + +But it was, after all, in Parliament that the battle must be fought; and +Mr. Buxton, of whose invaluable services in the House of Commons the +cause has lately been deprived, repeatedly, with the support of Messrs. +Wilberforce, William Smith, Brougham, Lushington, and others, urged the +necessity of interference upon the representatives of a people unanimous +in demanding it; and he repeatedly urged it in vain. The Government +always leaned towards the planter, and the most flimsy excuses were +constantly given for preferring to the effectual measures propounded by +the Abolitionists, the most flimsy of expedients, useless for any one +purpose, save that of making pretences and gaining time. + +At length came the great case of the missionary Smith's persecution, +trial, and untimely death, when all the forms of judicature had been +prostituted, all the rules of law broken, all the principles of justice +outraged, by men assuming to sit in judgment as a court of criminal +jurisprudence; and though assisted by legal functionaries, exhibiting +such a spectacle of daring violation of the most received and best known +canons of procedure, as no civilized community ever before were called +upon to endure. This subject was immediately brought before Parliament +by Mr. Brougham, and his motion of censure, which might have been an +impeachment of the governor and the court of Demerara, was powerfully +supported by Mr. Wilberforce, the amiable, eloquent, and venerable +leader of the party, Mr. Denman, Mr. Williams, and Dr. Lushington, but +rejected by a majority of the Commons, whom Mr. Canning led, in a speech +little worthy of his former exertions against the Slave Trade, and far +from being creditable either to his judgment or to his principles. Yet +this memorable debate was of singular service to the cause. The great +speeches delivered were spread through all parts of the country; the +nakedness of the horrid system was exposed; the corruptions as well as +cruelty of slavery were laid bare; the determination of colonies to +protect its worst abuses was demonstrated; necessity of the +mother-country interfering with a strong hand was declared; and even the +loss of the motion showed the people of England how much their own +exertions were still required if they would see slavery extirpated, by +proving that upon them alone the fate of the execrable system hung. + +The effects of this great debate cannot be over estimated. The case of +the missionary became the universal topic; The name of the martyred +Smith, the general rallying cry. The superior interest excited by +individual sufferings to any general misery inflicted upon masses of the +people, or any evil, however gigantic, which operates over a large +space, and in a course of time, has always been observed. The remark was +peculiarly applicable in this instance. Although all reflecting men had, +for many long years, been well aware of the evils pervading our colonial +system, and though the iniquity and perverseness of West Indian +judicatures had long been the topic of universal comment, yet this +single case of a persecuted individual falling a victim to those gross +perversions of law and justice which are familiar to the colonial +people, produced an impression far more general and more deep than all +that had ever been written or declaimed against system of West India +slavery; and looking back on the consummation of all our hopes in 1833 +and 1838, we at once revert from this auspicious era to that ever +memorable occasion as having laid the solid foundation of our ultimate +triumph. + +In this important day, which has thus by its effects proved decisive of +the Emancipation question, Mr. Stephen bore no part. He had long ceased +to adorn and enlighten the House of Commons. His retirement was the +result of honest differences of opinion respecting West India slavery +with his political friends, then in the plenitude of their power. Those +differences caused him to take the noble part, so rarely acted by +politicians, of withdrawing from Parliament rather than lend his great +support to men with whom he differed upon a question admitting no +compromise; and he devoted his exertions in private life to the +furtherance of the cause ever nearest his heart, the publication of his +able and elaborate work on the Colonial Slave Laws was the fruit of his +leisure; and had he never lent any other aid to the Emancipation, this +would alone have placed him high among its most able and effective +supporters. In all the consultations which were held before Mr. +Brougham's motion in 1824, he bore an active and useful part. In pushing +the advantages gained by the debate he was unwearied and successful. +Unhappily it pleased Providence that he should not receive here below +the final reward of his long and valued labours; for he was called to +his final repose some months before the Emancipation Bill passed into a +law. + +There remains little to add, except that this measure, which was carried +with little opposition in 1833, owed its success in Parliament to the +ample bribe of twenty millions, by which the acquiescence of the West +Indians was purchased. The measure had hardly come into operation, when +all men perceived that the intermediate state of apprenticeship was +anything rather than a preparation for freedom, and anything rather than +a mitigation of slavery. It is due to some able and distinguished +friends of the negro race to state, that they all along were averse to +this plan of a transition state. Lord Howick, then in the Colonial +Office as Under-Secretary, went so far as to leave the department, from +his dislike of this part of the measure. Mr. Buxton and others protested +against it. Even its friends intimated that they wished the period of +apprenticeship to end in 1838 instead of 1840; but there was a general +belief of the preparatory step being necessary,--a belief apparently +founded on experience of the negro character, and indeed of the vicious +tendency of all slavery, to extinguish the power of voluntary labour, as +well as to make the sudden change to freedom unsafe for the peace of the +community. The fact soon dispersed these opinions. Antigua in a minute +emancipated all her slaves to the number of thirty thousand and upwards. +Not a complaint was ever heard of idleness or indolence; and, far from +any breach of the peace being induced by the sudden change in the +condition of the people, the Christmas of 1833 was the first, for the +last twenty years, that martial law was not proclaimed, in order to +preserve the public peace. Similar evidence from Jamaica and other +islands, proving the industrious and peaceable habits of the +apprentices, showed that there was nothing peculiar in the circumstances +of Antigua. + +An important occurrence is now to be recorded as having exercised a +powerful influence upon the question of immediate emancipation. Joseph +Sturge, of Birmingham, a member of the Society of Friends, stricken with +a sense of the injustice perpetrated against the African race, repaired +to the West Indies, in order that he might examine, with his own eyes, +the real state of the question between the two classes. He was +accompanied by John Scoble and Thomas Harvey; and these able, excellent, +and zealous men returned in a few months with such ample evidence of the +effects produced by apprenticeship, and the fitness of the negroes for +liberty, that the attention of the community was soon awakened to the +subject, even more strenuously than it ever before had been; and the +walls of Parliament were soon made once more to ring with the sufferings +of the slave, only emancipated in name, and the injustice of withholding +from him any longer the freedom which was his indefeasible right, as +soon as he was shown capable of enjoying it beneficially for himself and +safely for the rest of the community. + +In these transactions, both in Jamaica, where he is one of the largest +planters, and in Parliament, where he is one of the most respected +members, the Marquess of Sligo bore an eminent and an honourable part. +His praise has been justly sounded by all who have supported the cause +of negro freedom, and his conduct was by all admitted to be as much +marked by the disinterested virtue of a good citizen and amiable man, as +it was by the sagacity and ability of an enlightened statesman. Both as +governor of Jamaica, as the owner of slaves whom he voluntarily +liberated, and as a peer of Parliament, his patriotism, his humanity, +and his talents, shone conspicuously through this severe and glorious +struggle. While such was the conduct of those eminent philanthropists, +some difference of opinion prevailed among the other and older leaders +of the cause, chiefly grounded upon doubts whether the arrangement made +by Parliament in 1833, might not be regarded as a compact with the +planters which it would be unjust to violate by terminating their right +to the labour of the apprentices at a period earlier than the one fixed +in the Emancipation Act. A little consideration of the question at issue +soon dispelled those doubts, and removed every obstacle to united +exertion, by restoring entire unanimity of opinion. The slaves, it was +triumphantly affirmed, were no party to the compact. But moreover, the +whole arrangement of the apprenticeship was intended as a benefit to +them, by giving them the preparation thought to be required before they +could, safely for themselves, be admitted to unrestricted freedom,--not +as a benefit to the planters, whose acquiescence was purchased with the +grant of twenty millions. Experience having shown that no preparation at +all was required, it was preposterous to continue the restraint upon +natural liberty an hour longer, as regarded the negroes,--the only party +whom we had any right to consider in the question; and as for the +planters there was the grossest absurdity in further regarding any +interests or any claims of theirs. The arrangement of 1833, as far as +regards the transition or intermediate state, had been made under an +error in fact, an error propagated by the representations of the +masters. That error was now at an end, and an immediate alteration of +the provisions to which it had given rise was thus a matter of strict +justice;--not to mention that the planters had failed to perform their +part of the contract. The Colonial Assemblies had, except in Antigua, +done nothing for the slave in return for the large sum bestowed upon the +West India body. So that in any view there was an end of all pretext for +the further delay of right and justice. + +The ground now taken by the whole Abolitionists; therefore, both in and +out of Parliament was, that the two years which remained of the +indentured apprenticeship must immediately be cut off, and freedom given +to the slaves in August, 1838, instead of 1840; The peace of the West +Indian community, and the real interests of the planters, were affirmed +to be as much concerned in this change as the rights of the negroes +themselves. Far from preparing them for becoming peaceable subjects and +contented members of society at the end of their apprenticeship, those +two years of compulsory labour would, it was justly observed, be a +period of heart-burning and discontent between master and servant, which +must, in the mean while, be dangerous to the peace of society, and must +leave, at the end of the time, a feeling of mutual ill-will and +distrust. The question could no longer be kept from the cognizance of +the negro people. Indeed, their most anxious expectations were already +pointed towards immediate liberty, and their strongest feelings were +roused to obtain it. + +Of these sentiments the whole community partook; meetings were +everywhere held; petitions crowded the tables of Parliament; the press +poured forth innumerable tracts which were eagerly received; the pulpit +lent its aid to this holy cause; and discussions upon petitions and upon +incidental motions shook the walls of Parliament, while they stimulated +the zeal of the people. The Government adopted an unfortunate course, +which contributed greatly to weaken their hold on the confidence and +affections of the country; they resisted all the motions that were made +on behalf of the slaves, and appeared to regard only the interests of +the master, turning a deaf ear to the arguments of right and of justice. + +It was found, during the course of these debates, that a new Slave Trade +had sprung up in the East Indies, with the sanction of an English Order +in Council. Under pretence that hands were wanted to cultivate their +estates, the Demerara planters had obtained permission to import what +they termed, with a delicacy borrowed from the vocabulary of the African +Slave Trade, "labourers" from Asia and from Africa east of the Cape, and +to make them Indentured Apprentices for a term of years. No restrictions +whatever were imposed by this unheard-of Order. No tonnage was required +in proportion to the numbers shipped, no amount of provision, no medical +assistance; no precautions were taken, or so much as thought of, to +prevent kidnapping and fraud, nay, to prevent main force being used in +any part of Eastern Africa, or of all Asia, in carrying on board the +victims of West Indian avarice; in short, a worse Slave Trade than the +African was established, and all the dominions of the East India +Company, with all the African and Asiatic coasts, as yet independent, +were given over to its ravages. This was repeatedly denounced by Lord +Brougham in the House of Lords; and although his motion for rescinding +the order was supported by Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Ellenborough, and Lord +Wharncliffe, the influence of the Government and the planters prevailed, +and the House rejected it. A bill was afterwards brought in to check the +enormities complained of; but no remedy at all effectual is as yet +applied. The official documents, however, proved that already men had +been inveigled on board, by the agents of the Mauritius planters, in +different parts of the East, and that the mortality on that +comparatively short voyage exceeded even the dreadful waste of life +which had characterized, and impressed with marks of horrid atrocity, +the accursed Middle Passage. + +This subject, as might well be expected, once more roused the energies +of Thomas Clarkson: he addressed an able and convincing letter to Lord +Brougham, his old friend and coadjutor in the sacred cause; and it was +printed and universally circulated. The subject still remains unsettled: +and the labours of the enlightened philanthropist cannot now be directed +to one more important, or more urgent. + +Meanwhile, in the spring of 1838, the question of Immediate Emancipation +was agitated throughout the country. The Government proved hostile. +Immense meetings were held at Exeter Hall, which were attended by many +members of Parliament, over which Lord Brougham presided. Among others +who were present and bore a distinguished part, were certain +representatives of Ireland who promised their strenuous support. It is a +painful duty to add, that their fellow-members from Ireland did not, on +this great occasion, follow their good example; for eleven only of +those, on whose votes reliance had been placed, opposed the Government, +while no less than twenty-seven gave them support. + +The question was rejected by the House of Lords, when brought forward by +Lord Brougham; but in spite of the efforts of the Government; the +defalcation of the Irish, of a still greater proportion of the Scotch +representatives, two hundred and seventeen members of the House of +Commons voted for Immediate Abolition, out of four hundred and +eighty-nine who were present on the occasion. A second effort in the +same session placed Ministers in a minority; but they immediately gave +notice, they should strenuously oppose any attempt to carry into +practical effect this decision of the House; and in this determination +they were supported by a majority on a third division. + +The word, however, had gone forth all over England, that the _Slave +should be free_. It had not only pervaded Europe, it had reached +America; and the West Indians at length perceived that they could no +longer resist the voice of the British people, when it spoke the accents +of humanity and of justice. The slaves would have met the dawn of the +first of August,--the day which all the motions in Parliament and all +the prayers of the petitions had fixed,--with perfect quiet, but with a +resolute determination to do no work. The peace would not have been +broken, but no more would a clod have been turned after that appointed +sun had risen. A handful of whites surrounded by myriads of +negroes,--now substantially free, and free without a blow,--must have +been overwhelmed in an hour after sunrise on that day, had they +resisted. The Colonial Legislatures, therefore, _now_ listened to the +voice of reason, and they, one after another, emancipated their slaves. +The first of August saw not a bondsman, under whatever appellation, in +any part of the Western Sea which owns the British rule. + +The Mauritius, however, still held out, and on the Mauritius the hand of +the Imperial Parliament must and will be laid, to enforce mercy and +justice on those to whom mercy and justice have so long called aloud in +vain. In truth, if the case for instant emancipation was strong +everywhere, it was in no quarter half so strong as in the Mauritius; and +the distribution of the grant by Parliament to this Colony was the most +unjustifiable, and even incomprehensible. For, elsewhere, there existed +at least a title to the slave, over whom an unjust and unchristian law +recognised the right of property. But in the Mauritius there was not, +nor is there now, one negro to whom a good title is clearly provable. +The atrocious conduct of Governors and other functionaries, in conniving +at the Slave Trade of Eastern Africa, had filled that Colony with +thousands of negroes, every one of whom was carried there by the +commission of felony, long after Slave Trading had been declared a +capital crime by the law of the land, as by the law of nature it always +was. Sir George Murray, when Colonial Secretary of State, had admitted, +that at least thirty thousand of the negroes in the settlement were +nominally slaves, but in reality free, having been carried thither +contrary to law. He understated it by twenty thousand or more: yet on +all these negroes, in respect of property, were two millions and more +claimed: for all these the compensation money was given and taken, which +Parliament had lavishly bestowed. How then was it possible to doubt, +that every slave in the Mauritius should receive his freedom, when the +only ground alleged for not singling out and liberating this fifty +thousand, was the inability to distinguish them from the rest? If ten +men are tried for an offence, and it is clear that five are innocent, +though you cannot distinguish them from their companions, what jury will +hesitate in acquitting the whole, on the ordinary principle of its being +better five guilty should escape than five guiltless suffer? The same is +still the state of the case in that most criminal settlement, which, +having far surpassed all others in the enormity of its guilt, is now the +only one where no attempt has been made to evince repentance by +amendment of conduct. But the Government which has the power of +compelling justice will share the crime which they refuse to prevent, +and the Legislature must compel the Government, if their guilty +reluctance shall continue, or it will take that guilt upon itself[A]. + +[Footnote A: It is truly gratifying to state, that the late Secretary +for the Colonies, Lord Glenelg, has, since this was written, given the +most satisfactory assurances of orders having been sent over for +immediate emancipation, in case the former instructions to the Governor +of Mauritius should have failed, to make the Colonists themselves adopt +the measure. Lord Glenelg's conduct on this occasion is most creditable +to him.] + +The latest act of Thomas Clarkson's life has been one which, or rather +the occasion for which, it is truly painful to contemplate; but this too +must be recorded, or the present historical sketch would be incomplete. +He whose days had all been spent in acts of kindness and of justice to +others, was at last forced to exert his powers, supposed, by some, and +erroneously supposed, to be enfeebled by age, in obtaining redress for +his own wrongs. He whose thoughts had all been devoted to the service of +his fellow-creatures, was now obliged to think of himself. A life spent +in works of genuine philanthropy, alike standing aloof from party, and +retiring with genuine humility from the public gaze, might have well +hoped to escape that detraction, which is the lot of those who assume +the leading stations among their contemporaries, and mingle in the +contentious scenes of worldly affairs. Or, at least, it might have been +expected that his traducers would only be found among the oppressors of +the New World, or the slave-traders of the Old. This felicity has not +been his lot; and the evening of his days has been overcast by an +assault upon his character, proceeding from the quarter of all others +the most unexpected and the most strange. + +The sons of his old and dear friend William Wilberforce,--whose +incomparable merits he had ever been the first to acknowledge, whom he +loved as a brother, and revered as the great leader of the cause to +which his whole life had been devoted,--in publishing a Life of their +illustrious parent, thought fit to charge Thomas Clarkson with having +suppressed his services while he exaggerated his own; and not content +with bringing a charge utterly groundless, (as it was instantly proved,) +they deemed it worthy of their subject and of their name, to drag forth +into the light of day a private correspondence of a delicate nature, +with the purpose of proving that their father and others had assisted +him with money, and that he had been pressing in his demands of a +subscription. Two extracts of Letters of his were printed by these +reverend gentlemen, upon which a statement was afterwards grounded in +the _Edinburgh Review_ of their book, that the subscription was raised +to remunerate him for his services in the Abolition. They further +asserted, that their father was in the field before him, and that it was +under their father's direction that he, and the Abolition Committee of +1786, acted. In the whole history of controversy, we venture to affirm, +there never was an instance of so triumphant a refutation as that by +which these slanderous aspersions were instantly refuted, and their +authors and their accomplices reduced to a silence as prudent as +discreditable. + +The venerable philanthropist took up his pen, worn down in the cause of +humanity and of justice. _First_, he showed, by incontrovertible +evidence, the utter falsehood of the charge, that he had underrated the +merits of others and exalted his own. These proofs were the references +to his volumes themselves, which it really seemed as if the two reverend +authors had never even looked into. He then proved to demonstration that +he had taken the field earlier than William Wilberforce. This was shown, +first, by known dates, matter of history; next, by letters from the +friends of both parties, as Archdeacon Corbet and William Smith; but, +lastly, by the words of William Wilberforce himself, as well privately +as at public meetings, asserting that he (William Wilberforce) came into +the field after his valued friend. But a striking fact may be cited, as +a sample at once of the course pursued by the assailants, and the +completeness of the defence. The reverend authors in proof of their +unqualified assertion, that Thomas Clarkson and the Committee acted from +the first under William Wilberforce's directions, refer to "MS. Minutes +of the Committee" for their authority. But the friend who so ably +superintended the publication of Thomas Clarkson's defence, and who +added to that tract an appendix of singular merit and great interest +(H.C. Robinson), showed that the parts referred to by the reverend +authors, in proof of their assertion, completely disproved it; and that +six months after the Committee had been working, William Wilberforce +applied to them for any information of which they might be possessed on +the subject of the Slave Trade. + +But the publication of the letters and the colour given to the +transaction were far worse. The preservation of that correspondence, at +all, by the sons, could only be justified by the belief of its being +accidentally kept by the father, but, of course, never intended to be +made public; least of all without the usual precaution of asking the +writer's leave, and giving him the opportunity of explaining it. The +biographers printed it without any kind of communication with him, and +he saw it for the first time in print. + +Then, the attempt was made to represent this pure, and valuable, and +disinterested man as a mendicant philanthropist, who, for his exertions +in the cause of justice, stooped to the humiliating attitude of +collecting a remuneration from his friends. The words of William +Wilberforce, and other Abolition leaders, prove that he had expended a +very considerable portion of his own small patrimony in the cause, and +that the subscription was to pay a debt,--a just and lawful debt; not to +confer a bounty, or reward, or remuneration for services performed. It +is also proved, that after being reimbursed to the amount of the sum +contributed, or rather levied on those for whom the poorest of their +body had advanced his own money, he remained out of pocket far more than +others had ever given, after their share of the repayment was credited +to them, in this debtor and creditor account. + +But this is not all: Mr. Wilberforce himself, then a man of ample +fortune, and Member for Yorkshire, had in 1807, published a pamphlet in +the cause. The Minutes of the Committee for 6th June, 1811, contained an +entry of an order to pay 83_l_. out of the subscription funds to Mr. +Cadell, being Mr. Wilberforce's share of the loss sustained by that +publication. There had been no mention at all of this in his life, by +these reverend authors, who scrupled not to print the garbled letters, +with the manifest design of lowering the character of their father's +friend, by ranking him among venal stipendiary pretenders to +philanthropy, and jobbing mendicant patriots. + +Wherefore, it may be asked, was this matter at all dragged forth to +light, except to effect that unworthy purpose, and to give pain to a man +as eminently as deservedly respected and beloved? The false pretext is, +the vindication of their father's memory.--But it had never been +attacked. They affect to suppose such an attack, that they may have a +pretext for inflicting a wound in a fictitious and almost a fraudulent +defence.--But if it had been ever so rudely attacked, the letters are no +defence. For the only possible pretence of attack was the notion of +Thomas Clarkson having assumed the priority, and these letters can have +no earthly relation to that point. Whether Wilberforce, or Clarkson, or +neither of them, first began the abolition struggle, is a question as +utterly wide of the subscription as any one private matter in the life +of either party can be of any one public transaction in which both were +engaged. + +The indignation of mankind was awakened by this disgraceful proceeding, +and it was in vain that the friends of the Wilberforces urged, as some +extenuation of their offence, the zeal which they naturally cherished +for the memory of their parent. Men of reflection felt that no +well-regulated mind can ever engage in slandering one person for the +purpose of elevating another. Men of ordinary discernment perceived that +the assaults on Clarkson's reputation had no possible tendency to raise +Wilberforce's reputation. Men of observation saw at once that there +lurked behind the wish to praise the one party, a desire to wound the +other; and gave them far less credit for over-anxiety to gratify their +filial affections than eagerness to indulge their hostile feelings. It +was plain, too, that they sought this gratification at the hazard of +bringing a stain upon the memory of their father; for what could be more +natural than the suspicion that they had obtained from him the materials +out of which their web of detraction was woven? And what more +discreditable to the author of the affectionate and familiar letters of +Wilberforce to Clarkson than their discrepancy with the charges now +urged against him? It is due to the memory of this venerable man, now +gone to his rest, to say that no one who knew him, ever so slightly, +could believe in the possibility of his holding one language to his +friend and another to his children: far less of his bequeathing to them +anything like materials for the attack upon one to whom he professed the +most warm and steady attachment. But if such be the conclusion of all +who knew the man, assuredly in arriving at it they have derived no help +from the lights afforded by his family. + +The vindication of Thomas Clarkson has been triumphant; the punishment +of his traducers has been exemplary. His character stands higher than +ever; his name is lofty and it is unsullied; they have a character to +retrieve,--a name which they have tarnished since it descended upon +them, they have to restore by their own future deserts. + +The astonishment of the world was at its pitch when the champion of +Abolition, the steady ally of Thomas Clarkson and Granville Sharpe, the +_Edinburgh Review_, was seen attempting to rescue these parties, and +taking part against the injured man, the patriarch of a cause defended +by that celebrated Journal during a brilliant period of much above +thirty years. The boldness displayed in its pages on this occasion was +excessive. As if feeling that the weak and indefensible part in the +assault was the publishing of the letters, it had the confidence to +affirm, that this proceeding was called for in justice to Wilberforce's +memory. So daring an attempt upon the integrity of facts has not often +been witnessed. What! The publication of these letters, which had no +possible connexion with Wilberforce's character, (a character, indeed, +that no one had assailed,) letters which were absolutely foreign even to +the question of priority in the abolition cause,--the publication of +these necessary to the defence of Wilberforce? Then, upon what ground +necessary? How had he been attacked? Where was he to be defended? But, +if attacked, how did the letters aid,--how connect themselves +with,--how, in any manner of way, bear upon the defence, or any defence, +or any portion of Wilberforce's character and life? They showed him to +have contributed towards the payment of a debt he had contracted to +Clarkson. But who had ever charged him with refusing to pay his debts? +With his merits as to the Abolition, (if that be what is meant by his +character,)--merits which it was a mere fabrication to pretend that +Clarkson had ever been slow to acknowledge,--those letters had +absolutely no possible connexion; and whoever, on this score, affects to +defend this publication, is capable of vindicating the printing any +private letter upon the most delicate subject, by any man who writes the +history of any other affair, or who writes on any subject from which the +correspondence is wholly foreign. It is proper to add, that the editors +of this Journal have most properly published a retractation of the +charges made, in their ignorance of the whole facts of the case. + +The acute and sagacious editor of T. Clarkson's vindication, has given +his reasons for suspecting that this criticism, in the _Edinburgh +Review_, must have proceeded from some party directly concerned in the +publication of Wilberforce's life. We enter into no discussion of the +circumstantial evidence adduced in favour of this supposition. The +editors of the Journal are the parties to whom we look; and as they, +after being to all appearance misled by some partial writer, have made +the best reparation for an involuntary error, by doing justice to the +injured party, we can have no further remark to make upon the subject. + +But it is impossible to close these pages without mentioning the +extraordinary merit of this latest, and, in all likelihood, this last +production of Clarkson's pen. It is indeed a most able performance, and +has been admired by some of the ablest controversial writers of the age, +as a model of excellence in controversial writing. Plain, vigorous, +convincing, perfectly calm and temperate, devoid of all acrimony, barely +saying enough to repel unjust aggression without one word of +retaliation, never losing sight for a moment of its purely defensive +object, and accordingly, from the singleness of purpose with which that +object is pursued, attaining it with the most triumphant success,--no +wonder that the public judgment has been loudly and universally +pronounced in its favour, that its adversaries have been reduced to +absolute silence, that its author's name has been exalted even higher +than before it stood. But the wonder is to see such unimpaired vigour at +four-score years of age, after a life of unwearied labour, latterly +clouded by domestic calamity, and a spirit as young as ever in zeal for +justice, tempered only by the mellowness which the kindly heart spreads +over the fruits of the manly understanding. + +There wanted no testimonials of esteem from his country to consummate +the venerable philanthropist's renown; yet these too have been added. +Various meetings have addressed their gratulations to him. Of these the +great corporation of London claims the first regard, and after +presenting him with the freedom of the city, they have ordered to be +erected in their hall, as a memorial of his extraordinary virtue, a +likeness of the mortal form of Thomas Clarkson. + + * * * * * + + + + +HISTORY OF THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +No subject more pleasing than that of the removal of evils.--Evils +have existed almost from the beginning of the world; but there is a +power in our nature to counteract them--this power increased by +Christianity.--Of the evils removed by Christianity one of the +greatest is the Slave Trade.--The joy we ought to feel on its +abolition from a contemplation of the nature of it; and of the extent +of it; and of the difficulty of subduing it.--Usefulness also of the +contemplation of this subject. + + +I scarcely know of any subject, the contemplation of which is more +pleasing, than that of the correction or of the removal of any of the +acknowledged evils of life; for while we rejoice to think that the +sufferings of our fellow-creatures have been thus, in any instance, +relieved, we must rejoice equally to think, that our own moral condition +must have been necessarily improved by the change. + +That evils, both physical and moral, have existed long upon earth there +can be no doubt. One of the sacred writers, to whom we more immediately +appeal for the early history of mankind, informs us that the state of +our first parents was a state of innocence and happiness; but that, soon +after their creation, sin and misery entered into the world. The poets +in their fables, most of which, however extravagant they may seem, had +their origin in truth, speak the same language. Some of these represent +the first condition of man by the figure of the golden, and his +subsequent degeneracy and subjection to suffering by that of the silver, +and afterwards of the iron age. Others tell us that the first female was +made of clay; that she was called Pandora, because every necessary gift, +qualification, or endowment, was given to her by the gods, but that she +received from Jupiter, at the same time, a box from which, when opened, +a multitude of disorders sprung, and that these spread themselves +immediately afterwards among all of the human race. Thus it appears, +whatever authorities we consult, that those which may be termed the +evils of life existed in the earliest times. And what does subsequent +history, combined with our own experience, tell us, but that these have +been continued, or that they have come down in different degrees through +successive generations of men, in all the known countries of the +universe, to the present day? + +But though the inequality visible in the different conditions of life, +and the passions interwoven into our nature, (both which have been +allotted to us for wise purposes, and without which we could not easily +afford a proof of the existence of that, which is denominated virtue,) +have a tendency to produce vice and wretchedness among us, yet we see, +in this our constitution, what may operate partially as preventives and +corrective of them. If there be a radical propensity in our nature to do +that which is wrong, there is, on the other hand, a counteracting power +within it, or an impulse by means of the action of the divine Spirit +upon our minds, which urges us to do that which is right. If the voice +of temptation, clothed in musical and seducing accents, charms us one +way, the voice of holiness, speaking to us from within, in a solemn and +powerful manner, commands us another. Does one man obtain a victory over +his corrupt affections? an immediate perception of pleasure, like the +feeling of a reward divinely conferred upon him, is noticed. Does +another fall prostrate beneath their power? a painful feeling, and such +as pronounces to him the sentence of reproof and punishment is found to +follow. If one, by suffering his heart to become hardened, oppresses a +fellow-creature, the tear of sympathy starts up in the eye of another, +and the latter instantly feels a desire, involuntarily generated, of +flying to his relief. Thus impulses, feelings, and dispositions have +been implanted in our nature, for the purpose of preventing and +rectifying the evils of life. And as these have operated, so as to +stimulate some men to lessen them by the exercise of an amiable charity, +so they have operated to stimulate others in various other ways to the +same end. Hence the philosopher has left moral precepts behind him in +favour of benevolence, and the legislator has endeavoured to prevent +barbarous practices by the introduction of laws. + +In consequence then of these impulses and feelings, by which the pure +power in our nature is thus made to act as a check upon the evil part of +it, and in consequence of the influence which philosophy and legislative +wisdom have had in their respective provinces, there has been always, in +all times and countries, a counteracting energy, which has opposed +itself, more or less, to the crimes and miseries of mankind. But it +seems to have been reserved for Christianity to increase this energy, +and to give it the widest possible domain. It was reserved for her, +under the same divine influence, to give the best views of the nature +and of the present and future condition of man; to afford the best moral +precepts, to communicate the most benign stimulus to the heart, to +produce the most blameless conduct, and thus to cut off many of the +causes of wretchedness, and to heal it wherever it was found. At her +command, wherever she has been duly acknowledged, many of the evils of +life have already fled. The prisoner of war is no longer led into the +amphitheatre to become a gladiator, and to imbrue his hands in the blood +of his fellow-captive for the sport of a thoughtless multitude. The +stern priest, cruel through fanaticism and custom, no longer leads his +fellow-creature to the altar to sacrifice him to fictitious gods. The +venerable martyr, courageous through faith and the sanctity of his life, +is no longer hurried to the flames. The haggard witch, poring over her +incantations by moon-light, no longer scatters her superstitious poison +among her miserable neighbours, nor suffers for her crime. + +But in whatever way Christianity may have operated towards the increase +of this energy, or towards a diminution of human misery, it has operated +in none more powerfully than by the new views and consequent duties, +which it introduced on the subject of charity, or practical benevolence +and love. Men in ancient times looked upon their talents, of whatever +description, as, their own, which they might use, or cease to use at +their discretion. But the Author of our religion was the first who +taught that, however in a legal point of view, the talent of individuals +might belong exclusively to themselves, so that no other person had a +right to demand the use of it by force, yet in the Christian +dispensation they were but the stewards of it for good; that so much was +expected from this stewardship, that it was difficult for those who were +intrusted with it to enter into his spiritual kingdom; that these had no +right to conceal their talent in a napkin, but that they were bound to +dispense a portion of it to the relief of their fellow-creatures; and +that, in proportion to the magnitude of it, they were accountable for +the extensiveness of its use. He was the first who pronounced the +misapplication of it to be a crime, and to be a crime of no ordinary +dimensions. He was the first who broke down the boundary between Jew and +Gentile, and, therefore, the first who pointed out to men the +inhabitants of other countries, for the exercise of their philanthropy +and love. Hence a distinction is to be made both in the principle and +practice of charity, as existing in ancient or in modern times. Though +the old philosophers, historians, and poets, frequently inculcated +benevolence, we have no reason to conclude from any facts they have left +us, that persons in their days did anything more than occasionally +relieve an unfortunate object, who might present himself before them, or +that, however they might deplore the existence of public evils among +them, they joined in associations for their suppression, or that they +carried their charity, as bodies of men, into other kingdoms. To +Christianity alone we are indebted for the new and sublime spectacle, of +seeing men going beyond the bounds of individual usefulness to each +other; of seeing them associate for the extirpation of private and +public misery; and of seeing them carry their charity, as a united +brotherhood, into distant lands. And in this wider field of benevolence +it would be unjust not to confess, that no country has shone with more +true lustre than our own, there being scarcely any case of acknowledged +affliction, for which some of her Christian children have not united in +an attempt to provide relief. + +Among the evils corrected or subdued, either by the general influence of +Christianity on the minds of men, or by particular associations of +Christians, the African[A]. Slave Trade appears to me to have occupied +the foremost place. The abolition of it, therefore, of which it has +devolved upon me to write the history, should be accounted as one of the +greatest blessings, and as such should be one of the most copious +sources of our joy: indeed, I know of no evil, the removal of which +should excite in us a higher degree of pleasure. For, in considerations +of this kind, are we not usually influenced by circumstances? Are not +our feelings usually affected according to the situation, or the +magnitude, or the importance of these? Are they not more or less +elevated, as the evil under our contemplation has been more or less +productive of misery, or more or less productive of guilt? Are they not +more or less elevated again, as we have found it more or less +considerable in extent? Our sensations will undoubtedly be in proportion +to such circumstances, or our joy to the appreciation or mensuration of +the evil which has been removed. + +[Footnote A: Slavery had been before annihilated by Christianity; I mean +in the West of Europe, at the close of the twelfth century] + +To value the blessing of the abolition as we ought, or to appreciate the +joy and gratitude which we ought to feel concerning it, we must enter a +little into the circumstances of the trade. Our statement, however, of +these needs not be long: a few pages will do all that is necessary! A +glance only into such a subject as this will be sufficient to affect the +heart,--to arouse our indignation and our pity,--and to teach us the +importance of the victory obtained. + +The first subject for consideration, towards enabling us to make the +estimate in question, will be that of the nature of the evil belonging +to the Slave Trade. This may be seen by examining it in three points of +view. First, as it has been proved to arise on the Continent of Africa, +in the course of reducing the inhabitants of it to slavery. Secondly, in +the course of conveying them from thence to the lands or colonies of +other nations. And, thirdly, in continuing them there as slaves. + +To see it, as it has been shown, to arise in the first case, let us +suppose ourselves on the Continent just mentioned. Well then, We are +landed,--We are already upon our travels,--We have just passed through +one forest,--We are now come to a more open place, which indicates an +approach to habitation. And what object is that which first obtrudes +itself upon our sight? Who is that wretched woman whom we discover under +that noble tree, wringing her hands, and beating her breast, as if in +the agonies of despair? Three days has she been there, at intervals, to +look and to watch; and this is the fourth morning, and no tidings of her +children yet. Beneath its spreading boughs they were accustomed to play: +but, alas! the savage man-stealer interrupted their playful mirth, and +has taken them for ever from her sight. + +But let us leave the cries of this unfortunate woman, and hasten into +another district. And what do we first see here? Who is he that just now +started across the narrow pathway, as if afraid of a human face? What is +that sudden rustling among the leaves? Why are those persons flying from +our approach, and hiding themselves in yon darkest thicket? Behold, as +we get into the plain, a deserted village! The rice-field has been just +trodden down around it; an aged man,--venerable by his silver +beard,--lies wounded and dying near the threshold of his hut. War, +suddenly instigated by avarice, has just visited the dwellings which we +see. The old have been butchered, because unfit for slavery, and the +young have been carried off, except such as have fallen in the conflict, +or have escaped among the woods behind us. + +But let us hasten from this cruel scene, which gives rise to so many +melancholy reflections. Let us cross yon distant river, and enter into +some new domain. But are we relieved even here from afflicting +spectacles? Look at that immense crowd which appears to be gathered in a +ring. See the accused innocent in the middle! The ordeal of poisonous +water has been administered to him, as a test of his innocence or his +guilt: he begins to be sick and pale. Alas! yon mournful shriek of his +relatives confirms that the loss of his freedom is now sealed. + +And whither shall we go now? the night is approaching fast. Let us find +some friendly hut, where sleep may make us forget for a while the +sorrows of the day. Behold a hospitable native ready to receive us at +his door! let us avail ourselves of his kindness. And now let its give +ourselves to repose. But why, when our eyelids are but just closed, do +we find ourselves thus suddenly awakened? What is the meaning of the +noise around us, of the trampling of people's feet, of the rustling of +the bow, the quiver, and the lance? Let us rise up and inquire. Behold! +the inhabitants are all alarmed! a wakeful woman has shown them yon +distant column of smoke and blaze. The neighbouring village is on fire: +the prince, unfaithful to the sacred duty of the protection of his +subjects, has surrounded them. He is now burning their habitations, and +seizing, as saleable booty, the fugitives from the flames. + +Such then are some of the scenes that have been passing in Africa, in +consequence, of the existence of the Slave Trade; or such is the nature +of the evil, as it has shown itself in the first of the cases we have +noticed. Let us now estimate it as it has been proved to exist in the +second; or let us examine the state of the unhappy Africans reduced to +slavery in this manner, while on board the vessels, which are to convey +them across the ocean to other lands. And here I must observe at once, +that, as far as this part of the evil is concerned, I am at a loss to +describe it. Where shall I find words to express properly their sorrow, +as arising from the reflection of being parted for ever from their +friends, their relatives, and their country? Where shall I find language +to paint, in appropriate colours, the horror of mind brought on by +thoughts of their future unknown destination, of which they can augur +nothing but misery from all that they have yet seen? How shall I make +known their situation, while labouring, under painful disease, or while +struggling in the suffocating holds of their prisons, like animals +enclosed in an exhausted receiver? How shall I describe their feelings +as exposed to all the personal indignities, which lawless appetite or +brutal passion may suggest? How shall I exhibit their sufferings as +determining to refuse sustenance and die, or as resolving to break their +chains, and, disdaining to live as slaves, to punish their oppressors? +How shall I give an idea of their agony when under various punishments +and tortures for their reputed crimes? Indeed, every part of this +subject defies my powers, and I must, therefore, satisfy myself and the +reader with a general representation, or in the words of a celebrated +member of Parliament, that "Never was so much human suffering condensed +in so small a space." + +I come now to the evil, as it has been proved to arise in the third +case; or to consider the situation of the unhappy victims of the trade, +when their painful voyages are over, or after they have been landed upon +their destined shores. And here we are to view them, first under the +degrading light of cattle: we are to see them examined, handled, +selected, separated, and sold. Alas! relatives are separated from +relatives, as if, like cattle, they had no rational intellect, no power +of feeling the nearness of relationship, nor sense of the duties +belonging to the ties of life! We are next to see them labouring; and +this for the benefit of those to whom they are under no obligation, by +any law either natural or divine, to obey. We are to see them, if +refusing the commands of their purchasers, however weary, or feeble, or +indisposed, subject to corporal punishments, and if forcibly resisting +them to death: we are to see them in a state of general degradation and +misery. The knowledge which their oppressors have of their own crime, in +having violated the rights of nature, and of the disposition of the +injured to seek all opportunities of revenge, produces a fear which +dictates to them the necessity of a system of treatment, by which they +shall keep up a wide distinction between the two, and by which the noble +feelings of the latter shall be kept down, and their spirits broken. We +are to see them again subject to individual persecution, as anger, or +malice, or any bad passion may suggest: hence the whip, the chain, the +iron-collar! hence the various modes of private torture, of which so +many accounts have been truly given. Nor can such horrible cruelties be +discovered so as to be made punishable, while the testimony of any +number of the oppressed is invalid against the oppressors, however they +may be offences against the laws. And, lastly, we are to see their +innocent offspring, against whose personal liberty the shadow of an +argument cannot be advanced, inheriting all the miseries of their +parents' lot. + +The evil then, as far as it has been hitherto viewed, presents to us, in +its three several departments, a measure of human suffering not to be +equalled--not to be calculated--not to be described. But would that we +could consider this part of the subject as dismissed! would that in each +of the departments now examined there was no counterpart left us to +contemplate! But this cannot be; for if there be persons who suffer +unjustly there must be others who oppress: and if there be those who +oppress, there must be to the suffering, which has been occasioned, a +corresponding portion of immorality or guilt. + +We are obliged then to view the counterpart of the evil in question, +before we can make a proper estimate of the nature of it. And, in +examining this part of it, we shall find that we have a no less +frightful picture to behold than in the former cases; or that, while the +miseries endured by the unfortunate Africans excite our pity on the one +hand, the vices, which are connected with them, provoke our indignation +and abhorrence on the other. The Slave Trade, in this point of view, +must strike us as an immense mass of evil on account of the criminality +attached to it, as displayed in the various branches of it, which have +already been examined. For, to take the counterpart of the evil in the +first of these, can we say that no moral turpitude is to be placed to +the account of those, who, living on the continent of Africa, give birth +to the enormities, which take place in consequence of the prosecution of +this trade? Is not that man made morally worse, who is induced to become +a tiger to his species, or who, instigated by avarice, lies in wait in +the thicket to get possession of his fellow-man? Is no injustice +manifest in the land, where the prince, unfaithful to his duty, seizes +his innocent subjects, and sells them for slaves? Are no moral evils +produced among those communities, which make war upon other communities +for the sake of plunder, and without any previous provocation or +offence? Does no crime attach to those, who accuse others falsely, or +who multiply and divide crimes for the sake of the profit of the +punishment, and who for the same reason continue the use of barbarous +and absurd ordeals as a test of innocence or guilt? + +In the second of these branches, the counterpart of the evil is to be +seen in the conduct of those who purchase the miserable natives in their +own country, and convey them to distant lands. And here questions, +similar to the former, may be asked. Do they experience no corruption of +their nature, or become chargeable with no violation of right, who, when +they go with their ships to this continent, know the enormities which +their visits there will occasion, who buy their fellow-creature man, and +this, knowing the way in which he comes into their hands, and who chain, +and imprison, and scourge him? Do the moral feelings of those persons +escape without injury, whose hearts are hardened? And can the hearts of +those be otherwise than hardened, who are familiar with the tears and +groans of innocent strangers forcibly torn away from every thing that is +dear to them in life, who are accustomed to see them on board their +vessels in a state of suffocation and in the agonies of despair, and who +are themselves in the habit of the cruel use of arbitrary power? + +The counterpart of the evil in its third branch is to be seen in the +conduct of those, who, when these miserable people have been landed, +purchase and carry them to their respective homes. And let us see +whether a mass of wickedness is not generated also in the present case. +Can those have nothing to answer for, who separate the faithful ties +which nature and religion have created? Can their feelings be otherwise +than corrupted, who consider their fellow-creatures as brutes, or treat +those as cattle, who may become the temples of the Holy Spirit, and in +whom the Divinity disdains not himself to dwell? Is there no injustice +in forcing men to labour without wages? Is there no breach of duty, when +we are commanded to clothe the naked, and feed the hungry, and visit the +sick and in prison, in exposing them to want, in torturing them by cruel +punishment, and in grinding them down by hard labour, so as to shorten +their days? Is there no crime in adopting a system, which keeps down all +the noble faculties of their souls, and which positively debases and +corrupts their nature? Is there no crime in perpetuating these evils +among their innocent offspring? And finally, besides all these crimes, +is there not naturally in the familiar sight of the exercise, but more +especially in the exercise itself, of uncontrolled power, that which +vitiates the internal man? In seeing misery stalk daily over the land, +do not all become insensibly hardened? By giving birth to that misery +themselves, do they not become abandoned? In what state of society are +the corrupt appetites so easily, so quickly, and so frequently indulged, +and where else, by means of frequent indulgence, do these experience +such a monstrous growth? Where else is the temper subject to such +frequent irritation, or passion to such little control? Yes--if the +unhappy slave is in an unfortunate situation, so is the tyrant who holds +him. Action and reaction are equal to each other, as well in the moral +as in the natural world. You cannot exercise an improper dominion over a +fellow-creature, but by a wise ordering of Providence you must +necessarily injure yourself. + +Having now considered the nature of the evil of the Slave Trade in its +three separate departments of suffering, and in its corresponding +counterparts of guilt, I shall make a few observations on the extent of +it. + +On this subject it must strike us, that the misery and the crimes +included in the evil, as it has been found in Africa, were not like +common maladies, which make a short or periodical visit and then are +gone, but that they were continued daily. Nor were they like diseases, +which from local causes attack a village or a town, and by the skill of +the physician, under the blessing of Providence, are removed; but they +affected a whole continent. The trade with all its horrors began at the +river Senegal, and continued, winding with the coast, through its +several geographical divisions to Cape Negro; a distance of more than +three thousand miles. In various lines or paths formed at right angles +from the shore, and passing into the heart of the country, slaves were +procured and brought down. The distance, which many of them travelled, +was immense. Those, who have been in Africa, have assured us, that they +came as far as from the sources of their largest rivers, which we know +to be many hundred miles inland, and the natives have told us, in their +way of computation, that they came a journey of many moons. + +It must strike us again, that the misery and the crimes, included in the +evil, as it has been shown in the transportation, had no ordinary +bounds. They were not to be seen in the crossing of a river, but of an +ocean. They did not begin in the morning and end at night, but were +continued for many weeks, and sometimes by casualties for a quarter of +the year. They were not limited to the precincts of a solitary ship, but +were spread among many vessels; and these were so constantly passing, +that the ocean itself never ceased to be a witness of their existence. + +And it must strike us, finally, that the misery and crimes, included in +the evil as it has been found in foreign lands, were not confined within +the shores of a little island. Most of the islands of a continent, and +many of these of considerable population and extent, were filled with +them. And the continent itself, to which these geographically belong, +was widely polluted by their domain. Hence, if we were to take the vast +extent of space occupied by these crimes and sufferings from the heart +of Africa to its shores, and that which they filled on the continent of +America and the islands adjacent, and were to join the crimes and +sufferings in one to those in the other, by the crimes and sufferings +which took place in the track of the vessels successively crossing the +Atlantic, we should behold a vast belt as it were of physical and moral +evil, reaching through land and ocean to the length of nearly half the +circle of the globe. + +The next view which I shall take of this evil will be as it relates to +the difficulty of subduing it. + +This difficulty may be supposed to have been more than ordinarily great. +Many evils of a public nature, which existed in former times, were the +offspring of ignorance and superstition, and they were subdued of course +by the progress of light and knowledge. But the evil in question began +in avarice. It was nursed also by worldly interest. It did not therefore +so easily yield to the usual correctives of disorders in the world. We +may observe also, that the interest by which it was thus supported, was +not that of a few individuals, nor of one body, but of many bodies of +men. It was interwoven again into the system of the commerce and of the +revenue of nations. Hence the merchant--the planter--the mortgagee--the +manufacturer--the politician--the legislator--the +cabinet-minister--lifted up their voices against the annihilation of it. +For these reasons, the Slave Trade may be considered like the fabulous +hydra, to have a hundred heads, every one of which it was necessary to +cut off before it could be subdued. And as none but Hercules was fitted +to conquer the one, so nothing less than extraordinary prudence, +courage, labour, and patience, could overcome the other. To protection +in this manner by his hundred interests, it was owing, that the monster +stalked in security for so long a time. He stalked too in the open day, +committing his mighty depredations. And when good men, whose duty it was +to mark him as the object of their destruction, began to assail him, he +did not fly, but gnashed his teeth at them, growling savagely at the +same time, and putting himself into a posture of defiance. + +We see then, in whatever light we consider the Slave Trade, whether we +examine into the nature of it, or whether we look into the extent of it, +or whether we estimate the difficulty of subduing it, we must conclude +that no evil more monstrous has ever existed upon earth. But if so, then +we have proved the truth of the position, that the abolition of it ought +to be accounted by us as one of the greatest blessings, and that it +ought to be one of the most copious sources of our joy. Indeed, I do not +know, how we can sufficiently express what we ought to feel upon this +occasion. It becomes us, as individuals, to rejoice. It becomes us, as a +nation, to rejoice. It becomes us even to perpetuate our joy to our +posterity. I do not mean, however, by anniversaries, which are to be +celebrated by the ringing of bells and convivial meetings, but by +handing down this great event so impressively to our children, as to +raise in them, if not continual, yet frequently renewed thanksgivings, +to the great Creator of the universe, for the manifestation of this his +favour, in having disposed our legislators to take away such a portion +of suffering from our fellow-creatures, and such a load of guilt from +our native land. + +And as the contemplation of the removal of this monstrous evil should +excite in us the most pleasing and grateful sensations, so the perusal +of the history of it should afford us lessons, which it must be useful +to us to know or to be reminded of. For it cannot be otherwise than +useful to us to know the means which have been used, and the different +persons who have moved in so great a cause. It cannot be otherwise than +useful to us to be impressively reminded of the simple axiom which the +perusal of this history will particularly suggest to us, that "the +greatest works must have a beginning;" because the fostering of such an +idea in our minds cannot but encourage us to undertake the removal of +evils, however vast they may appear in their size, or however difficult +to overcome. It cannot, again, be otherwise than useful to us to be +assured, (and this history will assure us of it,) that in any work, +which is a work of righteousness, however small the beginning may be, or +however small the progress may be that we may make in it, we ought never +to despair; for that, whatever checks and discouragements we may meet +with, "no virtuous effort is ever ultimately lost." And finally, it +cannot be otherwise than useful to us, to form the opinion, which the +contemplation of this subject must always produce, namely, that many of +the evils which are still left among us, may, by an union of wise and +virtuous individuals, be greatly alleviated, if not entirely done away; +for if the great evil of the Slave Trade, so deeply entrenched by its +hundred interests, has fallen prostrate before the efforts of those who +attacked it, what evil of a less magnitude shall not be more easily +subdued? O may reflections of this sort always enliven us, always +encourage us, always stimulate us to our duty! May we never cease to +believe, that many of the miseries of life are still to be remedied, or +to rejoice that we may be permitted, if we will only make ourselves +worthy by our endeavours, to heal them! May we encourage for this +purpose every generous sympathy that arises in our hearts, as the +offspring of the Divine influence for our good, convinced that we are +not born for ourselves alone, and that the Divinity never so fully +dwells in us, as when we do his will, and that we never do his will more +agreeably, as far as it has been revealed to us, than when we employ our +time in works of charity towards the rest of our fellow-creatures! + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +As it is desirable to know the true sources of events in history, so +this will be realized in that of the abolition of the Slave +Trade.--Inquiry as to those who favoured the cause of the Africans +previously to the year 1787.--All these to be considered as necessary +forerunners in that cause.--First forerunners were Cardinal Ximenes; +the Emperor Charles the Fifth; Pope Leo the Tenth; Elizabeth, queen of +England; Louis the Thirteenth, of France. + + +It would be considered by many, who have stood at the mouth of a river, +and witnessed its torrent there, to be both an interesting and a +pleasing journey to go to the fountain head, and then to travel on its +banks downwards, and to mark the different streams in each side, which +should run into it and feed it. So I presume the reader will not be a +little interested and entertained, in viewing with me the course of the +abolition of the Slave Trade, in first finding its source, and then in +tracing the different springs which have contributed to its increase. +And here I may observe that, in doing this, we shall have advantages, +which historians have not always had in developing the causes of things. +Many have handed down to us, events, for the production of which they +have given us but their own conjectures. There has been often, indeed, +such a distance between the events themselves, and the lives of those +who have recorded them, that the different means and motives belonging +to them have been lost through time. On the present occasion, however, +we shall have the peculiar satisfaction of knowing, that we communicate +the truth, or that those which we unfold, are the true causes and means; +for the most remote of all the human springs, which can be traced as +having any bearing upon the great event in question, will fall within +the period of three centuries, and the most powerful of them within the +last twenty years. These circumstances indeed have had their share in +inducing me to engage in the present history. Had I measured it by the +importance of the subject, I had been deterred; but believing that most +readers love the truth, and that it ought to be the object of all +writers to promote it, and believing, moreover, that I was in possession +of more facts on this subject than any other person, I thought I was +peculiarly called to undertake it. + +In tracing the different streams from whence the torrent arose, which +has now happily swept away the Slave Trade, I must begin with an inquiry +as to those who favoured the cause of the injured Africans, from the +year 1516, to the year 1787, at which latter period, a number of persons +associated themselves, in England, for its abolition. For though they, +who belonged to this association, may, in consequence of having pursued +a regular system, be called the principal actors, yet it must be +acknowledged, that their efforts would never have been so effectual, if +the minds of men had not been prepared by others, who had moved before +them. Great events have never taken place without previously disposing +causes. So it is in the case before us. Hence they, who lived even in +early times, and favoured this great cause, may be said to have been +necessary precursors in it. And here it may be proper to observe, that +it is by no means necessary that all these should have been themselves +actors in the production of this great event. Persons have contributed +towards it in different ways:--Some have written expressly on the +subject, who have had no opportunity of promoting it by personal +exertions. Others have only mentioned it incidentally in their writings. +Others, in an elevated rank and station, have cried out publicly +concerning it, whose sayings have been recorded. All these, however, may +be considered as necessary forerunners in their day; for all of them +have brought the subject more or less into notice. They have more or +less enlightened the mind upon it; they have more or less impressed it; +and therefore each may be said to have had his share in diffusing and +keeping up a certain portion of knowledge and feeling concerning it, +which has been eminently useful in the promotion of the cause. + +It is rather remarkable, that the first forerunners and coadjutors +should have been men in power. + +So early as in the year 1503, a few slaves had been sent from the +Portuguese settlements in Africa into the Spanish colonies in America. +In 1511, Ferdinand the Fifth, king of Spain, permitted them to be +carried in great numbers. Ferdinand, however, must have been ignorant in +these early times of the piratical manner in which the Portuguese had +procured them. He could have known nothing of their treatment when in +bondage, nor could he have viewed the few uncertain adventurous +transportations of them into his dominions in the western world, in the +light of a regular trade. After his death, however; a proposal was made +by Bartholomew de las Casas, the bishop of Chiapa, to Cardinal Ximenes, +who held the reigns of the government of Spain till Charles the Fifth +came to the throne, for the establishment of a regular system of +commerce in the persons of the native Africans. The object of +Bartholomew de las Casas was undoubtedly to save the American Indians, +whose cruel treatment and almost extirpation he had witnessed during his +residence among them, and in whose behalf he had undertaken a voyage to +the court of Spain. It is difficult to reconcile this proposal with the +humane and charitable spirit of the bishop of Chiapa. But it is probable +he believed that a code of laws would soon be established in favour both +of Africans and of the natives in the Spanish settlements, and that he +flattered himself that, being about to return and to live in the country +of their slavery, he could look to the execution of it. The cardinal, +however, with a foresight, a benevolence, and a justice which will +always do honour to his memory, refused the proposal, not only judging +it to be unlawful to consign innocent people to slavery at all, but to +be very inconsistent to deliver the inhabitants of one country from a +state of misery by consigning to it those of another. Ximenes, +therefore, may be considered as one of the first great friends of the +Africans after the partial beginning of the trade. + +This answer of the cardinal, as it showed his virtue as an individual, +so was it peculiarly honourable to him as a public man, and ought to +operate as a lesson to other statesmen, how they admit any thing new +among political regulations and establishments, which is connected in +the smallest degree with injustice; for evil, when once sanctioned by +governments, spreads in a tenfold degree, and may, unless seasonably +checked, become so ramified as to effect the reputation of a country, +and to render its own removal scarcely possible without detriment to the +political concerns of the state. In no instance has this been verified +more than in the case of the Slave Trade. Never was our national +character more tarnished, and our prosperity more clouded by guilt. +Never was there a monster more difficult to subdue. Even they, who heard +as it were the shrieks of oppression, and wished to assist the +sufferers, were fearful of joining in their behalf. While they +acknowledged the necessity of removing one evil, they were terrified by +the prospect of introducing another; and were, therefore, only able to +relieve their feelings by, lamenting, in the bitterness of their hearts, +that this traffic had ever been begun at all. + +After the death of Cardinal Ximenes, the emperor Charles the Fifth, who +had come into power, encouraged the Slave Trade. In 1517, he granted a +patent to one of his Flemish favourites, containing an exclusive right +of importing four thousand Africans into America. But he lived long +enough to repent of what he had thus inconsiderately done; for in the +year 1542, he made a code of laws for the better protection of the +unfortunate Indians in his foreign dominions, and he stopped the +progress of African slavery by an order that all slaves in his American +islands should he made free. This order was executed by Pedro de la +Gasca. Manumission took place as well in Hispaniola as on the Continent; +but on the return of Gasca to Spain, and the retirement of Charles into +a monastery, slavery was revived. + +It is impossible to pass over this instance of the abolition of slavery +by Charles, in all his foreign dominions, without some comments. It +shows him, first, to have been a friend both to the Indians and the +Africans, as a part of the human race; it shows he was ignorant of what +he was doing when he gave his sanction to this cruel trade; it shows +when legislators give one set of men undue power over another, how +quickly they abuse it, or he never would have found himself obliged, in +the short space of twenty-five years, to undo that which he had +countenanced as a great state measure; and while it confirms the former +lesson to statesmen of watching the beginnings or principles of things +in their political movements, it should teach them never to persist in +the support of evils, through the false shame of being obliged to +confess that they had once given them their sanction, nor to delay the +cure of them because, politically speaking, neither this nor that is the +proper season; but to do them away instantly, as there can only be one +fit or proper time in the eye of religion, namely, on the conviction of +their existence. + +From the opinions of Cardinal Ximenes and of the emperor Charles the +Fifth, I hasten to that which was expressed much about the same time, in +a public capacity, by Pope Leo the Tenth. The Dominicans in Spanish +America, witnessing the cruel treatment which the slaves underwent +there, considered slavery as utterly repugnant to the principles of the +gospel, and recommended the abolition of it. The Franciscans did not +favour the former in this their scheme of benevolence; and the +consequence was, that a controversy on this subject sprung up between +them, which was carried to this pope for his decision. Leo exerted +himself, much to his honour, in behalf of the poor sufferers, and +declared "That not only the Christian religion, but that Nature herself +cried out against a state of slavery." This answer was certainly worthy +of one who was deemed the head of the Christian Church. It must, +however, be confessed that it would have been strange if Leo, in his +situation as pontiff, had made a different reply. He could never have +denied that God was no respecter of persons. He must have acknowledged +that men were bound to love each other as brethren; and, if he admitted +the doctrine that all men were accountable for their actions hereafter, +he could never have prevented the deduction that it was necessary they +should be free. Nor could he, as a man of high attainments, living early +in the sixteenth century, have been ignorant of what had taken place in +the twelfth; or that, by the latter end of this latter century, +christianity had obtained the undisputed honour of having extirpated +slavery from the western part of the European world. + +From Spain and Italy I come to England. The first importation of slaves +from Africa, by our countrymen, was in the reign of Elizabeth, in the +year 1562. This great princess seems on the very commencement of the +trade to have questioned its lawfulness. She seems to have entertained a +religious scruple concerning it; and, indeed, to have revolted at the +very thought of it. She seems to have been aware of the evils to which +its continuance might lead, or that, if it were sanctioned, the most +unjustifiable means might be made use of to procure the persons of the +natives of Africa. And in what light she would have viewed any acts of +this kind, had they taken place, we may conjecture from this fact,--that +when Captain (afterwards Sir John) Hawkins returned from his first +voyage to Africa and Hispaniola, whither he had carried slaves, she sent +for him, and, as we learn from Hill's _Naval History_ expressed her +concern lest any of the Africans should be carried off without their +free consent, declaring that "it would be detestable, and call down the +vengeance of heaven upon the undertakers." Captain Hawkins promised to +comply with the injunctions of Elizabeth in this respect, but he did not +keep his word; for when he went to Africa again, he seized many of the +inhabitants and carried them off as slaves, which occasioned Hill, in +the account he gives of his second voyage, to use these remarkable +words:--"Here began the horrid practice of forcing the Africans into +slavery, an injustice and barbarity which, so sure as there is vengeance +in heaven for the worst of crimes, will some time be the destruction of +all who allow or encourage it." That the trade should have been suffered +to continue under such a princess, and after such solemn expressions as +those which she has been described to have uttered, can be only +attributed to the pains taken by those concerned in it to keep her +ignorant of the truth. + +From England I now pass over to France. Labat, a Roman missionary, in +his account of the isles of America, mentions that Louis the Thirteenth +was very uneasy when he was about to issue the edict by which all +Africans coming into his colonies were to be made slaves, and that this +uneasiness continued till he was assured that the introduction of them +in this capacity into his foreign dominions was the readiest way of +converting them to the principles of the Christian religion. + +These, then, were the first forerunners in the great cause of the +abolition of the Slave Trade: nor have their services towards it been of +small moment; for, in the first place, they have enabled those who came +after them, and who took an active interest in the same cause, to state +the great authority of their opinions and of their example. They have +enabled them, again, to detail the history connected with these, in +consequence of which circumstances have been laid open which it is of +great importance to know; for have they not enabled them to state that +the African Slave Trade never would have been permitted to exist but for +the ignorance of those in authority concerning it--that at its +commencement there was a revolting of nature against it--a suspicion, a +caution, a fear, both as to its unlawfulness and its effects? Have they +not enabled them to state that falsehoods were advanced, and these +concealed under the mask of religion, to deceive those who had the power +to suppress it? Have they not enabled them to state that this trade +began in piracy, and that it was continued upon the principles of force? +And, finally, have not they who have been enabled to make these +statements, knowing all the circumstances connected with them, found +their own zeal increased, and their own courage and perseverance +strengthened; and have they not, by the communication of them to others, +produced many friends and even labourers in the cause? + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +Forerunners continued to 1787; divided from this time into four +classes.--First class consists principally of persons in Great Britain +of various descriptions: Godwyn; Baxter; Tryon; Southern; Primatt; +Montesquieu; Hutcheson; Sharp; Ramsay; and a multitude of others, +whose names and services follow. + + +I have hitherto traced the history of the forerunners in this great +cause only up to about the year 1640. If I am to pursue my plan, I am to +trace it to the year 1787. But in order to show what I intend in a +clearer point of view, I shall divide those who have lived within this +period, and who will now consist of persons in a less elevated station, +into four classes: and I shall give to each class a distinct +consideration by itself. + +Several of our old English writers, though they have not mentioned the +African Slave Trade, or the slavery consequent upon it, in their +respective works, have yet given their testimony of condemnation against +both. Thus our great Milton:-- + + + O execrable son, so to aspire, + Above his brethren, to himself assuming + Authority usurpt, from God not given; + He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl, + Dominion absolute; that right we hold + By his donation; but man over men + He made not lord, such title to himself + Reserving, human left from human free. + + +I might mention Bishop Saunderson and others, who bore a testimony +equally strong against the lawfulness of trading in the persons of men, +and of holding them in bondage; but as I mean to confine myself to those +who have favoured the cause of the Africans specifically, I cannot admit +their names into any of the classes which have been announced. + +Of those, who compose the first class, defined as it has now been, I +cannot name any individual who took a part in this cause till between +the years 1670 and 1680; for in the year 1640, and for a few years +afterwards, the nature of the trade and of the slavery was but little +known, except to a few individuals, who were concerned in them; and it +is obvious that these would neither endanger their own interest nor +proclaim their own guilt by exposing it. The first, whom I shall mention +is Morgan Godwyn, a clergyman of the established church. This pious +divine wrote a treatise upon the subject, which he dedicated to the then +archbishop of Canterbury. He gave it to the world, at the time +mentioned, under the title of "_The Negroes' and Indians' Advocate._" In +this treatise he lays open the situation of these oppressed people, of +whose sufferings he had been an eye-witness in the island of Barbados. +He calls forth the pity of the reader in an affecting manner, and +exposes with a nervous eloquence the brutal sentiments and conduct of +their oppressors. This seems to have been the first work undertaken in +England expressly in favour of the cause. + +The next person, whom I shall mention, is Richard Baxter, the celebrated +divine among the nonconformists. In his _Christian Directory_, published +about the same time as _The Negroes' and Indians' Advocate_, he gives +advice to those masters in foreign plantations, who have negroes and +other slaves. In this he protests loudly against this trade. He says +expressly that they, who go out as pirates, and take away poor Africans, +or people of another land, who never forfeited life or liberty, and make +them slaves and sell them, are the worst of robbers, and ought to be +considered as the common enemies of mankind; and that they who buy them, +and use them as mere beasts for their own convenience, regardless of +their spiritual welfare, are fitter to be called demons than christians. +He then proposes several queries, which he answers in a clear and +forcible manner, showing the great inconsistency of this traffic, and +the necessity of treating those then in bondage with tenderness and a +due regard to their spiritual concerns. + +The _Directory_ of Baxter was succeeded by a publication called +_Friendly Advice to the Planters_ in three parts. The first of these +was, _A brief Treatise of the principal Fruits and Herbs that grow in +Barbados, Jamaica, and other Plantations in the West Indies_. The second +was, _The Negroes' Complaint, or their hard Servitude, and the Cruelties +practised upon them by divers of their Masters professing Christianity_. +And the third was, _A Dialogue between an Ethiopian and a Christian, his +Master, in America_. In the last of these, Thomas Tryon, who was the +author, inveighs both against the commerce and the slavery of the +Africans, and in a striking manner examines each by the touchstone of +reason, humanity, justice, and religion. + +In the year 1696, Southern brought forward his celebrated tragedy of +_Oronooko_, by means of which many became enlightened upon the subject, +and interested in it. For this tragedy was not a representation of +fictitious circumstances, but of such as had occurred in the colonies, +and as had been communicated in a publication by Mrs. Behn. + +The person who seems to have noticed the subject next was Dr. Primatt. +In his _Dissertation on the Duty of Mercy, and on the Sin of Cruelty to +Brute Animals_, he takes occasion to advert to the subject of the +African Slave Trade. "It has pleased God," says he, "to cover some men +with white skins and others with black; but as there is neither merit +nor demerit in complexion, the white man, notwithstanding the barbarity +of custom and prejudice, can have no right by virtue of his colour to +enslave and tyrannize over the black man. For whether a man be white or +black, such he is by God's appointment, and, abstractly considered, is +neither a subject for pride, nor an object of contempt." + +After Dr. Primatt, we come to Baron Montesquieu, "Slavery," says he, "is +not good in itself. It is neither useful to the master nor to the slave; +not to the slave, because he can do nothing from virtuous motives; not +to the master, because he contracts among his slaves all sorts of bad +habits, and accustoms himself to the neglect of all the moral virtues. +He becomes haughty, passionate, obdurate, vindictive, voluptuous, and +cruel." And with respect to this particular species of slavery, he +proceeds to say, "It is impossible to allow the negroes are men, +because, if we allow them to be men, it will begin to be believed that +we ourselves are not Christians." + +Hutcheson, in his _System of Moral Philosophy_, endeavours to show, that +he who detains another by force in slavery, can make no good title to +him, and adds, "Strange that in any nation where a sense of liberty +prevails, and where the Christian religion is professed, custom and high +prospect of gain can so stupify the consciences of men, and all sense of +natural justice, that they can hear such computations made about the +value of their fellow-men and their liberty, without abhorrence and +indignation!" + +Foster, in his _Discourses on Natural Religion and Social Virtue_, calls +the slavery under our consideration "a criminal and outrageous violation +of the natural rights of mankind." I am sorry that I have not room to +say all that he says on this subject. Perhaps the following beautiful +extracts may suffice:-- + + + "But notwithstanding this, we ourselves, who profess to be + Christians, and boast of the peculiar advantages we enjoy by + means of an express revelation of our duty from heaven, are in + effect these very untaught and rude heathen countries. With all + our superior light, we instil into those whom we call savage and + barbarous, the most despicable opinion of human nature. We, to + the utmost of our power, weaken and dissolve the universal tie + that binds and unites mankind. We practise what we should + exclaim against as the utmost excess of cruelty and tyranny, if + nations of the world, differing in colour and form of government + from ourselves, were so possessed of empire as to be able to + reduce us to a state of unmerited and brutish servitude. Of + consequence, we sacrifice our reason, our humanity, our + Christianity, to an unnatural sordid gain. We teach other + nations to despise and trample under foot all the obligations of + social virtue. We take the most effectual method to prevent the + propagation of the Gospel, by representing it as a scheme of + power and barbarous oppression, and an enemy to the natural + privileges and rights of man." + + "Perhaps all that I have now offered may be of very little + weight to restrain this enormity, this aggravated iniquity. + However, I shall still have the satisfaction of having entered + my private protest against a practice which, in my opinion, bids + that God, who is the God and Father of the Gentiles unconverted + to Christianity, most daring and bold defiance, and spurns at + all the principles both of natural and revealed religion." + + +The next author is Sir Richard Steele, who, by means of the affecting +story of Inkle and Yarico, holds up this trade again to our abhorrence. + +In the year 1735, Atkins, who was a surgeon in the navy, published his +_Voyage to Guinea, Brazil, and the West Indies, in his Majesty's ships +Swallow and Weymouth_. In this work he describes openly the manner of +making the natives slaves, such as by kidnapping, by unjust accusations +and trials, and by other nefarious means. He states also the cruelties +practised upon them by the white people, and the iniquitous ways and +dealings of the latter, and answers their argument, by which they +insinuated that the condition of the Africans was improved by their +transportation to other countries. + +From this time, the trade beginning to be better known, a multitude of +persons of various stations and characters sprung up, who by exposing +it, are to be mentioned among the forerunners and coadjutors in the +cause. + +Pope, in his _Essay on Man_, where he endeavours to show that happiness +in the present depends, among other things, upon the hope of a future +state, takes an opportunity of exciting compassion in behalf of the poor +African, while he censures the avarice and cruelty of his master:-- + + + Lo, the poor Indian! whose untutored mind + Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind; + His soul proud Science never taught to stray + Far as the solar walk, or milky-way; + Yet simple Nature to his hope was given + Behind the cloud-topt hill an humbler heaven; + Some safer world in depth of woods embraced, + Some happier island in the watery waste, + Where slaves once more their native land behold, + No fiends torment, no Christians thirst for gold. + + +Thomson also, in his _Seasons_, marks this traffic as destructive and +cruel, introducing the well-known fact of sharks following the vessels +employed in it:-- + + + Increasing still the sorrows of those storms, + His jaws horrific arm'd with three-fold fate, + Here dwells the direful shark. Lured by the scent + Of steaming crowds, of rank disease, and death; + Behold! he rushing cuts the briny flood, + Swift as the gale can bear the ship along, + And from the partners of that cruel trade; + Which spoils unhappy Guinea of her sons, + Demands his share of prey, demands themselves. + The stormy fates descend: one death involves + Tyrants and slaves; when straight their mangled limbs + Crashing at once, he dyes the purple seas + With gore, and riots in the vengeful meal. + + +Neither was Richard Savage forgetful in his poems of the _Injured +Africans_: he warns their oppressors of a day of retribution for their +barbarous conduct. Having personified Public Spirit, he makes her speak +on the subject in the following manner:-- + + + Let by my specious name no tyrants rise, + And cry, while they enslave, they civilize! + Know, Liberty and I are still the same + Congenial--ever mingling flame with flame! + Why must I Afric's sable children see + Vended for slaves, though born by nature free, + The nameless tortures cruel minds invent + Those to subject whom Nature equal meant? + If these you dare (although unjust success + Empowers you now unpunished, to oppress), + Revolving empire you and yours may doom-- + (Rome all subdu'd--yet Vandals vanquish'd Rome) + Yes--Empire may revolt--give them the day, + And yoke may yoke, and blood may blood repay. + + +Wallis, in his _System of the Laws of Scotland_, maintains, that +"neither men nor governments have a right to sell those of their own +species. Men and their liberty are neither purchaseable nor saleable." +And, after arguing the case, he says, "This is the law of nature, which +is obligatory on all men, at all times, and in all places.--Would not +any of us, who should be snatched by pirates from his native land, think +himself cruelly abused, and at all times entitled to be free? Have not +these unfortunate Africans, who meet with the same cruel fate, the same +right? Are they not men as well as we? And have they not the same +sensibility? Let us not, therefore, defend or support an usage, which is +contrary to all the laws of humanity." + +In the year 1750, the reverend Griffith Hughes, rector of St. Lucy, in +Barbados, published his Natural History of that island. He took an +opportunity, in the course of it, of laying open to the world the +miserable situation of the poor Africans, and the waste of them by hard +labour and other cruel means, and he had the generosity to vindicate +their capacities from the charge, which they who held them in bondage +brought against them, as a justification of their own wickedness in +continuing to deprive them of the rights of men. + +Edmund Burke, in his account of the European settlements, (for this work +is usually attributed to him,) complains "that the Negroes in our +colonies endure a slavery more complete, and attended with far worse +circumstances, than what any people in their condition suffer, in any +other part of the world, or have suffered in any other period of time. +Proofs of this are not wanting. The prodigious waste, which we +experience in this unhappy part of our species, is a full and melancholy +evidence of this truth." And he goes on to advise the planters, for the +sake of their own interest, to behave like good men, good masters, and +good Christians, and to impose less labour upon their slaves, and to +give them recreation on some of the grand festivals, and to instruct +them in religion, as certain preventives of their decrease. + +An anonymous author of a pamphlet, entitled, _An Essay in Vindication of +the Continental Colonies of America_, seems to have come forward next. +Speaking of slavery there, he says, "It is shocking to humanity, +violative of every generous sentiment, abhorrent utterly from the +Christian religion.--There cannot be a more dangerous maxim than that +necessity is a plea for injustice, for who shall fix the degree of this +necessity? What villain so atrocious, who may not urge this excuse, or, +as Milton has happily expressed it, + + And with necessity, + The tyrant's plea, excuse his devilish deed? + + +"That our colonies," he continues, "want people, is a very weak argument +for so inhuman a violation of justice.--Shall a civilized, a Christian +nation encourage slavery, because the barbarous, savage, lawless African +hath done it? To what end do we profess a religion whose dictates we so +flagrantly violate? Wherefore have we that pattern of goodness and +humanity, if we refuse to follow it? How long shall we continue a +practice which policy rejects, justice condemns, and piety revolts at?" + +The poet Shenstone, who comes next in order, seems to have written an +elegy on purpose to stigmatize this trade. Of this elegy I shall copy +only the following parts:-- + + + See the poor native quit the Libyan shores, + Ah! not in love's delightful fetters bound! + No radiant smile his dying peace restores, + No love, nor fame, nor friendship, heals his wound. + + Let vacant bards display their boasted woes; + Shall I the mockery of grief display? + No; let the muse his piercing pangs disclose, + Who bleeds and weeps his sum of life away! + + On the wild heath in mournful guise he stood, + Ere the shrill boatswain gave the hated sign; + He dropt a tear unseen into the flood, + He stole one secret moment to repine-- + + "Why am I ravish'd from my native strand? + What savage race protects this impious gain? + Shall foreign plagues infest this teeming land, + And more than sea-born monsters plough the main? + + Here the dire locusts' horrid swarms prevail; + Here the blue asps with livid poison swell; + Here the dry dipsa writhes his sinuous mail; + Can we not here secure from envy dwell? + + When the grim lion urged his cruel chase, + When the stern panther sought his midnight prey; + What fate reserved me for this Christian race? + O race more polished, more severe than they! + + Yet shores there are, bless'd shores for us remain, + And favour'd isles, with golden fruitage crown'd, + Where tufted flow'rets paint the verdant plain, + And every breeze shall medicine every wound." + + +In the year 1755, Dr. Hayter, bishop of Norwich, preached a sermon +before the _Society for the Propagation of the Gospel_, in which he bore +his testimony against the continuance of this trade. + +Dyer, in his poem called _The Fleece_, expresses his sorrow on account +of this barbarous trade, and looks forward to a day of retributive +justice on account of the introduction of such an evil. + +In the year 1760, a pamphlet appeared, entitled, _Two Dialogues on the +Man-trade_, by John Philmore. This name is supposed to be an assumed +one. The author, however, discovers himself to have been both an able +and a zealous advocate in favour of the African race. + +Malachi Postlethwaite, in his _Universal Dictionary of Trade and +Commerce_, proposes a number of queries on the subject of the Slave +Trade. I have not room to insert them at full length, but I shall give +the following as the substance of some of them to the reader: "Whether +this commerce be not the cause of incessant wars among the +Africans--Whether the Africans, if it were abolished, might not become +as ingenious, as humane, as industrious, and as capable of arts, +manufactures, and trades, as even the bulk of Europeans--Whether, if it +were abolished, a much more profitable trade might not be substituted, +and this to the very centre of their extended country, instead of the +trifling portion which now subsists upon their coasts--And whether the +great hindrance to such a new and advantageous commerce has not wholly +proceeded from that unjust, inhuman, unchristianlike traffic, called the +Slave Trade, which is carried on by the Europeans." The public proposal +of these and other queries by a man of so great commercial knowledge as +Postlethwaite, and by one who was himself a member of the African +Committee, was of great service in exposing the impolicy as well as +immorality of the Slave Trade. + +In the year 1761, Thomas Jeffery published an account of a part of North +America, in which he lays open the miserable state of the slaves in the +West Indies, both as to their clothing, their food, their labour, and +their punishments. But, without going into particulars, the general +account be gives of them is affecting: "It is impossible," he says, "for +a human heart to reflect upon the slavery of these dregs of mankind, +without in some measure feeling for their misery, which ends but with +their lives--nothing can be more wretched than the condition of this +people." + +Sterne, in his account of the Negro girl in his _Life of Tristram +Shandy_, took decidedly the part of the oppressed Africans. The +pathetic, witty, and sentimental manner, in which he handled this +subject, occasioned many to remember it, and procured a certain portion +of feeling in their favour. + +Rousseau contributed not a little in his day to the same end. + +Bishop Warburton, preached a sermon in the year 1766, before the Society +for the Propagation of the Gospel, in which he took up the cause of the +miserable Africans, and in which he severely reprobated their +oppressors. The language in this sermon is so striking, that I shall +make an extract from it. "From the free savages," says he, "I now come +to the savages in bonds. By these I mean the vast multitudes yearly +stolen from the opposite continent, and sacrificed by the colonists to +their great idol, the god of gain. But what then say these sincere +worshippers of Mammon? They are our own property which we offer +up,--Gracious God! to talk, as of herds of cattle, of property in +rational creatures, creatures endued with all our faculties, possessing +all our qualities but that of colour, our brethren both by nature and +grace, shocks all the feelings of humanity, and the dictates of common +sense? But, alas! what is there, in the infinite abuses of society, +which does not shock them! Yet nothing is more certain in itself and +apparent to all, than that the infamous traffic for slaves directly +infringes both divine and human law. Nature created man free, and grace +invites him to assert his freedom. + +"In excuse of this violation it hath been pretended, that though, +indeed, these miserable outcasts of humanity be torn from their homes +and native country by fraud and violence, yet they thereby become the +happier, and their condition the more eligible. But who are you, who +pretend to judge of another man's happiness; that state which each man +under the guidance of his Maker forms for himself, and not one man for +another? To know what constitutes mine or your happiness is the sole +prerogative of him who created us, and cast us in so various and +different moulds. Did your slaves ever complain to you of their +unhappiness amidst their native woods and deserts? or rather let me ask, +did they ever cease complaining of their condition under you their +lordly masters, where they see, indeed, the accommodations of civil +life, but see them all pass to others, themselves unbenefited by them? +Be so gracious then, ye petty tyrants over human freedom, to let your +slaves judge for themselves, what it is which makes their own happiness, +and then see whether they do not place it in the return to their own +country, rather than in the contemplation of your grandeur, of which +their misery makes so large a part; a return so passionately longed for, +that, despairing of happiness here, that is, of escaping the chains of +their cruel task-masters, they console themselves with feigning it to be +the gracious reward of heaven in their future state." + +About this time certain cruel and wicked practices, which must now be +mentioned, had arrived at such a height, and had become so frequent in +the metropolis, as to produce of themselves other coadjutors to the +cause. + +Before the year 1700, planters, merchants, and others, resident in the +West Indies, but coming to England, were accustomed to bring with them +certain slaves to act as servants with them during their stay. The +latter, seeing the freedom and the happiness of servants in this +country, and considering what would be their own hard fate on their +return to the islands, frequently absconded. Their masters of course +made search after them, and often had them seized and carried away by +force. It was, however, thrown out by many on these occasions, that the +English laws did not sanction such proceedings, for that all persons who +were baptized became free. The consequence of this was, that most of the +slaves, who came over with their masters, prevailed upon some pious +clergyman to baptize them. They took of course godfathers of such +citizens as had the generosity to espouse their cause. When they were +seized they usually sent to these, if they had an opportunity, for their +protection. And in the result, their godfathers, maintaining that they +had been baptized, and that they were free on this account as well as by +the general tenour of the law of England, dared those who had taken +possession of them to send them out of the kingdom. + +The planters, merchants, and others, being thus circumstanced, knew not +what to do. They were afraid of taking their slaves away by force, and +they were equally afraid of bringing any of the cases before a public +court. In this dilemma, in 1729, they applied to York and Talbot, the +attorney and solicitor-general for the time being, and obtained the +following strange opinion from them:--"We are of opinion, that a slave +by coming from the West Indies into Great Britain or Ireland, either +with or without his master, does not become free, and that his master's +right and property in him is not thereby determined or varied, and that +baptism doth not bestow freedom on him, nor make any alteration in his +temporal condition in these kingdoms. We are also of opinion, that the +master may legally compel him to return again to the plantations." + +This cruel and illegal opinion was delivered in the year 1729. The +planters, merchants, and others, gave it of course all the publicity in +their power. And the consequences were as might easily have been +apprehended. In a little time slaves absconding were advertised in the +London papers as runaways, and rewards offered for the apprehension of +them, in the same brutal manner as we find them advertised in the land +of slavery. They were advertised also, in the same papers, to be sold by +auction, sometimes by themselves, and at others with horses, chaises, +and harness? They were seized also by their masters, or by persons +employed by them, in the very streets, and dragged from thence to the +ships; and so unprotected now were these poor slaves, that persons in +nowise concerned with them began to institute a trade in their persons, +making agreements with captains of ships going to the West Indies to put +them on board at a certain price. This last instance shows how far human +nature is capable of going, and is an answer to those persons who have +denied that kidnapping in Africa was a source of supplying the Slave +Trade. It shows, as all history does from the time of Joseph, that where +there is a market for the persons of human beings, all kinds of +enormities will be practised to obtain them. + +These circumstances then, as I observed before, did not fail of +producing new coadjutors in the cause. And first they produced that able +and indefatigable advocate, Mr. Granville Sharp. This gentleman is to be +distinguished from those who preceded him by this particular, that, +whereas these were only writers, he was both a writer and an actor in +the cause. In fact, he was the first labourer in it in England. By the +words "actor" and "labourer," I mean that he determined upon a plan of +action in behalf of the oppressed Africans, to the accomplishment of +which he devoted a considerable portion of his time, talents, and +substance. What Mr. Sharp has done to merit the title of coadjutor in +this high sense, I shall now explain. The following is a short history +of the beginning and of the course of his labours:-- + +In the year 1765, Mr. David Lisle had brought over from Barbados +Jonathan Strong, an African slave, as his servant. He used the latter in +a barbarous manner at his lodgings in Wapping, but particularly by +beating him over the head with a pistol, which occasioned his head to +swell. When the swelling went down, a disorder fell into his eyes, which +threatened the loss of them. To this an ague and fever succeeded, and a +lameness in both his legs. + +Jonathan Strong, having been brought into this deplorable situation, and +being therefore wholly useless, was left by his master to go whither he +pleased. He applied accordingly to Mr. William Sharp, the surgeon, for +his advice, as to one who gave up a portion of his time to the healing +of the diseases of the poor. It was here that Mr. Granville Sharp, the +brother of the former, saw him. Suffice it to say, that in process of +time he was cured. During this time Mr. Granville Sharp, pitying his +hard case, supplied him with money, and he afterwards got him a +situation in the family of Mr. Brown, an apothecary, to carry out +medicines. + +In this new situation, when Strong had become healthy and robust in his +appearance, his master happened to see him. The latter immediately +formed the design of possessing him again. According, when he had found +out his residence, he procured John Ross, keeper of the Poultry-counter, +and William Miller, an officer under the Lord Mayor, to kidnap him. This +was done by sending for him to a public-house in Fenchurch-street, and +then seizing him. By these he was conveyed, without any warrant, to the +Poultry-counter, where he was sold by his master, to John Kerr, for +thirty pounds. + +Strong, in this situation, sent, as was usual, to his godfathers, John +London and Stephen Nail, for their protections. They went, but were +refused admittance to him. At length he sent for Mr. Granville Sharp: +the latter went, but they still refused access to the prisoner. He +insisted, however, upon seeing him, and charged the keeper of the prison +at his peril to deliver him up, till he had been carried before a +magistrate. + +Mr. Sharp, immediately upon this, waited upon Sir Robert Kite, the then +lord mayor, and entreated him to send for Strong and to hear his case. A +day was accordingly appointed. Mr. Sharp attended, and also William +McBean, a notary public, and David Laird, captain of the ship Thames, +which was to have conveyed Strong to Jamaica, in behalf of the +purchaser, John Kerr. A long conversation ensued, in which the opinion +of York and Talbot was quoted. Mr. Sharp made his observations. Certain +lawyers who were present seemed to be staggered at the case, but +inclined rather to recommit the prisoner: the lord mayor, however, +discharged Strong, as he had been taken up without a warrant. + +As soon as this determination was made known, the parties began to move +off. Captain Laird, however, who kept close to Strong, laid hold of him +before he had quitted the room, and said aloud, "Then I now seize him as +my slave." Upon this Mr. Sharp put his hand upon Laird's shoulder, and +pronounced these words: "I charge you, in the name of the king, with an +assault upon the person of Jonathan Strong, and all these are my +witnesses." Laird was greatly intimidated by this charge, made in the +presence of the lord mayor and others, and, fearing a prosecution, let +his prisoner go, leaving him to be conveyed away by Mr. Sharp. + +Mr. Sharp having been greatly affected by this case, and foreseeing how +much he might be engaged in others of a similar nature, thought it time +that the law of the land should be known upon this subject: he applied, +therefore, to Dr. Blackstone, afterwards Judge Blackstone, for his +opinion upon it. He was, however, not satisfied with it when he received +it; nor could he obtain any satisfactory answer from several other +lawyers, to whom he afterwards applied. The truth is that the opinion of +York and Talbot, which had been made public and acted upon by the +planters, merchants, and others, was considered of high authority, and +scarcely any one dared to question the legality of it. In this situation +Mr. Sharp saw no means of help but in his own industry, and he +determined immediately to give up two or three years to the study of the +English law, that he might the better advocate the cause of these +miserable people. The result of these studies was the publication of a +book in the year 1769, which he called, _A Representation of the +Injustice and Dangerous Tendency of Tolerating Slavery in England_. In +this work he refuted, in the clearest manner, the opinion of York and +Talbot: he produced against it the opinion of the Lord Chief Justice +Holt, who, many years before, had determined that every slave coming +into England became free: he attacked and refuted it again by a learned +and laborious inquiry into all the principles of Villenage. He refuted +it again by showing it to be an axiom in the British constitution, "That +every man in England was free to sue for and defend his rights, and that +force could not be used without a legal process," leaving it to the +judges to determine whether an African was a man. He attacked also the +opinion of Judge Blackstone, and showed where his error lay. This +valuable book, containing these and other kinds of arguments on the +subject, he distributed, but particularly among the lawyers, giving them +an opportunity of refuting or acknowledging the doctrines it contained. + +While Mr. Sharp was engaged in this work, another case offered, in which +he took a part: this was in the year 1768. Hylas, an African slave, +prosecuted a person of the name of Newton for having kidnapped his wife, +and sent her to the West Indies. The result of the trial was, that +damages to the amount of a shilling were given, and the defendant was +bound to bring back the woman, either by the first ship, or in six +months from this decision of the court. + +But soon after the work just mentioned was out, and when Mr. Sharp was +better prepared, a third case occurred: this happened in the year 1770. +Robert Stapylton, who lived at Chelsea, in conjunction with John Malony +and Edward Armstrong, two watermen, seized the person of Thomas Lewis, +an African slave, in a dark night, and dragged him to a boat lying in +the Thames; they then gagged him and tied him with a cord, and rowed him +down to a ship, and put him on board to be sold as a slave in Jamaica. +This base action took place near the garden of Mrs. Banks, the mother of +the late Sir Joseph Banks. Lewis, it appears, on being seized, screamed +violently. The servants of Mrs. Banks, who heard his cries, ran to his +assistance, but the boat was gone. On informing their mistress of what +had happened, she sent for Mr. Sharp, who began now to be known as the +friend of the helpless Africans, and professed her willingness to incur +the expense of bringing the delinquents to justice. Mr. Sharp, with some +difficulty, procured a _habeas corpus_, in consequence of which Lewis +was brought from Gravesend just as the vessel was on the point of +sailing. An action was then commenced against Stapylton, who defended +himself on the plea, "That Lewis belonged to him as his slave." In the +course of the trial, Mr. Dunning, who was counsel for Lewis, paid Mr. +Sharp a handsome compliment; for he held in his hand Mr. Sharp's book, +on the _Injustice and Dangerous Tendency of Tolerating Slavery in +England_, while he was pleading; and in his address to the jury he spoke +and acted thus:--"I shall submit to you," says Mr. Dunning, "what my +ideas are upon such evidence, reserving to myself an opportunity of +discussing it more particularly, and reserving to myself a right to +insist upon a position, which I will maintain (and here he held up the +book to the notice of those present,) in any place and in any court of +the kingdom, that our laws admit of no such property[A]." The result of +the trial was, that the jury pronounced the plaintiff not to have been +the property of the defendant, several of them crying out, "No property, +no property." + +[Footnote A: It is lamentable to think that the same Mr. Dunning, in a +cause of this kind, which came on afterwards, took the opposite side of +the question.] + +After this one or two other trials came on, in which the oppressor was +defeated, and several cases occurred in which poor slaves were liberated +from the holds of vessels and other places of confinement, by the +exertions of Mr. Sharp. One of these cases was singular. The vessels on +board which a poor African had been dragged and confined, had reached +the Downs, and had actually got under weigh for the West Indies: in two +or three hours she would have been out of sight; but just at this +critical moment the writ of _habeas corpus_ was carried on board. The +officer who served it on the captain saw the miserable African chained +to the mainmast, bathed in tears, and casting a last mournful look on +the land of freedom, which was fast receding from his sight. The +captain, on receiving the writ, became outrageous; but knowing the +serious consequences of resisting the law of the land, he gave up his +prisoner, whom the officer carried safe, but now crying for joy, to the +shore. + +But though the injured Africans, whose causes had been tried, escaped +slavery, and though many who had been forcibly carried into dungeons, +ready to be transported into the Colonies, had been delivered out of +them, Mr. Sharp was not easy in his mind: not one of the cases had yet +been pleaded on the broad ground, "Whether an African slave, coming into +England, became free?" This great question had been hitherto studiously +avoided; it was still, therefore, left in doubt. Mr. Sharp was almost +daily acting as if it had been determined, and as if he had been +following the known law of the land: he wished, therefore, that the next +cause might be argued upon this principle. Lord Mansfield too, who had +been biassed by the opinion of York and Talbot, began to waver in +consequence of the different pleadings he had heard on this subject: he +saw also no end of trials like these, till the law should be +ascertained, and he was anxious for a decision on the same basis as Mr. +Sharp. In this situation the following case offered, which was agreed +upon for the determination of this important question. + +James Somerset, an African slave, had been brought to England by his +master, Charles Stewart, in November 1769. Somerset in process of time +left him. Stewart took an opportunity of seizing him, and had him +conveyed on board the Ann and Mary, Captain Knowles, to be carried out +of the kingdom and sold as a slave in Jamaica: the question was, +"Whether a slave, by coming into England, became free?" + +In order that time might be given for ascertaining the law fully on this +head, the case was argued at three different sittings. First, in +January, 1772; secondly, in February, 1772; and thirdly, in May, 1772. +And that no decision otherwise than what the law warranted might be +given, the opinion of the judges was taken upon the pleadings. The great +and glorious result of the trial was, "That as soon as ever any slave +set his foot upon English territory, he became free." + +Thus ended the great case of Somerset, which, having, been determined +after so deliberate an investigation of the law, can never be reversed +while the British Constitution remains. The eloquence displayed in it by +those who were engaged on the side of liberty, was perhaps never +exceeded on any occasion; and the names of the counsellors Davy, Glynn, +Hargrave, Mansfield, and Alleyne, ought always to be remembered with +gratitude by the friends of this great cause. For when we consider in +how many crowded courts they pleaded, and the number of individuals in +these, whose minds they enlightened, and whose hearts they interested in +the subject, they are certainly to be put down as no small instruments +in the promotion of it; but chiefly to him, under Divine Providence, are +we to give the praise, who became the first great actor in it, who +devoted his time, his talents, and his substance to this Christian +undertaking, and by whose laborious researches the very pleaders +themselves were instructed and benefited. By means of his almost +incessant vigilance and attention, and unwearied efforts, the poor +African ceased to be hunted in our streets as a beast of prey. Miserable +as the roof might be, under which he slept, he slept in security. He +walked by the side of the stately ship, and he feared no dungeon in her +hold. Nor ought we, as Englishmen, to be less grateful to this +distinguished individual than the African ought to be upon this +occasion. To him we owe it, that we no longer see our public papers +polluted by hateful advertisements of the sale of the human species, or +that we are no longer distressed by the perusal of impious rewards for +bringing back the poor and the helpless into slavery, or that we are +prohibited the disgusting spectacle of seeing man bought by his +fellow-man. To him, in short, we owe this restoration of the beauty of +our constitution--this prevention of the continuance of our national +disgrace. + +I shall say but little more of Mr. Sharp at present, than that he felt +it his duty, immediately after the trial, to write to Lord North, then +principal minister of state, warning him in the most earnest manner, to +abolish immediately both the trade and the slavery of the human species +in all the British dominions, as utterly irreconcileable with the +principles of the British constitution, and the established religion of +the land. + +Among other coadjutors, whom the cruel and wicked practices which have +now been so amply detailed brought forward, was a worthy clergyman, +whose name I have not yet been able to learn. He endeavoured to interest +the public feeling in behalf of the injured Africans, by writing an +epilogue to the _Padlock_, in which Mungo appeared as a black servant. +This epilogue is so appropriate to the case, that I cannot but give it +to the reader. Mungo enters, and thus addresses the audience:-- + + + Thank you, my massas! have you laugh your fill? + Then let me speak, nor take that freedom ill. + E'en from _my_ tongue some heart-felt truths may fall, + And outraged Nature claims the care of all. + My tale in _any_ place would force a tear, + But calls for stronger, deeper feelings here; + For whilst I tread the free-born British land, + Whilst now before me crowded Britons stand,-- + Vain, vain that glorious privilege to me, + I am a slave, where all things else are free. + + Yet was I born, as you are, no man's slave, + An heir to all that liberal Nature gave; + My mind can reason, and my limbs can move + The same as yours; like yours my heart can love; + Alike my body food and sleep sustain; + And e'en like yours--feels pleasure, want, and pain. + One sun rolls o'er us, common skies surround; + One globe supports us, and one grave must bound. + + Why then am I devoid of all to live + That manly comforts to a man can give? + + To live--untaught religion's soothing balm, + Or life's choice arts; to live--unknown the calm, + Of soft domestic ease; those sweets of life, + The duteous offspring, and th' endearing wife? + To live--to property and rights unknown, + Not e'en the common benefits my own! + No arm to guard me from Oppression's rod, + My will subservient to a tyrant's nod! + No gentle hand, when life is in decay, + To soothe my pains, and charm my cares away; + But helpless left to quit the horrid stage, + Harassed in youth, and desolate in age! + + But I was born in Afric's tawny strand, + And you in fair Britannia's fairer land; + Comes freedom, then, from colour?--Blush with shame! + And let strong Nature's crimson mark your blame. + I speak to Britons.--Britons--then behold + A man by, Britons _snared_, and _seized_, and _sold!_ + And yet no British statute damns the deed, + Nor do the more than murderous villains bleed. + + O sons of Freedom! equalize your laws, + Be all consistent, plead the negro's cause; + That all the nations in your code may see + The British negro, like the Briton, free. + But, should he supplicate your laws in vain, + To break, for ever, this disgraceful chain, + At least, let gentle usage so abate + The galling terrors of its passing state, + That he may share kind Heaven's all social plan; + For, though no Briton, Mungo is--a man. + +I may now add, that few theatrical pieces had a greater run than the +_Padlock_; and that this epilogue, which was attached to it soon after +it came out, procured a good deal of feeling for the unfortunate +sufferers, whose cause it was intended to serve. + +Another coadjutor, to whom these cruel and wicked practices gave birth, +was Thomas Day, the celebrated author of _Sandford and Merton_, and +whose virtues were well known among those who had the happiness of his +friendship. In the year 1773 he published a poem, which he wrote +expressly in behalf of the oppressed Africans. He gave it the name of +_The Dying Negro._ The preface to it was written in an able manner by +his friend Counsellor Bicknell, who is therefore to be ranked among the +coadjutors in this great cause. The poem was founded on a simple fact, +which had taken place a year or two before. A poor negro had been seized +in London, and forcibly put on board a ship, where he destroyed himself, +rather than return to the land of slavery. To the poem is affixed a +frontispiece, in which the negro is represented. He is made to stand in +an attitude of the most earnest address to heaven, in the course of +which, with the fatal dagger in his hand, he breaks forth in the +following words: + + To you this unpolluted blood I pour, + To you that spirit, which ye gave, restore. + + +This poem, which was the first ever written expressly on the subject, +was read extensively; and it added to the sympathy in favour of +suffering humanity, which was now beginning to show itself in the +kingdom. + +About this time the first edition of the _Essay an Truth_ made its +appearance in the world. Dr. Beattie took an opportunity, in this work, +of vindicating the intellectual powers of the Africans from the +aspersions of Hume, and of condemning their slavery as a barbarous piece +of policy, and as inconsistent with the free and generous spirit of the +British nation. + +In the year 1774, John Wesley, the celebrated divine, to whose pious +labours the religious world will long be indebted, undertook the cause +of the poor Africans. He had been in America, and had seen and pitied +their hard condition. The work which he gave to the world in +consequence, was entitled _Thoughts on Slavery_. Mr. Wesley had this +great cause much at heart, and frequently recommended it to the support +of those who attended his useful ministry. + +In the year 1776, the Abbe Proyart brought out, at Paris, his _History +of Loango_, and other kingdoms in Africa, in which he did ample justice +to the moral and intellectual character of the natives there. + +The same year produced two new friends in England, in the same cause, +but in a line in which no one had yet moved. David Hartley, then a +member of parliament for Hull, and the son of Dr. Hartley who wrote the +_Essay on Man_, found it impossible any longer to pass over without +notice the case of the oppressed Africans. He had long felt for their +wretched condition, and, availing himself of his legislative situation, +he made a motion in the House of Commons, "That the Slave Trade was +contrary to the laws of God, and the rights of men." In order that he +might interest the members as much as possible in his motion, he had +previously obtained some of the chains in use in this cruel traffic, and +had laid them upon the table of the House of Commons. His motion was +seconded by that great patriot and philanthropist, Sir George Saville. +But though I am now to state that it failed, I cannot but consider it as +a matter of pleasing reflection, that this great subject was first +introduced into parliament by those who were worthy of it; by those who +had clean hands and an irreproachable character, and to whom no motive +of party or faction could be imputed, but only such as must have arisen +from a love of justice, a true feeling of humanity, and a proper sense +of religion. + +About this time two others, men of great talents and learning, promoted +the cause of the injured Africans, by the manner in which they +introduced them to notice in their respective works. + +Dr. Adam Smith, in his _Theory of Moral Sentiments_, had, so early as +the year 1759, held them up in an honourable, and their tyrants in a +degrading light. "There is not a Negro from the coast of Africa, who +does not, in this respect, possess a degree of magnanimity which the +soul of his sordid master is too often scarce capable of conceiving. +Fortune never exerted more cruelly her empire over mankind, than when +she subjected those nations of heroes to the refuse of the gaols of +Europe, to wretches who possess the virtue neither of the countries they +came from, nor of those they go to, and whose levity, brutality, and +baseness so justly expose them to the contempt of the vanquished." And +now, in 1776, in his _Wealth of Nations_ he showed in a forcible manner +(for he appealed to the interest of those concerned,) the dearness of +African labour; or the impolicy of employing slaves. + +Professor Millar, in his _Origin of Ranks_, followed Dr. Smith on the +same ground. He explained the impolicy of slavery in general, by its bad +effects upon industry, population, and morals. These effects he attached +to the system of agriculture as followed in our islands. He showed, +besides, how little pains were taken, or how few contrivances were +thought of, to ease the labourers there. He contended that the Africans +ought to be better treated, and to be raised to a better condition; and +he ridiculed the inconsistency of those who held them in bondage. "It +affords," says he, "a curious spectacle to observe that the same people, +who talk in a high strain of political liberty, and who consider the +privilege of imposing their own taxes as one of the unalienable rights +of mankind, should make no scruple of reducing a great proportion of +their fellow-creatures into circumstances by which they are not only +deprived of property, but almost of every species of right. Fortune, +perhaps, never produced a situation more calculated to ridicule a +liberal hypothesis, or to show how little the conduct of men is at the +bottom directed by any philosophical principles." It is a great honour +to the University of Glasgow, that it should have produced, before any +public agitation of this question, three professors[A], all of whom bore +their public testimony against the continuance of the cruel trade. + +[Footnote A: The other was Professor Hutcheson, before mentioned in p. +56.] + +From this time, or from about the year 1776, to about the year 1782, I +am to put down three other coadjutors, whose labours seem to have come +in a right season for the promotion of the cause. + +The first of these was Dr. ROBERTSON. In his _History of America_ he +laid open many facts relative to this subject. He showed himself a warm +friend both of the Indians and Africans. He lost no opportunity of +condemning that trade, which brought the latter into bondage: "a trade," +says he, "which is no less repugnant to the feelings of humanity than to +the principles of religion." And in his _Charles the Fifth_, he showed +in a manner that was clear, and never to be controverted, that +Christianity was the great cause in the twelfth century of extirpating +slavery from the west of Europe. By the establishment of this fact, he +rendered important services to the oppressed Africans. For if +Christianity, when it began to be felt in the heart, dictated the +abolition of slavery, it certainly became those who lived in a Christian +country, and who professed the Christian religion, to put an end to this +cruel trade. + +The second was the Abbe Raynal. This author gave an account of the laws, +government, and religion of Africa, of the produce of it, of the manners +of its inhabitants, of the trade in slaves, of the manner of procuring +these, with several other particulars relating to the subject. And at +the end of his account, fearing lest the good advice he had given for +making the condition of the slaves more comfortable should be construed +into an approbation of such a traffic, he employed several pages in +showing its utter inconsistency with sound policy, justice, reason, +humanity, and religion. + +"I will not here," says he, "so far debase myself as to enlarge the +ignominious list of those writers who devote their abilities to justify +by policy what morality condemns. In an age where so many errors are +boldly laid open, it would be unpardonable to conceal any truth that is +interesting to humanity. If whatever I have hitherto advanced hath +seemingly tended only to alleviate the burden of slavery, the reason is, +that it was first necessary to give some comfort to those unhappy beings +whom we cannot set free, and convince their oppressors that they were +cruel, to the prejudice of their real interests. But, in the mean time, +till some considerable revolution shall make the evidence of this great +truth felt, it may not be improper to pursue this subject further. I +shall then first prove that there is no reason of state which can +authorize slavery. I shall not be afraid to cite to the tribunal of +reason and justice those governments which tolerate this cruelty, or +which even are not ashamed to make it the basis of their power." + +And a little further on he observes--"Will it be said that he, who wants +to make me a slave, does me no injury; but that he only makes use of his +rights? Where are those rights? Who hath stamped upon them so sacred a +character as to silence mine?" + +In the beginning of the next paragraph he speaks thus:--"He who supports +the system of slavery is the enemy of the whole human race. He divides +it into two societies of legal assassins; the oppressors, and the +oppressed. It is the same thing as proclaiming to the world, if you +would preserve your life, instantly take away mine, for I want to have +yours." + +Going on two pages further, we find these words:--"But the Negroes, they +say, are a race born for slavery; their dispositions are narrow, +treacherous, and wicked; they themselves allow the superiority of our +understandings, and almost acknowledge the justice of our authority. +Yes; the minds of the Negroes are contracted, because slavery destroys +all the springs of the soul. They are wicked, but not equally so with +you. They are treacherous, because they are under no obligation to speak +truth to their tyrants. They acknowledge the superiority of our +understanding, because we have abused their ignorance. They allow the +justice of our authority, because we have abused their weakness." + +"But these Negroes, it is further urged, were born slaves. Barbarians! +will you persuade me that a man can be the property of a sovereign, a +son the property of a father, a wife the property of a husband, a +domestic the property of a master, a Negro the property of a planter?" + +But I have no time to follow this animated author, even by short +extracts, through the varied strains of eloquence which he displays upon +this occasion. I can only say that his labours entitle him to a high +station among the benefactors to the African race. + +The third was Dr. PALEY, whose genius, talents, and learning have been +so eminently displayed in his writings in the cause of natural and +revealed religion. Dr. Paley did not write any essay expressly in favour +of the Africans. But in his _Moral Philosophy_, where he treated on +slavery, he took an opportunity of condemning, in very severe terms, the +continuance of it. In this work he defined what slavery was, and how it +might arise consistently with the law of nature; but he made an +exception against that which arose from the African trade. "The Slave +Trade," says he, "upon the coast of Africa, is not excused by these +principles. When slaves in that country are brought to market, no +questions, I believe, are asked about the origin or justice of the +vendor's title. It may be presumed, therefore, that this title is not +always, if it be ever, founded in any of the causes above assigned. + +"But defect of right in the first purchase is the least crime with which +this traffic is chargeable. The natives are excited to war and mutual +depredation, for the sake of supplying their contracts, or furnishing +the markets with slaves. With this the wickedness begins. The slaves, +torn away from their parents, wives, and children, from their friends +and companions, from their fields and flocks, from their home and +country, are transported to the European settlements in America, with no +other accommodation on ship-board than what is provided for brutes. This +is the second stage of the cruelty, from which the miserable exiles are +delivered, only to be placed, and that for life, in subjection to a +dominion add system of laws, the most merciless and tyrannical that ever +were tolerated upon the face of the earth: and from all that can be +learned by the accounts of people upon the spot, the inordinate +authority which the plantation-laws confer upon the slaveholder is +exercised, by the English slaveholder especially, with rigour and +brutality. + +"But necessity is pretended, the name under which every enormity is +attempted to be justified; and after all, what is the necessity? It has +never been proved that the land could not be cultivated there, as it is +here, by hired servants. It is said, that it could not be cultivated +with quite the same conveniency and cheapness, as by the labour of +slaves; by which means, a pound of sugar, which the planter now sells +for sixpence, could not be afforded under sixpence-halfpenny--and this +is the necessity! + +"The great revolution which has taken place in the western world, may, +probably, conduce (and who knows but that it was designed) to accelerate +the fall of this abominable tyranny: and now that this contest and the +passions which attend it are no more, there may succeed, perhaps, a +season for reflecting, whether a legislature, which had so long lent its +assistance to the support of an institution replete with human misery, +was fit to be trusted with an empire, the most extensive that ever +obtained in any age or quarter of the world." + +The publication of these sentiments may be supposed to have produced an +extensive effect. For _The Moral Philosophy_ was adopted early by some +of the colleges in our universities into the system of their education. +It soon found its way also into most of the private libraries of the +kingdom; and it was, besides, generally read and approved. Dr. Paley, +therefore, must be considered, as having been a considerable coadjutor +in interesting the mind of the public in favour of the oppressed +Africans. + +In the year 1783, we find Mr. Sharp coming again into notice. We find +him at this time taking a part in a cause, the knowledge of which, in +proportion as it was disseminated, produced an earnest desire among all +disinterested persons for the abolition of the Slave Trade. + +In this year, certain underwriters desired to be heard against Gregson +and others of Liverpool, in the case of the ship Zong, Captain +Collingwood, alleging that the captain and officers of the said vessel +threw overboard one hundred and thirty-two slaves alive into the seas in +order to defraud them, by claiming the value of the said slaves, as if +they had been lost in a natural way. In the course of the trial which +afterwards came on, it appeared, that the slaves on board the Zong were +very sickly; that sixty of them had already died; and several were ill +and likely to die, when the captain proposed to James Kelsall, the mate, +and others, to throw several of them overboard, stating, "that if they +died a natural death, the loss would fall upon the owners of the ship; +but that if they were thrown into the sea, it would fall upon the +underwriters." He selected, accordingly, one hundred and thirty-two of +the most sickly of the slaves. Fifty-four of these were immediately +thrown overboard, and forty-two were made to be partakers of their fate +on the succeeding day. In the course of three days afterwards the +remaining twenty-six were brought upon deck to complete the number of +victims. The first sixteen submitted to be thrown into the sea; but the +rest, with a noble resolution, would not suffer the officers to touch +them, but leaped after their companions and shared their fate. + +The plea which was set up in behalf of this atrocious and unparalleled +act of wickedness was, that the captain discovered, when he made the +proposal, that he had only two hundred gallons of water on board, and +that he had missed his port. It was proved, however, in answer to this, +that no one had been put upon short allowance; and that, as if +Providence had determined to afford an unequivocal proof of the guilt, a +shower of rain fell and continued for three days immediately after the +second lot of slaves had been destroyed, by means of which they might +have filled many of their vessels[A] with water, and thus have prevented +all necessity for the destruction of the third. + +[Footnote A: It appeared that they filled six.] + +Mr. Sharp was present at this trial, and procured the attendance of a +short-hand writer to take down the facts, which should come out in the +course of it. These he gave to the public afterwards. He communicated +them also, with a copy of the trial, to the Lords of the Admiralty, as +the guardians of justice upon the seas, and to the Duke of Portland, as +principal minister of state. No notice, however, was taken by any of +these, of the information which had been thus sent them. + +But though nothing was done by the persons then in power, in consequence +of the murder of so many innocent individuals, yet the publication of an +account of it by Mr. Sharp, in the newspapers, made such an impression +upon others, that; new coadjutors rose up. For, soon after this, we find +Thomas Day entering the lists again as the champion of the injured +Africans. He had lived to see his poem of _The Dying Negro_, which had +been published in 1773, make a considerable impression. In 1776, he had +written a letter to a friend in America, who was the possessor of +slaves, to dissuade him by a number of arguments from holding such +property; and now, when the knowledge of the case of the ship Zong was +spreading, he published that letter under the title of Fragment of an +Original Letter on the Slavery of the Negroes. + +In this same year, Dr. Porteus, Bishop of Chester, but now Bishop of +London, came forward as a new advocate for the natives of Africa. The +way in which he rendered them service, was by preaching a sermon in +their behalf, before the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Of +the wide circulation of this sermon, I shall say something in another +place, but much more of the enlightened and pious author of it, who from +this time never failed to aid, at every opportunity, the cause which he +had so ably undertaken. + +In the year 1784, Dr. GREGORY produced his _Essays, Historical and +Moral_. He took an opportunity of disseminating in these a +circumstantial knowledge of the Slave Trade, and an equal abhorrence of +it at the same time. He explained the manner of procuring slaves in +Africa; the treatment of them on the passage, (in which he mentioned the +case of the ship Zong) and the wicked and cruel treatment of them in the +colonies. He recited and refuted also the various arguments adduced in +defence of the trade. He showed that it was destructive to our seamen. +He produced many weighty arguments also against the slavery itself. He +proposed clauses for an Act of Parliament for the abolition of both; +showing the good both to England and her colonies from such a measure, +and that a trade might be substituted in Africa, in various articles, +for that which he proposed to suppress. By means of the diffusion of +light like this, both of a moral and political nature; Dr. Gregory is +entitled to be ranked among the benefactors to the African race. + +In the same year, Gilbert Wakefield preached a sermon at Richmond, in +Surrey, where, speaking of the people of this nation, he says, "Have we +been as renowned for a liberal communication of our religion and our +laws as for the possession of them! Have we navigated and conquered to +save, to civilize, and to instruct; or to oppress, to plunder, and to +destroy? Let India and Africa give the answer to these questions. The +one we have exhausted of her wealth and her inhabitants by violence, by +famine, and by every species of tyranny and murder. The children of the +other we daily carry from off the land of their nativity; like sheep to +the slaughter, to return no more. We tear them from every object of +their affection, or, sad alternative, drag them together to the horrors +of a mutual servitude! We keep them in the profoundest ignorance. We +gall them in a tenfold chain, with an unrelenting spirit of barbarity, +inconceivable to all but the spectators of it, unexampled among former +and other nations, and unrecorded even in the bloody registers of +heathen persecution. Such is the conduct of us enlightened Englishmen, +reformed Christians! Thus have we profited by our superior advantages, +by the favour of God, by the doctrines and example of a meek and lowly +Savior. Will not the blessings which we have abused loudly testify +against us? Will not the blood which we have shed cry from the ground +for vengeance upon our sins?" + +In the same year, James Ramsay, vicar of Teston in Kent, became also an +able, zealous, and indefatigable patron of the African cause. This +gentleman had resided nineteen years in the island of St. Christopher, +where he had observed the treatment of the slaves, and had studied the +laws relating to them. On his return to England, yielding to his own +feelings of duty and the solicitations of some amiable friends, he +published a work, which he called _An Essay on the Treatment and +Conversion of the African Slaves in the British Sugar Colonies_. After +having given an account of the relative situation of master and slave in +various parts of the world, he explained the low and degrading situation +which the Africans held in society in our own islands. He showed that +their importance would be increased; and the temporal interest of their +masters promoted, by giving them freedom, and by granting them other +privileges. He showed the great difficulty of instructing them in the +state in which they then were, and such as he himself had experienced, +both in his private and public attempts, and such as others had +experienced also. He stated the way in which private attempts of this +nature might probably be successful. He then answered all objections +against their capacities, as drawn from philosophy, form, anatomy, and +observation; and vindicated these from his own experience. And lastly, +he threw out ideas for the improvement of their condition, by an +establishment of a greater number of spiritual pastors among them; by +giving them more privileges than they then possessed; and by extending +towards them the benefits of a proper police. Mr. Ramsay had no other +motive for giving this work to the public, than that of humanity, of a +wish to serve this much-injured part of the human species. For he +compiled it at the hazard of forfeiting that friendship, which he had +contracted with many during his residence in the islands, and of +suffering much in his private property, as well as subjecting himself to +the ill-will and persecution of numerous individuals. + +The publication of this book by one who professed to have been so long +resident in the islands, and to have been an eyewitness of facts, +produced, as may easily be supposed, a good deal of conversation, and +made a considerable impression, but particularly at this time, when a +storm was visibly gathering over the heads of the oppressors of the +African race. These circumstances occasioned one or two persons to +attempt to answer it, and these answers brought Mr. Ramsay into the +first controversy ever entered into on this subject, during which, as is +the case in most controversies, the cause of truth was spread. + +The works which Mr. Ramsay wrote upon this subject were, the essay just +mentioned, in 1784. _An Inquiry_, also, _into the Effects of the +Abolition of the Slave Trade_, in 1784; _A Reply to Personal Invectives +and Objections_, in 1785; _A Letter to James Tobin, Esq._, in 1787; +_Objections to the Abolition of the Slave Trade, with Answers_; and _An +Examination of Harris's Scriptural Researches on the Licitness of the +Slave Trade_, in 1788; and _An Address on the proposed Bill for the +Abolition of the Slave Trade_, in 1789. In short, from the time when he +first took up the cause, he was engaged in it till his death, which was +not a little accelerated by his exertions. He lived, however, to see +this cause in a train of parliamentary inquiry, and he died satisfied; +being convinced, as he often expressed, that the investigation must +inevitably lead to the total abolition of the Slave Trade. + +In the next year, that is, in the year 1785, another advocate was seen +in Monsieur Necker, in his celebrated work on the _French Finances_, +which had just been translated into the English language from the +original work, in 1784. This virtuous statesman, after having given his +estimate of the population and revenue of the French West Indian +colonies, proceeds thus:--"The colonies of France contain, as we have +seen, near five hundred thousand slaves, and it is from the number of +these poor wretches that the inhabitants set a value on their +plantations. What a dreadful prospect! and how profound a subject for +reflection! Alas! how little are we both in our morality and our +principles! We preach up humanity, and yet go every year to bind in +chains twenty thousand natives of Africa! We call the Moors barbarians +and ruffians, because they attack the liberty of Europeans at the risk +of their own; yet these Europeans go, without danger, and as mere +speculators, to purchase slaves by gratifying the avarice of their +masters, and excite all those bloody scenes which are the usual +preliminaries of this traffic!" He goes on still further in the same +strain. He then shows the kind of power which has supported this +execrable trade. He throws out the idea of a general compact, by which +all the European nations should agree to abolish it; and he indulges the +pleasing hope that it may take place even in the present generation. + +In the same year we find other coadjutors coming before our view, but +these in a line different from that in which any other belonging to this +class had yet moved. Mr. George White, a clergyman of the established +church, and Mr. John Chubb, suggested to Mr. William Tucket, the mayor +of Bridgewater, where they resided, and to others of that town, the +propriety of petitioning parliament for the abolition of the Slave +Trade. This petition was agreed upon, and, when drawn up, was as +follows:-- + +"The humble petition of the inhabitants of Bridgewater showeth, + +"That your petitioners, reflecting with the deepest sensibility on the +deplorable condition of that part of the human species, the African +Negroes, who, by the most flagitious means, are reduced to slavery and +misery in the British colonies, beg leave to address this honourable +house in their behalf, and to express a just abhorrence of a system of +oppression, which no prospect of private gain, no consideration of +public advantage, no plea of political expediency, can sufficiently +justify or excuse. + +"That, satisfied as your petitioners are that this inhuman system meets +with the general execration of mankind, they flatter themselves the day +is not far distant when it will be universally abolished. And they most +ardently hope to see a British parliament, by the extinction of that +sanguinary traffic, extend the blessings of liberty to millions beyond +this realm, held up to an enlightened world a glorious and merciful +example, and stand in the defence of the violated rights of human +nature." + +This petition was presented by the Honourable Ann Poulet, and Alexander +Hood, Esq., (afterwards Lord Bridport,) who were the members for the +town of Bridgewater. It was ordered to lie on the table. The answer +which these gentlemen gave to their constituents relative to the +reception of it in the House of Commons is worthy of notice:--"There did +not appear," say they in their common letter, "the least disposition to +pay any further attention to it. Every one almost says that the +abolition of the Slave Trade must immediately throw the West Indian +islands into convulsions, and soon complete their utter ruin. Thus they +will not trust Providence for its protection for so pious an +undertaking." + +In the year 1786, Captain J.S. Smith, of the royal navy, offered himself +to the notice of the public in behalf of the African cause. Mr. Ramsay, +as I have observed before, had become involved in a controversy in +consequence of his support of it. His opponents not only attacked his +reputation, but had the effrontery to deny his facts. This circumstance +occasioned Captain Smith to come forward. He wrote a letter to his +friend Mr. Hill, in which he stated that he had seen those things, while +in the West Indies, which Mr. Ramsay had asserted to exist, but which +had been so boldly denied. He gave, also, permission to Mr. Hill to +publish this letter. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on Captain +Smith, for thus standing forth in a noble cause, and in behalf of an +injured character. + +The last of the necessary forerunners and coadjutors of this class, whom +I am to mention, was our much-admired poet, Cowper; and a great +coadjutor he was, when we consider what value was put upon his +sentiments, and the extraordinary circulation of his works. There are +few persons who have not been properly impressed by the following +lines:-- + + + My ear is pain'd, + My soul is sick with every day's report, + Of wrong and outrage with which earth is fill'd. + There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart, + It does not feel for man. The natural bond + Of brotherhood is sever'd as the flax + That falls asunder at the touch of fire. + He finds his fellow guilty of a skin + Not colour'd like his own, and having power + To inforce the wrong, for such a worthy cause + Dooms and devotes him as his lawful prey. + Lands intersected by a narrow frith + Abhor each other. Mountains interpos'd, + Make enemies of nations, who had else, + Like kindred drops been mingled into one. + Thus man devotes his brother, and destroys; + And, worse than all, and most to be deplored + As human Nature's broadest, foulest blot,-- + Chains him, and tasks him, and exacts his sweat + With stripes, that Mercy with a bleeding heart + Weeps, when she sees inflicted on a beast. + Then what is man? And what man, seeing this, + And having human feelings, does not blush + And hang his head to think himself a man? + I would not have a slave to till my ground, + To carry me, to fan me while I sleep, + And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth + That sinews bought and sold have ever earn'd. + No: dear as freedom is,--and in my heart's + Just estimation prized above all price,-- + I had much rather be myself the slave, + And wear the bonds, than fasten them on him. + We have no slaves at home--then why abroad? + And they themselves once ferried o'er the wave + That parts us, are emancipate and loos'd. + Slaves cannot breathe in England; if their lungs + Receive our air, that moment they are free; + They touch our country, and their shackles fall[A]. + That's noble, and bespeaks a nation proud + And jealous of the blessing. Spread it, then, + And let it circulate through every vein + Of all your empire--that where Britain's power + Is felt, mankind may feel her mercy too. + + +[Footnote A: Expressions used in the great trial, when Mr. Sharp +obtained the verdict in favour of Somerset.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +--Second class of forerunners and coadjutors, up to May 1787, +consists of the Quakers in England.--Of George Fox and others.--Of the +body of the Quakers assembled at the yearly meeting in 1727; and at +various other times.--Quakers, as a body, petition Parliament; and +circulate books on the subject.--Individuals among them become labourers +and associate in behalf of the Africans; Dilwyn, Harrison, and +others.--This the first association ever formed in England for the +purpose. + + +The second class of the forerunners and coadjutors in this great cause, +up to May 1787, will consist of the Quakers in England. + +The first of this class was George Fox, the venerable founder of this +benevolent society. + +George Fox was contemporary with Richard Baxter, being born not long +after him, and dying much about the same time. Like him, he left his +testimony against this wicked trade. When he was in the island of +Barbados, in the year 1671, he delivered himself to those who attended +his religious meetings in the following manner:-- + +"Consider with yourselves," says he, "if you were in the same condition +as the poor Africans are--who came strangers to you, and were sold to +you as slaves--I say, if this should be the condition of you or yours, +you would think it a hard measure; yea, and very great bondage and +cruelty. And, therefore, consider seriously of this; and do you for them +and to them, as you would willingly have them, or any others, do unto +you, were you in the like slavish condition, and bring them to know the +Lord Christ." And in his Journal, speaking of the advice which he gave +his friends at Barbados, he says, "I desired also that they would cause +their overseers to deal mildly and gently with their negroes, and not to +use cruelty towards them, as the manner of some had been, and that after +certain years of servitude they should make them free." + +William Edmundson, who was a minister of the society, and, indeed, a +fellow-traveller with George Fox, had the boldness in the same island to +deliver his sentiments to the governor on the same subject. Having been +brought before him and accused of making the Africans Christians, or, in +other words, of making them rebel and destroy their owners, he replied, +"That it was a good thing to bring them to the knowledge of God and +Christ Jesus, and to believe in him who died for them and all men, and +that this would keep them from rebelling, or cutting any person's +throat; but if they did rebel and cut their throats, as the governor +insinuated they would, it would be their own doing, in keeping them in +ignorance and under oppression, in giving them liberty to be common with +women like brutes, and, on the other hand, in starving them for want of +meat and clothes convenient; thus, giving them liberty in that which God +restrained, and restraining them in that which was meat and clothing." + +I do not find any individual of this society moving in this cause, for +some time after the death of George Fox and William Edmundson. The first +circumstance of moment which I discover, is a resolution of the whole +Society on the subject, at their yearly meeting, held in London in the +year 1727. The resolution was contained in the following words:--"It is +the sense of this meeting, that the importing of negroes from their +native country and relations by Friends is not a commendable nor allowed +practice, and is, therefore, censured by this meeting." + +In the year 1758, the Quakers thought it their duty, as a body, to pass +another resolution upon this subject. At this, time the nature of the +trade beginning to be better known, we find them more animated upon it, +as the following extract will show:-- + +"We fervently warn all in profession with us, that they carefully avoid +being any way concerned in reaping the unrighteous profits, arising from +the iniquitous practice of dealing in negro or other slaves; whereby, in +the original purchase, one man selleth another, as he doth the beasts +that perish, without any better pretension to a property in him than +that of superior force; in direct violation of the Gospel rule, which +teacheth all to do as they would be done by, and to do good to all; +being the reverse of that covetous disposition, which furnisheth +encouragement to those poor ignorant people to perpetuate their savage +wars, in order to supply the demands of this most unnatural traffic, by +which great numbers of mankind, free by nature, are subject to +inextricable bondage, and which hath often been observed to fill their +possessors with haughtiness, tyranny, luxury, and barbarity, corrupting +the minds and debasing the morals of their children, to the unspeakable +prejudice of religion and virtue, and the exclusion of that holy spirit +of universal love, meekness, and charity, which is the unchangeable +nature and the glory of true Christianity. We, therefore, can do no +less, than, with the greatest earnestness, impress it upon Friends +everywhere, that they endeavour to keep their hands clear of this +unrighteous gain of oppression." + +The Quakers hitherto, as appears by the two resolutions which have been +quoted, did nothing more than seriously warn all those in religious +profession with them against being concerned in this trade. But in three +years afterwards, or at the yearly meeting in 1761, they came to a +resolution, as we find by the following extract from their minutes, that +any of their members haying a concern in it should be disowned:--"This +meeting having reason to apprehend that divers under our name, are +concerned in the unchristian traffic in negroes, doth recommend it +earnestly to the care of Friends everywhere, to discourage, as much as +in them lies, a practice so repugnant to our Christian profession; and +to deal with all such as shall persevere in a conduct so reproachful to +Christianity; and to disown them, if they desist not therefrom." + +The yearly meeting of 1761, having thus agreed to exclude from +membership such as should be found concerned in this trade, that of 1763 +endeavoured to draw the cords, still tighter, by attaching criminality +to those who should aid and abet the trade in any manner. By the minute, +which was made on this occasion, I apprehend that no one belonging to +the Society could furnish even materials for such voyages. "We renew our +exhortation, that Friends everywhere be especially careful to keep their +hands clear of giving encouragement in any shape to the Slave Trade, it +being evidently destructive of the natural rights of mankind, who are +all ransomed by one Saviour, and visited by one divine light, in order +to salvation; a traffic calculated to enrich and aggrandize some upon +the misery of others; in its nature abhorrent to every just and tender +sentiment, and contrary to the whole tenour of the Gospel." + +Some pleasing intelligence having been sent on this subject, by the +Society in America to the Society in England, the yearly meeting of 1772 +thought it their duty to notice it, and to keep their former resolutions +alive by the following minute:--"It appears that the practice of holding +negroes in oppressive and unnatural bondage hath been so successfully +discouraged by Friends in some of the colonies, as to be considerably +lessened. We cannot but approve of these salutary endeavours, and +earnestly intreat that they may be continued, that through the favour of +divine Providence a traffic, so unmerciful and unjust in its nature to a +part of our own species made, equally with ourselves, for immortality, +may come to be considered by all in its proper light, and be utterly +abolished as a reproach to the Christian name." + +I must beg leave to stop here for a moment, just to pay the Quakers a +due tribute of respect for the proper estimation, in which they have +uniformly held the miserable outcasts of society, who have been the +subject of these minutes. What a contrast does it afford to the +sentiments of many others concerning them! How have we been compelled to +prove by a long chain of evidence, that they had the same feelings and +capacities as ourselves! How many, professing themselves enlightened, +even now view them as of a different species! But in the minutes which +have been cited we have seen them uniformly represented, as persons +"ransomed by one and the same Saviour," "as visited by one and the same +light for salvation," and "as made equally for immortality as others." +These practical views of mankind, as they are highly honourable to the +members of this Society, so they afford a proof both of the reality and +of the consistency of their religion. + +But to return:--From this time, there appears to have been a growing +desire in this benevolent society to step out of its ordinary course in +behalf of this injured people. It had hitherto confined itself to the +keeping of its own members unpolluted by any gain from their oppression. +But it was now ready to make an appeal to others, and to bear a more +public testimony in their favour. Accordingly, in the month of June, +1783, when a bill had been brought into the House of Commons for certain +regulations to be made with respect to the African Trade, the society +sent the following petition to that branch of the legislature:-- + +"Your petitioners, met in this their annual assembly, having solemnly +considered the state of the enslaved negroes, conceive themselves +engaged, in religious duty, to lay the suffering situation of that +unhappy people before you, as a subject loudly calling for the humane +interposition of the legislature, + +"Your petitioners regret that a nation, professing the Christian faith, +should so far counteract the principles of humanity and justice, as by +the cruel treatment of this oppressed race to fill their minds with +prejudices against the mild and beneficent doctrines of the gospel. + +"Under the countenance of the laws of this country, many thousand of +these our fellow-creatures, entitled to the natural rights of mankind, +are held as personal property in cruel bondage; and your petitioners +being informed that a Bill for the Regulation of the African Trade is +now before the House, containing a clause which restrains the officers +of the African Company from exporting negroes, your petitioners, deeply +affected with a consideration of the rapine, oppression, and bloodshed, +attending this traffic, humbly request that this restriction may be +extended to all persons whomsoever, or that the House would grant such +other relief in the premises as in its wisdom may seem meet." + +This petition was presented by Sir Cecil Wray, who, on introducing it, +spoke very respectfully of the society. He declared his hearty +approbation of their application, and said he hoped he should see the +day when not a slave would remain within the dominions of this realm. +Lord North seconded the motion, saying he could have no objection to the +petition, and that its object ought to recommend it to every humane +breast; that it did credit to the most benevolent society in the world; +but that, the session, being so far advanced, the subject, could not +then be taken into consideration; and he regretted that the Slave Trade, +against which the petition was so justly directed, was in a commercial +view become necessary to almost every nation of Europe. The petition was +then brought up and read, after which it was ordered to lie on the +table. This was the first petition (being two years earlier than that +from the inhabitants of Bridgewater), which was ever presented to +parliament for the abolition of the Slave Trade. + +But the society did not stop here; for having at the yearly meeting of +1783 particularly recommended the cause to a standing committee, +appointed to act at intervals, called the Meeting for Sufferings, the +latter in this same year resolved upon an address to the public, +entitled, _The Case of our Fellow-creatures, the oppressed Africans, +respectfully recommended to the serious Consideration of the Legislature +of Great Britain, by the People called Quakers_: in which they +endeavoured, in the most pathetic manner, to make the reader acquainted +with the cruel nature of this trade; and they ordered 2000 copies of it +to be printed. + +In the year 1784, they began the distribution of this case. The first +copy was sent to the king through Lord Carmarthen, and the second and +the third, through proper officers, to the queen and the Prince of +Wales. Others were sent by a deputation of two members of the society to +Mr. Pitt, as prime-minister; to the Lord Chancellor Thurlow; to Lord +Gower, as president of the council; to Lords Carmarthen and Sidney, as +secretaries of state; to Lord Chief-Justice Mansfield; to Lord Howe, as +first lord of the Admiralty; and to C.F. Cornwall, Esq., as speaker of +the House of Commons. Copies were sent also to every member of both +houses of parliament. + +The society, in the same year, anxious that the conduct of its members +should be consistent with its public profession on this great subject, +recommended it to the quarterly and monthly meetings to inquire through +their respective districts, whether any, bearing its name, were in any +way concerned in the traffic, and to deal with such, and to report the +success of their labours in the ensuing year. Orders were also given for +the reprinting and circulation of 10,000 other copies of _The Case_. + +In the year 1785, the society interested itself again in a similar +manner. For the Meeting for Sufferings, as representing it, recommended +to the quarterly meetings to distribute a work, written by Anthony +Benezet, in America, called _A Caution to Great Britain and her +Colonies, in a short Representation of the calamitous State of the +enslaved Negroes in the British Dominions._ This book was accordingly +forwarded to them for this purpose. On receiving it, they sent it among +several public bodies, the regular and dissenting clergy, justices of +the peace, and particularly among the great Schools of the kingdom, that +the rising youth might acquire a knowledge, and at the same time a +detestation, of this cruel traffic. In this latter base, a deputation of +the society waited, upon the masters, to know if they would allow their +scholars to receive it. The schools of Westminster, the Charter-house, +St. Paul, Merchant-Taylors, Eton, Winchester, and Harrow, were among +those visited. Several academies also were visited for this purpose. + +But I must now take my leave of the Quakers as a public body[A] and go +back to the year 1783, to record an event, which will be found of great +importance in the present history, and in which only individuals +belonging to the society were concerned. This event seems to have arisen +naturally out of existing or past circumstances. For the society, as I +have before stated, had sent a petition to parliament in this year, +praying for the abolition, of the Slave Trade. It had also laid the +foundation for a public distribution of the books as just mentioned, +with a view of enlightening others on this great subject. The case of +the ship Zong, which I have before had occasion to explain, had occurred +this same year. A letter also had been presented, much about the same +time, by Benjamin West, from Anthony Benezet, before mentioned, to our +queen, in behalf of the injured Africans, which she had received +graciously. These subjects occupied at this time the attention of many +Quaker families, and among others, that of a few individuals, who were +in close intimacy with each other. These, when they met together, +frequently conversed upon them. They perceived, as facts came out in +conversation, that there was a growing knowledge and hatred of the Slave +Trade, and that the temper of the times was ripening towards its +abolition. Hence a disposition manifested itself among these, to unite +as labourers for the furtherance of so desirable an object. An union was +at length proposed and approved of, and the following persons (placed in +alphabetical order) came together to execute the offices growing out of +it:-- + +[Footnote A: The Quakers, as a public body, kept the subject alive at +their yearly meeting in 1784, 1785, 1787, &c.] + +WILLIAM DILLWYN, THOMAS KNOWLES, M.D. +GEORGE HARRISON, JOHN LLOYD, +SAMUEL HOARE, JOSEPH WOODS. + + +The first meeting was held on the seventh of July, 1783. At this "they +assembled to consider what steps they should take for the relief and +liberation of the negro slaves in the West Indies, and for the +discouragement of the Slave Trade on the coast of Africa." + +To promote this object; they conceived it necessary that the public mind +should be enlightened respecting it. They had recourse; therefore, to +the public papers, and they appointed their members in turn to write in +these, and to see that their productions were inserted. They kept +regular minutes for this purpose. It was not however known to the world +that such an association existed. + +It appears that they had several meetings in the course of this year. +Before the close of it they had secured a place in the _General Evening +Post_, in _Lloyd's Evening Post_, in the Norwich, Bath, York, Bristol, +Sherborne, Liverpool, Newcastle, and other provincial papers, for such +articles as they chose to send to them. These consisted principally of +extracts from such authors, both in prose and verse, as they thought +would most enlighten and interest the mind upon the subject of their +institution. + +In the year 1784 they pursued the same plan; but they began now to print +books. The first was from a manuscript composed by Joseph Woods, one of +the committee; It was entitled, _Thoughts on the Slavery of the +Negroes_. This manuscript was well put together. It was a manly and yet +feeling address in behalf of the oppressed Africans. It contained a +sober and dispassionate appeal to the reason of all, without offending +the prejudices of any. It was distributed at the expense of the +association, and proved to be highly useful to the cause which it was +intended to promote. + +A communication having been made to the committee, that Dr. Porteus, +then Bishop of Chester, had preached a sermon before the society for the +propagation of the gospel, in behalf of the injured Africans, (which +sermon was noticed in the last chapter,) Samuel Hoare was deputed to +obtain permission to publish it. This led him to a correspondence with +Mr. Ramsay before mentioned. The latter applied in consequence to the +bishop, and obtained his consent. Thus this valuable sermon was also +given to the world. + +In the year 1785, the association continued their exertions as before; +but I have no room to specify them. I may observe, however, that David +Barclay, a grandson of the great apologist of that name, assisted at one +of their meetings, and (what is singular) that he was in a few years +afterwards unexpectedly called to a trial of his principles on this very +subject. For he and his brother John became, in consequence of a debt +due to them, possessed of a large grazing farm, or pen, in Jamaica, +which had thirty-two slaves upon it. Convinced, however, that the +retaining of their fellow-creatures in bondage was not only +irreconcilable with the principles of Christianity, but subversive of +the rights of human nature, they determined upon the emancipation of +these. And they[A] performed this generous office to the satisfaction of +their minds, to the honour of their characters, to the benefit of the +public, and to the happiness of the slave[B]. I mention this anecdote, +not only to gratify myself, by paying a proper respect to those generous +persons who sacrificed their interest to principle, but also to show the +sincerity of David Barclay, (who is now the only surviving brother,) as +he actually put in practice what at one of these meetings he was +desirous of recommending to others. + +[Footnote A: They engaged an agent to embark for Jamaica in 1796 to +effect this business, and had the slaves conveyed to Philadelphia, where +they were kindly received by the Society for improving the Condition of +free Black people. Suitable situations were found for the adults, and +the young ones were bound out apprentices to handicraft trades, and to +receive school learning.] + +[Footnote B: James Pemberton, of Philadelphia, made the following +observation in a letter to a Friend in England:--"David Barclay's humane +views towards the Blacks from Jamaica have been so far realized, that +these objects of his concern enjoy their freedom with comfort to +themselves, and are respectable in their characters, keeping up a +friendly intercourse with each other, and avoiding to intermix with the +common Blacks of this city, being sober in their conduct and industrious +in their business."] + +Having now brought up the proceedings of this little association towards +the year 1786, I shall take my leave of it, remarking, that it was the +first ever formed in England for the promotion of the abolition of the +Slave Trade. That Quakers have had this honour is unquestionable. Nor is +it extraordinary that they should have taken the lead on this occasion, +when we consider how advantageously they have been situated for so +doing. For the Slave Trade, as we have not long ago seen, came within +the discipline of the society in the year 1727. From thence it continued +to be an object of it till 1783. In 1783 the society petitioned +parliament, and in 1784 it distributed books to enlighten the public +concerning it. Thus we see that every Quaker, born since the year 1727, +was nourished as it were in a fixed hatred against it. He was taught, +that any concern in it was a crime of the deepest dye. He was taught, +that the bearing of his testimony against it was a test of unity with +those of the same religious profession. The discipline of the Quakers +was therefore a school for bringing them up as advocates for the +abolition of this trade. To this it may be added, that the Quakers knew +more about the trade and the slavery of the Africans, than any other +religious body of men, who had not been in the land of their sufferings. +For there had been a correspondence between the society in America and +that in England on the subject, the contents of which must have been +known to the members of each. American ministers also were frequently +crossing the Atlantic on religious missions to England. These, when they +travelled through various parts of our island, frequently related to the +Quaker families in their way the cruelties they had seen and heard of in +their own country. English ministers were also frequently going over to +America on the same religious errand. These, on their return, seldom +failed to communicate what they had learned or observed, but more +particularly relative to the oppressed Africans, in their travels. The +journals also of these, which gave occasional accounts of the sufferings +of the slaves, were frequently published. Thus situated in point of +knowledge, and brought up moreover from their youth in a detestation of +the trade, the Quakers were ready to act whenever a favourable +opportunity should present itself. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +Third class of forerunners and coadjutors, up to 1787, +consists of the Quakers and others in America.--Yearly meeting for +Pennsylvania and the Jerseys takes up the subject in 1696; and continue +it till 1787.--Other five yearly meetings take similar +measures.--Quakers, as individuals, also become labourers; William +Burling and others.--Individuals of other religious denominations take +up the cause also; Judge Sewell and others.--Union of the Quakers with +others in a society for Pennsylvania, in 1774; James Pemberton; Dr. +Rush.--Similar union of the Quakers with others for New York and other +provinces. + + +The next class of the forerunners and coadjutors, up to the year 1787, +will consist, first, of the Quakers in America; and then of others, as +they were united to these for the same object. + +It may be asked, How the Quakers living there should have become +forerunners and coadjutors in the great work now under our +consideration. I reply, first, that it was an object for many years with +these to do away the Slave Trade as it was carried on in their own +ports. But this trade was conducted in part, both before and after the +independence of America, by our own countrymen. It was, secondly, an +object with these to annihilate slavery in America; and this they have +been instruments in accomplishing to a considerable extent. But any +abolition of slavery within given boundaries must be a blow to the Slave +Trade there. The American Quakers, lastly, living in a land where both +the commerce and slavery existed, were in the way of obtaining a number +of important facts relative to both, which made for their annihilation; +and communicating many of these facts to those in England, who espoused +the same cause, they became fellow-labourers with these in producing the +event in question. + +The Quakers in America, it must be owned, did most of them originally as +other settlers there with respect to the purchase of slaves. They had +lands without a sufficient number of labourers, and families without a +sufficient number of servants, for their work. Africans were poured in +to obviate these difficulties, and these were bought promiscuously by +all. In these days, indeed, the purchase of them was deemed favourable +to both parties, for there was little or no knowledge of the manner in +which they had been procured as slaves. There was no charge of +inconsistency on this account, as in later times. But though many of the +Quakers engaged, without their usual consideration, in purchases of this +kind, yet those constitutional principles, which belong to the society, +occasioned the members of it in general to treat those whom they +purchased with great tenderness, considering them, though of a different +colour, as brethren, and as persons for whose spiritual welfare it +became them to be concerned; so that slavery, except as to the power +legally belonging to it, was in general little more than servitude in +their hands. + +This treatment, as it was thus mild on the continent of America where +the members of this society were the owners of slaves, so it was equally +mild in The West India Islands where they had a similar property. In the +latter countries, however, where only a few of them lived, it began soon +to be productive of serious consequences; for it was so different from +that which the rest of the inhabitants considered to be proper, that the +latter became alarmed at it. Hence in Barbados an act was passed in +1676, under Governor Atkins, which was entitled, An Act to prevent the +people called Quakers from bringing their Negroes into their meetings +for worship, though they held these in their own houses. This act was +founded on the pretence, that the safety of the island might be +endangered, if the slaves were to imbibe the religious principles of +their masters. Under this act Ralph Fretwell and Richard Sutton were +fined in the different sums of eight hundred and of three hundred +pounds, because each of them had suffered a meeting of the Quakers at +his own house, at the first of which eighty negroes, and at the second +of which thirty of them were present. But this matter was carried still +further; for in 1680, Sir Richard Dutton, then governor of the island, +issued an order to the Deputy Provost Marshal and others, to prohibit +all meetings of this society. In the island of Nevis the same bad spirit +manifested itself. So early as in 1661, a law was made there prohibiting +members of this society from coming on shore. Negroes were put in irons +for being present at their meetings, and they themselves were fined +also. At length, in 1677, another act was passed, laying a heavy penalty +on every master of a vessel who should even bring a Quaker to the +island. In Antigua and Bermudas similar proceedings took place, so that +the Quakers were in time expelled from this part of the world. By these +means a valuable body of men were lost to the community in these +islands, whose example might have been highly useful; and the poor +slave, who saw nothing but misery in his temporal prospects, was +deprived of the only balm which could have soothed his sorrow--the +comfort of religion. + +But to return to the continent of America. Though the treatment which +the Quakers adopted there towards those Africans who fell into their +hands, was so highly commendable, it did not prevent individuals among +them from becoming uneasy about holding them in slavery at all. Some of +these bore their private testimony against it from the beginning as a +wrong practice, and in process of time brought it before the notice of +their brethren as a religious body. So early as in the year 1688, some +emigrants from Krieshiem in Germany, who had adopted the principles of +William Penn, and followed him into Pennsylvania, urged, in the yearly +meeting of the society there, the inconsistency of buying, selling, and +holding men in slavery, with the principles of the Christian religion. + +In the year 1696, the yearly meeting for that province took up the +subject as a public concern, and the result was, advice to the members +of it to guard against future-importations of African slaves, and to be +particularly attentive to the treatment of those who were then in their +possession. + +In the year 1711, the same yearly meeting resumed the important subject, +and confirmed and renewed the advice which had been before given. + +From this time it continued to keep the subject alive; but finding at +length, that though individuals refused to purchase slaves, yet others +continued the custom, and in greater numbers than it was apprehended +would have been the case after the public declarations which had been +made, it determined, in the year 1754, upon a fuller and more serious +publication of its sentiments; and therefore it issued, in the same +year, the following pertinent letter to all the members within its +jurisdiction:-- + + + Dear Friends, + + It hath frequently been the concern of our yearly meeting to + testify their uneasiness and disunity with the importation and + purchasing of negroes and other slaves, and to direct the + overseers of the several meetings to advise and deal with such + as engage therein. And it hath likewise been the continual care + of many weighty friends to press those who bear our name, to + guard, as much as possible, against being in any respect + concerned in promoting the bondage of such unhappy people. Yet, + as we have with sorrow to observe, that their number is of late + increased among us, we have thought it proper to make our advice + and judgment more public, that none may plead ignorance of our + principles therein; and also again earnestly to exhort all to + avoid, in any manner, encouraging that practice of making slaves + of our fellow-creatures. + + Now, dear friends, if we continually bear in mind the royal law + of doing to others as we would be done by, we should never think + of bereaving our fellow-creatures of that valuable + blessing--liberty, nor endure to grow rich by their bondage. To + live in ease and plenty by the toil of those whom violence and + cruelty have put in our power, is neither consistent with + Christianity nor common justice; and, we have good reason to + believe, draws down the displeasure of Heaven; it being a + melancholy but true reflection, that, where slave-keeping + prevails, pure religion and sobriety decline, as it evidently + tends to harden the heart, and render the soul less susceptible + of that holy spirit of love, meekness and charity, which is the + peculiar characteristic of a true Christian. + + How then can we, who have been concerned to publish the Gospel + of universal love and peace among mankind, be so inconsistent + with ourselves, as to purchase such as are prisoners of war, and + thereby encourage, this anti-Christian practice; and more + especially as many of these poor creatures are stolen away, + parents from children, and children from parents; and others, + who were in good circumstances in their native country, + inhumanly torn from what they esteemed a happy situation, and + compelled to toil in a state of slavery, too often extremely + cruel! + + What dreadful scenes of murder and cruelty those barbarous + ravages must occasion in these unhappy people's country are too + obvious to mention. Let us make their case our own, and consider + what we should think, and how we should feel, were we in their + circumstances. Remember our blessed Redeemer's positive + command--to do unto others as we would have them do unto + us;--and that with what measure we mete, it shall be measured to + us again. And we intreat you to examine, whether the purchasing + of a negro, either born here or imported, doth not contribute to + a further importation, and, consequently, to the upholding of + all the evils above mentioned, and to the promoting of + man-stealing, the, only theft which by the Mosaic law was + punished with death;--He that stealeth a man and selleth him or + if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.' + + The characteristic and badge of a true Christian is love and + continual exercise of them: 'Love one, another,' says he, 'as I + have loved you.' But how can we be said to love our brethren who + bring, or, for selfish ends, keep them in bondage? Do we act + consistently with this noble principle, who lay such heavy + burdens on our fellow creatures? Do we consider that they are + called and do we sincerely desire that they may become heirs + with us in glory, and that they may rejoice in the liberty of + the sons of God, whilst we are withholding from them the common + liberties of mankind? Or can the spirit of God, by which we have + always professed to be led, be the author of these oppressive + and unrighteous measures? Or do we not thereby manifest, that + temporal interest hath more influence on our conduct herein, + than the dictates of that merciful, holy, and unerring Guide? + + And we, likewise, earnestly recommend to all who have slaves, to + be careful to come up in the performance of their duty towards + them, and to be particularly watchful over their own hearts, it + being, by sorrowful experience, remarkable that custom and a + familiarity with evil of any kind, have a tendency to bias the + judgment and to deprave the mind; and it is obvious, that the + future welfare of these poor slaves, who are now in bondage, is + generally too much disregarded by those who keep them. If their + daily task of labour be but fulfilled, little else, perhaps, is + thought of: nay, even that which in others would be looked upon + with horror and detestation, is little regarded in them by their + masters; such as the frequent separation of husbands from wives, + and wives from husbands, whereby they are tempted to break their + marriage covenants, and live in adultery, in direct opposition + to the laws of God and men, although we believe that Christ died + for all men without respect of persons. How fearful then ought + we to be of engaging in what hath so natural a tendency to + lesson our humanity, and of suffering ourselves to be inured to + the exercise of hard and cruel measures, lest thereby, in any + degree, we lose our tender and feeling sense of the miseries of + our fellow-creatures, and become worse than those who have not + believed. + + And, dear friends, you, who by inheritance have slaves born in + your families, we beseech you to consider them as souls + committed to your trust, whom the Lord will require at your + hand, and who, as well as you, are made partakers of the Spirit + of grace, and called to be heirs of salvation. And let it be + your constant care to watch over them for good, instructing them + in the fear of God and the knowledge of the Gospel of Christ, + that they may answer the end of their creation, and that God may + be glorified and honoured by them, as well as by us. And so + train them up, that if you should come to behold their unhappy + situation, in the same light that many worthy men who are at + rest have done, and many of your brethren now do, and should + think it your duty to set them free, they may be the more + capable of making proper use of their liberty. + + Finally, brethren, we intreat you, in the bowels of Gospel-love, + seriously to weigh the Cause of detaining them in bondage. If it + be for your own private gain, or any other motive than their + good, it is much to be feared that the love of God, and the + influence of the Holy Spirit, are not the prevailing principles + in you, and that your hearts are not sufficiently redeemed from + the world, which, that you with ourselves may more and more come + to witness, through the cleansing virtue of the Holy Spirit of + Jesus Christ, is our earnest desire. With the salutation of our + love we are your friends and brethren:-- + + _"Signed, in behalf of the yearly meeting, by_ + + JOHN EVANS, ABRAHAM FARRINGDON, + JOHN SMITH, JOSEPH NOBLE, + THOMAS CARLETON, JAMES DANIEL, + WILLIAM TRIMBLE, JOSEPH GIBSON, + JOHN SCARBOROUGH, JOHN SHOTWELL, + JOSEPH HAMPTON, JOSEPH PARKER." + + +This truly Christian letter, which was written in the year 1754, was +designed, as we collect from the contents of it, to make the sentiments +of the society better known and attended to on the subject of the Slave +Trade. It contains, as we see, exhortations to all the members within +the yearly meeting of Pennsylvania and the Jerseys, to desist from +purchasing and importing slaves, and, where they possessed them, to have +a tender consideration of their condition. But that the first part of +the subject of this exhortation might be enforced, the yearly meeting +for the same provinces came to a resolution in 1755, That if any of the +members belonging to it bought or imported slaves, the overseers were to +inform their respective monthly meetings of it, that "these might treat +with them, as they might be directed in the wisdom of truth." + +In the year 1774, we find the same yearly meeting legislating again on +the same subject. By the preceding resolution they who became offenders, +were subjected only to exclusion from the meetings for discipline, and +from the privilege of contributing to the pecuniary occasions of the +Society; but, by the resolution of the present year, all members +concerned in importing, selling, purchasing, giving, or transferring +negro or other slaves, or otherwise acting in such manner as to continue +them in slavery beyond the term limited by law[A] or custom, were +directed to be excluded from membership or disowned. At this meeting +also all the members of it were cautioned and advised against acting as +executors or administrators to estates, where slaves were bequeathed, or +likely to be detained in bondage. + +[Footnote A: This alludes to the term of servitude for white persons in +these provinces.] + +In the year 1776, the same yearly meeting carried the matter still +further. It was enacted, That the owners of slaves, who refused to +execute proper instruments for giving them their freedom, were to be +disowned likewise. + +In 1778 it was enacted by the same meeting, that the children of those +who had been set free by members, should be tenderly advised, and have a +suitable education given them. + +It is not necessary to proceed further on this subject. It may be +sufficient to say, that from this time the minutes of the yearly meeting +for Pennsylvania and the Jerseys exhibit proofs of an almost incessant +attention, year after year[B], to the means not only of wiping away the +stain of slavery from their religious community, but of promoting the +happiness of those restored to freedom, and of their posterity also; and +as the yearly meeting of Pennsylvania and the Jerseys set this bright +example, so those of New England, New York, Maryland, Virginia, and of +the Carolinas and Georgia, in process of time followed it. + +[Footnote B: Thus in 1778-1782, 1784-1786. The members also of this +meeting petitioned their own legislature on this subject, both in 1783 +and in 1786.] + +But, whilst the Quakers were making these exertions at their different +yearly meetings in America, as a religious body, to get rid both of the +commerce and slavery of their fellow-creatures, others, in the same +profession; were acting as individuals, (that is, on their own grounds, +and independently of any influence from their religious communion,) in +the same cause, whose labours it will now be proper, in a separate +narrative, to detail. + +The first person of this description in the Society, was William +Burling, of Long Island. He had conceived an abhorrence of slavery from +early youth. In process of time he began to bear his testimony against +it, by representing the unlawfulness of it to those of his own Society, +when assembled at one of their yearly meetings. This expression of his +public testimony, he continued annually on the same occasion. He wrote +also several Tracts with the same design, one of which, published in the +year 1718, he addressed to the elders of his own church, on the +inconsistency of compelling people and their posterity to serve them +continually and arbitrarily, and without any proper recompense for their +services. + +The next was Ralph Sandiford, a merchant in Philadelphia. This worthy +person had many offers of pecuniary assistance, which would have +advanced him in life, but he declined them all because they came from +persons who had acquired their independence by the oppression of their +slaves. He was very earnest in endeavouring to prevail upon his friends, +both, in and out of the society, to liberate those whom they held in +bondage. At length he determined upon a work called the _Mystery of +Iniquity_, in a brief examination of the practice of the times. This he +published in the year 1780, though the chief judge had threatened him if +he should give it to the world, and he circulated it free of expense +wherever he believed it would be useful. The above work was excellent as +a composition; the language of it was correct; the style manly and +energetic; and it abounded with facts, sentiments, and quotations, +which, while, they showed the virtue and talents of the author, rendered +it a valuable appeal in behalf of the African cause. + +The next public advocate was Benjamin Lay[A], who lived at Abington, at +the distance of twelve or fourteen miles from Philadelphia. Benjamin Lay +was known, when in England, to the royal family of that day, into whose +private presence he was admitted. On his return to America, he took an +active part in behalf of the oppressed Africans. In the year 1737, he +published a _Treatise on Slave-Keeping_. This he gave away among his +neighbours and others, but more particularly among the rising youth, +many of whom he visited in their respective schools. He applied also to +several of the governors for interviews, with whom he held conferences +on the subject. Benjamin Lay was a man of strong understanding and of +great integrity, but of warm and irritable feelings, and more +particularly so when he was called forth on any occasion in which the +oppressed Africans were concerned; for he had lived in the island of +Barbados, and he had witnessed there scenes of cruelty towards them +which had greatly disturbed his mind, and which unhinged it, as it were, +whenever the subject of their sufferings was brought before him. Hence, +if others did not think precisely as he did, when he conversed with them +on the subject, he was apt to go out of due bounds. In bearing what he +believed to be his testimony against this system of oppression, he +adopted sometimes a singularity of manner, by which, as conveying +demonstration of a certain eccentricity of character, he diminished in +some degree his usefulness to the cause which he had undertaken; as far, +indeed, as this eccentricity might have the effect of preventing others +from joining him in his pursuit, lest they should be thought singular +also, so far it must be allowed that he ceased to become beneficial. But +there can be no question, on the other hand, that his warm and +enthusiastic manners awakened the attention of many to the cause, and +gave them first impressions concerning it, which they never afterwards +forgot, and which rendered them useful to it in the subsequent part of +their lives. + +[Footnote A: Benjamin Lay attended the meetings for worship, or +associated himself with the religious society of the Quakers. His wife, +too, was an approved minister of the Gospel in that society; but I +believe he was not long an acknowledged member of it himself.] + +The person who laboured next in the society, in behalf of the oppressed +Africans, was John Woolman. + +John Woolman was born at Northampton, in the county of Burlington and +province of Western New Jersey, in the year 1720. In his very early +youth he attended, in an extraordinary manner, to the religious +impressions which he perceived upon his mind, and began to have an +earnest solicitude about treading in the right path. "From what I had +read and heard," says he, in his Journal[A], "I believed there had been +in past ages, people who walked in uprightness before God in a degree +exceeding any, that I knew or heard of, now living. And the apprehension +of there being less steadiness and firmness among people of this age, +than in past ages, often troubled me while I was a child." An anxious +desire to do away, as far as himself was concerned, this merited +reproach, operated as one among other causes to induce him to be +particularly watchful over his thoughts and actions, and to endeavour to +attain that purity of heart, without which he conceived there could be +no perfection of the Christian character. Accordingly, in the +twenty-second year of his age, he had given such proof of the integrity +of his life, and of his religious qualifications, that he became an +acknowledged minister of the Gospel in his own society. + +[Footnote A: This short sketch of the life and labours of John Woolman, +is made up from his Journal.] + +At a time prior to his entering upon the ministry, being in low +circumstances, he agreed for wages to "attend shop for a person at Mount +Holly, and to keep his books." In this situation we discover, by an +occurrence that happened, that he had thought seriously on the subject, +and that he had conceived proper views of the Christian unlawfulness of +slavery. "My employer," says he, "having a Negro woman, sold her, and +desired me to write a bill of sale, the man being waiting who bought +her. The thing was sudden, and though the thought of writing an +instrument of slavery for one of my fellow-creatures made me feel +uneasy, yet I remembered I was hired by the year, that it was my master +who directed me to do it, and that it was an elderly man, a member of +our society, who bought her. So through weakness I gave way and wrote, +but, at executing it, I was so afflicted in my mind, that I said before +my master and the friend, that I believed slave-keeping to be a practice +inconsistent with the Christian religion. This in some degree abated my +uneasiness; yet, as often as I reflected seriously upon it, I thought I +should have been clearer, if I had desired to have been excused from it, +as a thing against my conscience; for such it was. And some time after +this, a young man of our society spoke to me to write a conveyance of a +slave to him, he having lately taken a Negro into his house. I told him +I was not easy to write it; for though many of our meeting, and in other +places, kept slaves, I still believed the practice was not right, and +desired to be excused from the writing. I spoke to him in good-will; and +he told me that keeping slaves was not altogether agreeable to his mind, +but that the slave being a gift to his wife he had accepted of her." + +We may easily conceive that a person so scrupulous and tender on this +subject, (as indeed John Woolman was on all others,) was in the way of +becoming in time more eminently serviceable to his oppressed +fellow-creatures. We have seen already the good seed sown in his heart, +and it seems to have wanted only providential seasons and occurrences to +be brought into productive fruit. Accordingly we find that a journey, +which he took as a minister of the Gospel in 1746 through the provinces +of Maryland, Virginia, and, North Carolina, which were then more noted +than others for the number of slaves in them, contributed to prepare him +as an instrument for the advancement of this great cause. The following +are his own observations upon this journey:--"Two things were remarkable +to me in this journey; first, in regard to my entertainment. When I ate, +drank, and lodged free-cost, with people who lived in ease on the hard +labour of their slaves, I felt uneasy; and, as my mind was inward to the +Lord, I found, from place to place, this uneasiness return upon me at +times through the whole visit. Where the masters bore a good share of +the burden and lived frugally, so that their servants were well provided +for; and their labour moderate, I felt more easy; but where they lived +in a costly way, and laid heavy burdens on their slaves, my exercise was +often great, and I frequently had conversations with them in private +concerning it. Secondly, this trade of importing slaves from their +native country being much encouraged among them, and the white people +and their children so generally living without much labour, was +frequently the subject of my serious thoughts: and I saw in these +southern provinces so many vices and corruptions, increased by this +trade and this way of life, that it appeared to me as a gloom over the +land." + +From the year 1747 to the year 1758, he seems to have been occupied +chiefly as a minister of religion, but in the latter year he published a +work upon slave-keeping; and in the same year, while travelling within +the compass of his own monthly meeting, a circumstance happened which +kept alive his attention to the same Subjects. + +"About this time" says he, "a person at some distance lying sick, his +brother came to me to write his will. I knew he had slaves, and asking +his brother was told he intended to leave them as slaves to his +children. As writing was a profitable employ, and as offending sober +people was disagreeable to my inclination, I was straitened in my mind, +but as I looked to the Lord he inclined my heart to his testimony; and I +told the man that I believed the practice of continuing slavery to this +people was not right, and that I had a scruple in my mind against doing +writings of that kind; that, though many in our society kept them as +slaves, still I was not easy to be concerned in it, and desired to be +excused from going to write the will. I spoke to him in the fear of the +Lord; and he made no reply to what I said, but went away: he also had +some concerns in the practice, and I thought he was displeased with me. +In this case I had a confirmation, that acting contrary to present +outward interest from a motive of Divine love, and in regard to truth +and righteousness, opens the way to a treasure better than silver, and +to a friendship exceeding the friendship of men." + +From 1753 to 1755, two circumstances of a similar kind took place, which +contributed greatly to strengthen him in the path he had taken; for in +both these cases the persons who requested him to make their wills were +so impressed by the principle upon which he refused them, and by his +manner of doing it, that they bequeathed liberty to their slaves. + +In the year 1756, he made a religious visit to several of the society in +Long Island. Here it was that the seed, now long fostered by the genial +influences of Heaven, began to burst forth into fruit; Till this time he +seems to have been a passive instrument, attending only to such +circumstances as came in his way on this subject. But now he became an +active one, looking out for circumstances for the exercise of his +labours. + +"My mind," says he; "was deeply engaged in this visit, both in public +and private; and at several places, observing that members kept slaves, +I found myself under a necessity, in a friendly way, to labour with +them, on that subject, expressing, as the way opened, the inconsistency +of that practice with the parity of the Christian religion, and the ill +effects of it as manifested amongst us." + +In the year 1757, he felt, his mind so deeply interested on the same +subject, that he resolved to travel over Maryland, Virginia, and North +Carolina, in order to try to convince persons, principally in his own +society, of the inconsistency of holding slaves. He joined his brother +with him in this arduous service. Having passed the Susquehanna into +Maryland, he began to experience great agitation of mind. "Soon after I +entered this province," says he, "a deep and painful exercise came upon +me, which I often had some feeling of since my mind was drawn towards +these parts, and with which I had acquainted my brother, before we +agreed to join as companions." + +"As the people in this and the southern provinces live much on the +labour of slaves, many of whom are used hardly, my concern was that I +might attend with singleness of heart to the voice of the true Shepherd, +and be so supported, as to remain unmoved at the faces of men." + +It is impossible for me to follow him in detail, through this long and +interesting journey, when I consider the bounds I have prescribed to +myself in this work. I shall say, therefore, what I propose to offer +generally, and in a few words. + +It appears that he conversed with persons occasionally, who were not of +his own society, with a view of answering their arguments, and of +endeavouring to evince the wickedness and impolicy of slavery. In +discoursing with these, however strenuous he might appear, he seems +never to have departed from a calm, modest, and yet dignified and even +friendly demeanour. At the public meetings for discipline, held by his +own society in these provinces, he endeavoured to display the same +truths, and in the same manner, but particularly to the elders of his +own society, exhorting them, as the most conspicuous rank, to be careful +of their conduct, and to give a bright example in the liberation of +their slaves. He visited, also, families for the same purpose: and he +had the well-earned satisfaction of finding his admonitions kindly +received by some, and of seeing a disposition in others to follow the +advice he had given them. + +In the year 1758, he attended the yearly meeting at Philadelphia, where +he addressed his brethren on the propriety of dealing with such members +as should hereafter purchase slaves. On the discussion of this point he +spoke a second time, and this to such effect that, he had the +satisfaction at this meeting to see minutes made more fully than any +before, and a committee appointed for the advancement of the great +object, to which he had now been instrumental in turning the attention +of many, and to witness a considerable spreading of the cause. In the +same year, also, he joined himself with two others of the society to +visit such members of it as possessed slaves in Chester county. In this +journey he describes himself to have met with several who were pleased +with his visit, but to have found difficulties with others, towards +whom, however, he felt a sympathy and tenderness, on account of their +being entangled by the spirit of the world. + +In the year 1759, he visited several of the society who held slaves in +Philadelphia. In about three months afterwards, he travelled there +again, in company with John Churchman, to see others under similar +circumstances. He then went to different places on the same errand. In +this last journey he went alone. After this he joined himself to John +Churchman again, but he confined his labours to his own province. Here +he had the pleasure of finding that the work prospered. Soon after this +he took Samuel Eastburne as a coadjutor, and pleaded the cause of the +poor Africans with many of the society in Bucks county, who held them in +bondage there. + +In the year 1760, he travelled, in company with his friend Samuel +Eastburne, to Rhode Island, to promote the same object. This island had +been long noted for its trade to Africa for slaves. He found at Newport, +the great sea-port town belonging to it, that a number of them had been +lately imported. He felt his mind deeply impressed on this account. He +was almost over-powered in consequence of it, and became ill. He thought +once of prompting a petition to the legislature, to discourage all such +importations in future. He then thought of going and speaking to the +House of Assembly, which was then sitting; but he was discouraged from +both these proceedings. He held, however, conference with many of his +own society in the meeting-house chamber, where the subject of his visit +was discussed on both sides with a calm and peaceable spirit. Many of +those present manifested the concern they felt at their former +practices, and others a desire of taking suitable care of their slaves +at their decease. From Newport he proceeded to Nantucket; but observing +the members of the society there to have few or no slaves, he exhorted +them to persevere in abstaining from the use of them, and returned home. + +In the year 1761, he visited several families in Pennsylvania, and, in +about three months afterwards, others about Shrewsbury and Squan in New +Jersey. On his return he added a part to the treatise before published +on the keeping of care which had been growing upon him for some years. + +In the year 1762, he printed, published, and distributed this treatise. + +In 1767, he went on foot to the western shores of the same province on a +religious visit. After having crossed the Susquehanna, his old feelings +returned to him; for coming amongst people living in outward ease and +greatness, chiefly on the labour of slaves, his heart was much affected, +and he waited with humble resignation to learn how he should further +perform his duty to this injured people. The travelling on foot, though +it was agreeable to the state of his mind, he describes to have been +wearisome to his body. He felt himself weakly at times, in consequence +of it, but yet continued to travel on. At one of the quarterly meetings +of the society, being in great sorrow and heaviness, and under deep +exercise on account of the miseries of the poor Africans, he expressed +himself freely to those present, who held them in bondage. He expatiated +on the tenderness and loving-kindness of the apostles, as manifested in +labours, perils, and sufferings, towards the poor Gentiles, and +contracted their treatment of the Gentiles with it, whom he described in +the persons of their slaves; and was much satisfied with the result of +his discourse. + +From this time we collect little more, from his journal concerning him, +than that, in 1772, he embarked for England on a religious visit. After +his arrival there, he travelled through many counties, preaching in +different meetings of the society, till he came to the city of York. But +even here, though he was far removed from the sight of those whose +interests he had so warmly espoused, he was not forgetful of their +wretched condition. At the quarterly meeting for that county, he brought +their case before, those present in an affecting manner. He exhorted +these to befriend their cause. He remarked that as they, the society, +when under outward sufferings, had often found a concern to lay them +before the legislature, and thereby, in the Lord's time, had obtained +relief; so he recommended this oppressed part of the creation to their +notice, that they might, as, the way opened, represent their sufferings +as individuals, if not as a religious society, to those in authority in +this land. This was the last opportunity that he had of interesting +himself in behalf of this injured people for soon afterwards he was +seized with the small-pox at the house of a friend in the city of York, +where he died. + +The next person belonging to the society of the Quakers, who laboured in +behalf of the oppressed Africans, was Anthony Benezet. He was born +before, and he lived after, John Woolman; of course he was contemporary +with him. I place him after John Woolman, because he was not so much +known as a labourer, till two or three years after the other had begin +to move in the same cause. + +Anthony Benezet was born at St. Quintin, in Picardy, of a respectable +family, in the year 1713. His father was one of the many Protestants +who, in consequence of the persecutions which followed the revocation of +the edict of Nantz, sought an asylum in foreign countries. After a short +stay in Holland, he settled, with his wife and children, in London, in +1715. + +Anthony Benezet having received from his father a liberal education, +served an apprenticeship in an eminent mercantile house in London. In +1731, however, he removed with his family to Philadelphia, where he +joined in profession with the Quakers. His three brothers then engaged +in trade, and made considerable pecuniary acquisitions in it. He himself +might have partaken both of their concerns and of their prosperity; but +he did not feel himself at liberty to embark in their undertakings. He +considered the accumulation of wealth as of no importance, when compared +with the enjoyment of doing good; and he chose the humble situation of a +schoolmaster, as according best with this notion, believing, that by +endeavouring to train up youth in knowledge and virtue, he should become +more extensively useful than in any other way to his fellow-creatures. + +He had not been long in his new situation, before he manifested such an +uprightness of conduct, such a courtesy of manners, such a purity of +intention, and such a spirit of benevolence, that he attracted the +notice, and gained the good opinion, of the inhabitants among whom he +lived. He had ready access to them, in consequence, upon all occasions; +and, if there were any whom he failed to influence at any of these +times, he never went away without the possession of their respect. + +In the year 1756, when a considerable number of French families were +removed from Acadia into Pennsylvania, on account of some political +suspicions, he felt deeply interested about them. In a country where few +understood their language, they were wretched and helpless; but Anthony +Benezet endeavoured to soften the rigour of their situation, by his kind +attention towards them. He exerted himself, also, in their behalf, by +procuring many contributions for them, which, by the consent of his +fellow-citizens, were intrusted to his care. + +As the principle of benevolence, when duly cultivated, brings forth +fresh shoots, and becomes enlarged, so we find this amiable person +extending the sphere of his usefulness by becoming an advocate for the +oppressed African race. For this service he seems to have been +peculiarly qualified. Indeed, as in all great works, a variety of +talents is necessary to bring them to perfection, so Providence seems to +prepare different men as instruments, with dispositions and +qualifications so various, that each, in pursuing that line which seems +to suit him best, contributes to furnish those parts which, when put +together, make up a complete whole. In this point of view, John Woolman +found in Anthony Benezet the coadjutor whom, of all others, the cause +required. The former had occupied himself principally on the subject of +slavery. The latter went to the root of the evil, and more frequently +attacked the trade. The former chiefly confined his labours to America, +and chiefly to those of his own society there. The latter, when he +wrote, did not write for America only, but for Europe also, and +endeavoured to spread a knowledge and hatred of the traffic through the +great society of the world. + +One of the means which Anthony Benezet took to promote the cause in +question, (and an effectual one it proved, as far as it went,) was to +give his scholars a due knowledge and proper impressions concerning it. +Situated as they were likely to be in after-life, in a country where, +slavery, was a custom, he thus prepared many, and this annually, for the +promotion of his plans. + +To enlighten others, and to give them a similar bias, he had recourse to +different measures from time to time. In the almanacs published annually +in Philadelphia, he procured articles to be inserted, which he believed +would attract the notice of the reader, and make him pause, at least for +a while, as to the licitness of, the Slave Trade. He wrote also, as he +saw occasion, in the public papers of the day. From small things he +proceeded to greater. He collected, at length, further information on +the subject, and, winding it up with observations and reflections, he +produced several little tracts, which he circulated successively (but +generally at his, own expense), as he considered them adapted to the +temper and circumstances of the times. + +In the course of this his employment, having found some who had approved +his tracts, and, to whom, on that account, he wished to write, and +sending his tracts to others, to whom he thought it proper to introduce +them by letter, he found himself engaged in a correspondence which much +engrossed his time, but which proved of great importance in procuring +many advocates for his cause. + +In the year 1762, when he had obtained a still greater store of +information, he published a larger work. This, however, he entitle _A +short Account of that part of Africa inhabited by the Negroes_ In 1767 +he published _A Caution and Warning to Great Britain and her colonies on +the calamitous state of the enslaved Negroes in the British Dominions_; +and soon after this appeared, _An Historical Account of Guinea, its +Situation, Produce, and the general Disposition of its Inhabitants: with +an Inquiry into the Rise and Progress of the Slave Trade, its Nature, +and Calamitous Effects._ This pamphlet contained a clear and distinct +development of the subject, from the best authorities. It contained +also, the sentiments of many enlightened upon it; and it became +instrumental beyond any other book ever before published, in +disseminating a proper knowledge and detestation of this trade. + +Anthony Benezet may be considered as one of the most zealous, vigilant, +and active advocates which the cause of the oppressed Africans ever had. +He seemed to have been born and to have lived for the promotion of it +and therefore he never omitted any the least opportunity of serving it. +If a person called upon him who was going a journey his first thoughts +usually were how he could make him an instrument in its favour; he +either gave him tracts to distribute or he sent letters by him, or he +gave him some commission on the subject; so that he was the means of +employing several persons at the same time, in various parts of America; +in advancing the work he had undertaken. + +In the same manner he availed himself of every other circumstance, as +far as he could, to the same end. When he heard that Mr. Granville Sharp +had obtained; in the year 1772, the noble verdict in the cause of +Somerset the slave, he opened a correspondence with him which he kept +up, that there might be an union of action between them for the future, +as far as it could be effected, and that they might each give +encouragement to the other to proceed. + +He opened also a correspondence with George Whitfield and John Wesley +that these might assist him in promoting the cause of the oppressed. + +He wrote also a letter to the Countess of Huntingdon on the following +subject:--She had founded a college, at the recommendation of George +Whitfield, called the Orphan-house near Savannah, in Georgia, and had +endowed it. The object of this institution was to furnish scholastic +instruction to the poor, and to prepare some of them for the ministry. +George Whitfield, ever attentive to the cause of the poor Africans, +thought that this institution might have been useful to them also; but +soon after his death, they who succeeded him bought slaves, and these in +unusual numbers to extend the rice and indigo plantations belonging to +the college. The letter then in question was written by Anthony Benezet, +in order to lay before the Countess, as a religious woman, the misery +she was occasioning in Africa, by allowing the managers of her college +in Georgia to give encouragement to the Slave Trade. The Countess +replied, that such a measure should never have her countenance, and that +she would take care to prevent it. + +On discovering that the Abbe Raynal had brought out his celebrated work, +in which he manifested a tender feeling in behalf of the injured +Africans, he entered into a correspondence with him, hoping to make him +yet more useful to their cause. + +Finding, also, in the year 1783 that the Slave Trade, which had greatly +declined during the American war, was reviving, he addressed a pathetic +letter to our Queen, (as I mentioned in the last chapter,) who, on +hearing the high character of the writer of it from Benjamin West, +received it with marks of peculiar condescension and attention. The +following is a copy of it:-- + + + TO CHARLOTTE, QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN. + + Impressed with a sense of religious duty, and encouraged by the + opinion generally entertained of thy benevolent disposition to + succor the distressed, I take the liberty; very respectfully, to + offer to thy perusal some tracts, which, I believe, faithfully + describe the suffering condition of many hundred thousands of + our fellow-creatures of the African race, great numbers of whom, + rent from every tender connexion in life, are annually taken + from their native land; to endure, in the American islands and + plantations, a most rigorous and cruel slavery; whereby many, + very many of them, are brought to a melancholy and untimely end. + + When it is considered that the inhabitants of Great Britain, who + are themselves so eminently blessed in the enjoyment of + religious and civil liberty, have long been, and yet are, very + deeply concerned in this flagrant violation of the common rights + of mankind, and that even its national authority is exerted in + support of the African Slave Trade, there is much reason to + apprehend that this has been, and, as long as the evil exists, + will continue to be, an occasion of drawing down the Divine + displeasure on the nation and its dependencies. May these + considerations induce thee to interpose thy kind endeavours in + behalf of this greatly injured people, whose abject situation + gives them an additional claim to the pity and assistance of the + generous mind, inasmuch as they are altogether deprived of the + means of soliciting effectual relief for themselves; that so + thou mayest not only be a blessed instrument in the hand of him + 'by whom kings reign and princes decree justice,' to avert the + awful judgments by which the empire has already been so + remarkably shaken, but that the blessings of thousands ready to + perish may come upon thee, at a time when the superior + advantages attendant on thy situation in this world will no + longer be of any avail to thy consolation and support. + + To the tracts on this subject to which I have thus ventured to + crave thy particular attention, I have added some which at + different times I have believed it my duty to publish[A], and + which, I trust, will afford thee some satisfaction, their design + being for the furtherance of that universal peace and good-will + amongst men, which the Gospel was intended to introduce. + + [Footnote A: These related to the principles of the religious + society of the Quakers.] + + "I hope thou wilt kindly excuse the freedom used on this + occasion by an ancient man, whose mind, for more than forty + years past, has been much separated from the common intercourse + of the world, and long painfully exercised in the consideration + of the miseries under which so large a part of mankind, equally + with us the objects of redeeming love, are suffering the most + unjust and grievous oppression, and who sincerely desires thy + temporal and eternal felicity, and that of thy royal consort. + + "ANTHONY BENEZET." + + +Anthony Benezet, besides the care he bestowed upon forwarding the cause +of the oppressed Africans in different parts of the world, found time to +promote the comforts, and improve the condition of those, in the state +in which he lived. Apprehending that much advantage would arise both to +them and the public from instructing them in common learning, he +zealously promoted the establishment of a school for that purpose. Much +of the two last years of his life he devoted to a personal attendance on +this school, being earnestly desirous that they who came to it might be +better qualified for the enjoyment of that freedom to which great +numbers of them had been then restored. To this he sacrificed the +superior emoluments of his former school, and his bodily ease also, +although the weakness of his constitution seemed to demand indulgence. +By his last will he directed, that, after the decease of his widow, his +whole little fortune (the savings of the industry of fifty years) +should, except a few very small legacies, be applied to the support of +it. During his attendance upon it he had the happiness to find, (and his +situation enabled him to make the comparison,) that Providence had been +equally liberal to the Africans in genius and talents as to other +people. + +After a few days' illness, this excellent man died at Philadelphia, in +the spring of 1784. The interment of his remains was attended by several +thousands of all ranks, professions, and parties, who united in +deploring their loss. The mournful procession was closed by some +hundreds of those poor Africans who had been personally benefited by his +labours, and whose behaviour on the occasion showed the gratitude and +affection they considered to be due to him as their own private +benefactor, as well as the benefactor of their whole race. + +Such, then, were the labours of the Quakers in America; of individuals, +from 1718 to 1784, and of the body at large, from 1696 to 1787, in this +great cause of humanity and religion. Nor were the effects produced from +these otherwise than corresponding with what might have been expected +from such an union of exertion in such a cause; for both the evils, that +is, the evil of buying and selling, and the evil of using slaves, ceased +at length with the members of this benevolent society. The leaving off +all concern with the Slave Trade took place first. The abolition of +slavery, though it followed, was not so speedily accomplished; for, +besides the loss of property, when slaves were manumitted, without any +pecuniary consideration in return, their owners had to struggle, in +making them free, against the laws and customs of the times. In +Pennsylvania, where the law in this respect was the most favourable, the +parties wishing to give freedom to a slave were obliged to enter into a +bond for the payment of thirty pounds currency, in case the said slave +should become chargeable for maintenance. In New Jersey the terms were +far less favorable, as the estate of the owner remained liable to the +consequences of misconduct in the slave, or even in his posterity. In +the southern parts of America manumission was not permitted but on terms +amounting nearly to a prohibition. But, notwithstanding these +difficulties, the Quakers could not be deterred, as they became +convinced of the unlawfulness of holding men in bondage, from doing that +which they believed to be right. Many liberated their slaves, whatever +the consequences were; and some gave the most splendid example in doing +it, not only by consenting, as others did, thus to give up their +property, and to incur the penalties of manumission, but by calculating +and giving what was due to them, over and above their food and clothing, +for wages[A] from the beginning of their slavery to the day when their +liberation commenced. Thus manumission went on, some sacrificing more; +and others less; some granting it sooner, and others later; till, in the +year 1787[B] there was not a slave in the possession of an acknowledged +Quaker. + +[Footnote A: One of the brightest instances was that afforded by Warner +Mifflin. He gave unconditional liberty to his slaves. He paid all the +adults, on their discharge, the sum, which arbitrators, mutually chosen, +awarded them.] + +[Footnote B: Previously to the year 1787, several of the states had made +the terms of manumission more easy.] + +Having given to the reader the history of the third class of forerunners +and coadjutors, as it consisted of the Quakers in America, I am now to +continue it, as it consisted of an union of these with others on the +same continent, in the year 1774, in behalf of the African race. To do +this, I shall begin with the causes which led to the production of this +great event. + +And, in the first place, as example is more powerful than precept, we +cannot suppose that the Quakers could have shown these noble instances +of religious principle, without supposing also that individuals of other +religious denominations would be morally instructed by them. They who +lived in the neighborhood where they took place, must have become +acquainted with the motives which led to them. Some of them must at +least have praised the action, though they might not themselves have +been ripe to follow the example: nor is it at all improbable that these +might be led, in the course of the workings of their own minds, to a +comparison between their own conduct and that of the Quakers on this +subject, in which they themselves might appear to be less worthy in +their own eyes. And as there is sometimes a spirit of rivalship among +the individuals of religious sects, where the character of one is +sounded forth as higher than that of another; this, if excited by such a +circumstance, would probably operate for good. It must have been +manifest also to many, after a lapse of time, that there was no danger +in what the Quakers had done, and that there was even sound policy in +the measure. But, whatever were the several causes, certain it is, that +the example of the Quakers in leaving off all concern with the Slave +Trade, and in liberating their slaves, (scattered, as they were, over +various parts of America,) contributed to produce in many of a different +religious denomination from themselves, a more tender disposition than +had been usual towards the African race. + +But a similar disposition towards these oppressed people was created in +others, by means of other circumstances or causes. In the early part of +the eighteenth century, Judge Sewell of New England came forward as a +zealous advocate for them: he addressed a memorial to the legislature, +which he called, _The Selling of Joseph_, and in which he pleaded their +cause both as a lawyer and, a Christian. This memorial produced an +effect upon many, but particularly upon those of his own persuasion; and +from this time the Presbyterians appear to have encouraged a sympathy in +their favour. + +In the year 1739, the celebrated George Whitfield became an instrument +in turning the attention of many others to their hard case, and of +begetting in these a fellow sympathy towards them. This laborious +minister, having been deeply affected with what he had seen in the +course of his religious travels in America, thought it his duty, to +address a letter from Georgia to the inhabitants of Maryland, Virginia, +and North and South Carolina. This letter was printed in the year above +mentioned, and is in part as follows:-- + + + As I lately passed through your provinces in my way hither, I + was sensibly touched with a fellow-feeling for the miseries of + the poor negroes. Whether it be lawful for Christians to buy + slaves, and thereby encourage the nations, from whom they are + bought, to be at perpetual war with each other, I shall not take + upon me to determine. Sure I am, it is sinful, when they have + bought them to use them as bad as though they were brutes, nay, + worse; and whatever particular exceptions there may be, (as I + would charitably hope there are some,) I fear the generality of + you who own negroes are liable to such a charge; for your + slaves, I believe, work as hard, if not harder, than the horses + whereon you ride. These, after they have done their work, are + fed and taken proper care of; but many negroes when wearied with + labour, in your plantations, have been obliged to grind their + corn after their return home: your dogs are caressed and fondled + at your table, but your slaves, who are frequently styled dogs + or beasts, have not an equal privilege; they are scarce + permitted to pick up the crumbs which fall from their master's + table: not to mention what numbers have been given up to the + inhuman usage of cruel taskmasters, who, by their unrelenting + scourges have ploughed their backs and made long furrows, and at + length brought them even unto death. When, passing along, I have + viewed your plantations cleared and cultivated, many spacious + houses built and the owners of them faring sumptuously every + day, my blood has frequently almost run cold within me, to + consider how many of your slaves had neither convenient food to + eat, nor proper raiment to put on, notwithstanding most of the + comforts you enjoy were solely owing to their indefatigable + labours. + + +The letter, from which this is an extract, produced a desirable effect +upon many of those who perused it, but particularly upon such as began +to be seriously disposed in these times. And as George Whitfield +continued a firm friend to the poor Africans, never losing an +opportunity of serving them, he interested, in the course of his useful +life, many thousands of his followers in their favour. + +To this account it may be added, that from the year 1762 ministers, who +were in the connection of John Wesley, began to be settled in America, +and that as these were friends to the oppressed Africans also, so they +contributed in their turn[A] to promote a softness of feeling towards +them among those of their own persuasion. + +[Footnote A: It must not be forgotten, that the example of the Moravians +had its influence also in directing men to their duty towards these +oppressed people; for though, when they visited this part of the world +for their conversion, they never meddled with the political state of +things, by recommending it to masters to alter the condition of their +slaves, as believing religion could give comfort in the most abject +situations in life, yet they uniformly freed those slaves who came into +their own possession.] + +In consequence then of these and other causes, a considerable number of +persons of various religious denominations, had appeared at different +times in America, besides the Quakers, who, though they had not +distinguished themselves by resolutions and manumissions as religious +bodies, were yet highly friendly to the African cause. This friendly +disposition began to manifest itself about the year 1770; for when a few +Quakers, as individuals, began at that time to form little associations +in the middle provinces of North America, to discourage the introduction +of slaves among people in their own neighbourhoods, who were not of +their own Society, and to encourage the manumission of those already in +bondage, they, were joined as colleagues by several persons of this +description[A], who co-operated with them in the promotion of their +design. + +[Footnote A: It then appeared that individuals among those of the Church +of England, Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, and others had +begun in a few instances to liberate their slaves.] + +This disposition, however, became more manifest in the year 1772; for +the house of burgesses of Virginia presented a petition to the king, +beseeching his majesty to remove all those restraints on his governors +of that colony, which inhibited their assent to such laws as might check +that inhuman and impolitic commerce, the Slave Trade: and it is +remarkable, that the refusal of the British government to permit the +Virginians to exclude slaves from among them by law, was enumerated +afterwards among the public reasons for separating from the mother +country. + +But this friendly disposition was greatly increased in the year 1773, by +the literary labours of Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia[B], who, I +believe, is a member of the Presbyterian Church: for in this year, at +the instigation of Anthony Benezet, he took up the cause of the +oppressed Africans in a little work, which he entitled, _An Address to +the Inhabitants of the British Settlements, on the Slavery of the +Negroes_; and soon afterwards in another, which was a vindication of the +first, in answer to an acrimonious attach by a West Indian planter. +These publications contained many new observations; they were written in +a polished style; and while they exhibited the erudition and talents, +they showed the liberality and benevolence of the author. Having had a +considerable circulation, they spread conviction among many, and +promoted the cause for which they had been so laudably undertaken. Of +the great increase of friendly disposition towards the African cause in +this very year, we have this remarkable proof: that when the Quakers, +living in East and West Jersey, wished to petition the legislature to +obtain an act of assembly for the more equitable manumission of slaves +in that province, so many others of different persuasions joined them, +that the petition was signed by upwards of three thousand persons. + +[Footnote B: Dr. Rush has been better known since for his other literary +works, such as his _Medical Dissertations_, his _Treatises on the +Discipline of Schools_, _Criminal Law_, &c.] + +But in the next year, or in the year 1774[A], the increased good-will +towards the Africans became so apparent, but more particularly in +Pennsylvania, where the Quakers were more numerous than in any other +state, that they, who considered themselves more immediately as the +friends of these injured people, thought it right to avail themselves of +it: and accordingly James Pemberton, one of the most conspicuous of the +Quakers in Pennsylvania, and Dr. Rush, one of the most conspicuous of +those belonging to the various other religious communities in that +province, undertook, in conjunction with others, the important task of +bringing those into a society who were friendly to this cause. In this +undertaking they succeeded. And hence arose that union of the Quakers +with others, to which I have been directing the attention of the reader, +and by which the third class of forerunners and coadjutors becomes now +complete. This society, which was confined to Pennsylvania, was the +first ever formed in America, in which there was an union of persons of +different religious denominations in behalf of the African race. + +[Footnote A: In this year, Elhanan Winchester, a supporter of the +doctrine of universal redemption, turned the attention of many of his +hearers to this subject, both by private interference, and by preaching +expressly upon it.] + +But this society had scarcely begun to act, when the war broke out +between England and America, which had the effect of checking its +operations. This was considered as a severe blow upon it. But as those +things which appear most to our disadvantage, turn out often the most to +our benefit, so the war, by giving birth to the independence of America, +was ultimately favourable to its progress. For as this contrast had +produced during its continuance, so it left, when it was over, a general +enthusiasm for liberty. Many talked of little else but of the freedom +they had gained. These were naturally led to the consideration of those +among them who were groaning in bondage. They began to feel for their +hard case. They began to think that they should not deserve the new +blessing which they had acquired if they denied it to others. Thus the +discussions, which originated in this contest, became the occasion of +turning the attention of many, who might not otherwise have thought of +it, towards the miserable condition of the slaves. + +Nor were writers wanting, who, influenced by considerations on the war, +and the independence resulting from it, made their works subservient to +the same benevolent end. A work, entitled _A Serious Address to the +Rulers of America on the Inconsistency of their Conduct respecting +Slavery, forming a Contrast between the Encroachments of England on +American Liberty and American Injustice in tolerating Slavery_; which +appeared in 1783, was particularly instrumental in producing this +effect. This excited a more than usual attention to the case of these +oppressed people, and where most of all it could be useful; for the +author compared in two opposite columns the animated speeches and +resolutions of the members of congress in behalf of their own liberty +with their conduct in continuing slavery to others. Hence the +legislature began to feel the inconsistency of the practice; and so far +had the sense of this inconsistency spread there, that when the +delegates met from each state to consider of a federal union, there was +a desire that the abolition of the Slave Trade should be one of the +articles in it. This was, however, opposed by the delegates from North +and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Georgia, the five states +which had the greatest concern in slaves. But even these offered to +agree to the article, provided a condition was annexed to it, (which was +afterwards done,) that the power of such abolition should not commence +in the legislature till the 1st of January, 1808. + +In consequence then of these different circumstances, the Society of +Pennsylvania, the object of which was "for promoting the abolition of +slavery and the relief of free negroes unlawfully held in bondage," +became so popular, that in the year 1787 it was thought desirable to +enlarge it. Accordingly several new members were admitted into it. The +celebrated Dr. Franklin, who had long warmly espoused the cause of the +injured Africans, was appointed president; James Pemberton and Jonathan +Penrose were appointed vice-presidents; Dr. Benjamin Rush and Tench +Coxe, secretaries; James Star, treasurer; William Lewis, John D. Coxe, +Miers Fisher, and William Rawle, counsellors; Thomas Harrison, Nathan +Boys, James Whiteall, James Reed, John Todd, Thomas Armatt, Norris +Jones, Samuel Richards, Francis Bayley, Andrew Carson, John Warner, and +Jacob Shoemaker, junior, an electing committee; and Thomas Shields, +Thomas Parker, John Oldden, William Zane, John Warner, and William +McElhenny, an acting committee for carrying on the purposes of the +institution. + +I shall now only observe further upon this subject, that as a society, +consisting of an union of the Quakers, with others of other religious +denominations, was established for Pennsylvania in behalf of the +oppressed Africans; so different societies, consisting each of a similar +union of persons, were established in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, +Delaware, Maryland, and other states for the same object, and that these +afterwards held a correspondence and personal communion with each other +for the promotion of it. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +Observations on the three classes already introduced.--Coincidence of +extraordinary circumstances.--Individuals in each of these classes, +who seem to have had an education as it were to qualify them for +promoting the cause of the abolition; Sharp and Ramsay in the first; +Dillwyn in the second; Pemberton and Rush in the third.--These, with +their respective classes, acted on motives of their own, and +independently of each other; and yet, from circumstances neither +foreseen nor known by them, they were in the way of being easily +united in 1787.--William Dillwyn, the great medium of connexion +between them all. + + +If the reader will refer to his recollection, he will find that I have +given the history of three of the classes of the forerunners and +coadjutors in the great cause of the abolition of the Slave Trade up to +the time proposed. He will of course expect that I should proceed with +the history of the fourth. But, as I foresee that, by making certain +observations upon the classes already introduced in the present, rather +than in any future, place, I shall be able to give him clearer views on +the subject, I shall postpone the history of the remaining class to the +next chapter. + +The account which I shall now give, will exhibit a concurrence of +extraordinary and important circumstances. It will show, first, that in +each of the three classes now introduced, there were individuals, in the +year 1787, who had been educated as it were for the purpose of becoming +peculiarly qualified to act together for the promotion of the abolition +of the Slave Trade. It will show, secondly, that these, with their +respective classes, acted upon their own principles, distinctly and +independently of each other. And lastly, that by means of circumstances, +which they themselves had neither foreseen nor contrived, a junction +between them was rendered easily practicable, and that it was beginning +to take place at the period assigned. + +The first class of forerunners and coadjutors consisted principally, as +it has appeared, of persons in England of various descriptions. These, I +may observe, had no communication with each other as to any plan for the +abolition of the Slave Trade. There were two individuals, however, among +them who were more conspicuous than the rest, namely, Granville Sharp, +the first labourer, and Mr. Ramsay, the first controversial writer, in +the cause. + +That Granville Sharp received an education as if to become qualified to +unite with others, in the year 1787, for this important object, must +have, appeared from the history of his labours, as detailed in several +of the preceding pages. The same may be said of Mr. Ramsay; for it has +already appeared that he lived in the island of St. Christopher, where +he made his observations, and studied the laws, relative to the +treatment of slaves, for nineteen years. + +That Granville Sharp acted on grounds distinct from those in any of the +other classes is certain. For he knew nothing at this time either of the +Quakers in England or of those in America, any more than that they +existed by name. Had it not been for the case of Jonathan Strong, he +might never have attached himself to the cause. A similar account may be +given of Mr. Ramsay; for, if it had not been for what he had seen in the +island of St. Christopher, he had never embarked in it. It was from +scenes, which he had witnessed there, that he began to feel on the +subject. These feelings he communicated to others on his return to +England, and these urged him into action. + +With respect to the second class, the reader will recollect that it +consisted of the Quakers in England: first, of George Fox; then of the +Quakers as a body; then of individuals belonging to that body, who +formed themselves into a committee, independently of it, for the +promotion of the object in question. This committee, it may he +remembered, consisted of six persons, of whom one was William Dillwyn. + +That William Dillwyn became fitted for the station, which he was +afterwards to take, will be seen shortly. He was born in America, and +was a pupil of the venerable Benezet, who took pains very early to +interest his feelings on this great subject. Benezet employed him +occasionally, I mean in a friendly manner, as his amanuensis, to copy +his manuscripts for publication, as well as several of his letters +written in behalf of the cause. This gave his scholar an insight into +the subject; who, living besides in the land where both the Slave Trade +and slavery were established, obtained an additional knowledge of them, +so as to be able to refute many of those objections, to which others, +for want of local observation, could never have replied. + +In the year 1772, Anthony Benezet introduced William Dillwyn by letter +to several of the principal people of Carolina, with whom he had himself +corresponded on the sufferings of the poor Africans, and desired him to +have interviews with them on the subject. He charged him also to be very +particular in making observations as to what he should see there. This +journey was of great use to the latter, in fixing him as the friend of +these oppressed people; for he saw so much of their cruel treatment in +the course of it, that he felt an anxiety ever afterwards, amounting to +a duty, to do every thing in his power for their relief. + +In the year 1773, William Dillwyn, in conjunction with Richard Smith and +Daniel Wells, two of his own society, wrote a pamphlet in answer to +arguments then prevailing, that the manumission of slaves would be +injurious. This pamphlet--which was entitled, _Brief Considerations on +Slavery, and the Expediency of its Abolition; with some Hints on the +Means whereby it may be gradually effected_,--proved that in lieu of the +usual security required, certain sums paid at the several periods of +manumission would amply secure the public, as well as the owners of the +slaves, from any future burdens. In the same year also, when the +society, joined by several hundreds of others in New Jersey, presented a +petition to the legislature, (as mentioned in the former chapter,) to +obtain an act of assembly for the more equitable manumission of slaves +in that province, William Dillwyn was one of a deputation, which was +heard at the bar of the assembly for that purpose. + +In 1774, he came to England, but his attention was still kept alive to +the subject; for he was the person by whom Anthony Benezet sent his +letter to the Countess of Huntingdon, as before related. He was also the +person to whom the same venerable defender of the African race sent his +letter, before spoken of, to be forwarded to the Queen. + +That William Dillwyn, and those of his own class in England, acted upon +motives very distinct from those of the former class, may be said with +truth; for they acted upon the constitutional principles of their own +society, as incorporated into its discipline: which principles would +always have incited them to the subversion of slavery, as far as they +themselves were concerned, whether any other person had abolished it or +not. To which it may be added, as a further proof of the originality of +their motives, that the Quakers have had, ever since their institution +as a religious body, but little intercourse with the world. + +The third class, to which I now come, consisted, as we have seen, first +of the Quakers in America; and secondly, of an union, of these with +others on the same continent. The principal individuals concerned in +this union were James Pemberton and Dr. Rush. The former of these, +having taken an active part in several of the yearly meetings of his own +society relative to the oppressed Africans, and having been in habits of +intimacy and friendship with John Woolman and Anthony Benezet, with the +result of whose labours he was acquainted, may be supposed to have +become qualified to take a leading station in the promotion of their +cause. Dr. Rush also had shown himself, as has appeared, an able +advocate, and had even sustained a controversy in their favour. That the +two last mentioned acted also on motives of their own, or independently +of those belonging to the other two classes, when they formed their +association in Pennsylvania, will be obvious from these circumstances; +first, that most of those of the first class, who contributed to throw +the greatest light and odium upon the Slave Trade, had not then made +their public appearance in the world. And, with respect to the second +class, the little committee belonging to it had neither been formed nor +thought of. + +And as the individuals in each of the three classes, who have now been +mentioned, had an education as it were to qualify them for acting +together in this great cause, and had moved independently of each other; +so it will appear that, by means of circumstances, which they themselves +had neither foreseen nor contrived, a junction between them was rendered +easily practicable, and that it was beginning to take place at the +period assigned. + +To show this, I must first remind the reader, that Anthony Benezet, as +soon as he heard of the result of the case of Somerset, opened a +correspondence with Granville Sharp, which was kept up to the +encouragement of both. In the year 1774, when he learned that William +Dillwyn was going to England, he gave him letters to that gentleman. +Thus one of the most conspicuous of the second class was introduced, +accidentally as it were, to one of the most conspicuous of the first. In +the year 1775, William Dillwyn went back to America, but, on his return +to England to settle, he renewed his visits to Granville Sharp. Thus the +connexion was continued. To these observations I may now add, that +Samuel Hoare, of the same class as William Dillwyn, had, in consequence +of the Bishop of Chester's sermon, begun a correspondence in 1784, as +before mentioned, with Mr. Ramsay, who was of the same class as Mr. +Sharp. Thus four individuals of the two first classes were in the way of +an union with one another. + +But circumstances equally natural contributed to render an union between +the members of the second and the third classes easily practicable also. +For what was more natural than that William Dillwyn, who was born and +who had resided long in America, should have connexions there? He had +long cultivated a friendship (not then knowing to what it would lead) +with James Pemberton. His intimacy with him was like that of a family +connexion. They corresponded together; they corresponded also as kindred +hearts, relative to the Slave Trade. Thus two members of the second and +third classes had opened an intercourse on the subject and thus was +William Dillwyn the great medium, through whom the members of the two +classes now mentioned, as well as the members of all the three, might be +easily united also, if a fit occasion should offer. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +Fourth class of forerunners and coadjutors up to 1787.--Dr. +Peckard, vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge, the first of +these; gives out the Slave Trade as the subject for one of the annual +prizes.--Author writes and obtains the first of these; reads his +Dissertation in the Senate-house in the summer of 1785; his feelings on +the subject during his return home; is desirous of aiding the cause of +the Africans, but sees great difficulties; determines to publish his +prize essay for this purpose; is accidentally thrown into the way of +James Phillips, who introduces him to W. Dillwyn, the connecting medium +of the three classes before mentioned; and to G. Sharp and Mr. Ramsay, +and to R. Phillips. + + +I proceed now to the fourth class of forerunners and coadjutors up to +the year 1787 in the great cause of the abolition of the Slave Trade. + +The first of these was Dr. Peckard. This gentleman had distinguished +himself in the earlier part of his life by certain publications on the +intermediate state of the soul, and by others in favour of civil and +religious liberty. To the latter cause he was a warm friend, seldom +omitting any opportunity of declaring his sentiments in its favour. In +the course of his preferment he was appointed by Sir John Griffin, +afterwards Lord Howard of Walden, to the mastership of Magdalen College +in the University of Cambridge. In this high office he considered it to +be his duty to support those doctrines which he had espoused when in an +inferior station; and accordingly, when in the year 1784 it devolved +upon him to preach a sermon, before the University of Cambridge, he +chose his favourite subject: in the handling of which he took an +opportunity of speaking of the Slave Trade in the following nervous +manner:-- + + + "Now, whether we consider the crime with respect to the + individuals concerned in this most barbarous and cruel traffic, + or whether we consider it as patronized and encouraged by the + laws of the land, it presents to our view an equal degree of + enormity. A crime, founded on a dreadful pre-eminence in + wickedness--a crime, which being both of individuals and the + nation, must sometime draw down upon us the heaviest judgment of + Almighty God, who made of one blood all the sons of men, and who + gave to all equally a natural right to liberty; and who, ruling + all the kingdoms of the earth with equal providential justice, + cannot suffer such deliberate, such monstrous iniquity, to pass + long unpunished." + + +But Dr. Peckard did not consider this delivery of his testimony, though +it was given before a learned and religious body, as a sufficient +discharge of his duty, while any opportunity remained of renewing it +with effect. And, as such an one offered in the year 1785, when he was +vice-chancellor of the University, he embraced it. In consequence of his +office, it devolved upon him to give out two subjects for Latin +dissertations, one to the middle bachelors, and the other to the senior +bachelors of arts. They who produced the best were to obtain the prizes. +To the latter he proposed the following: _Anne liceat Invitos in +Servitutem dare?_ or, _Is it right to make slaves of others against +their will?_ + +This circumstance of giving out subjects for the prizes, though only an +ordinary measure, became the occasion of my own labours, or of the real +honour which I feel in being able to consider myself as the next +coadjutor of this class in the cause of the injured Africans. For it +happened in this year that, being of the order of senior bachelors, I +became qualified to write. I had gained a prize for the best Latin +dissertation in the former year, and, therefore, it was expected that I +should obtain one in the present, or I should be considered as having +lost my reputation both in the eyes of the University and of my own +College. It had happened also, that I had been honoured with the first +of the prizes[A], in that year, and therefore it was expected again, +that I should obtain the first on this occasion. The acquisition of the +second, however honourable, would have been considered as a falling off, +or as a loss of former fame. I felt myself, therefore, particularly +called upon to maintain my post. And, with feelings of this kind, I +began to prepare myself for the question. + +[Footnote A: There are two prizes on each subject, one for the best and +the other for the second-best essays.] + +In studying the thesis, I conceived it to point directly to the African +Slave Trade, and more particularly as I knew that Dr. Peckard, in the +sermon which I have mentioned, had pronounced so warmly against it. At +any rate, I determined to give it this construction. But, alas! I was +wholly ignorant of this subject; and, what was unfortunate, a few weeks +only were allowed for the composition. I was determined, however, to +make the best use of my time. I got access to the manuscript papers of a +deceased friend, who had been in the trade. I was acquainted also with +several officers who had been in the West Indies, and from these I +gained something. But I still felt myself at a loss for materials, and I +did not know where to get them; when going by accident into a friend's +house, I took up a newspaper then lying on his table. One of the +articles which attracted my notice, was an advertisement of ANTHONY +BENEZET'S _Historical Account of Guinea_. I soon left my friend and his +paper, and, to lose no time, hastened to London to buy it. In this +precious book I found almost all I wanted. I obtained, by means of it, a +knowledge of, and access to, the great authorities of Adanson, Moore, +Barbot, Smith, Bosman, and others. It was of great consequence to know +what these persons had said upon this subject. For, having been +themselves either long resident in Africa, or very frequently there, +their knowledge of it could not be questioned. Having been concerned +also in the trade, it was not likely that they would criminate +themselves more than they could avoid. Writing too at a time when the +abolition was not even thought of, they could not have been biassed with +any view to that event. And, lastly, having been dead many years, they +could not have been influenced, as living evidences may be supposed to +have been, either to conceal or exaggerate, as their own interest might +lead them, either by being concerned in the continuance of the trade, or +by supporting the opinions of those of their patrons in power, who were +on the different sides of this question. + +Furnished then in this manner, I began my work. But no person can tell +the severe trial which the writing of it proved to me. I had expected +pleasure from the invention of the arguments, from the arrangement of +them, from the putting of them together, and from the thought in the +interim that I was engaged in an innocent contest for literary honour. +But, all my pleasure was damped by the facts which were now continually +before me. It was but one gloomy subject from morning to night. In the +day-time I was uneasy. In the night I had little rest. I sometimes never +closed my eye-lids for grief. It became now not so much a trial for +academical reputation, as for the production of a work, which might be +useful to injured Africa. And keeping this idea in my mind ever after +the perusal of Benezet, I always slept with a candle in my room, that I +might rise out of my bed and put down such thoughts as might occur to me +in the night, if I judged them valuable, conceiving that no arguments of +any moment should be lost in so great a cause. Having at length finished +this painful task, I sent my Essay to the vice-chancellor, and soon +afterwards found myself honoured as before with the first prize. + +As it is usual to read these Essays publicly in the senate-house soon +after the prize is adjudged, I was called to Cambridge for this purpose. +I went and performed my office. On returning however to London, the +subject of it almost wholly engrossed my thoughts. I became at times +very seriously affected while upon the road. I stopped my horse +occasionally, and dismounted and walked. I frequently tried to persuade +myself in these intervals that the contents of my Essay could not be +true. The more, however, I reflected upon them, or rather upon the +authorities on which they were founded, the more I gave them credit. +Coming in sight of Wades Mill, in Hertfordshire, I sat down disconsolate +on the turf by the roadside and held my horse. Here a thought came into +my mind, that if the contents of the Essay were true, it was time some +person should see these calamities to their end. Agitated in this +manner, I reached home. This was in the summer of 1785. + +In the course of the autumn of the same year I experienced similar +impressions. I walked frequently into the woods, that I might think on +the subject in solitude, and find relief to my mind there. But there the +question still recurred, "Are these things true?" Still the answer +followed as instantaneously "They are." Still the result accompanied it, +"Then surely some person should interfere." I then began to envy those +who had seats in parliament, and who had great riches, and widely +extended connexions, which would enable them to take up this cause. +Finding scarcely any one at that time who thought of it, I was turned +frequently to myself. But here many difficulties arose. It struck me, +among others, that a young man of only twenty-four years of age could +not have that solid judgment or knowledge of men, manners, and things, +which were requisite to qualify him to undertake a task of such +magnitude and importance;--and with whom was I to unite? I believed +also, that it looked so much like one of the feigned labours of +Hercules, that my understanding would be suspected if I proposed it. On +ruminating, however, on the subject, I found one thing at least +practicable, and that this also was in my power. I could translate my +Latin dissertation. I could enlarge it usefully. I could see how the +public received it, or how far they were likely to favour any serious +measures, which should have a tendency to produce the abolition of the +Slave Trade. Upon this then I determined; and in the middle of the month +of November 1785, I began my work. + +By the middle of January, I had finished half of it, though I had made +considerable additions. I now thought of engaging with some bookseller +to print it when finished. For this purpose I called upon Mr. Cadell, in +the Strand, and consulted him about it. He said that as the original +essay had been honoured by the University of Cambridge with the first +prize, this circumstance would insure it a respectable circulation among +persons of taste. I own I was not much pleased with his opinion. I +wished the essay to find its way among useful people, and among such as +would act and think with me. Accordingly I left Mr. Cadell, after having +thanked him for his civility, and determined, as I thought I had time +sufficient before dinner, to call upon a friend in the city. In going +past the Royal Exchange, Mr. Joseph Hancock, one of the religious +society of the Quakers, and with whose family my own had been long +united in friendship, suddenly met me. He first accosted me by saying +that I was the person whom he was wishing to see. He then asked me why I +had not published my prize essay. I asked him in return what had made +him think of that subject in particular. He replied that his own society +had long taken it up as a religious body, and individuals among them +were wishing to find me out. I asked him who. He answered, James +Phillips, a bookseller, in Georgeyard, Lombard-street, and William +Dillwyn, of Walthamstow, and others. Having but little time to spare, I +desired him to introduce me to one of them. In a few minutes he took me +to James Phillips, who was then the only one of them in town; by whose +conversation I was so much interested and encouraged, that without any +further hesitation I offered him the publication of my work. This +accidental introduction of me to James Phillips was, I found afterwards, +a most happy circumstance for the promotion of the cause which I had +then so deeply at heart, as it led me to the knowledge of several of +those, who became afterwards material coadjutors in it. It was also of +great importance to me with respect to the work itself: for he possessed +an acute penetration, a solid judgment, and a literary knowledge, which +he proved by the many alterations and additions he proposed; and which I +believe I uniformly adopted, after mature consideration, from a sense of +their real value. It was advantageous to me also, inasmuch as it led me +to his friendship, which was never interrupted but by his death. + +On my second visit to James Phillips, at which time I brought him about +half my manuscript for the press, I desired him to introduce me to +William Dillwyn, as he also had mentioned him to me on my first visit, +and as I had not seen Mr. Hancock since. Matters were accordingly +arranged, and a day appointed before I left him. On this day I had my +first interview with my new friend. Two or three others of his own +religious society were present, but who they were, I do not now +recollect. There seemed to be a great desire among them to know the +motive, by which I had been actuated in contending for the prize. I told +them frankly that I had no motive but that which, other young men in the +University had on such occasions; namely, the wish of being +distinguished, or of obtaining literary honour; but that I had felt so +deeply on the subject of it, that I had lately interested myself in it +from a motive of duty. My conduct seemed to be highly approved by those +present, and much conversation ensued, but it was of a general nature. + +As William Dillwyn wished very much to see me at his house at +Walthamstow, I appointed the 13th of March to spend the day with them +there. We talked for the most part, during my stay, on the subject of my +essay. I soon discovered the treasure I had met with in his local +knowledge, both of the Slave Trade and of slavery, as they existed in +the United States; and I gained from him several facts, which, with his +permission, I afterwards inserted in my work. But how surprised was I to +hear, in the course of our conversation, of the labours of Granville +Sharp, of the writings of Ramsay, and of the controversy in which the +latter was engaged, of all which I had hitherto known nothing! How +surprised was I to learn that William Dillwyn himself had, two years +before, associated himself with five others for the purpose of +enlightening the public mind upon this great subject! How astonished was +I to find that a society had been formed in America for the same object, +with some of the principal members of which he was intimately +acquainted! And how still more astonished at the inference which +instantly rushed upon my mind, that he was capable of being made the +great medium of connexion between them all. These thoughts almost +overpowered me. I believe that after this I talked but little more to my +friend. My mind was overwhelmed with the thought that I had been +providentially directed to his house; that the finger of Providence was +beginning to be discernible; that the day-star of African liberty was +rising, and that probably I might be permitted to become an humble +instrument in promoting it. + +In the course of attending to my work, as now in the press, James +Phillips introduced me also to Granville Sharp, with whom I had +afterwards many interesting interviews from time to time, and whom I +discovered to be a distant relation by my father's side. + +He introduced me also by letter to a correspondence with Mr. Ramsay, who +in a short time afterwards came to London to see me. + +He introduced me also to his cousin, Richard Phillips, of Lincoln's Inn, +who was at that time, on the point of joining the religious society of +Quakers. In him I found much sympathy, and a willingness to co-operate +with me. When dull and disconsolate, he encouraged me. When in spirits, +he stimulated me further. Him I am now to mention as a new, but soon +afterwards as an active and indefatigable, coadjutor in the cause. But I +shall say more concerning him in a future chapter. I shall only now add +that my work was at length printed; that it was entitled _An Essay on +the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, particularly the African, +translated from a Latin Dissertation, which was honoured with the first +Prize in the University of Cambridge, for the year 1785; with +Additions_; and that it was ushered into the world in the month of June, +1786, or in about a year after it had been read in the Senate-house in +its first form. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Continuation of the fourth class of forerunners and coadjutors up to +1787; Bennet Langton; Dr. Baker; Lord and Lady Scarsdale.--Author +visits Ramsay at Teston.--Lady Middleton and Sir Charles (afterward +Lord Barham).--Author declares himself at the house of the latter +ready now to devote himself to the cause; reconsiders this declaration +or pledge; his reasoning and struggle upon it; persists in it; returns +to London; and pursues the work as now a business of his life. + + +I had purposed, as I said before, when I determined to publish my essay, +to wait to see how the world would receive it, or what disposition there +would be in the public to favour my measures for the abolition of the +Slave Trade. But the conversation which I had held on the 13th of March +with William Dillwyn, continued to make such an impression upon me, that +I thought now there could be no occasion for waiting for such a purpose. +It seemed now only necessary to go forward. Others I found had already +begun the work. I had been thrown suddenly among these, as into a new +world of friends. I believed, also, that a way was opening under +Providence for support; and I now thought that nothing remained for me +but to procure as many coadjutors as I could. + +I had long had the honour of the friendship of Mr. Bennet Langton, and I +determined to carry him one of my books, and to interest his feelings in +it, with a view of procuring his assistance in the cause. Mr. Langton +was a gentleman of an ancient family and respectable fortune in +Lincolnshire, but resided then in Queen Square, Westminster. He was +known as the friend of Dr. Johnson, Jonas Hanway, Edmund Burke, Sir +Joshua Reynolds, and others. Among his acquaintance, indeed, were most +of the literary, and eminent professional, and public-spirited men of +the times. At court, also, he was well known, and had the esteem of his +majesty (George III.), with whom he frequently conversed. His friends +were numerous also, in both houses of the legislature. As to himself, he +was much noted for his learning, but most of all for the great example +he gave, with respect to the usefulness and integrity of his life. + +By introducing my work to the sanction of a friend of such high +character and extensive connexions, I thought I should be doing great +things. And so the event proved. For when I went to him after he had +read it, I found that it had made a deep impression upon his mind. As a +friend to humanity, he lamented over the miseries of the oppressed +Africans; and over the crimes of their tyrants, as a friend to morality +and religion. He cautioned me, however, against being too sanguine in my +expectations, as so many thousands were interested in continuing the +trade. Justice, however, which he said weighed with him beyond all +private or political interest, demanded a public inquiry, and he would +assist me to the utmost of his power in my attempts towards it. From +this time he became a zealous and active coadjutor in the cause, and +continued so to the end of his valuable life. + +The next person, to whom I gave my work with a like view, was Dr. Baker, +a clergyman of the Establishment, and with whom I had been in habits of +intimacy for some time. Dr. Baker was a learned and pious man. He had +performed the duties of his profession, from the time of his initiation +into the church, in an exemplary manner; not only by paying a proper +attention to the customary services, but by the frequent visitation of +the sick and the instruction of the poor. This he had done, too, to +admiration in a particularly extensive parish. At the time I knew him, +he had May-Fair Chapel, of which an unusual portion of the congregation +consisted then of persons of rank and fortune. With most of these he had +a personal acquaintance. This was of great importance to me in the +promotion of my views. Having left him my book for a month, I called +upon him. The result was that which I expected from so good a man. He, +did not wait for me to ask him for his co-operation, but he offered his +services in any way which I might think most eligible; feeling it his +duty, as he expressed it, to become an instrument in exposing such a +complication of guilt and misery to the world. Dr. Baker became from +this time an active coadjutor also, and continued so to his death. + +The person to whom I sent my work next, was the late Lord Scarsdale, +whose family I had known for about two years. Both he and his lady read +it with attention. They informed me, after the perusal of it, that both +of them were desirous of assisting me in promoting the cause of the poor +Africans. Lady Scarsdale lamented that she might possibly offend near +and dear connexions, who had interests in, the West Indies, by so doing; +but that, conscious of no intention to offend these, and considering the +duties of religion to be the first to be attended to, she should be +pleased to become useful in so good a cause. Lord Scarsdale also assured +me, that, if the subject should ever come before the House of Lords, it +should have his constant support. + +While attempting to make friends in this manner, I received a letter +from Mr. Ramsay, with an invitation to spend a month at his house at +Teston, near Maidstone, in Kent. This I accepted, that I might +communicate to him the progress I had made, that I might gain more +knowledge from him on the subject, and that I might acquire new strength +and encouragement to proceed. On hearing my account of my proceedings, +which I detailed to him on the first evening of our meeting, he seemed +almost overpowered with joy. He said he had been long of opinion that +the release of the Africans from the scourges of this cruel trade was +within the determined views of Providence, and that by turning the +public attention to their misery, we should be the instruments of +beginning the good work. He then informed me how long he himself had had +their cause at heart; that communicating his feelings to Sir Charles +Middleton (afterwards Lord Barham) and his lady, the latter had urged +him to undertake a work in their behalf; that her importunities were +great respecting it; and that he had on this account, and in obedience +also to his own feelings, as has been before mentioned, begun it; but +that, foreseeing the censure and abuse which such a subject, treated in +any possible manner, must bring upon the author, he had laid it aside +for some time. He had, however, resumed it at the solicitation of Dr. +Porteus, then Bishop of Chester; after which, in the year 1784, it made +its appearance in the world. + +I was delighted with this account on the first evening of my arrival; +but more particularly, as I collected from it that I might expect in the +Bishop of Chester and Sir Charles Middleton two new friends to the +cause. This expectation was afterwards fully realized, as the reader +will see in its proper place. But I was still more delighted, when I was +informed that Sir Charles and Lady Middleton, with Mrs. Bouverie, lived +at Teston Hall, in a park which was but a few yards from the house in +which I then was. In the morning I desired an introduction to them, +which accordingly took place, and I found myself much encouraged and +supported by this visit. + +It is not necessary, nor indeed is there room, to detail my employments +in this village, or the lonely walks I took there, or the meditations of +my mind at such seasons. I will therefore come at once to a particular +occurrence. When at dinner one day with the family at Teston Hall, I was +much pleased with the turn which the conversation had taken on the +subject, and in the joy of my heart I exclaimed, that "I was ready to +devote myself to the cause." This brought great commendation from those +present; and Sir Charles Middleton added, that if I wanted any +information in the course of my future inquiries relative to Africa, +which he could procure me as comptroller of the navy, such as extracts +from the journals of the ships of war to that continent, or from other +papers, I should have free access to his office. This offer I received +with thankfulness, and it operated as a new encouragement to me to +proceed. + +The next morning, when I awoke, one of the first things that struck me +was, that I had given a pledge to the company the day before that I +would devote myself to the cause of the oppressed Africans. I became a +little uneasy at this. I questioned whether I had considered matters +sufficiently to be able to go so far with propriety. I determined +therefore to give the subject a full consideration, and accordingly I +walked to the place of my usual meditations,--the woods. + +Having now reached a place of solitude, I began to balance everything on +both sides of the question. I considered first, that I had not yet +obtained information sufficient on the subject to qualify me for the +undertaking of such a work. But I reflected, on the other hand, that Sir +Charles Middleton had just opened to me a new source of knowledge; that +I should be backed by the local information of Dillwyn and Ramsay; and +that surely, by taking pains, I could acquire more. + +I then considered that I had not yet a sufficient number of friends to +support me. This occasioned me to review them. I had now Sir Charles +Middleton, who was in the House of Commons. I was sure of Dr. Porteus, +who was in the House of Lords. I could count upon Lord Scarsdale, who +was a peer also. I had secured Mr. Langton, who had a most extensive +acquaintance with members of both houses of the legislature. I had also +secured Dr. Baker, who had similar connexions. I could depend upon +Granville Sharp, James Phillips, Richard Phillips, Ramsay, Dillwyn, and +the little committee to which he belonged, as well as the whole society +of the Quakers. I thought, therefore, upon the whole, that, considering +the short time I had been at work, I was well off with respect to +support. I believed, also, that there were still several of my own +acquaintance whom I could interest in the question, and I did not doubt +that, by exerting myself diligently, persons, who were then strangers to +me, would be raised up in time. + +I considered next, that it was impossible for a great cause like this to +be forwarded without large pecuniary funds. I questioned whether some +thousand pounds would not be necessary, and from whence was such a sum +to come! In answer to this, I persuaded myself that generous people +would be found who would unite with me in contributing their mite +towards the undertaking, and I seemed confident that, as the Quakers had +taken up the cause as a religious body, they would not be behind-hand in +supporting it. + +I considered lastly, that if I took up the question, I must devote +myself wholly to it. I was sensible that a little labour now and then +would be inadequate to the purpose, or that, where the interests of so +many thousand persons were likely to be affected, constant exertion +would be necessary. I felt certain that if ever the matter were to be +taken up, there could be no hope of success, except it should be taken +up by some one who would make it an object or business of his life. I +thought too that a man's life might not be more than adequate to the +accomplishment of the end. But I knew of no one who could devote such a +portion of time to it. Sir Charles Middleton, though he was so warm and +zealous, was greatly occupied in the discharge of his office. Mr. +Langton spent a great portion of his time in the education of his +children. Dr. Baker had a great deal to do in the performance of his +parochial duty. The Quakers were almost all of them in trade. I could +look therefore to no person but myself; and the question was, whether I +was prepared to make the sacrifice. In favour of the undertaking, I +urged to myself, that never was any cause, which had been taken up by +man in any country or in any age, so great and important; that never was +there one in which so much misery was heard to cry for redress; that +never was there one in which so much good could be done; never one in +which the duty of Christian charity could be so extensively exercised; +never one more worthy of the devotion of a whole life towards it; and +that, if a man thought properly, he ought to rejoice to have been called +into existence, if he were only permitted to become an instrument in +forwarding it in any part of its progress. Against these sentiments, on +the other hand, I had to urge, that I had been designed for the church; +that I had already advanced as far as deacon's orders in it; that my +prospects there on account of my connexions were then brilliant, that, +by appearing to desert my profession, my family would be dissatisfied, +if not unhappy. These thoughts pressed upon me, and rendered the +conflict difficult. But the sacrifice of my prospects staggered me, I +own, the most. When the other objections, which I have related, occurred +to me, my enthusiasm instantly, like a flash of lightning, consumed +them; but this stuck to me, and troubled me. I had ambition. I had a +thirst after worldly interest and honours, and I could not extinguish it +at once. I was more than two hours in solitude under this painful +conflict. At length I yielded, not because I saw any reasonable prospect +of success in my new undertaking (for all cool-headed and cool-hearted +men would have pronounced against it), but in obedience, I believe, to a +higher Power. And I can say, that both on the moment of this resolution, +and for some time afterwards, I had more sublime and happy feelings than +at any former period of my life. + +Having now made up my mind on the subject, I informed Mr. Ramsay, that +in a few days I should be leaving Teston, that I might begin my labours, +according to the pledge I had given him. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +Continuation of the fourth Class of forerunners and coadjutors Up to +1787.--Author resolves upon the distribution of his book.--Mr. +Sheldon; Sir Herbert Mackworth; Lord Newhaven; Lord Balgonie +(afterwards Leven); Lord Hawke; Bishop Porteus.--Author visits African +vessels in the Thames; and various persons, for further +information.--Visits also Members of Parliament; Sir Richard Hill; Mr. +Powys (late Lord Lilford); Mr. Wilberforce and others; conduct of the +latter on this occasion. + + +On my return to London, I called upon William Dillwyn, to inform him of +the resolution I had made at Teston, and found him at his town lodgings +in the Poultry. I informed him also, that I had a letter of introduction +in my pocket from Sir Charles Middleton to Samuel Hoare, with whom I was +to converse on the subject. The latter gentleman had interested himself +the year before as one of the committee for the Black poor in London, +whom Mr. Sharp was sending under the auspices of government to Sierra +Leone. He was also, as the reader may see by looking back, a member of +the second class of coadjutors, or of the little committee which had +branched out of the Quakers in England as before described. William +Dillwyn said he would go with me and introduce me himself. On our +arrival in Lombard-street, I saw my new friend, with whom we conversed +for some time. From thence I proceeded, accompanied by both, to the +house of James Phillips in George-yard, to whom I was desirous of +communicating my resolution also. We found him at home, conversing with +a friend of the same religious society, whose name was Joseph Gurney +Bevan. I then repeated my resolution before them all. We had much +friendly and satisfactory conversation together. I received much +encouragement on every side, and I fixed to meet them again at the place +where we then were in three days. + +On the evening of the same day, I waited upon Granville Sharp to make +the same communication to him. He received it with great pleasure, and +he hoped I should have strength to proceed. From thence I went to the +Baptist-head coffee-house, in Chancery-lane, and having engaged with the +master of the house that I should always have one private room to myself +when I wanted it, I took up my abode there, in order to be near my +friend Richard Phillips of Lincoln's Inn, from whose advice and +assistance I had formed considerable expectations. + +The first matter for our deliberation, after we had thus become +neighbours, was, what plan I ought to pursue to give effect to the +resolution I had taken. + +After having discussed the matter two or three times at his chambers, it +seemed to be our opinion, that, as members of the legislature could do +more to the purpose in this question, than any other persons, it would +be proper to circulate all the remaining copies of my work among these, +in order that they might thus obtain information upon the subject. +Secondly, that it would be proper that I should wait personally upon +several of these also. And thirdly, that I should be endeavouring in the +interim to enlarge my own knowledge, that I might thus be enabled to +answer the various objections which might be advanced on the other side +of the question, as well as become qualified to be a manager of the +cause. + +On the third day, or at the time appointed, I went with Richard Phillips +to George-yard, Lombard-street, where I met all my friends as before. I +communicated to them the opinion we had formed at Lincoln's Inn, +relative to my future proceedings in the three different branches as now +detailed. They approved the plan. On desiring a number of my books to be +sent to me at my new lodgings for the purpose of distribution, Joseph +Gurney Bevan, who was stated to have been present at the former +interview, seemed uneasy, and at length asked me if I was going to +distribute these at my own expense. I replied, I was. He appealed +immediately to those present whether it ought to be allowed. He asked +whether, when a young man was giving up his time from morning till +night, they who applauded his pursuit and seemed desirous of +co-operating with him, should allow him to make such a sacrifice, or +whether they should not at least secure him from loss; and he proposed +directly that the remaining part of the edition should be taken off by +subscription, and, in order that my feelings might not be hurt from any +supposed stain arising from the thought of gaining any thing by such a +proposal, they should be paid for only at the prime cost. I felt myself +much obliged to him for this tender consideration about me, and +particularly for the latter part of it, under which alone I accepted the +offer. Samuel Hoare was charged with the management of the subscription, +and the books were to be distributed as I had proposed, and in any way +which I myself might prescribe. + +This matter having been determined upon, my first care was that the +books should be put into proper hands. Accordingly I went round among my +friends from day to day, wishing to secure this before I attended to any +of the other objects. In this I was much assisted by my friend Richard +Phillips. Mr. Langton began the distribution of them. He made a point +either of writing to or of calling upon those to whom he sent them. Dr. +Baker took the charge of several for the same purpose; Lord and Lady +Scarsdale of others; Sir Charles and Lady Middleton of others. Mr. +Sheldon, at the request of Richard Phillips, introduced me by letter to +several members of parliament, to whom I wished to deliver them myself. +Sir Herbert Mackworth, when spoken to by the latter, offered his +services also. He seemed to be particularly interested in the cause. He +went about to many of his friends in the House of Commons, and this from +day to day, to procure their favour towards it. Lord Newhaven was +applied to, and distributed some. Lord Balgonie took a similar charge. +The late Lord Hawke, who told me that he had long felt for the +sufferings of the injured Africans, desired to be permitted to take his +share of the distribution among members of the House of Lords, and Dr. +Porteus, now Bishop of London, became another coadjutor in the same +work. + +This distribution of my books having been consigned to proper hands, I +began to qualify myself, by obtaining further knowledge, for the +management of this great cause. As I had obtained the principal part of +it from reading, I thought I ought now to see what could be seen, and to +know from living persons what could be known on the subject. With +respect to the first of these points, the river Thames presented itself +as at hand. Ships were going occasionally from the port of London to +Africa, and why could I not get on board them and examine for myself? +After diligent inquiry, I heard of one which had just arrived. I found +her to be a little wood-vessel, called the Lively, Captain Williamson, +or one which traded to Africa in the natural productions of the country, +such as ivory, bees'-wax, Malaguetta pepper, palm-oil, and dye-woods. I +obtained specimens of some of these, so that I now became possessed of +some of those things of which I had only read before. On conversing with +the mate, he showed me one or two pieces of the cloth made by the +natives, and from their own cotton. I prevailed upon him to sell me a +piece of each. Here new feelings arose, and particularly when I +considered that persons of so much apparent ingenuity, and capable of +such beautiful work as the Africans, should be made slaves, and reduced +to a level with the brute creation. My reflections here on the better +use which might be made of Africa by the substitution of another trade, +and on the better use which might be made of her inhabitants, served +greatly to animate and to sustain me amidst the labour of my pursuits. + +The next vessel I boarded was the Fly, Captain Colley. Here I found +myself for the first time on the deck of a slave-vessel. The sight of +the rooms below and of the gratings above, and of the barricado across +the deck, and the explanation of the uses of all these, filled me both +with melancholy and horror. I found soon afterwards a fire of +indignation kindling within me. I had now scarce patience to talk with +those on board. I had not the coolness this first time to go leisurely +over the places that were open to me. I got away quickly. But that which +I thought I saw horrible in this vessel had the same effect upon me as +that which I thought I had seen agreeable in the other, namely, to +animate and to invigorate me in my pursuit. + +But I will not trouble the reader with any further account of my +water-expeditions, while attempting to perfect my knowledge on this +subject. I was equally assiduous in obtaining intelligence wherever it +could be had; and being now always on the watch, I was frequently +falling in with individuals, from whom I gained something. My object was +to see all who had been in Africa, but more particularly those who had +never been interested, or who at any rate were not then interested, in +the trade. I gained accordingly access very early to General Rooke; to +Lieutenant Dalrymple, of the army; to Captain Fiddes, of the engineers; +to the reverend Mr. Newton; to Mr. Nisbett, a surgeon in the Minories; +to Mr. Devaynes, who was then in parliament, and to many others; and I +made it a rule to put down in writing, after every conversation, what +had taken place in the course of it. By these means, things began to +unfold themselves to me more and more, and I found my stock of knowledge +almost daily on the increase. + +While, however, I was forwarding this, I was not inattentive to the +other object of my pursuit, which was that of waiting upon members +personally. The first I called upon was Sir Richard Hill. At the first +interview he espoused the cause. I waited then upon others, and they +professed themselves friendly; but they seemed to make this profession +more from the emotion of good hearts, revolting at the bare mention of +the Slave Trade, than from any knowledge concerning it. One, however, +whom I visited, Mr. Powys, (the late Lord Lilford,) with whom I had been +before acquainted in Northamptonshire, seemed to doubt some of the facts +in my book, from a belief that human nature was not capable of +proceeding to such a pitch of wickedness. I asked him to name his facts. +He selected the case of the hundred and thirty-two slaves who were +thrown alive into the sea to defraud the underwriters. I promised to +satisfy him fully upon this point, and went immediately to Granville +Sharp, who lent me his account of the trial, as reported at large from +the notes of the short-hand writer, whom he had employed on the +occasion. Mr. Powys read the account. He became, in consequence of it, +convinced, as, indeed, he could not otherwise be, of the truth of what I +had asserted, and he declared at the same time that, if this were true, +there was nothing so horrible related of this trade, which might not +immediately be believed. Mr. Powys had been always friendly to this +question, but now he took a part in the distribution of my books. + +Among those whom I visited was Mr. Wilberforce. On my first interview +with him, he stated frankly, that the subject had often employed his +thoughts, and that it was near his heart. He seemed earnest about it, +and also very desirous of taking the trouble of inquiring further into +it. Having read my book, which I had delivered to him, in person, he +sent, for me. He expressed a wish that I would make him acquainted with +some of my authorities for the assertions in it, which I did afterwards +to his satisfaction. He asked me if I could support it by any other +evidence. I told him I could. I mentioned Mr. Newton, Mr. Nisbett, and +several others to him. He took the trouble of sending for all these. He +made memorandums of their conversation, and, sending for me afterwards, +showed them to me. On learning my intention to devote myself to the +cause, he paid me many handsome compliments. He then desired me to call +upon him often, and to acquaint him with my progress from time to time. +He expressed also his willingness to afford me any assistance in his +power in the prosecution of my pursuits. + +The carrying on of these different objects, together with the writing +which was connected with them, proved very laborious, and occupied +almost all my time. I was seldom engaged less than sixteen hours in the +day. When I left Teston to begin the pursuit as an object of my life, I +promised my friend Mr. Ramsay a weekly account of my progress. At the +end of the first week my letter to him contained little more than a +sheet of paper. At the end of the second it contained three; at the end +of the third, six; and at the end of the fourth I found it would be so +voluminous, that I was obliged to decline writing it. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +Continuation of the fourth class of forerunners and coadjutors up to +1787.--Author goes on to enlarge his knowledge in the different +departments of the subject; communicates more frequently with Mr. +Wilberforce.--Meetings now appointed at the house of the +latter.--Dinner at Mr. Langton's.--Mr. Wilberforce pledges himself +there to take up the subject in Parliament; remarkable junction, in +consequence, of all the four classes of forerunners and coadjutors +before-mentioned.--Committee formed out of these on the 22nd of May, +1787, for the abolition of the Slave Trade. + + +The manner in which Mr. Wilberforce had received me, and the pains which +he had taken, and was still taking, to satisfy himself of the truth of +those enormities which had been charged upon the Slave Trade, tended +much to enlarge my hope, that they might become at length the subject of +a parliamentary inquiry. Richard Phillips, also, to whom I made a report +at his chambers almost every evening of the proceedings of the day, had +begun to entertain a similar expectation. Of course we unfolded our +thoughts to one another; from hence a desire naturally sprung up in each +of us to inquire whether any alteration in consequence of this new +prospect should be made in my pursuits. On deliberating upon this point, +it seemed proper to both of us that the distribution of the books should +be continued; that I should still proceed in enlarging my own knowledge; +and that I should still wait upon members of the legislature, but with +this difference, that I should never lose sight of Mr. Wilberforce, but, +on the other hand, that I should rather omit visiting some others than +paying a proper attention to him. + +One thing however appeared now to be necessary, which had not yet been +done. This was to inform our friends in the city, upon whom I had all +along occasionally called, that we believed the time was approaching +when it would be desirable that we should unite our labours, if they saw +no objection to such a measure; for, if the Slave Trade were to become a +subject of parliamentary inquiry with a view to the annihilation of it, +no individual could perform the work which would be necessary for such a +purpose. This work must be a work of many; and who so proper to assist +in it as they, who had before so honourably laboured in it? In the case +of such an event large funds also would be wanted, and who so proper to +procure and manage them as these? A meeting was accordingly called at +the house of James Phillips, when these our views were laid open. When I +stated that from the very time of my hopes beginning to rise I had +always had those present in my eye as one day to be fellow-labourers, +William Dillwyn replied, that from the time they had first heard of the +_Prize Essay_, they also had had their eyes upon me, and, from the time +they had first seen me, had conceived: a desire of making the same use +of me as I had now expressed a wish of making of them, but that matters +did not appear ripe at our first interview. Our proposal, however, was +approved, and an assurance was given, that an union should take place as +soon as it was judged to be seasonable. It was resolved also, that one +day in the week[A] should be appointed for a meeting at the house of +James Phillips, where as many might attend as had leisure, and that I +should be there to make a report of my progress, by which we might all +judge of the fitness of the time of calling ourselves an united body. +Pleased now with the thought that matters were put into such a train, I +returned to my former objects. + +[Footnote A: At these weekly meetings I met occasionally Joseph Woods, +George Harrison, and John Lloyd, three of the other members, who +belonged to the committee of the second class of forerunners and +coadjutors as before described. I had seen all of them before, but I do +not recollect the time when I first met them.] + +It is not necessary to say anything more of the first of these objects, +which was that of the further distribution of my book, than that it was +continued, and chiefly by the same hands. + +With respect to the enlargement of my knowledge, it was promoted +likewise. I now gained access to the Custom-House in London, where I +picked up much valuable information for my purpose. + +Having had reason to believe that the Slave Trade was peculiarly fatal +to those employed in it, I wished much to get copies of many of the +muster-rolls from the Custom-House at Liverpool for a given time. James +Phillips wrote to his friend William Rathbone, who was one of his own +religious society, and who resided there, to procure them. They were +accordingly sent up. The examination of these, which took place at the +chambers of Richard Phillips, was long and tedious. We looked over them +together. We usually met for this purpose at nine in the evening, and we +seldom parted till one, and sometimes not till three in the morning. +When our eyes were inflamed by the candle, or tired by fatigue, we used +to relieve ourselves by walking out within the precincts of Lincoln's +Inn, when all seemed to be fast asleep, and thus, as it were, in +solitude and in stillness to converse upon them, as well as upon the +best means of the further promotion of our cause. These scenes of our +early friendship and exertions I shall never forget. I often think of +them both with astonishment and with pleasure. Having recruited +ourselves in this manner, we used to return to our work. From these +muster-rolls, I may now observe that we gained the most important +information: we ascertained, beyond the power of contradiction, that +more than half of the seamen who went out with the ships in the Slave +Trade did not return with them, and that of these so many perished, as +amounted to one-fifth of all employed. As to what became of the +remainder, the muster-rolls did not inform us; this, therefore, was left +to us as a subject for our future inquiry. + +In endeavouring to enlarge my knowledge, my thoughts were frequently +turned to the West Indian part of the question, and in this department +my friend Richard Phillips gained me important intelligence. He put into +my hands several documents concerning estates in the West Indies, which +he had mostly from the proprietors themselves, where the slaves by mild +and prudent usage had so increased in population, as to supersede the +necessity of the Slave Trade. + +By attending to these and to various other parts of the subject, I began +to see as it were with new eyes; I was enabled to make several necessary +discriminations, to reconcile things before seemingly contradictory, and +to answer many objections which had hitherto put on a formidable shape. +But most of all was I rejoiced at the thought that I should soon be able +to prove that which I had never doubted, but which had hitherto been +beyond my power in this case, that Providence, in ordaining laws +relative to the agency of man, had never made that to be wise which was +immoral, and that the Slave Trade would be found as impolitic as it was +inhuman and unjust. + +In keeping up my visits to members of parliament, I was particularly +attentive to Mr. Wilberforce, whom I found daily becoming more +interested in the fate of Africa. I now made to him a regular report of +my progress, of the sentiments of those in parliament whom I had +visited, of the disposition of my friends in the city, of whom he had +often heard me speak, of my discoveries from the Custom-Houses of London +and Liverpool, of my documents concerning West India estates, and of +all, indeed, that had occurred to me worth mentioning. He had himself +also been making his inquiries, which he communicated to me in return. +Our intercourse had now become frequent, no one week elapsing without an +interview: at one of these, I suggested to him the propriety of having +occasional meetings at his own house, consisting of a few friends in +parliament, who might converse on the subject: of this he approved. The +persons present at the first meeting were Mr. Wilberforce, the +Honourable John Villiers, Mr. Powys, Sir Charles Middleton, Sir Richard +Hill, Mr. Granville Sharp, Mr. Ramsay, Dr. Gregory, (who had written on +the subject, as before mentioned,) and myself. At this meeting I read a +paper, giving an account of the light I had collected in the course of +my inquiries, with observations as well on the impolicy as on the +wickedness of the trade. Many questions arose out of the reading of this +little essay; many answers followed. Objections were started and +canvassed. In short, this measure was found so useful, that certain +other evenings as well as mornings were fixed upon for the same purpose. + +On reporting my progress to my friends in the city, several of whom now +assembled once in the week, as I mentioned before to have been agreed +upon, and particularly on reporting the different meetings which had +taken place at the house of Mr. Wilberforce on the subject, they were of +opinion that the time was approaching when we might unite, and that this +union might prudently commence as soon as ever Mr. Wilberforce would +give his word that he would take up the question in Parliament. Upon +this I desired to observe, that though the latter gentleman had pursued +the subject with much earnestness, he had never yet dropped the least +hint that he would proceed so far in the matter, but I would take care +that the question should be put to him, and I would bring them his +answer. + +In consequence of the promise I had now made, I went to Mr. Wilberforce. +But when I saw him, I seemed unable to inform him of the object of my +visit. Whether this inability arose from any sudden fear that his answer +might not be favourable, or from a fear that I might possibly involve +him in a long and arduous contest upon this subject, or whether it arose +from an awful sense of the importance of the mission, as it related to +the happiness of hundreds of thousands then alive, and of millions then +unborn, I cannot say. But I had a feeling within me for which I could +not account, and which seemed to hinder me from proceeding; and I +actually went away without informing him of my errand. + +In this situation I began to consider what to do, when I thought I would +call upon Mr. Langton, tell him what had happened, and ask his advice. I +found him at home. We consulted together. The result was, that he was to +invite Mr. Wilberforce and some others to meet me at a dinner at his own +house in two or three days, when he said he had no doubt of being able +to procure an answer, by some means or other, to the question which I +wished to have resolved. + +On receiving a card from Mr. Langton, I went to dine with him. I found +the party consist of Sir Charles Middleton, Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Hawkins +Browne, Mr. Windham, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Mr. Boswell. The latter +was then known as the friend of Dr. Johnson, and afterwards as the +writer of his _Tour to the Hebrides_. After dinner the subject of the +Slave Trade was purposely introduced. Many questions were put to me, and +I dilated upon each in my answers, that I might inform and interest +those present as much as I could. They seemed to be greatly impressed +with my account of the loss of seamen in the trade, and with the little +samples of African cloth which I had procured for their inspection. Sir +Joshua Reynolds gave his unqualified approbation of the abolition of +this cruel traffic. Mr. Hawkins Browne joined heartily with him in +sentiment; he spoke with much feeling upon it, and pronounced it to be +barbarous, and contrary to every principle of morality and religion. Mr. +Boswell, after saying the planters would urge that the Africans were +made happier by being carried from their own country to the West Indies, +observed, "Be it so. But we have no right to make people happy against +their will." Mr. Windham, when it was suggested that the great +importance of our West Indian islands, and the grandeur of Liverpool, +would be brought against those who should propose the abolition of the +Slave Trade, replied, "We have nothing to do with the policy of the +measure. Rather let Liverpool and the islands be swallowed up in the +sea, than this monstrous system of iniquity be carried on.[A]" While +such conversation was passing, and when all appeared to be interested in +the cause, Mr. Langton put the question, about the proposal of which I +had been so diffident, to Mr. Wilberforce, in the shape of a delicate +compliment. The latter replied, that he had no objection to bring +forward the measure in parliament when he was better prepared for it, +and provided no person more proper could be found. Upon this, Mr. +Hawkins Browne and Mr. Windham both said they would support him there. +Before I left the company, I took Mr. Wilberforce aside, and asked him +if I might mention this his resolution to those of my friends in the +city, of whom he had often heard me speak, as desirous of aiding him by +becoming a committee for the purpose. He replied, I might. I then asked +Mr. Langton, privately, if he had any objection to belong to a society +of which there might be a committee for the abolition of the Slave +Trade. He said he should be pleased to become a member of it. Having +received these satisfactory answers, I returned home. + +[Footnote A: I do not know upon what grounds, after such strong +expressions, Mr. Boswell, in the next year, and Mr. Windham, after +having supported the cause for three or four years, became inimical to +it.] + +The next day, having previously taken down the substance of the +conversation at the dinner, I went to James Phillips, and desired that +our friends might be called together as soon as they conveniently could +to hear my report. In the interim I wrote to Dr. Peckard, and waited +upon Lord Scarsdale, Dr. Baker, and others, to know (supposing a society +were formed for the abolition of the Slave Trade) if I might say they +would belong to it. All of them replied in the affirmative, and desired +me to represent them, if there should be any meeting for this purpose. + +At the time appointed I met my friends. I read over the substance of the +conversation which had taken place at Mr. Langton's. No difficulty +occurred. All were unanimous for the formation of a committee. On the +next day we met by agreement for this purpose. It was then resolved +unanimously, among other things,--That the Slave Trade was both +impolitic and unjust. It was resolved, also,--That the following persons +be a committee for procuring such information and evidence, and +publishing the same, as may tend to the abolition of the Slave Trade, +and for directing the application of such moneys as have been already, +and may hereafter be collected for the above purpose:-- + +All these were present. Granville Sharp, who stands at the head of the +list, and who, as the father of the cause in England, was called to the +chair, maybe considered as representing the first class of forerunners +and coadjutors, as it has been before described. The five next, of whom +Samuel Hoare was chosen as the treasurer, were they who had been the +committee of the second class, or of the Quakers in England, with the +exception of Dr. Knowles, who was then dying, but who, having heard of +our meeting, sent a message to us to exhort us to proceed. The third +class, or that of the Quakers in America, may be considered as +represented by William Dillwyn, by whom they were afterwards joined to +us in correspondence. The two who stand next, and in which I am +included, may be considered as representing the fourth, most of the +members of which we had been the means of raising. Thus, on the 22nd of +May, 1787, the representatives of all the four classes, of which I have +been giving a history from the year 1516, met together, and were united +in that committee, to which I have been all along directing the +attention of the reader; a committee, which, labouring afterwards with +Mr. Wilberforce as a parliamentary head, did, under Providence, in the +space of twenty years, contribute to put an end to a trade, which, +measuring its magnitude by its crimes and sufferings, was the greatest +practical evil that ever afflicted the human race. + +After the formation of the committee[A], notice was sent to Mr. +Wilberforce of the event, and a friendship began, which has continued +uninterruptedly between them, from that to the present day. + +[Footnote A: All the members were of the society of the Quakers, except +Mr. Sharp, Sansom, and myself. Joseph Gurney Bevan was present on the +day before this meeting. He desired to belong to the society, but to be +excused from belonging to the committee.] + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +The preceding history of the different classes of the forerunners and +coadjutors, to the time of the formation of the committee, collected +into one view by means of a map.--Explanation of this map, and +observations upon it. + + +As the preceding history of the different classes of the forerunners and +coadjutors, to the time of their junction, or to the formation of the +committee, as just explained, may be thought interesting by many, I have +endeavoured, by means of the annexed map, so to bring it before the +reader, that he may comprehend the whole of it at a single view. + +The figure beginning at A and reaching down to X represents the first +class of forerunners and coadjutors up to the year 1787, as consisting +of so many springs or rivulets, which assisted in making and swelling +the torrent which swept away the Slave Trade. + +The figure from B to C and from C to X represents the second class, or +that of the Quakers in England, up to the same time. The stream on the +right-hand represents them as a body, and that on the left the six +individuals belonging to them, who formed the committee in 1783. + +The figure from B to D represents the third class, or that of the +Quakers in America when joined with others in 1774. The stream passing +from D through E to X shows how this class was conveyed down, as it +were, so as to unite with the second. That passing from D to Y shows its +course in its own country, to its enlargement in 1787. And here I may +observe, that as the different streams which formed a junction at X, +were instrumental in producing the abolition of the Slave Trade in +England, in the month of March, 1807, so those, whose effects are found +united at Y, contributed to produce the same event in America, in the +same month of the same year. + +The figure from F to X represents the fourth class up to 1787. + +[Illustration: First Class of Forerunners and Coadjutors] + +[Illustration: Second Class of Forerunners and Coadjutors] + +[Illustration: Third Class of Forerunners and Coadjutors] + +X represents the junction of all the four classes in the committee +instituted in London on the twenty-second day of May, 1787. + +The parallel lines G, H, I, K, represent different periods of time, +showing when the forerunners and coadjutors lived. The space between G +and H includes the space of fifty years, in which we find but few +labourers in this cause. That between H and I includes the same portion +of time, in which we find them considerably increased, or nearly +doubled. That between I and K represents the next thirty-seven years; +but here we find their increase beyond all expectation, for we find four +times more labourers in this short term, than in the whole of the +preceding century. + +In looking over the map, as thus explained, a number of thoughts +suggested themselves, some of which it may not be improper to detail. +And first, in looking between the first and second parallel, we +perceive, that Morgan Godwyn, Richard Baxter, and George Fox, the first +a clergyman of the established church, the second a divine at the head +of the nonconformists, and the third the founder of the religious +society of the Quakers, appeared each of them the first in his own +class, and all of them, about the same time, in behalf of the oppressed +Africans. We see then this great truth first apparent, that the +abolition of the Slave Trade took its rise, not from persons who set up +a cry for liberty, when they were oppressors themselves, nor from +persons who were led to it by ambition, or a love of reputation among +men, but where it was most desirable, namely, from the teachers of +Christianity in those times. + +This account of its rise will furnish us with some important lessons. +And first, it shows us the great value of religion. We see, when moral +disorders become known, that the virtuous are they who rise up for the +removal of them. Thus Providence seems to have appointed those who +devote themselves most to his service, to the honourable office of +becoming so many agents, under his influence, for the correction of the +evils of life. And as this account of the rise of the abolition of the +Slave Trade teaches us the necessity of a due cultivation of religion; +so it should teach us to have a brotherly affection for those, who, +though they may differ from us in speculative opinions concerning it, do +yet show by their conduct that they have a high reward for it. For +though Godwyn, and Baxter, and Fox, differed as to the articles of their +faith, we find them impelled by the spirit of Christianity, which is of +infinitely more importance than a mere agreement in creeds, to the same +good end. + +In looking over the different streams in the map, as they are +discoverable both in Europe and America, we are impressed with another +truth on the same subject, which is, that the Christian religion is +capable of producing the same good fruit in all lands. However men may +differ on account of climate, or language, or government, or laws, or +however they may be situated in different quarters of the globe, it will +produce in them the same virtuous disposition, and make them instruments +for the promotion of happiness in the world. + +In looking between the two first parallels, where we see so few +labourers, and in contemplating the great increase of these between the +others, we are taught the consoling lesson, that however small the +beginning and slow the progress may appear in any good work which we may +undertake, we need not be discouraged as to the ultimate result of our +labours; for though our cause may appear stationary, it may only become +so, in order that it may take a deeper root, and thus be enabled to +stand better against the storms which may afterwards beat about it. + +In taking the same view again, we discover the manner in which light and +information proceed under a free government in a good cause. An +individual, for example, begins; he communicates his sentiments to +others. Thus, while alive, he enlightens; when dead, he leaves his +works, behind him. Thus, though departed, he yet speaks, and his +influence is not lost. Of those enlightened by him, some become authors, +and others actors in their turn. While living, they instruct, like their +predecessors; when dead, they speak also. Thus a number of dead persons +are encouraging us in libraries, and a number of living are conversing +and diffusing zeal among us at the same time. This, however, is not true +in any free and enlightened country, with respect to the propagation of +evil. The living find no permanent encouragement, and the dead speak to +no purpose in such a case. + +This account of the manner in which light and information proceed in a +free country, furnishes us with some valuable knowledge. It shows us, +first, the great importance of education; for all they who can read may +become enlightened. They may gain as much from the dead as from the +living. They may see the sentiments of former ages. Thus they may +contract, by degrees, habits of virtuous inclination, and become fitted +to join with others in the removal of any of the evils of life. + +It shows us, secondly, how that encouraging maxim may become true, That +no good effort is ever lost. For if he, who makes the virtuous attempt, +should be prevented by death from succeeding in it, can he not speak, +though in the tomb? Will not his works still breathe his sentiments upon +it? May not the opinions, and the facts, which he has recorded, meet the +approbation of ten thousand readers, of whom it is probable, in the +common course of things, that some will branch out of him as authors, +and others as actors or labourers, in the same cause? + +And, lastly, it will show us the difficulty (if any attempt should be +made) of reversing permanently the late noble act of the legislature for +the abolition of the Slave Trade. For let us consider how many, both of +the living and the dead, could be, made to animate us. Let us consider, +too, that this is the cause of mercy, justice, and religion; that as +such, it will always afford renewed means of rallying; and that the dead +will always be heard with interest, and the living with enthusiasm upon +it. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +Author devotes this chapter to considerations relative to himself; +fears that by the frequent introduction of himself to the notice of +the reader he may incur the charge of ostentation.--Observations on +such a charge. + + +Having brought my history of the abolition of the Slave Trade up to the +month of May 1787, I purpose taking the liberty, before I proceed with +it, to devote this chapter to considerations relative to myself. This, +indeed, seems to be now necessary; for I have been fearful for some +pages past, and, indeed, from the time when I began to introduce myself +to the notice of the reader, as one of the forerunners and coadjutors in +this great cause, that I might appear to have put myself into a +situation too prominent, so as even to have incurred the charge of +ostentation. But if there should be some who, in consequence of what +they have already read of this history, should think thus unfavourably +of me, what must their opinion ultimately be, when, unfortunately, I +must become still more prominent in it! Nor do I know in what manner I +shall escape their censure: for if, to avoid egotism, I should write, as +many have done, in the third person, what would this profit me? The +delicate situation, therefore, in which I feel myself to be placed, +makes me desirous of saying a few words to the reader on this subject. + +And first, I may observe, that several of my friends urged me from time +to time, and this long before the abolition of the Slave Trade had been +effected, to give a history of the rise and progress of the attempt, as +far as it had been then made; but I uniformly resisted their +application. + +When the question was decided last year, they renewed their request. +They represented to me, that no person knew the beginning and progress +of this great work so well as myself; that it was a pity that such +knowledge should die with me; that such a history would be useful; that +it would promote good feelings among men; that it would urge them to +benevolent exertions; that it would supply them with hope in the midst +of these; that it would teach them many valuable lessons;--these and +other things were said to me. But, encouraging as they were, I never +lost sight of the objection; which is the subject of this chapter; nor +did I ever fail to declare, that though, considering the part I had +taken in this great cause, I might be qualified better than some others, +yet it was a task too delicate for me to perform. I always foresaw that +I could not avoid making myself too prominent an object in such a +history, and that I should be liable, on that account, to the suspicion +of writing it for the purpose of sounding my own praise. + +With this objection my friends were not satisfied. They answered, that I +might treat the History of the Abolition of the Slave Trade as a species +of biography, or as the history of a part of my own life: that people, +who had much less weighty matters to communicate, wrote their own +histories; and that no one charged them with vanity for so doing. + +I own I was not convinced by this answer. I determined, however, in +compliance with their wishes, to examine the objection more minutely, +and to see if I could overcome it more satisfactorily to my own mind. +With this view, I endeavoured to anticipate the course which such a +history would take. I saw clearly, in the first place, that there were +times, for months together, when the committee for the abolition of the +Slave Trade was labouring without me, and when I myself for an equal +space of time was labouring in distant parts of the kingdom without +them. Hence I perceived that, if my own exertions were left out, there +would be repeated chasms in this history; and, indeed, that it could not +be completed without the frequent mention of myself. And I was willing +to hope that this would be so obvious to the good sense of the reader, +that if he should think me vain-glorious in the early part of it, he +would afterwards, when he advanced in the perusal of it, acquit me of +such a charge. This consideration was the first which removed my +objection on this head. That there can be no ground for any charge of +ostentation, as far as the origin of this history is concerned, so I +hope to convince him there, can be none, by showing him in what light I +have always viewed myself in connexion with the committee, to which I +have had the honour to belong. + +I have uniformly considered our committee for the abolition of the Slave +Trade; as we usually consider the human body, that is, as made up of a +head and of various members which had different offices to perform. +Thus, if one man was an eye, another was an ear, another an arm, and +another a foot. And here I may say, with great truth, that I believe no +committee was ever made up of persons, whose varied talents were better +adapted to the work before them. Viewing then the committee in this +light, and myself as in connexion with it, I may deduce those truths, +with which the analogy will furnish me. And first, it will follow, that +if every member has performed his office faithfully, though one may have +done something more than another, yet no one of them in particular has +any reason to boast. With what propriety could the foot, though in the +execution of its duty it had become weary, say to the finger, "Thou hast +done less than I;" when the finger could reply with truth, "I have done +all that has been given me to do?". It will follow, also, that as every +limb is essentially necessary for the completion of a perfect work; so +in the case before us, every one was as necessary in his own office, or +department, as another. For what, for example, could I myself have done +if I had not derived so much assistance from the committee? What could +Mr. Wilberforce have done in Parliament, if I, on the other hand, had +not collected that great body of evidence, to which there was such a +constant appeal? And what could the committee have done without the +parliamentary aid of Mr. Wilberforce? And in mentioning this necessity +of distinct offices and talents for the accomplishment of the great +work, in which we have been all of us engaged, I feel myself bound by +the feelings of justice to deliver it as my opinion in this place, (for, +perhaps, I may have no other opportunity,) that knowing, as I have done, +so many members of both houses of our legislature, for many of whom I +have had a sincere respect, there was never yet one, who appeared to me +to be so properly qualified, in all respects, for the management of the +great cause of the abolition of the Slave Trade, as he, whose name I +have just mentioned. His connexions, but more particularly his +acquaintance with the first minister of state, were of more service in +the promotion of it, than they, who are but little acquainted with +political movements, can well appreciate. His habits also of diligent +and persevering inquiry made him master of all the knowledge that was +requisite for conducting it. His talents both in and out of parliament +made him a powerful advocate in its favour. His character, free from the +usual spots of human imperfection, gave an appropriate lustre to the +cause, making it look yet more lovely, and enticing others to its +support. But most of all the motive, on which he undertook it, insured +its progress. For this did not originate in views of selfishness, or of +party or of popular applause, but in an awful sense of his duty as a +Christian. It was this which gave him alacrity and courage in his +pursuit. It was this which made him continue in his elevated situation +of a legislator, though it was unfavourable, if not to his health, at +least to his ease and comfort. It was this which made him incorporate +this great object among the pursuits of his life, so that it was daily +in his thoughts. It was this which when year after year of unsuccessful +exertion returned, occasioned him to be yet fresh and vigorous in +spirit, and to persevere till the day of triumph. + +But to return:--There is yet another consideration, which I shall offer +to the reader on this subject, and with which I shall conclude it. It is +this; that no one ought to be accused of vanity until he has been found +to assume to himself some extraordinary merit. This being admitted, I +shall now freely disclose the views which I have always been desirous of +taking of my own conduct on this occasion, in the following words:-- + +As Robert Barclay, the apologist for the Quakers, when he dedicated his +work to Charles the Second, intimated to this prince, that any merit +which the work might have, would not be derived from his patronage of +it, but from the Author of all spiritual good; so I say to the reader, +with respect to myself, that I disclaim all praise on account of any +part I may have taken in the promotion of this great cause, for that I +am desirious above all things to attribute my best endeavours in it to +the influence of a superior Power; of Him, I mean, who gave me a heart +to feel--who gave me courage to begin--and perseverance to proceed--and +that I am thankful to Him, and this with the deepest feeling of +gratitude and humility, for having permitted me to become useful, in any +degree, to my fellow-creatures. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Author returns to his History.--Committee formed as before-mentioned; +its proceedings.--Author produces a summary view of the Slave Trade, +and of the probable consequences of its abolition.--Wrongs of Africa, +by Mr. Roscoe, generously presented to the committee.--Important +discussion as to the object of the committee.--Emancipation declared +to be no part of it.--Committee decides on its public title.--Author +requested to go to Bristol, Liverpool, and Lancaster, to collect +further information on the subject of the trade. + + +I return now, after this long digression, to the continuation of my +history. + +It was shown in the latter part of the tenth chapter, that twelve +individuals, all of whom were then named, met together by means which no +one could have foreseen, on the 22d of May, 1787; and that, after having +voted the Slave Trade to be both unjust and impolitic, they formed +themselves into a committee for procuring such information and evidence, +and for publishing the same, as might tend to the abolition of it, and +for directing the application of such money as had been already, and +might hereafter be collected for that purpose. At this meeting it was +resolved also, that no less than three members should form a quorum; +that Samuel Hoare should be the treasurer; that the treasurer should pay +no money but by order of the committee; and that copies of these +resolutions should be printed and circulated, in which it should be +inserted that the subscriptions of all such as were willing to forward +the plans of the committee should be received by the treasurer or any +member of it. + +On the 24th of May the committee met again to promote the object of its +institution. + +The treasurer reported at this meeting, that the subscriptions already +received amounted to one hundred and thirty-six pounds. + +As I had foreseen long before this time that my _Essay on the Slavery +and Commerce of the Human Species_ was too large for general +circulation, and yet that a general circulation of knowledge on this +subject was absolutely necessary, I determined directly after the +formation of the committee to write a short pamphlet consisting only of +eight or ten pages for this purpose. I called it _A Summary View of the +Slave Trade, and of the probable consequences of its Abolition_. It +began by exhibiting to the reader the various unjustifiable ways in +which persons living on the coast of Africa became slaves. It then +explained the treatment which these experienced on their passage, the +number dying in the course of it, and the treatment of the survivors in +the colonies of those nations to which they were carried. It then +announced the speedy publication of a work on the impolicy of the trade, +the contents of which, as far as I could then see, I gave generally +under the following heads:--Part the first, it was said, would show that +Africa was capable of offering to us a trade in its own natural +productions as well as in the persons of men; that the trade in the +persons of men was profitable but to a few; that its value was +diminished from many commercial considerations; that it was also highly +destructive to our seamen; and that the branch of it, by which we +supplied the island of St. Domingo with slaves, was peculiarly impolitic +on that account. Part the second, it was said, would show that if the +slaves were kindly treated in our colonies, they would increase; that +the abolition of the trade would necessarily secure such a treatment to +them, and that it would produce many other advantages which would be +then detailed. + +This little piece I presented to the committee at this their second +meeting. It was then duly read and examined; and the result was, that +after some little correction it was approved, and that two thousand +copies of it were ordered to be printed, with lists of the subscribers +and of the committee, and to be sent to various parts of the kingdom. + +On June the 7th, the committee met again for the despatch of business, +when, among other things, they voted their thanks to Dr. Baker, of Lower +Grosvenor-street, who had been one of my first assistants, for his +services to the cause. + +At this committee John Barton, one of the members of it, stated that he +was commissioned by the author of a poem, entitled _The Wrongs of +Africa_, to offer the profits which might arise from the sale of that +work, to the committee, for the purpose of enabling them to pursue the +object of their institution. This circumstance was not only agreeable, +inasmuch as it showed us that there were others who felt with us for the +injured Africans, and who were willing to aid us in our designs, but it +was rendered still more so when we were given to understand that the +poem was written by Mr. Roscoe, of Liverpool, and the preface to it by +the late Dr. Currie, who then lived in the same place. To find friends +to our cause rising up from a quarter where we expected scarcely +anything but opposition, was very consolatory and encouraging. As this +poem was well written, but cannot now be had, I shall give the +introductory part of it, which is particularly beautiful, to the perusal +of the reader. It begins thus:-- + + + Offspring of Love divine, Humanity! + To whom, his eldest born, th' Eternal gave + Dominion o'er the heart; and taught to touch + Its varied stops in sweetest unison; + And strike the string that from a kindred breast + Responsive vibrates! from the noisy haunts + Of mercantile confusion, where thy voice + Is heard not; from the meretricious glare + Of crowded theatres, where in thy place + Sits Sensibility, with wat'ry eye, + Dropping o'er fancied woes her useless tear; + Come thou, and weep with me substantial ills; + And execrate the wrongs that Afric's sons, + Torn from their natal shore, and doom'd to bear + The yoke of servitude in foreign climes, + Sustain. Nor vainly let our sorrows flow, + Nor let the strong emotion rise in vain; + But may the land contagion widely spread, + Till in its flame the unrelenting heart + Of avarice melt in softest sympathy-- + And one bright blaze of universal love + In grateful incense rises up to Heaven! + + Form'd with the same capacity of pain, + The same desire of pleasure and of ease, + Why feels not man for man! When nature shrinks + From the slight puncture of an insect's sting, + Faints, if not screen'd from sultry suns, und pines + Beneath the hardship of an hour's delay + Of needful nutriment;--when liberty + Is priz'd so dearly, that the slightest breath + That ruffles but her mantle, can awake + To arms unwarlike nations, and can rouse + Confed'rate states to vindicate her claims:-- + How shall the suff'rer man his fellow doom + To ills he mourns and spurns at; tear with stripes + His quiv'ring flesh; with hunger and with thirst + Waste his emaciate frame; in ceaseless toils + Exhaust his vital powers; and bind his limbs + In galling chains? Shall he, whose fragile form + Demands continual blessings to support + Its complicated texture, air, and food, + Raiment, alternate rest, and kindly skies, + And healthful seasons, dare with impious voice + To ask those mercies, whilst his selfish aim + Arrests the general freedom of their course; + And, gratified beyond his utmost wish, + Debars another from the bounteous store? + + +In this manner was the subject of this beautiful poem introduced to the +notice of the public. But I have no room for any further extracts, nor +time to make any further comment upon it. I can only add, that the +committee were duly sensible as well of its merits, as of the virtuous +and generous disposition of the author, and that they requested John +Barton to thank him in an appropriate manner for his offer, which he was +to say they accepted gratefully. + +At this sitting, at which ten members were present out of the twelve, a +discussion unexpectedly arose on a most important subject. The +committee, finding that their meetings began to be approved by many, and +that the cause under their care was likely to spread, and foreseeing, +also, the necessity there would soon be of making themselves known as a +public body throughout the kingdom, thought it right that they should +assume some title, which should be a permanent one, and which should be +expressive of their future views. This gave occasion to them to +reconsider the object for which they had associated, and to fix and +define it in such a manner that there should be no misunderstanding +about it in the public mind. In looking into the subject, it appeared to +them that there were two evils quite distinct from each other, which it +might become their duty to endeavour to remove. The first was the evil +of the Slave Trade, in consequence of which many thousand persons were +every year fraudulently and forcibly taken from their country, their +relations and friends, and from all that they esteemed valuable in life. +The second was the evil of slavery itself, in consequence of which the +same persons were forced into a situation where they were deprived of +the rights of men, where they were obliged to linger out their days +subject to excessive labour and cruel punishments, and where their +children were to inherit the same hard lot. Now the question was, which +of the two evils the committee should select as that to which they +should direct their attention with a view of the removal of it; or +whether, with the same view, it should direct its attention to both of +them. + +It appeared soon to be the sense of the committee, that to aim at the +removal of both, would be to aim at too much, and that by doing this we +might lose all. + +The question then was, which of the two they were to take as their +object? Now, in considering this question, it appeared that it did not +matter where they began, or which of them they took, as far as the end +to be produced was the thing desired. For first, if the Slave Trade +should be really abolished, the bad usage of the slaves in the colonies, +that is, the hard part of their slavery, if not the slavery itself, +would fall. For the planters and others being unable to procure more +slaves from the coast of Africa, it would follow directly, whenever this +great event should take place, that they must treat those better whom +they might then have. They must render marriage honourable among them. +They must establish the union of one man with one wife. They must give +the pregnant women more indulgences. They must pay more attention to the +rearing of their offspring. They must work and punish the adults with +less rigour. Now it was to be apprehended that they could not do these +things, without seeing the political advantages which would arise to +themselves from so doing; and that, reasoning upon this, they might be +induced to go on to give them greater indulgences, rights, and +privileges, in time. But how would every such successive improvement of +their condition operate, but to bring them nearer to the state of +freemen? In the same manner it was contended, that the better treatment +of the slaves in the colonies, or that the emancipation of them there, +when fit for it, would of itself lay the foundation for the abolition of +the Slave Trade. For if the slaves were kindly treated, that is, if +marriage were encouraged among them; if the infants who should be born +were brought up with care; if the sick were properly attended to; if the +young and the adult were well fed and properly clothed, and not +over-worked, and not worn down by the weight of severe punishments, they +would necessarily increase, and this on an extensive scale. But if the +planters were thus to get their labourers from the births on their own +estates, then the Slave Trade would in time be no longer necessary to +them, and it would die away as an useless and a noxious plant. Thus it +was of no consequence, which of the two evils the committee were to +select as the object for their labours; for, as far as the end in view +only was concerned, that the same end would be produced in either case. + +But in looking further into this question, it seemed to make a material +difference which of the two they selected, as far as they had in view +the due execution of any laws, which might be made respecting them, and +their own prospect of success in the undertaking. For, by aiming at the +abolition of the Slave Trade, they were laying the axe at the very root. +By doing this, and this only, they would not incur the objection, that +they were meddling with the property of the planters, and letting loose +an irritated race of beings, who, in consequence of all the vices and +infirmities which a state of slavery entails upon those who undergo it, +were unfit for their freedom. By asking the government of the country to +do this, and this only, they were asking for that which it had an +indisputable right to do; namely, to regulate or abolish any of its +branches of commerce: whereas it was doubtful, whether it could +interfere with the management of the internal affairs of the colonies, +or whether this was not wholly the province of the legislatures +established there. By asking the government, again, to do this, and this +only, they were asking what it could really enforce. It could station +its ships of war, and command its custom-houses, so as to carry any act +of this kind into effect. But it could not insure that an act to be +observed in the heart of the islands should be enforced[A]. To this it +was added, that if the committee were to fix upon the annihilation of +slavery as the object for their labours, the Slave Trade would not fall +so speedily as it would by a positive law for the abolition; because, +though the increase from the births might soon supply all the estates +now in cultivation with labourers, yet new plantations might be opened +from time to time in different islands, so that no period could be fixed +upon, when it could be said that it would cease. + +[Footnote A: The late correspondence of the governors of our colonies +with Lord Camden in his official situation, but particularly the +statements made by Lord Seaforth and General Prevost, have shown the +wisdom of this remark, and that no dependence was to be had for the +better usage of the slaves but upon the total abolition of the trade.] + +Impressed by these arguments, the committee were clearly of opinion, +that they should define their object to be the abolition of the Slave +Trade, and not of the slavery which sprung from it. Hence from this +time, and in allusion to the month when this discussion took place, they +styled themselves in their different advertisements, and reports, though +they were first associated in the month of May, The Committee instituted +in June, 1787, for effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade. Thus, at +the very outset, they took a ground which was for ever tenable. Thus +they were enabled also to answer the objection, which was afterwards so +constantly and so industriously circulated against them, that they were +going to emancipate the slaves. And I have no doubt that this wise +decision contributed greatly to their success; for I am persuaded that, +if they had adopted the other object, they could not for years to come, +if ever, have succeeded in their attempt. + +Before the committee broke up, I represented to them the necessity there +was of obtaining further knowledge on all those individual points which +might be said to belong to the great subject of the abolition of the +Slave Trade. In the first place, this knowledge was necessary for me, if +I were to complete my work on _The Impolicy of this Trade_, which work, +the _Summary View_, just printed, had announced to the world. It would +be necessary, also, in case the Slave Trade should become a subject of +parliamentary inquiry; for this inquiry could not proceed without +evidence. And if any time was peculiarly fit for the procuring of such +information or evidence, it was the present. At this time the passions +of men had not been heated by any public agitation of the question, nor +had interest felt itself biassed to conceal the truth. But as soon as +ever it should be publicly understood, that a parliamentary inquiry was +certain, (which we ourselves believed would be the case, but which +interested men did not then know,) we should find many of the avenues to +information closed against us. I proposed, therefore, that some one of +the committee should undertake a journey to Bristol, Liverpool, and +Lancaster, where he should reside for a time to collect further light +upon this subject; and that if others should feel their occupations or +engagements to be such as would make such a journey unsuitable, I would +undertake it myself. I begged, therefore, the favour of the different +members of the committee, to turn the matter over in their minds by the +next meeting, that we might then talk over and decide upon the propriety +of the measure. + +The committee held its fourth meeting on the 12th of June. Among the +subjects which were then brought forward, was that of the journey before +mentioned. The propriety, and indeed, even the necessity, of it was so +apparent, that I was requested by all present to undertake it, and a +minute for that purpose was entered upon our records. Of this journey, +as gradually unfolding light on the subject, and as peculiarly connected +with the promotion of our object, I shall now give an account; after +which I shall return to the proceedings of the committee. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +Author arrives at Bristol; introduction to Quaker families +there.--Objects of his inquiry.--Ill usage of seamen on board the ship +Brothers.--Obtains a knowledge of several articles of African +produce.--Dr. Caniplin; Dean Tucker; Mr. Henry Sulgar.--Procures an +authenticated account of the treacherous massacre at Calabar.--Ill +usage of the seamen of the ship Alfred.--Painful feelings of the +author on this occasion. + + +Having made preparations for my journey, I took my leave of the +different individuals of the committee. I called upon Mr. Wilberforce, +also, with the same design. He was then very ill, and in bed; Sir +Richard Hill and others were sitting by his bedside. After conversing as +much as he well could in his weak state, he held out his hand to me and +wished me success. When I left him I felt much dejected; it appeared to +me as if it would be in this case, as it is often in that of other +earthly things, that we scarcely possess what we repute a treasure when +it is taken from us. + +I determined to take this journey on horseback, not only on account of +the relaxed state in which I found myself, after such close and constant +application, but because I wished to have all my time to myself upon the +road, in order the better to reflect upon the proper means of promoting +this great cause. The first place I resolved to visit was Bristol; +accordingly I directed my course thither. On turning a corner, within +about a mile of that city, at about eight in the evening, I came within +sight of it. The weather was rather hazy, which occasioned it to look of +unusual dimensions. The bells of some of the churches were then ringing; +the sound of them did not strike me till I had turned the corner before +mentioned, when it came upon me at once; it filled me, almost directly, +with a melancholy for which I could not account. I began now to tremble, +for the first time, at the arduous task I had undertaken, of attempting +to subvert one of the branches of the commerce of the great place which +was then before me. I began to think of the host of people I should have +to encounter in it; I anticipated much persecution in it also; and I +questioned whether I should even get out of it alive. But in journeying +on I became more calm and composed; my spirits began to return. In these +latter moments I considered my first feelings as useful, inasmuch as +they impressed upon me the necessity of extraordinary courage, and +activity, and perseverance, and of watchfulness, also, over my own +conduct, that I might not throw any stain upon the cause I had +undertaken. When, therefore, I entered the city, I entered it with an +undaunted spirit, determining that no labour should make me shrink, nor +danger, nor even persecution, deter me from my pursuit. + +My first introduction was by means of a letter to Harry Gandy, who had +then become one of the religious society of the Quakers. This +introduction to him was particularly useful to me; for he had been a +seafaring man. In his early youth he had been of a roving disposition; +and, in order to see the world, had been two voyages in the Slave Trade, +so that he had known the nature and practices of it. This enabled him to +give me much useful information on the subject; and as he had frequently +felt, as he grew up, deep affliction of mind for having been concerned +in it, he was impelled to forward my views as much as possible, under an +idea that he should be thus making some reparation for the indiscreet +and profane occupations of his youth. + +I was also introduced to the families of James Harford, John Lury, +Matthew Wright, Philip, Debell Tucket, Thomas Bonville, and John Waring; +all of whom were of the same religious society. I gained an +introduction, also, soon afterwards, to George Fisher. These were my +first and only acquaintance at Bristol for some time; I derived +assistance in the promotion of my object from all of them; and it is a +matter of pleasing reflection, that the friendships then formed have +been kept alive to the present time. + +The objects I had marked down as those to be attended to, were--to +ascertain what were the natural productions of Africa, and, if possible, +to obtain specimens of them, with the view of forming a cabinet or +collection--to procure as much information as I could relative to the +manner of obtaining slaves on continent of Africa, of transporting them +to the West Indies, and of treating them there--to prevail upon persons, +having a knowledge of any or all of these circumstances, to come forward +to be examined as evidences before parliament, if such an examination +should take place--to make myself still better acquainted with the loss +of seamen in the Slave Trade--also with the loss of those who were +employed in the other trades from the same port--to know the nature, and +quantity, and value of the imports and exports of goods in the former +case:--there were some other objects which I classed under the head of +miscellaneous. + +In my first movements about this city, I found that people talked very +openly on the subject of the Slave Trade. They seemed to be well +acquainted with the various circumstances belonging to it. There were +facts, in short, in every body's mouth concerning it; and every body +seemed to execrate it, though no one thought of its abolition. In this +state of things I perceived that my course was obvious; for I had little +else to do, in pursuing two or three of my objects, than to trace the +foundation of those reports which were in circulation. + +On the third of July I heard that the ship Brothers[A], then lying in +King's Road for Africa, could not get her seamen, and that a party which +had been put on board, becoming terrified by the prospect of their +situation, had left her on Sunday morning. On inquiring further, I found +that those who had navigated her on her last voyage, thirty-two of whom +had died, had been so dreadfully used by the captain, that he could not +get hands in the present. It was added, that the treatment of seamen was +a crying evil in this trade, and that consequently few would enter into +it, so that there was at all times a great difficulty in procuring them, +though they were ready enough to enter into other trades. + +[Footnote A: I abstain from mentioning the names of the captain of this +or of other vessels, lest the recording of them should give pain to +relatives who can have had no share in their guilt.] + +The relation of these circumstances made me acquainted with two things, +of which I had not before heard; namely, the aversion of seamen to +engage, and the bad usage of them when engaged in this cruel trade; into +both which I determined immediately to inquire. + +I conceived that it became me to be very cautious about giving ear too +readily to reports; and therefore, as I could easily learn the truth of +one of the assertions which had been made to me, I thought it prudent to +ascertain this, and to judge, by the discovery I should make concerning +it, what degree of credit might be due to the rest. Accordingly, by +means of my late friend, Truman Harford, the eldest son of the +respectable family of that name, to which I have already mentioned +myself to have been introduced, I gained access to the muster-roll of +the ship Brothers. On looking over the names of her last crew, I found +the melancholy truth confirmed, that thirty-two of them had been placed +among the dead. + +Having ascertained this circumstance, I became eager to inquire into the +truth of the others, but more particularly of the treatment of one of +the seamen, which, as it was reported to me, exceeded all belief. His +name was John Dean; he was a black man, but free. The report was, that +for a trifling circumstance, for which he was in no-wise to blame, the +captain had fastened him with his belly to the deck, and that, in this +situation, he had poured hot pitch upon his back, and made incisions in +it with hot tongs. + +Before however I attempted to learn the truth of this barbarous +proceeding, I thought I would look into the ship's muster-roll, to see +if I could find the name of such a man. On examination I found it to be +the last on the list. John Dean, it appeared, had been one of the +original crew, having gone on board, from Bristol, on the twenty-second +day of July, 1785. + +On inquiring where Dean was to be found, my informant told me that he +had lately left Bristol for London. I was shown, however, to the house +where he had lodged. The name of his landlord was Donovan. On talking +with him on the subject, he assured me that the report I had heard was +true; for that while he resided with him he had heard an account of his +usage from some of his ship-mates, and that he had often looked at his +scarred and mutilated back. + +On inquiring of Donovan if any other person in Bristol could corroborate +this account, he referred me to a reputable tradesman living, in the +Market-place. Having been introduced to him, he told me that he had long +known John Dean to be a sober and industrious man; that he had seen the +terrible indentures on his back; and that they were said to have been +made by the captain, in the manner related, during his last voyage. + +While I was investigating this matter further, I was introduced to Mr. +Sydenham Teast, a respectable ship-builder in Bristol, and the owner of +vessels trading to Africa in the natural productions of that country. I +mentioned to him by accident what I had heard relative to the treatment +of John Dean. He said it was true. An attorney[A] in London had then +taken up his cause, in consequence of which the captain had been +prevented from sailing till he could find persons who would be +answerable for the damages which might be awarded against him in a court +of law. Mr. Teast further said, that, not knowing at that time the +cruelty of the transaction to its full extent, he himself had been one +of the securities for the captain at the request of the purser[B] of the +ship. Finding, however, afterwards, that it was as the public had +stated, he was sorry that he had ever interfered, in such a barbarous +case. + +[Footnote A: I afterwards found out this attorney. He described the +transaction to me, as, by report, it had taken place, and informed me +that he had made the captain of the Brothers pay for his barbarity.] + +[Footnote B: The purser of a ship, at Bristol, is the person who manages +the outfit, as well as the trade, and who is often in part owner of +her.] + +This transaction, which I now believed to be true, had the effect of +preparing me for crediting whatever I might hear concerning the +barbarities said to be practised in this trade. It kindled also a fire +of indignation within me, and produced in me both anxiety and spirit, to +proceed. But that which excited these feelings the most, was the +consideration that the purser of this ship, knowing, as he did, of this +act of cruelty, should have sent out this monster again. This, I own, +made me think that there was a system of bad usage to be deliberately +practised upon the seamen in this employment, for some purpose or other +which I could then neither comprehend nor ascertain. + +But while I was in pursuit of this one object, I was not unmindful of +the others which I had marked out for myself. I had already procured an +interview, as I have mentioned, with Mr. Sydenham Teast. I had done this +with a view of learning from him what were the different productions of +the continent of Africa, as far as he had been able to ascertain from +the imports by his own vessels. He was very open and communicative. He +had imported ivory, red-wood, cam-wood, and gum-copal. He purposed to +import palm-oil. He observed that bees'-wax might be collected, also, +upon the coast. Of his gum-copal he gave me a specimen. He furnished me, +also, with two different specimens of unknown woods, which had the +appearance of being useful. One of his captains, he informed me, had +been told by the natives, that cotton, pink in the pod, grew in their +country. He was of opinion, that many valuable productions might be +found upon this continent. + +Mr. Biggs, to whom I gained an introduction also, was in a similar trade +with Mr. Teast; that is, he had one or two vessels which skimmed, as it +were, the coast and rivers for what they could get of the produce of +Africa, without having any concern in the trade for slaves. Mr. Biggs +gave me a specimen of gum Senegal, of yellow-wood, and of Malaguetta and +Cayenne pepper. He gave me, also, small pieces of cloth made and dyed by +the natives, the colours of which they could only have obtained from +materials in their own country. Mr. Biggs seemed to be assured that, if +proper persons were sent to Africa on discovery, they would fine a rich +mine of wealth in the natural productions of it, and in none more +advantageous to this as a manufacturing nation, than in the many +beautiful dyes which it might furnish. + +From Thomas Bonville I collected two specimens of cloth made by the +natives; and from others a beautiful piece of tulipwood, a small piece +of wood similar to mahogany, and a sample of fine rice, all of which had +been brought from the same continent. + +Among the persons whom I found out at Bristol, and from whom I derived +assistance, were Dr. Camplin and the celebrated Dean Tucker. The former +was my warm defender; for the West Indian and African merchants, as soon +as they discovered my errand, began to calumniate me. The dean, though +in a very advanced age, felt himself much interested in my pursuit. He +had long moved in the political world himself, and was desirous of +hearing of what was going forward that was new in it, but particularly +about so desirable a measure as that of the abolition of the Slave +Trade[A]. He introduced me to the Custom House at Bristol. He used to +call upon me at the Merchants' Hall, while I was transcribing the +muster-rolls of the seamen there. In short, he seemed to be interested +in all my movements. He became, also, a warm supporter both of me and of +my cause. + +[Footnote A: Dean Tucker, in his _Reflections on the Disputes between +Great Britain and Ireland_, published in 1785, had passed a severe +censure on the British planters for the inhuman treatment of their +slaves.] + +Among others who were useful to me in my pursuit, was Mr. Henry Sulgar, +an amiable minister of the gospel, belonging to the religious society of +the Moravians in the same city. From him I first procured authentic +documents relative to the treacherous massacre at Calabar. This cruel +transaction had been frequently mentioned to me; but as it had taken +place twenty years before, I could not find one person who had been +engaged in it, nor could I come, in a satisfactory manner, at the +various particulars belonging to it. My friend, however, put me in +possession of copies of the real depositions which had been taken in the +case of the king against Lippincott and others relative to this event; +namely, of Captain Floyd, of the city of Bristol, who had been a witness +to the scene, and of Ephraim Robin John, and of Ancona Robin Robin John, +two African chiefs, who had been sufferers by it. These depositions had +been taken before Jacob Kirby and Thomas Symons, esquires, commissioners +at Bristol for taking affidavits in the Court of King's Bench. The +tragedy, of which they gave a circumstantial account, I shall present to +the reader in as concise a manner as I can. + +In the year, 1767, the ships Indian Queen, Duke of York, Nancy, and +Concord, of Bristol; the Edgar, of Liverpool; and the Canterbury, of +London; lay in Old Calabar river. + +It happened, at this time, that a quarrel subsisted between the +principal inhabitants of Old Town and those of New Town, Old Calabar, +which had originated in a jealousy respecting slaves. The captains of +the vessels now mentioned, joined in sending several letters to the +inhabitants of Old Town, but particularly to Ephraim Robin John, who was +at that time a grandee, or principal inhabitant of the place. The tenor +of these letters was, that they were sorry that any jealousy or quarrel +should subsist between the two parties; that if the inhabitants of Old +Town would come on board, they would afford them security and +protection; adding, at the same time, that their intention in inviting +them was, that they might become mediators, and thus heal their +disputes. + +The inhabitants of Old Town, happy to find that their differences were +likely to be accommodated, joyfully accepted the invitation. The three +brothers of the grandee just mentioned, the eldest of whom was Amboe +Robin John, first entered their canoe, attended by twenty-seven others, +and, being followed by nine canoes, directed their course to the Indian +Queen. They were despatched from thence the next morning to the Edgar, +and afterwards to the Duke of York, on board of which they went, leaving +their canoe and attendants by the side of the same vessel. In the mean +time, the people on board the other canoes were either distributed on +board, or lying close to, the other ships. + +This being the situation of the three brothers, and of the principal +inhabitants of the place, the treachery now began to appear. The crew of +the Duke of York, aided by the captain and mates, and armed with pistols +and cutlasses, rushed into the cabin, with an intent to seize the +persons of their three innocent and unsuspicious guests. The unhappy +men, alarmed at this violation of the rights of hospitality, and struck +with astonishment at the behaviour of their supposed friends, attempted +to escape through the cabin windows; but, being wounded, were obliged to +desist, and to submit to be put in irons. + +In the same moment in which this atrocious attempt had been made, an +order had been given to fire upon the canoe, which was then lying by the +side of the Duke of York. The canoe soon filled and sunk, and the +wretched attendants were either seized, killed, or drowned. Most of the +other ships followed the example. Great numbers were additionally killed +and drowned on the occasion, and others were swimming to the shore. + +At this juncture, the inhabitants of New Town, who had concealed +themselves in the bushes by the water-side, and between whom and the +commanders of the vessels the plan had been previously concerted, came +out from their hiding-places, and, embarking in their canoes, made for +such as were swimming from the fire of the ships. The ships' boats, +also, were manned, and joined in the pursuit. They butchered the +greatest part of those whom they caught. Many dead bodies were soon seen +upon the sands, and others were floating upon the water; and including +those who were seized and carried off, and those who were drowned and +killed, either by the firing of the ships or by the people of New Town, +three hundred were lost to the inhabitants of Old Town on that day. + +The carnage which I have been now describing was scarcely over, when a +canoe, full of the principal people of New Town, who had been the +promoters of the scheme, dropped along-side of the Duke of York. They +demanded the person of Amboe Robin John, the brother of the grandee of +Old Town, and the eldest of the three on board. The unfortunate man put +the palms of his hands together, and beseeched the commander of the +vessel that he would not violate the rights of hospitality, by giving up +an unoffending stranger to his enemies. But no entreaties could avail. +The commander received from the New Town people a slave of the name of +Econg in his stead, and then forced him into the canoe, where his head +was immediately struck off in the sight of the crew, and of his +afflicted and disconsolate brothers. As for them, they escaped his fate; +but they were carried off with their attendants to the West Indies, and +sold for slaves. + +The knowledge of this tragical event now fully confirmed me in the +sentiment, that the hearts of those who were concerned in this traffic +became unusually hardened, and that I might readily believe any +atrocities, however great, which might be related of them. It made also +my blood boil, as it were, within me: it gave anew spring to my +exertions; and I rejoiced, sorrowful as I otherwise was, that I had +visited Bristol, if it had been only to gain an accurate statement of +this one fact. + +In pursuing my objects, I found that reports were current, that the crew +of the Alfred slave-vessel, which had just returned, had been +barbarously used, but particularly a young man of the name of Thomas, +who had served as the surgeon's mate on board her. The report was, that +he had been repeatedly knocked down by the captain; that he had become +in consequence of his ill usage so weary of his life, that he had three +times jumped over board to destroy it; that on being taken up the last +time he had been chained to the deck of the ship, in which situation he +had remained night and day for some time; that in consequence of this +his health had been greatly impaired; and that it was supposed he could +not long survive this treatment. + +It was with great difficulty, notwithstanding all my inquiries, that I +could trace this person. I discovered him, however, at last. He was +confined to his bed when I saw him, and appeared to me to be delirious. +I could collect nothing from himself relative to the particulars of his +treatment. In his intervals of sense, he exclaimed against the cruelty +both of the captain and of the chief mate, and pointing to his legs, +thighs, and body, which were all wrapped up in flannel, he endeavoured +to convince me how much he had suffered there. At one time he said he +forgave them. At another, he asked if I came to befriend him. At +another, he looked wildly, and asked if I meant to take the captain's +part, and to kill him. + +I was greatly affected by the situation of this poor man, whose image +haunted me both night and day, and I was meditating how most effectually +to assist him, when I heard that he was dead. + +I was very desirous of tracing something further on this subject, when +Walter Chandler, of the society of the Quakers, who had been daily +looking out for intelligence for me, brought a young man to me of the +name of Dixon. He had been one of the crew of the same ship. He told me +the particulars of the treatment of Thomas, with very little variation +from those contained in the public report. After cross-examining him in +the best manner I was able, I could find no inconsistency in his +account. + +I asked Dixon how the captain came to treat the surgeon's mate in +particular so ill. He said he had treated them all much alike. A person +of the name of Bulpin, he believed, was the only one who had escaped bad +usage in the ship. With respect to himself, he had been cruelly used so +early as in the outward bound passage, which had occasioned him to jump +overboard. When taken up, he was put into irons, and kept in these for a +considerable time. He was afterwards ill used at different times, and +even so late as within three or four days of his return to port. For +just before the Alfred made the island of Lundy, he was struck by the +captain, who cut his under lip into two. He said that it had bled so +much, that the captain expressed himself as if much alarmed; and having +the expectation of arriving soon at Bristol, he had promised to make him +amends, if he would hold his peace. This he said he had hitherto done, +but he had received no recompense. In confirmation of his own usage, he +desired me to examine his lip, which I had no occasion to do, having +already perceived it, for the wound was apparently almost fresh. + +I asked Dixon if there was any person in Bristol beside himself, who +could confirm to me this his own treatment, as well as that of the other +unfortunate man who was now dead. He referred me to a seaman of the name +of Matthew Pyke. This person, when brought to me, not only related +readily the particulars of the usage in both cases, as I have now stated +them, but that which he received himself. He said that his own arm had +been broken by the chief mate in Black River, Jamaica, and that he had +also by the captain's orders, though contrary to the practice in +merchant-vessels, been severely flogged. His arm appeared to be then in +pain; and I had a proof of the punishment by an inspection of his back. + +I asked Matthew Pyke if the crew in general had been treated in a cruel +manner. He replied they had, except James Bulpin. I then asked where +James Bulpin was to be found. He told me where he had lodged; but feared +he had gone home to his friends in Somersetshire, I think, somewhere in +the neighbourhood of Bridgewater. + +I thought it prudent to institute an inquiry into the characters of +Thomas, Dixon, and Matthew Pyke, before I went further. The two former I +found were strangers in Bristol, and I could collect nothing about them. +The latter was a native of the place, had served his time as a seaman +from the port, and was reputed of fair character. + +My next business was to see James Bulpin. I found him just setting off +for the country. He stopped, however, to converse with me. He was a +young man of very respectable appearance, and of mild manners. His +appearance, indeed, gave me reason to hope that I might depend upon his +statements; but I was most of all influenced by the consideration that, +never having been ill-used himself, he could have no inducement to go +beyond the bounds of truth on this occasion. He gave me a melancholy +confirmation of all the three cases. He told me, also, that one Joseph +Cunningham had been a severe sufferer, and that there was reason to fear +that Charles Horseler, another of the crew, had been so severely beaten +over the breast with a knotted end of a rope, (which end was of the size +of a large ball, and had been made on purpose,) that he died of it. To +this he added, that it was now a notorious fact, that the captain of the +Alfred, when mate of a slave-ship, had been tried at Barbados for the +murder of one of the crew with whom he had sailed, but that he escaped +by bribing the principal witness to disappear[A]. + +[Footnote A: Mr. Sampson, who was surgeon's mate of the ship in which +the captain had thus served as a mate, confirmed to me afterwards this +assertion, having often heard him boast in the cabin, "how he had +tricked the law on that occasion."] + +The reader will see, the further I went into the history of this voyage, +the more dismal it became. One miserable account, when examined, only +brought up another. I saw no end to inquiry. The great question was, +what was I to do? I thought the best thing would be to get the captain +apprehended, and make him stand his trial either for the murder of +Thomas or of Charles Horseler. I communicated with the late Mr. Burges, +an eminent attorney, and the deputy town-clerk, on this occasion. He had +shown an attachment to me on account of the cause I had undertaken, and +had given me privately assistance in it. I say privately; because, +knowing the sentiments of many of the corporate body at Bristol, under +whom he acted, he was fearful of coming forward in an open manner. His +advice to me was, to take notes of the case for my own private +conviction, but to take no public cognizance of it. He said that seamen, +as soon as their wages were expended, must be off to sea again. They +could not generally, as landsmen do, maintain themselves on shore. Hence +I should be obliged to keep the whole crew at my own expense till the +day of trial, which might not be for months to come. He doubted not +that, in the interim, the merchants and others would inveigle many of +them away by making them boatswains and other inferior officers in some +of their ships; so that, when the day of trial should come, I should +find my witnesses dispersed and gone. He observed, moreover, that if any +of the officers of the ship had any notion of going out again under the +same owners[A], I should have all these against me. To which he added, +that if I were to make a point of taking up the cause of those whom I +found complaining of hard usage in this trade, I must take up that of +nearly all who sailed in it; for that he only knew of one captain from +the port in the Slave Trade, who did not deserve long ago to be hanged. +Hence I should get into a labyrinth of expense, and difficulty, and +uneasiness of mind, from whence I should not easily find a clew to guide +me. + +[Footnote A: The seamen of the Alfred informed the purser of their ill +usage, Matthew Pyke not only showed him his arm and his back, but +acquainted him with the murder of Charles Horseler, stating that he had +the instrument of his death in his possession. The purser seemed more +alive to this than to any other circumstance, and wished to get it from +him. Pyke, however, had given it to me. Now what will the reader think, +when he is informed that the purser, after all this knowledge of the +captain's cruelty, sent him out again, and that he was the same person +who was purser of the Brothers, and who had also sent out the captain of +that ship a second time, as has been related, notwithstanding his +barbarities in former voyages!] + +This advice, though it was judicious, and founded on a knowledge of law +proceedings, I found it very difficult to adopt. My own disposition was +naturally such, that whatever I engaged in I followed with more than +ordinary warmth. I could not be supposed, therefore, affected and +interested as I then was, to be cool and tranquil on this occasion. And +yet what would my worthy friend have said, if in this first instance I +had opposed him? I had a very severe struggle in my own feelings on this +account. At length, though reluctantly, I obeyed; but as the passions +which agitate the human mind, when it is greatly inflamed, must have a +vent somewhere, or must work off, as it were, or in working together +must produce some new passion or effect, so I found the rage which had +been kindling within me subsiding into the most determined resolutions +of future increased activity and perseverance. I began now to think that +the day was not long enough for me to labour in. I regretted often the +approach of night, which suspended my work, and I often welcomed that of +the morning, which restored me to it. When I felt myself weary, I became +refreshed by the thought of what I was doing; when disconsolate, I was +comforted by it. I lived in hope that every day's labour would furnish +me with that knowledge which would bring this evil nearer to its end; +and I worked on under these feelings, regarding neither trouble nor +danger in the pursuit. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +Author confers with the inhabitants of Bridgewater relative to a +petition to parliament in behalf of the abolition; returns to Bristol; +discovers a scandalous mode of procuring seamen for the Slave Trade, +and of paying them; makes a comparative view of their loss in this and +in other trades; procures imports and exports.--Examines the +construction and admeasurement of slave ships; of the Fly and +Neptune.--Difficulty of procuring evidence.--Case of Gardiner, of the +Pilgrim; of Arnold, of the Ruby; some particulars of the latter in his +former voyages. + + +Having heard by accident that the inhabitants of the town of Bridgewater +had sent a petition to the House of Commons, in the year 1785, for the +abolition of the Slave Trade, as has been related in a former part of +the work, I determined, while my feelings were warm, to go there, and to +try to find out those who had been concerned in it, and to confer with +them as the tried friends of the cause. The time seemed to me to be +approaching when the public voice should be raised against this enormous +evil. I was sure that it was only necessary for the inhabitants of this +favoured island to know it to feel a just indignation against it. +Accordingly I set off. My friend George Fisher, who was before mentioned +to have been of the religious Society of the Quakers, gave me an +introduction to the respectable family of Ball, which was of the same +religious persuasion. I called upon Mr. Sealey, Anstice, Crandon, Chubb, +and others. I laid open to those whom I saw, the discoveries I had made +relative to the loss and ill treatment of seamen; at which they seemed +to be much moved; and it was agreed that if it should be thought a +proper measure, (of which I would inform them when I had consulted the +committee,) a second petition should be sent to Parliament from the +inhabitants, praying for the abolition of the Slave Trade. With this +view I left them several of my _Summary View_, before mentioned, to +distribute, that the inhabitants might know more particularly the nature +of the evil, against which they were going to complain. On my return to +Bristol, I determined to inquire into the truth of the reports that +seamen had an aversion to enter, and that they were inveigled, if not +often forced, into this hateful employment. For this purpose I was +introduced to a landlord of the name of Thompson, who kept a +public-house called the Seven Stars. He was a very intelligent man, was +accustomed to receive sailors when discharged at the end of their +voyages, and to board them till their vessels went out again, or to find +them births in others. He avoided, however, all connexion with the Slave +Trade, declaring that the credit of his house would be ruined if he were +known to send those, who put themselves under his care, into it. + +From him I collected the truth of all that had been stated to me on this +subject. But I told him I should not be satisfied until I had beheld +those scenes myself which he had described to me; and I entreated him to +take me into them, saying that I would reward him for all his time and +trouble, and that I would never forget him while I lived. To this he +consented; and as three or four slave-vessels at this time were +preparing for their voyages, it was time that we should begin our +rounds. At about twelve at night we generally set out, and were employed +till two and sometimes three in the morning. He led me from one of these +public-houses to another which the mates of the slave-vessels used to +frequent to pick up their hands. These houses were in Marsh-street, and +most of them were then kept by Irishmen. The scenes witnessed in these +houses were truly distressing to me; and yet, if I wished to know +practically what I had purposed, I could not avoid them. Music, dancing, +rioting, drunkenness, and profane swearing, were kept up from night to +night. The young mariner, if a stranger to the port, and unacquainted +with the nature of the Slave Trade, was sure to be picked up. The +novelty of the voyages, the superiority of the wages in this over any +other trades, and the privileges of various kinds, were set before him. +Gulled in this manner, he was frequently enticed to the boat, which was +waiting to carry him away. If these prospects did not attract him, he +was plied with liquor till he became intoxicated, when a bargain was +made over him between the landlord and the mate. After this his senses +were kept in such a constant state of stupefaction by the liquor, that +in time the former might do with him what he pleased. Seamen, also, were +boarded in these houses, who, when the slave-ships were going out, but +at no other time, were encouraged to spend more than they had money to +pay for; and to these, when they had thus exceeded, but one alternative +was given, namely, a slave-vessel or a gaol. These distressing scenes I +found myself obliged frequently to witness, for I was no less than +nineteen times occupied in making these hateful rounds; and I can say +from my own experience, and all the information I could collect from +Thompson and others, that no such practices were in use to obtain seamen +for other trades. + +The treatment of the seamen employed in the Slave Trade had so deeply +interested me, and now the manner of procuring them, that I was +determined to make myself acquainted with their whole history; for I +found by report that they were not only personally ill-treated, as I +have already painfully described, but that they were robbed by artifice +of those wages, which had been held up to them as so superior in this +service. All persons were obliged to sign articles that, in case they +should die or be discharged during the voyage, the wages then due to +them should be paid in the currency where the vessel carried her slaves, +and that half of the wages due to them on their arrival there should be +paid in the same manner, and that they were never permitted to read over +the articles they had signed. By means of this iniquitous practice the +wages in the Slave Trade, though nominally higher in order to induce +seamen to engage in it, were actually lower than in other trades. All +these usages I ascertained in such a manner, that no person could doubt +the truth of them. I actually obtained possession of articles of +agreement belonging to these vessels, which had been signed and executed +in former voyages. I made the merchants themselves, by sending those +seamen who had claims upon them to ask for their accounts current with +their respective ships, furnish me with such documents as would have +been evidence against them in any court of law. On whatever branch of +the system I turned my eyes, I found it equally barbarous. The trade +was, in short, one mass of iniquity from the beginning to the end. + +I employed myself occasionally in the Merchant's-hall, in making copies +of the muster-rolls of ships sailing to different parts of the world, +that I might make a comparative view of the loss of seamen in the Slave +Trade, with that of those in the other trades from the same port. The +result of this employment showed me the importance of it: for, when I +considered how partial the inhabitants of this country were to their +fellow-citizens, the seamen belonging to it, and in what estimation the +members of the legislature held them, by enforcing the Navigation Act, +which they considered to be the bulwark of the nation, and by giving +bounties to certain trades, that these might become so many nurseries +for the marine, I thought it of great importance, to be able to prove, +as I was then capable of doing, that more persons would be found dead in +three slave-vessels from Bristol, in a given time, than in all the other +vessels put together, numerous as they were, belonging to the same port. + +I procured also an account of the exports and imports for the year 1786, +by means of which I was enabled to judge of the comparative value of +this and the other trades. + +In pursuing another object, which was that of going on board the +slave-ships, and learning their construction and dimensions, I was +greatly struck, and indeed affected, by the appearance of two little +sloops, which were fitting out for Africa, the one of only twenty-five +tons, which was said to be destined to carry seventy and the other of +only eleven, which was said to be destined to carry thirty slaves. I was +told also that which was more affecting, namely, that these were not to +act as tenders on the coast, by going up and down the rivers, and +receiving three or four slaves at a time, and then carrying them to a +large ship, which was to take them to the West Indies; but that it was +actually intended, that they should transport their own slaves +themselves; that one if not both of them were, on their arrival in the +West Indies, to be sold as pleasure-vessels, and that the seamen +belonging to them were to be permitted to come home by what is usually +called the run. + +This account of the destination of these little vessels, though it was +distressing at first, appeared to me afterwards, on cool reasoning, to +be incredible. I thought that my informants wished to impose upon me, in +order that I might make statements which would carry their own +refutation with them, and that thus I might injure the great cause which +I had undertaken. And I was much inclined to be of this opinion, when I +looked again at the least of the two; for any person, who was tall, +standing upon dry ground by the side of her, might have overlooked every +thing upon her deck. I knew also that she had been built as a +pleasure-boat for the accommodation of only six persons upon the Severn. +I determined, therefore, to suspend my belief till I could take the +admeasurement of each vessel. This I did; but lest, in the agitation of +my mind on this occasion, I should have made any mistake, I desired my +friend George Fisher to apply to the builder for his admeasurement also. +With this he kindly complied. When he obtained it he brought it me. This +account, which nearly corresponded with my own, was as follows:--In the +vessel of twenty-five tons, the length of the upper part of the hold, or +roof of the room, where the seventy slaves were to be stowed, was but +little better than ten yards, or thirty-one feet. The greatest breadth +of the bottom, or floor, was ten feet four inches; and the least five. +Hence, a grown person must sit down all the voyage, and contract his +limbs within the narrow limits of three square feet. In the vessel of +eleven tons, the length of the room for the thirty slaves was twenty-two +feet. The greatest breadth of the floor was eight, and the least four. +The whole height from the keel to the beam was but five feet eight +inches, three feet of which were occupied by ballast, cargo, and +provisions, so that two feet eight inches remained only as the height +between the decks. Hence, each slave would have only four square feet to +sit in, and, when in this posture, his head, if he were a full-grown +person, would touch the ceiling, or upper deck. + +Having now received this admeasurement from the builder, which was +rather more favourable than my own, I looked upon the destination of +these little vessels as yet more incredible than before. Still the +different persons, whom I occasionally saw on board them, persisted in +it that they were going to Africa for slaves, and also for the numbers +mentioned, which they were afterwards to carry to the West Indies +themselves. I desired, however, my friends, George Fisher, Truman +Harford, Harry Gandy, Walter Chandler, and others, each to make a +separate inquiry for me on this subject; and they all agreed that, +improbable as the account both of their destination, and of the number +they were to take, might appear, they had found it to be too true. I had +soon afterwards the sorrow to learn from official documents from the +Custom-house, that these little vessels actually cleared out for Africa, +and that now nothing could be related so barbarous of this traffic, +which might not instantly be believed. + +In pursuing my different objects there was one, which, to my great +vexation, I found it extremely difficult to attain. This was the +procuring of any assurance from those who had been personally acquainted +with the horrors of this trade, that they would appear, if called upon, +as evidence against it. My friend Harry Gandy, to whom I had been first +introduced, had been two voyages, as I before mentioned; and he was +willing, though at an advanced age, to go to London, to state publicly +all he knew concerning them. But with respect to the many others in +Bristol, who had been to the coast of Africa, I had not yet found one +who would come forward for this purpose. There were several old Slave +Captains living there, who had a great knowledge of the subject. I +thought it not unreasonable that I might gain one or two good evidences +out of these, as they had probably long ago left the concern, and were +not now interested in the continuance of it; but all my endeavours were +fruitless. I sent messages to them by different persons. I met them in +all ways. I stated to them, that if there was nothing objectionable in +the trade, seeing it laboured under such a stigma, they had an +opportunity of coming forward and of wiping away the stain. If, on the +other hand, it was as bad as represented, then they had it in their +power, by detailing the crimes which attached to it, of making some +reparation or atonement, for the part they had taken in it. But no +representations would do. All intercourse was positively forbidden +between us; and whenever they met me in the street, they shunned me as +if I had been a mad dog. I could not for some time account, for the +strange disposition which they thus manifested towards me; but my +friends helped me to unravel it, for I was assured that one or two of +them, though they went no longer to Africa as captains, were in part +owners of vessels trading there; and, with respect to all of them, it +might be generally said, that they had been guilty of such enormities, +that they would be afraid of coming forward in the way I proposed, lest +any thing should come out by which they might criminate themselves. I +was obliged then to give up all hope of getting any evidence from this +quarter, and I saw but little prospect of getting it from those, who +were then actually deriving their livelihood from the trade: and yet I +was determined to persevere; for I thought that some might be found in +it who were not yet so hardened as to be incapable of being awakened on +this subject. I thought that others might be found in it who wished to +leave it upon principle, and that these would unbosom themselves to me: +and I thought it not improbable that I might fall in with others, who +had come unexpectedly into a state of independence, and that these might +be induced, as their livelihood would be no longer affected by giving me +information, to speak the truth. + +I persevered for weeks together under this hope, but could find no one +of all those, who had been applied to, who would have any thing to say +to me. At length, Walter Chandler had prevailed upon a young gentleman, +of the name of Gardiner, who was going out as surgeon of the Pilgrim, to +meet me. The condition was, that we were to meet at the house of the +former, but that we were to enter in and go out at different times, that +is, we were not to be seen together. + +Gardiner, on being introduced to me, said at once, that he had often +wished to see me on the subject of my errand, but that the owner of the +Pilgrim had pointed me out to him as a person whom he would wish him to +avoid. He then laid open to me the different methods of obtaining slaves +in Africa, as he had learned from those on board his own vessel in his +first, or former, voyage. He unfolded also the manner of their treatment +in the Middle passage, with the various distressing scenes which had +occurred in it. He stated the barbarous usuage of the seamen as he had +witnessed it, and concluded by saying, that there never was a subject +which demanded so loudly the interference of the legislature as that of +the Slave Trade. + +When he had finished his narrative, and answered the different questions +which I had proposed to him concerning it, I asked him, in as delicate a +manner as I could, how it happened, that, seeing the trade in this +horrible light, he had consented to follow it again? He told me frankly, +that he had received a regular medical education, but that his +relations, being poor, had not been able to set him up in his +profession. He had saved a little money in his last voyage. In that, +which he was now to perform, he hoped to save a little more. With the +profits of both voyages together, he expected he should be able to +furnish a shop in the line of his profession, when he would wipe his +hands of this detestable trade. + +I then asked him, whether, upon the whole, he thought he had judged +prudently, or whether the prospect of thus enabling himself to become +independent, would counterbalance the uneasiness which might arise in +future? He replied, that he had not so much to fear upon this account. +The trade, while it continued, must have surgeons. But it made a great +difference both to the crew and to the slaves, whether these discharged +their duty towards them in a feeling manner, or not. With respect to +himself, he was sure that he should pay every attention to the wants of +each. This thought made his continuance in the trade for one voyage +longer more reconcilable. But he added, as if not quite satisfied, +"Cruel necessity!" and he fetched a deep sigh. + +We took our leave, and departed, the one a few minutes after the other. +The conversation of this young man was very interesting. I was much +impressed both by the nature and the manner of it. I wished to secure +him, if possible, as an evidence for parliament, and thus save him from +his approaching voyage: but I knew not what to do. At first, I thought +it would be easy to raise a subscription to set him up. But then, I was +aware that this might be considered as bribery, and make his testimony +worth nothing. I then thought that the committee might detain him as an +evidence, and pay him, in a reasonable manner, for his sustenance, till +his testimony should be called for. But I did not know how long it would +be before his examination might take place. It might be a year or two. I +foresaw other difficulties also and I was obliged to relinquish what +otherwise I should have deemed a prize. + +On reviewing the conversation which had passed between us after my +return home, I thought, considering the friendly disposition of Gardiner +towards us, I had not done all I could for the cause; and, communicating +my feelings to Walter Chandler, he procured me another interview. At +this, I asked him, if he would become an evidence if he lived to return. +He replied, very heartily, that he would. I then asked him, if he would +keep a journal of facts during his voyage, as it would enable him to +speak more correctly, in case he should be called upon for his +testimony. He assured me he would, and that he would make up a little +book for that purpose. I asked him, lastly, when he meant to sail. He +said, as soon as the ship could get all her hands. It was their +intention to sail to-morrow, but that seven men, whom the mates had +brought drunk out of Marsh-street the evening before, were so terrified +when they found they were going to Africa, that they had seized the boat +that morning, and had put themselves on shore. I took my leave of him, +entreating him to follow his resolutions of kindness both to the sailors +and the slaves, and wished him a speedy and a safe return. + +On going one day by the Exchange, after this interview with Gardiner, I +overheard a young gentleman say to another, "that it happened on the +coast, last year, and that he saw it." I wished to know who he was, and +to get at him if I could. I watched him at a distance for more than half +an hour, when I saw him leave his companion. I followed him till he +entered a house. I then considered whether it would be proper, and in +what manner, to address him when he should come out of it. But I waited +three hours, and I never saw him. I then concluded that he either lodged +where I saw him enter, or that he had gone to dine with some friend. I +therefore took notice of the house, and, showing it afterwards to +several of my friends, desired them to make him out for me. In a day or +two I had an interview with him. His name was James Arnold. He had been +two voyages to the coast of Africa for slaves; one as a surgeon's mate +in the Alexander, in the year 1785, and the other as surgeon in the +Little Pearl, in the year 1786, from which he had not then very long +returned. + +I asked him if he was willing to give me any account of these voyages, +for that I was making an inquiry into the nature of the Slave Trade. He +replied, he knew that I was. He had been cautioned about falling in with +me; he had, however, taken no pains to avoid me. It was a bad trade, and +ought to be exposed. + +I went over the same ground as I had gone with Gardiner relative to the +first of these voyages; or that in the Alexander. It is not necessary to +detail the particulars. It is impossible, however, not to mention, that +the treatment of the seamen on board this vessel was worse than I had +ever before heard of. No less than eleven of them; unable to bear their +lives; had deserted at Bonny, on the coast of Africa,--which is a most +unusual thing,--choosing all that could be endured, though in a most +inhospitable climate, and in the power of the natives, rather than to +continue in their own ship. Nine others also, in addition to the loss of +these, had died in the same voyage. As to the rest; he believed, without +any exception, that they had been badly used. + +In examining him with respect to his second voyage, or that in the +Little Pearl, two circumstances came out with respect to the slaves, +which I shall relate in few words. + +The chief mate used to beat the men-slaves on very trifling occasions. +About eleven one evening, the ship then lying off the coast, he heard a +noise in their room. He jumped down among them with the lanthorn in his +hand. Two of those who had been ill-used by him, forced themselves out +of their irons, and, seizing him, struck him with the bolt of them, and +it was with some difficulty that he was extricated from them by the +crew. + +The men-slaves, unable now to punish him, and finding they had created +an alarm, began to proceed to extremities. They endeavoured to force +themselves up the gratings, and to pull down a partition which had been +made for a sick-birth; when they were fired upon and repressed. The next +morning they were brought up one by one; when it appeared that a boy had +been killed, who was afterwards thrown into the sea. + +The two men, however, who had forced themselves out of irons, did not +come up with the rest, but found their way into the hold, and armed +themselves with knives from a cask, which had been opened for trade. One +of them being called to in the African tongue by a black trader, who was +then on board, came up, but with a knife in each hand; when one of the +crew, supposing him yet hostile, shot him in the right side and killed +him on the spot. + +The other remained in the hold for twelve hours. Scalding water mixed +with fat was poured down upon him, to make him come up. Though his flesh +was painfully blistered by these means, he kept below. A promise was +then made to him in the African tongue by the same trader, that no +injury should be done him if he would come among them. To this at length +he consented; but on observing, when he was about half way up, that a +sailor was armed between decks, he flew to him, and clasped him, and +threw him down. The sailor fired his pistol in the scuffle, but without +effect; he contrived, however, to fracture his skull with the butt end +of it, so that the slave died on the third day. + +The second circumstance took place after the arrival of the same vessel +at St. Vincent's. There was a boy-slave on board, who was very ill and +emaciated. The mate, who, by his cruelty, had been the author of the +former mischief, did not choose to expose him to sale with the rest, +lest the small sum he would fetch in that situation should lower the +average price, and thus bring down[A] the value of the privileges of the +officers of the ship. This boy was kept on board, and no provisions +allowed him. + +[Footnote A: Officers are said to be allowed the privilege of one or +more slaves, according to their rank. When the cargo is sold, the sum +total fetched is put down, and this being divided by the number of +slaves sold, gives the average price of each. Such officers, then, +receive this average price for one or more slaves, according to their +privileges, but never the slaves themselves.] + +The mate had suggested the propriety of throwing him overboard, but no +one would do it. On the ninth day he expired, having never been allowed +any sustenance during that time. + +I asked Mr. Arnold if he was willing to give evidence of these facts in +both cases. He said he had only one objection, which was, that in two or +three days he was to go in the Ruby on his third voyage: but on leaving +me, he said, that he would take an affidavit before the mayor of the +truth of any of those things which he had related to me, if that would +do; but, from motives of safety, he should not choose to do this till +within a few hours before he sailed. + +In two or three days after this he sent for me; he said the Ruby would +leave King-road the next day, and that he was ready to do as he had +promised. Depositions were accordingly made out from his own words. I +went with him to the residence of George Daubeny, Esq., who was then +chief magistrate of the city, and they were sworn to in his presence, +and witnessed as the law requires. + +On taking my leave of him, I asked him how he could go a third time in +such a barbarous employ; he said he had been distressed. In his voyage +in the Alexander he had made nothing; for he had been so ill-used, that +he had solicited his discharge in Grenada, where, being paid in +currency, he had but little to receive. When he arrived in Bristol from +that island, he was quite penniless; and finding the Little Pearl going +out, he was glad to get on board her as her surgeon, which he then did +entirely for the sake of bread. He said, moreover, that she was but a +small vessel, and that his savings had been but small in her. This +occasioned him to apply for the Ruby, his present ship; but if he +survived this voyage he would never go another. I then put the same +question to him as to Gardiner, and he promised to keep a journal of +facts, and to give his evidence, if called upon, on his return. + +The reader will see, from this account, the difficulty I had in +procuring evidence from this port. The owners of vessels employed in the +trade there forbade all intercourse with me; the old captains, who had +made their fortunes in it, would not see me; the young, who were making +them, could not be supposed to espouse my cause, to the detriment of +their own interest. Of those whose necessities made them go into it for +a livelihood, I could not get one to come forward, without doing so much +for him as would have amounted to bribery. Thus, when I got one of these +into my possession, I was obliged to let him go again. I was, however, +greatly consoled by the consideration, that I had procured two sentinels +to be stationed in the enemy's camp, who keeping a journal of different +facts, would bring me some important intelligence at a future period. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +Author goes to Monmouth; confers relative to a petition from that +place; returns to Bristol; is introduced to Alexander Falconbridge; +takes one of the mates of the Africa out of that ship; visits disabled +seamen from the ship Thomas; puts a chief mate into prison for the +murder of William Lines.--Ill-usage of seamen in various other +slave-vessels; secures Crutwell's Bath paper in favour of the +abolition; lays the foundation of a committee at Bristol; and of a +petition from thence also; takes his leave of that city. + + +By this time I began to feel the effect of my labours upon my +constitution. It had been my practice to go home in the evening to my +lodgings, about twelve o'clock, and then to put down the occurrences of +the day. This usually kept me up till one, and sometimes till nearly two +in the morning. When I went my rounds in Marsh-street, I seldom got home +till two, and into bed till three. My clothes, also, were frequently wet +through with the rains. The cruel accounts I was daily in the habit of +hearing, both with respect to the slaves, and to the seamen employed in +this wicked trade, from which, indeed, my mind had no respite, often +broke my sleep in the night, and occasioned me to awake in an agitated +state. All these circumstances concurred in affecting my health; I +looked thin; my countenance became yellow; I had also rheumatic +feelings. My friends, seeing this, prevailed upon me to give myself two +or three days' relaxation; and as a gentleman, of whom I had some +knowledge, was going into Carmarthenshire, I accompanied him as far as +Monmouth. + +After our parting at this place, I became restless and uneasy, and +longed to get back to my work. I thought, however, my journey ought not +to be wholly useless to the cause; and hearing that Dr. Davis, a +clergyman at Monmouth, was a man of considerable weight among the +inhabitants, I took the liberty of writing him a letter, in which I +stated who I was and the way in which I had lately employed myself, and +the great wish I had to be favoured with an interview with him; and I +did not conceal that it would be very desirable, if the inhabitants of +the place could have that information on the subject which would warrant +them in so doing, that they should petition the legislature for the +abolition of the Slave Trade. Dr. Davis returned me an answer, and +received me. The questions which he put to me were judicious. He asked +me, first, whether, if the slaves were emancipated, there would not be +much confusion in the islands? I told him that the emancipation of them +was no part of our plan; we solicited nothing but the stopping of all +future importations of them into the islands. He then asked what the +planters would do for labourers? I replied, they would find sufficient +from an increase of the native population, if they were obliged to pay +attention to the latter means. We discoursed a long time upon this last +topic. I have not room to give the many other questions he proposed to +me: no one was ever more judiciously questioned. In my turn, I put him +into possession of all the discoveries I had made. He acknowledged the +injustice of the trade; he confessed, also, that my conversation had +enlightened him as to the impolicy of it; and, taking some of my +_Summary View_ to distribute, he said he hoped that the inhabitants +would, after the perusal of them, accede to my request. + +On my return to Bristol, my friends had procured for me an interview +with Mr. Alexander Falconbridge, who had been to the coast of Africa, as +a surgeon, for four voyages; one in the Tartar, another in the +Alexander, and two in the Emilia slave-vessels. + +On my introduction to him, I asked him if he had any objection to give +me an account of the cruelties which were said to be connected with the +Slave Trade; he answered, without any reserve, that he had not; for that +he had now done with it. Never were any words more welcome to my ears +than these: "Yes--I have done with the trade;"--and he said, also, that +he was free to give me information concerning it. Was he not then one of +the very persons, whom I had so long been seeking, but in vain? + +To detail the accounts which he gave me at this and at subsequent +interviews, relative to the different branches of this trade, would fill +no ordinary volume. Suffice it to say, in general terms, as far as +relates to the slaves, that he confirmed the various violent and +treacherous methods of procuring them in their own country; their +wretched condition, in consequence of being crowded together in the +passage; their attempts to rise in defence of their own freedom, and, +when this was impracticable, to destroy themselves by the refusal of +sustenance, by jumping overboard into the sea, and in other ways; the +effect also of their situation upon their minds, by producing insanity +and various diseases; and the cruel manner of disposing of them in the +West Indies, and of separating relatives and friends. + +With respect to the seamen employed in this trade, he commended Captain +Frazer for his kind usage to them, under whom he had so long served. The +handsome way in which he spoke of the latter pleased me much, because I +was willing to deduce from it his own impartiality, and because I +thought I might infer from it, also, his regard to truth as to other +parts of his narrative. Indeed I had been before acquainted with this +circumstance. Thompson, of the Seven Stars, had informed me that Frazer +was the only man sailing out of that port for slaves who had not been +guilty of cruelty to his seamen: and Mr. Burges alluded to it, when he +gave me advice not to proceed against the captain of the Alfred; for he +then said, as I mentioned in a former chapter, "that he knew but one +captain in the trade, who did not deserve long ago to be hanged." Mr. +Falconbridge, however, stated, that though he had been thus fortunate in +the Tartar and Emilia, he had been as unfortunate in the Alexander; for +he believed there were no instances upon naval record, taken altogether, +of greater barbarity, than of that which had been exercised towards the +seamen in this voyage. In running over these, it struck me that I had +heard of the same from some other quarter, or at least that these were +so like the others, that I was surprised at their coincidence. On taking +out my notes, I looked for the names of those whom I recollected to have +been used in this manner; and on desiring Mr. Falconbridge to mention +the names of those, also, to whom he alluded, they turned out to be the +same. The mystery, however, was soon cleared up, when I told him from +whom I had received my intelligence: for Mr. Arnold, the last-mentioned +person in the last chapter, had been surgeon's mate under Mr. +Falconbridge in the same vessel. + +There was one circumstance of peculiar importance, but quite new to me, +which I collected from the information which Mr. Falconbridge had given +me. This was, that many of the seamen, who left the slave-ships in the +West Indies, were in such a weak, ulcerated, and otherwise diseased +state, that they perished there. Several, also, of those who came home +with the vessels were in the same deplorable condition. This was the +case, Mr. Falconbridge said, with some who returned in the Alexander. It +was the case, also, with many others; for he had been a pupil for twelve +months in the Bristol Infirmary, and had had ample means of knowing the +fact. The greatest number of seamen, at almost all times, who were +there, were from the slave-vessels. These, too, were usually there on +account of disease, whereas those from other ships were usually there on +account of accidents. The health of some of the former was so far +destroyed, that they were never wholly to be restored. This information +was of great importance; for it showed that they who were reported dead +upon the muster-rolls, were not all that were lost to the country by the +prosecution of this wicked trade. Indeed, it was of so much importance, +that in all my future interviews with others, which were for the purpose +of collecting evidence, I never forgot to make it a subject of inquiry. + +I can hardly say how precious I considered the facts with which Mr. +Falconbridge had furnished me from his own experience, relative to the +different branches of this commerce. They were so precious, that I began +now to be troubled lest I should lose them. For, though he had thus +privately unbosomed himself to me, it did not follow that he would come +forward as a public evidence. I was not a little uneasy on this account. +I was fearful lest, when I should put this question to him, his future +plan of life, or some little narrow consideration of future interest, +would prevent him from giving his testimony, and I delayed asking him +for many days. During this time, however, I frequently visited him; and +at length, when I thought I was better acquainted, and probably in some +little estimation, with him, I ventured to open my wishes on this +subject. He answered me boldly, and at once, that he had left the trade +upon principle, and that he would state all he knew concerning it, +either publicly or privately, and at any time when he should be called +upon to do it. This answer produced such an effect upon me, after all my +former disappointments, that I felt it all over my frame. It operated +like a sudden shock, which often disables the impressed person for a +time. So the joy I felt rendered me quite useless, as to business, for +the remainder of the day. + +I began to perceive in a little time the advantage of having cultivated +an acquaintance with Thompson of the Seven Stars. For nothing could now +pass in Bristol, relative to the seamen employed in this trade, but it +was soon brought to me. If there was anything amiss, I had so arranged +matters that I was sure to hear of it. He sent for me one day to inform +me that several of the seamen, who had been sent out of Marsh Street +into the Prince, which was then at Kingroad, and on the point of sailing +to Africa for slaves, had, through fear of ill usage on the voyage, +taken the boat and put themselves on shore. He informed me, at the same +time, that the seamen of the Africa, which was lying there also, and +ready to sail on a like voyage, were not satisfied, for that they had +been made to sign their articles of agreement without being permitted to +see them. To this he added, that Mr. Sheriff, one of the mates of the +latter vessel, was unhappy, also, on this account. Sheriff had been a +mate in the West India trade, and was a respectable man in his line. He +had been enticed by the captain of the Africa, under the promise of +peculiar advantages, to change his voyage. Having a wife and family at +Bristol, he was willing to make a sacrifice on their account: but when +he himself was not permitted to read the articles, he began to suspect +bad work, and that there would be nothing but misery in the approaching +voyage. Thompson entreated me to extricate him if I could. He was sure, +he said, if he went to the coast with that man, meaning the captain, +that he would never return alive. + +I was very unwilling to refuse anything to Thompson. I was deeply bound +to him in gratitude for the many services he had rendered me, but I +scarcely saw how I could serve him on this occasion. I promised, +however, to speak to him in an hour's time. I consulted my friend Truman +Harford in the interim; and the result was, that he and I should proceed +to Kingroad in a boat, go on board the Africa, and charge the captain in +person with what he had done, and desire him to discharge Sheriff, as no +agreement, where fraud or force was used in the signatures, could be +deemed valid. If we were not able to extricate Sheriff by these means, +we thought that at least we should know, by inquiring of those whom we +should see on board, whether the measure of hindering the men from +seeing their articles on signing them had been adopted. It would be +useful to ascertain this because such a measure had been long reported +to be usual in this, but was said to be unknown in any other trade. + +Having passed the river's mouth, and rowed towards the sea, we came near +the Prince first, but pursued our destination to the Africa. Mr. Sheriff +was the person who received us on board. I did not know him till I asked +his name. I then told him my errand, with which he seemed to be much +pleased. On asking him to tell the captain that I wished to speak with +him, he replied that he was on shore. This put me to great difficulty, +as I did not know then what to do. I consulted with Truman Harford, and +it was our opinion that we should inquire of the seamen, but in a very +quiet manner, by going individually to each, if they had ever demanded +to see the articles on signing them, and if they had been refused. We +proposed this question to them. They replied, that the captain had +refused them in a savage manner, making use of threats and oaths. There +was not one contradictory voice on this occasion. We then asked Mr. +Sheriff what we were to do. He entreated us by all means to take him on +shore. He was sure that under such a man as the captain, and +particularly after the circumstance of our coming on board should be +made known to him, he would never come from the coast of Africa alive. +Upon this, Truman Harford called me aside, and told me the danger of +taking an officer from the ship; for that, if any accident should happen +to her, the damage might all fall upon me. I then inquired of Mr. +Sheriff if there was any officer on board who could manage the ship. He +pointed one out to me, and I spoke to him in the cabin. This person told +me I need be under no apprehension about the vessel, but that every one +would be sorry to lose Mr. Sheriff. Upon this ground, Truman Harford, +who had felt more for me than for himself, became now easy. We had +before concluded, that the obtaining any signature by fraud or force +would render the agreement illegal. We therefore joined in opinion, that +we might take away the man. His chest was accordingly put into our boat. +We jumped into it with our rowers, and he followed us, surrounded by the +seamen, all of whom took an affectionate leave of him, and expressed +their regret at parting. Soon after this there was a general cry of +"Will you take me, too?" from the deck; and such a sudden movement +appeared there, that we were obliged to push off directly from the side, +fearing that many would jump into our boat and go with us. + +After having left the ship, Sheriff corroborated the desertion of the +seamen from the Prince, as before related to me by Thompson. He spoke +also of the savage disposition of his late captain, which he had even +dared to manifest through lying in an English port. I was impressed by +this account of his rough manners; and the wind having risen before and +the surf now rolling heavily, I began to think what an escape I might +have had; how easy it would have been for the savage captain, if he had +been on board, or for any one at his instigation, to have pushed me over +the ship's side. This was the first time I had ever considered the peril +of the undertaking. But we arrived safe; and though on the same evening +I left my name at the captain's house, as that of the person who had +taken away his mate, I never heard more about it. + +In pursuing my inquiries into the new topic suggested by Mr. +Falconbridge, I learnt that two or three of the seamen of the ship +Thomas, which had arrived now nearly a year from the Coast, were in a +very crippled and deplorable state; I accordingly went to see them. One +of them had been attacked by a fever, arising from circumstances +connected with these voyages. The inflammation, which had proceeded from +it, had reached his eyes; it could not be dispersed; and the consequence +was, that he was then blind. The second was lame; he had badly ulcerated +legs, and appeared to be very weak. The third was a mere spectre; I +think he was the most pitiable object I ever saw. I considered him as +irrecoverably gone. They all complained to me of their bad usage on +board the Thomas. They said they had heard, of my being in Bristol, and +they hoped I would not leave it without inquiring into the murder of +William Lines. + +On inquiring who William Lines was, they informed me that he had been +one of the crew of the same ship, and that all on board believed that he +had been killed by the chief mate; but they themselves had not been +present when the blows were given him; they had not seen him till +afterwards; but their shipmates had told them of his cruel treatment, +and they knew that soon afterwards he had died. + +In the course of the next day, the mother of Lines, who lived in +Bristol, came to me and related the case. I told her there was no +evidence as to the fact, for that I had seen three seamen, who could not +speak to it from their own knowledge. She said, there were four others +then in Bristol who could; I desired her to fetch them. When they +arrived I examined each separately, and cross-examined them in the best +manner I was able; I could find no variation in their account, and I was +quite convinced that the murder had taken place. The mother was then +importunate that I should take up the case. I was too much affected by +the narration I had heard to refuse her wholly, and yet I did not +promise that I would; I begged a little time to consider of it. During +this I thought of consulting my friend Burges, but I feared he would +throw cold water upon it, as he had done in the case of the captain of +the Alfred. I remembered well what he had then said to me, and yet I +felt a strong disposition to proceed, for the trade was still going on. +Every day, perhaps, some new act of barbarity was taking place; and one +example, if made, might counteract the evil for a time. I seemed +therefore to incline to stir in this matter, and thought, if I should +get into any difficulty about it, it would be better to do it without +consulting Mr. Burges, than, after having done it, to fly as it were in +his face. I then sent for the woman, and told her that she might appear +with the witnesses at the Common Hall, where the magistrates usually sat +on a certain day. + +We all met at the time appointed, and I determined to sit as near to the +mayor as I could get. The hall was unusually crowded. One or two +slave-merchants, and two or three others, who were largely concerned in +the West India trade, were upon the bench; for I had informed the mayor +the day before of my intention, and he, it appeared, had informed them. +I shall never forget the savage looks which these people gave me; which +indeed were so remarkable, as to occasion the eyes of the whole court to +be turned upon me. They looked as if they were going to speak to me, and +the people looked as if they expected me to say something in return. +They then got round the mayor, and began to whisper to him, as I +supposed, on the business before it should come on. One of them, +however, said aloud to the former, but fixing his eyes upon me, and +wishing me to overhear him, "Scandalous reports had lately been spread, +but sailors were not used worse in Guineamen than in other vessels." +This brought the people's eyes upon me again; I was very much irritated, +but I thought it improper to say anything. Another, looking savagely at +me, said to the mayor, "that he had known Captain Vicars a long time; +that he was an honourable man[A], and would not allow such usage in his +ship. There were always vagabonds to hatch up things;" and he made a +dead point at me, by putting himself into a posture which attracted the +notice of those present, and by staring me in the face. I could now no +longer restrain myself, and I said aloud, in as modest manner as I +could, "You, sir, may know many things which I do not; but this I know, +that if you do not do your duty, you are amenable to a higher court." +The mayor upon this looked at me, and directly my friend Mr. Burges, who +was sitting as the clerk to the magistrates, went to him and whispered +something in his ear; after which all private conversation between the +mayor and others ceased, and the hearing was ordered to come on. + +[Footnote A: We may well imagine what this person's notion of another +man's honour was; for he was the purser of the Brothers and of the +Alfred, who, as before mentioned, sent the captains of those ships out a +second voyage; after knowing their barbarities in the former; and he was +also the purser of this very ship Thomas, where the murder had been +committed. I by no means, however, wish by these observations to detract +from the character of Captain Vicars, as he had no concern in the cruel +deed.] + +I shall not detain the reader by giving an account of the evidence which +then transpired. The four witnesses were examined, and the case was so +far clear; Captain Vicars, however, was sent for. On being questioned, +he did not deny that there had been bad usage, but said that the young +man had died of the flux. But this assertion went for nothing when +balanced against the facts which had come out; and this was so evident, +that an order was made out for the apprehension of the chief mate. He +was accordingly taken up. The next day, however, there was a rehearing +of the case, when he was returned to the gaol, where he was to lie till +the Lords of the Admiralty should order a sessions to be held for the +trial of offences committed on the high seas. + +This public examination of the case of William Lines, and the way in +which it ended, produced an extraordinary result; for after this time +the slave-captains and mates who used to meet me suddenly, used as +suddenly to start from me, indeed to the other side of the pavement, as +if I had been a wolf, or tiger, or some dangerous beast of prey. Such of +them as saw me beforehand used to run up the cross streets or lanes, +which were nearest to them, to get away. Seamen, too, came from various +quarters to apply to me for redress. One came to me who had been treated +ill in the Alexander, when Mr. Falconbridge had been the surgeon of her. +Three came to me who had been ill-used in the voyage which followed, +though she had then sailed under a new captain. Two applied to me from +the Africa, who had been of her crew in the last voyage. Two from the +Fly. Two from the Wasp. One from the Little Pearl, and three from the +Pilgrim or Princess, when she was last upon the coast. + +The different scenes of barbarity which these represented to me, greatly +added to the affliction of my mind. My feelings became now almost +insupportable. I was agonized to think that this trade should last +another day. I was in a state of agitation from morning till night. I +determined I would soon leave Bristol. I saw nothing but misery in the +place. I had collected now, I believed, all the evidence it would +afford; and to stay in it a day longer than was necessary, would be only +an interruption for so much time both of my happiness and of my health. +I determined therefore to do only two or three things, which I thought +to be proper, and to depart in a few days. + +And first I went to Bath, where I endeavoured to secure the respectable +paper belonging to that city in favour of the abolition of the Slave +Trade. This I did entirely to my satisfaction, by relating to the worthy +editor all the discoveries I had made, and by impressing his mind in a +forcible manner on the subject. And it is highly to the honour of Mr. +Crutwell, that from that day he never ceased to defend our cause; that +he never made a charge for insertions of any kind; but that he +considered all he did upon this occasion in the light of a duty, or as +his mite given in charity to a poor and oppressed people. + +The next attempt was to lay the foundation of a committee in Bristol, +and of a petition to Parliament from it for the abolition of the Slave +Trade. I had now made many friends. A gentleman of the name of Paynter +had felt himself much interested in my labours. Mr. Joseph Harford, a +man of fortune, of great respectability of character, and of +considerable influence, had attached himself to the cause. Dr. Fox had +assisted me in it. Mr. Hughes, a clergyman of the baptist church, was +anxious and ready to serve it. Dr. Camplin, of the establishment, with +several of his friends, continued steady. Matthew Wright, James Harford, +Truman Harford, and all the Quakers to a man, were strenuous, and this +on the best of principles, in its support. To all these I spoke, and I +had the pleasure of seeing that my wishes were likely in a short time to +be gratified in both these cases. + +It was now necessary that I should write to the committee in London. I +had written to them only two letters during my absence; for I had +devoted myself so much to the great object I had undertaken, that I +could think of little else. Hence some of my friends among them were +obliged to write to different persons at Bristol, to inquire if I was +alive, I gave up a day or two therefore, to this purpose. I informed the +committee of all my discoveries in the various branches to which my +attention had been directed, and desired them in return to procure me +various official documents for the port of London, which I then +specified. Having done this, I conferred with Mr. Falconbridge, relative +to being with me at Liverpool. I thought it right to make him no other +offer than that his expenses should be paid. He acceded to my request on +these disinterested terms; and I took my departure from Bristol, leaving +him to follow me in a few days. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +Author secures the Gloucester paper, and lays the foundation of a +petition from that city; does the same at Worcester, and at +Chester.--Arrives at Liverpool.--Collects specimens of African +produce; also imports and exports, and muster-rolls, and accounts of +dock duties, and iron instruments used in the Slave Trade.--His +introduction to Mr. Norris, and others.--Author and his errand become +known.--People visit him out of curiosity.--Frequent controversies on +the subject of the Slave Trade. + + +On my arrival at Gloucester, I waited upon my friend Dean Tucker. He was +pleased to hear of the great progress I had made since he left me. On +communicating to him my intention of making interest with the editors of +some provincial papers, to enlighten the public mind, and with the +inhabitants of some respectable places, for petitions to Parliament, +relative to the abolition of the Slave Trade, he approved of it, and +introduced me to Mr. Raikes, the proprietor of the respectable paper +belonging to that city. Mr. Raikes acknowledged, without any hesitation, +the pleasure he should have in serving such a noble cause; and he +promised to grant me, from time to time, a corner in his paper, for such +things as I might point out to him for insertion. This promise he +performed afterwards, without any pecuniary consideration, and solely on +the ground of benevolence. He promised also his assistance as to the +other object, for the promotion of which I left him several of my +_Summary View_ to distribute. + +At Worcester I trod over the same ground, and with the same success. +Timothy Bevington, of the religious society of the Quakers, was the only +person to whom I had an introduction there: he accompanied me to the +mayor, to the editor of the Worcester paper, and to several others, +before each of whom I pleaded the cause of the oppressed Africans in the +best manner I was able. I dilated both on the inhumanity and on the +impolicy of the trade, which I supported by the various facts recently +obtained at Bristol. I desired, however, as far as petitions were +concerned, (and this desire I expressed on all other similar occasions,) +that no attempt should be made to obtain these, till such information +had been circulated on the subject, that every one, when called upon, +might judge, from his knowledge of it, how far he would feel it right to +join in it. For this purpose I left also here several of my _Summary +View_ for distribution. + +After my arrival at Chester, I went to the bishop's residence, but I +found he was not there. Knowing no other person in the place, I wrote a +note to Mr. Cowdroy, whom I understood to be the editor of the Chester +paper, soliciting an interview with him, I explained my wishes to him on +both subjects. He seemed to be greatly rejoiced, when we met, that such +a measure as that of the abolition of the Slave Trade was in +contemplation. Living at so short a distance from Liverpool, and in a +country from which so many persons were constantly going to Africa, he +was by no means ignorant, as some were, of the nature of this cruel +traffic; but yet he had no notion that I had probed it so deeply, or +that I had brought to light such important circumstances concerning it, +as he found by my conversation. He made me a hearty offer of his +services on this occasion, and this expressly without fee or reward. I +accepted them most joyfully and gratefully. It was, indeed, a most +important thing, to have a station so near the enemy's camp, where we +could watch their motions, and meet any attack which might be made from +it. And this office of a sentinel Mr. Cowdroy performed with great +vigilance; and when he afterwards left Chester for Manchester, to +establish a paper there, he carried with him the same friendly +disposition towards our cause. + +My first introduction at Liverpool was to William Rathbone, a member of +the religious society of the Quakers. He was the same person who, before +the formation of our committee, had procured me copies of several of the +muster-rolls of the slave-vessels belonging to that port, so that, +though we were not personally known, yet we were not strangers to each +other. Isaac Hadwen, a respectable member of the same society, was the +person whom I saw next. I had been introduced to him, previously to my +journey, when he was at London, at the yearly meeting of the Quakers, so +that no letter to him was necessary. As Mr. Roscoe had generally given +the profits of _The Wrongs of Africa_ to our committee, I made no +scruple of calling upon him. His reception of me was very friendly, and +he introduced me afterwards to Dr. Currie, who had written the preface +to that poem. There was also a fourth upon whom I called, though I did +not know him. His name was Edward Rushton: he had been an officer in a +slave-ship, but had lost his sight, and had become an enemy to that +trade. On passing through Chester, I had heard, for the first time, that +he had published a poem called _West Indian Eclogues_, with a view of +making the public better acquainted with the evil of the Slave Trade, +and of exciting their indignation against it. Of the three last it may +be observed, that, having come forward thus early, as labourers, they +deserve to be put down, as I have placed them in the map, among the +forerunners and coadjutors in this great cause, for each published his +work before any efforts were made publicly, or without knowing that any +were intended. Rushton, also, had the boldness, though then living in +Liverpool, to affix his name to his work. These were the only persons +whom I knew for some time after my arrival in that place. + +It may not, perhaps, be necessary to enter so largely into my +proceedings at Liverpool as at Bristol. The following account, +therefore, may suffice:-- + +In my attempts to add to my collection of specimens of African produce, +I was favoured with a sample of gum ruber astringents, of cotton from +the Gambia, of indigo and musk, of long pepper, of black pepper from +Whidah, of mahogany from Calabar, and of cloths of different colours, +made by the natives, which, while they gave other proofs of the quality +of their own cotton, gave proofs, also, of the variety of their dyes. + +I made interest at the Custom-house for various exports and imports, and +for copies of the muster-rolls of several slave-vessels, besides those +of vessels employed in other trades. + +By looking out constantly for information on this great subject, I was +led to the examination of a printed card or table of the dock duties of +Liverpool, which was published annually. The town of Liverpool had so +risen in opulence and importance from only a fishing-village, that the +corporation seemed to have a pride in giving a public view of this +increase. Hence they published and circulated this card. Now the card +contained one, among other facts, which was almost as precious, in a +political point of view, as any I had yet obtained. It stated that in +the year 1772, when I knew that a hundred vessels sailed out of +Liverpool for the coast of Africa, the dock-duties amounted to 4552_l._, +and that in 1779, when I knew that, in consequence of the war, only +eleven went from thence to the same coast, they amounted to 4957_l_. +From these facts put together, two conclusions were obvious. The first +was, that the opulence of Liverpool, as far as the entry of vessels into +its ports, and the dock-duties arising from thence, were concerned, was +not indebted to the Slave Trade; for these duties were highest when it +had only eleven ships in that employ. The second was, that there had +been almost a practical experiment with respect to the abolition of it; +for the vessels in it had been gradually reduced from one hundred to +eleven, and yet the West Indians had not complained of their ruin, nor +had the merchants or manufacturers suffered, nor had Liverpool been +affected by the change. + +There were specimens of articles in Liverpool, which I entirely +overlooked at Bristol, and which I believed I should have overlooked +here also, had it not been for seeing them at a window in a shop; I mean +those of different iron instruments used in this cruel traffic. I bought +a pair of the iron hand-cuffs with which the men-slaves are confined. +The right-hand wrist of one, and the left of another, are almost brought +into contact by these, and fastened together, as the figure A in the +annexed plate represents, by a little bolt with a small padlock at the +end of it. + +[Illustration: Handcuffs] + +I bought also a pair of shackles for the legs. These are represented by +the figure B. + +The right ancle of one man is fastened to the left of another, as the +reader will observe, by similar means. I bought these, not because it +was difficult to conceive how the unhappy victims of this execrable +trade were confined, but to show the fact that they were so. For what +was the inference from it, but that they did not leave their own country +willingly; that, when they were in the holds of the slave-vessels, they +were not in the Elysium which had been represented; and that there was a +fear either that they would make their escape, or punish their +oppressors? + +[Illustration: Shackles for the legs] + +I bought also a thumb-screw at this shop. The thumbs are put into this +instrument through the two circular holes at the top of it. By turning a +key, a bar rises up by means of a screw from C to D, and the pressure +upon them becomes painful. By turning it further you may make the blood +start from the ends of them. By taking the key away, as at E, you leave +the tortured person in agony, without any means of extricating himself, +or of being extricated by others. This screw, as I was then informed, +was applied by way of punishment, in case of obstinacy in the slaves, or +for any other reputed offence, at the discretion of the captain. + +At the same place I bought another instrument which I saw. It was called +a speculum oris. The dotted lines in the figure on the right hand of the +screw represent it when shut, the black lines when open. It is opened, +as at G H, by a screw below with a nob at the end of it. This instrument +is known among surgeons, having been invented to assist them in +wrenching open the mouth as in the case of a locked jaw; but it had got +into use in this trade. + +[Illustration: Thumb screw] + +[Illustration: Speculum oris] + +On asking the seller of the instruments on what occasion it was used +there, he replied that the slaves were frequently so sulky as to shut +their mouths against all sustenance, and this with a determination to +die; and that it was necessary their mouths should be forced open to +throw in nutriment, that they who had purchased them might incur no loss +by their death. + +The town-talk of Liverpool was much of the same nature as that at +Bristol on the subject of this trade. Horrible facts concerning it were +in everybody's mouth; but they were more numerous, as was likely to be +the case where eighty vessels were employed from one port, and only +eighteen from the other. The people, too, at Liverpool seemed to be more +hardened, or they related them with more coldness or less feeling. This +may be accounted for from the greater number of those facts, as just +related, the mention of which, as it was of course more frequent, +occasioned them to lose their power of exciting surprise. All this I +thought in my favour, as I should more easily, or with less +obnoxiousness, come to the knowledge of what I wanted to obtain. + +My friend William Rathbone, who had been looking out to supply me with +intelligence, but who was desirous that I should not be imposed upon, +and that I should get it from the fountainhead, introduced me to Mr. +Norris for this purpose. Norris had been formerly a slave-captain, but +had quitted the trade, and settled as a merchant in a different line of +business. He was a man of quick penetration, and of good talents, which +he had cultivated to advantage, and he had a pleasing address both as to +speech and manners. He received me with great politeness, and offered me +all the information I desired. I was with him five or six times at his +own house for this purpose. The substance of his communications on these +occasions I shall now put down, and I beg the reader's particular +attention to it, as he will be referred to it in other parts of this +work. + +With respect to the produce of Africa, Mr. Norris enumerated many +articles in which a new and valuable trade might be opened, of which he +gave me one, namely, the black pepper from Whidah before mentioned. This +he gave me, to use his own expressions, as one argument among many +others of the impolicy of the Slave Trade, which, by turning the +attention of the inhabitants to the persons of one another for sale, +hindered foreigners from discovering, and themselves from cultivating, +many of the valuable productions of their own soil. + +On the subject of procuring slaves, he gave it as his decided opinion +that many of the inhabitants of Africa were kidnapped by each other, as +they were travelling on the roads, or fishing in the creeks, or +cultivating their little spots. Having learned their language, he had +collected the fact from various quarters, but more particularly from the +accounts of slaves whom he had transported in his own vessels. With +respect, however, to Whidah, many came from thence who were reduced to +slavery in a different manner. The king of Dahomey, whose life (with the +wars and customs of the Dahomans) he said he was then writing, and who +was a very despotic prince, made no scruple of seizing his own subjects, +and of selling them, if he was in want of any of the articles which the +slave-vessels would afford him. The history of this prince's life he +lent me afterwards to read, while it was yet in manuscript, in which I +observed that he had recorded all the facts now mentioned. Indeed he +made no hesitation to state them, either when we were by ourselves, or +when others were in company with us. He repeated them at one time in the +presence both of Mr. Cruden and Mr. Coupland. The latter was then a +slave-merchant at Liverpool. He seemed to be fired at the relation of +these circumstances. Unable to restrain himself longer, he entered into +a defence of the trade, both as to the humanity and the policy of it; +but Mr. Norris took up his arguments in both these cases, and answered +them in a solid manner. + +With respect to the Slave Trade as it affected the health of our seamen, +Mr. Norris admitted it to be destructive; but I did not stand in need of +this information, as I knew this part of the subject, in consequence of +my familiarity with the muster-rolls, better than himself. + +He admitted it also to be true, that they were too frequently +ill-treated in this trade. A day or two after our conversation on this +latter subject he brought me the manuscript journal of a voyage to +Africa, which had been kept by a mate, with whom he was then acquainted. +He brought it to me to read, as it might throw some light upon the +subject on which we had talked last. In this manuscript various +instances of cruel usage towards seamen were put down, from which it +appeared that the mate, who wrote it, had not escaped himself. + +At the last interview we had, he seemed to be so satisfied of the +inhumanity, injustice, and impolicy of the trade, that he made me a +voluntary offer of certain clauses, which he had been thinking of, and +which, he believed, if put into an Act of Parliament, would judiciously +effect its abolition. The offer of these clauses I embraced eagerly. He +dictated them, and I wrote. I wrote them in a small book which I had +then in my pocket. They were these:-- + +No vessel, under a heavy penalty, to supply foreigners with slaves. + +Every vessel to pay to government a tax for a register on clearing out +to supply our own islands with slaves. + +Every such vessel to be prohibited from purchasing or bringing home any +of the productions of Africa. + +Every such vessel to be prohibited from bringing home a passenger, or +any article of produce, from the West Indies. + +A bounty to be given to every vessel trading in the natural productions +of Africa. This bounty to be paid in part out of the tax arising from +the registers of the slave-vessels. + +Certain establishments to be made by government in Africa, in the +Bananas, in the Isles de Los, on the banks of the Camaranca, and in +other places, for the encouragement and support of the new trade to be +substituted there. + +Such then were the services, which Mr. Norris, at the request of William +Rathbone, rendered me at Liverpool, during my stay there; and I have +been very particular in detailing them, because I shall be obliged to +allude to them, as I have before observed, on some important occasions +in a future part of the work. + +On going my rounds one day, I met accidentally with Captain Chaffers. +This gentleman either was or had been in the West India employ. His +heart had beaten in sympathy with mine, and he had greatly favoured our +cause. He had seen me at Mr. Norris's, and learned my errand there. He +told me he could introduce me in a few minutes, as we were then near at +hand, to Captain Lace, if I chose it. Captain Lace, he said, had been +long in the Slave Trade, and could give me very accurate information +about it. I accepted his offer. On talking to Captain Lace, relative to +the productions of Africa, he told me that mahogany grew at Calabar. He +began to describe a tree of that kind, which he had seen there. This +tree was from about eighteen inches to two feet in diameter, and about +sixty feet high, or, as he expressed it, of the height of a tall +chimney. As soon as he mentioned Calabar, a kind of horror came over me. +His name became directly associated in my mind with the place. It almost +instantly occurred to me, that he commanded the Edgar out of Liverpool, +when the dreadful massacre there, as has been related, took place. +Indeed I seemed to be so confident of it, that, attending more to my +feelings than to my reason at this moment, I accused him with being +concerned in it. This produced great confusion among us. For he looked +incensed at Captain Chaffers, as if he had introduced me to him for this +purpose. Captain Chaffers again seemed to be all astonishment that I +should have known of this circumstance, and to be vexed that I should +have mentioned it in such a manner. I was also in a state of trembling +myself. Captain Lace could only say it was a bad business. But he never +defended himself, nor those concerned in it. And we soon parted, to the +great joy of us all. + +Soon after this interview, I began to perceive that I was known in +Liverpool, as well as the object for which I came. Mr. Coupland, the +slave-merchant, with whom I had disputed at Mr. Norris's house, had +given the alarm to those who were concerned in the trade, and Captain +Lace, as may be now easily imagined, had spread it. This knowledge of me +and of my errand was almost immediately productive of two effects, the +first of which I shall now mention. + +I had a private room at the King's Arms tavern, besides my bed-room, +where I used to meditate and to write; but I generally dined in public. +The company at dinner had hitherto varied but little as to number, and +consisted of those, both from the town and country, who had been +accustomed to keep up a connexion with the house. But now things were +altered, and many people came to dine there daily with a view of seeing +me, as if I had been some curious creature imported from foreign parts. +They thought, also, they could thus have an opportunity of conversing +with me. Slave-merchants and slave-captains came in among others for +this purpose. I had observed this difference in the number of our +company for two or three days. Dale, the master of the tavern, had +observed it also, and told me in a good-natured manner, that many of +these were my visitors, and that I was likely to bring him a great deal +of custom. In a little time, however, things became serious; for they, +who came to see me, always started the abolition of the Slave Trade as +the subject for conversation. Many entered into the justification of +this trade with great warmth, as if to ruffle my temper, or at any rate +to provoke me to talk. Others threw out, with the same view, that men +were going about to abolish it, who would have done much better if they +had stayed at home. Others said they had heard of a person turned mad, +who had conceived the thought of destroying Liverpool, and all its +glory. Some gave as a toast, Success to the trade, and then laughed +immoderately, and watched me when I took my glass to see if I would +drink it. I saw the way in which things were now going, and I believed +it would be proper that I should come to some fixed resolutions; such +as, whether I should change my lodgings, and whether I should dine in +private; and if not, what line of conduct it would become me to pursue +on such occasions. With respect to changing my lodgings and dining in +private, I conceived, if I were to do either of these things, that I +should be showing an unmanly fear of my visiters, which they would turn +to their own advantage. I conceived too, that, if I chose to go on as +before, and to enter into conversation with them on the subject of the +abolition of the Slave Trade, I might be able, by having such an +assemblage of persons daily, to gather all the arguments which they +could collect on the other side of our question, an advantage which I +should one day feel in the future management of the cause. With respect +to the line, which I should pursue in the case of remaining in the place +of my abode and in my former habits, I determined never to start the +subject of the abolition myself--never to abandon it when started--never +to defend it but in a serious and dignified manner--and never to +discover any signs of irritation, whatever provocation might be given +me. By this determination I abided rigidly. The King's Arms became now +daily the place for discussion on this subject. Many tried to insult me, +but to no purpose. In all these discussions I found the great advantage +of having brought Mr. Falconbridge with me from Bristol; for he was +always at the table; and when my opponents, with a disdainful look, +tried to ridicule my knowledge, among those present, by asking me if I +had ever been on the coast of Africa myself, he used generally to reply, +"But I have. I know all your proceedings there, and that his statements +are true." These and other words put in by him, who was an athletic and +resolute-looking man, were of great service to me. All disinterested +persons, of whom there were four or five daily in the room, were +uniformly convinced by our arguments, and took our part, and some of +them very warmly. Day after day we beat our opponents out of the field, +as many of the company acknowledged, to their no small notification, in +their presence. Thus, while we served the cause by discovering all that +could be said against it, we served it by giving numerous individuals +proper ideas concerning it, and of interesting them in our favour. + +The second effect which I experienced was, that from this time I could +never get any one to come forward as an evidence to serve the cause. +There were, I believe, hundreds of persons in Liverpool, and in the +neighbourhood of it, who had been concerned in this traffic, and who had +left it, all of whom could have given such testimony concerning it as +would have insured its abolition. But none of them would now speak out. +Of these, indeed, there were some, who were alive to the horrors of it, +and who lamented that it should still continue. But yet even these were +backward in supporting me. All that they did was just privately to see +me, to tell me that I was right, and to exhort me to persevere: but as +to coming forward to be examined publicly, my object was so unpopular, +and would become so much more so when brought into parliament, that they +would have their houses pulled down, if they should then appear as +public instruments in the annihilation of the trade. With this account I +was obliged to rest satisfied; nor could I deny, when I considered the +spirit, which had manifested itself, and the extraordinary number of +interested persons in the place, that they had some reason for their +fears; and that these fears were not groundless, appeared afterwards; +for Dr. Binns, a respectable physician belonging to the religious +society of the Quakers, and to whom Isaac Hadwen had introduced me, was +near falling into a mischievous plot, which had been laid against him, +because he was one of the subscribers to the institution for the +abolition of the Slave Trade, and because he was suspected of having +aided me in promoting that object. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +Hostile disposition towards the author increases, on account of his +known patronage of the seamen employed in the Slave Trade; manner of +procuring and paying them at Liverpool; their treatment and +mortality.--Account of the murder of Peter Green; trouble taken by the +author to trace it; his narrow escape.--Goes to Lancaster, but returns +to Liverpool; leaves the latter place. + + +It has appeared that a number of persons used to come and see me, out of +curiosity, at the King's Arms tavern; and that these manifested a bad +disposition towards me, which was near breaking out into open insult. +Now the cause of all this was, as I have observed, the knowledge which +people had obtained relative to my errand at this place. But this +hostile disposition was increased by another circumstance, which I am +now to mention. I had been so shocked at the treatment of the seamen +belonging to the slave-vessels at Bristol, that I determined, on my +arrival at Liverpool, to institute an inquiry concerning it there also. +I had made considerable progress in it, so that few seamen were landed +from such vessels, but I had some communication with them; and though no +one else would come near me, to give me any information about the trade, +these were always forward to speak to me, and to tell me their +grievances, if it were only with the hope of being able to get redress. +The consequence of this was, that they used to come to the King's Arms +tavern to see me. Hence, one, two, and three, were almost daily to be +found about the door; and this happened quite as frequently after the +hostility just mentioned had shown itself, as before. They, therefore, +who came to visit me out of curiosity, could not help seeing my sailor +visiters; and on inquiring into their errand, they became more than ever +incensed against me. + +The first result of this increased hostility towards me was an +application from some of them to the master of the tavern, that he would +not harbour me. This he communicated to me in a friendly manner, but he +was by no means desirous that I should leave him. On the other hand, he +hoped I would stay long enough to accomplish my object. I thought it +right, however, to take the matter into consideration; and having +canvassed it, I resolved to remain with him, for the reasons mentioned +in the former chapter. But, that I might avoid doing anything that would +be injurious to his interest, as well as in some measure avoid giving +unnecessary offence to others, I took lodgings in Williamson Square, +where I retired to write, and occasionally to sleep, and to which place +all seamen, desirous of seeing me, were referred. Hence I continued to +get the same information as before, but in a less obnoxious and +injurious manner. + +The history of the seamen employed in the slave-vessels belonging to the +port of Liverpool, I found to be similar to that of those from Bristol. + +They who went into this trade were of two classes. The first consisted +of those who were ignorant of it, and to whom generally improper +representations of advantage had been made, for the purpose of enticing +them into it. The second consisted of those who, by means of a regular +system, kept up by the mates and captains, had been purposely brought by +their landlords into distress, from which they could only be extricated +by going into this hateful employ. How many have I seen, with tears in +their eyes, put into boats, and conveyed to vessels, which were then +lying at the Black Rock, and which were only waiting to receive them to +sail away! + +The manner of paying them in the currency of the islands was the same as +at Bristol. But this practice was not concealed at Liverpool, as it was +at the former place. The articles of agreement were printed, so that all +who chose to buy might read them. At the same time it must be observed, +that seamen were never paid in this manner in any other employ; and that +the African wages, though nominally higher for the sake of procuring +hands, were thus made to be actually lower than in other trades. + +The loss by death was so similar, that it did not signify whether the +calculation on a given number was made either at this or the other port. +I had, however, a better opportunity at this than I had at the other, of +knowing the loss, as it related to those whose constitutions had been +ruined, or who had been rendered incapable by disease, of continuing +their occupation at sea. For the slave-vessels which returned to +Liverpool, sailed immediately into the docks, so that I saw at once +their sickly and ulcerated crews. The number of vessels, too, was so +much greater from this, than from any other port, that their sick made a +more conspicuous figure in the infirmary; and they were seen also more +frequently in the streets. + +With respect to their treatment, nothing could be worse. It seemed to me +to be but one barbarous system from the beginning to the end. I do not +say barbarous, as if premeditated, but it became so in consequence of +the savage habits gradually formed by a familiarity with miserable +sights, and with a course of action inseparable from the trade. Men in +their first voyages usually disliked the traffic; and if they were happy +enough then to abandon it, they usually escaped the disease of a +hardened heart. But if they went a second and a third time, their +disposition became gradually changed. It was impossible for them to be +accustomed to carry away men and women by force, to keep them in chains, +to see their tears, to hear their mournful lamentations, to behold the +dead and the dying, to be obliged to keep up a system of severity amidst +all this affliction,--in short, it was impossible for them to be +witnesses, and this for successive voyages, to the complicated mass of +misery passing in a slave-ship, without losing their finer feelings, or +without contracting those habits of moroseness and cruelty which would +brutalize their nature. Now, if we consider that persons could not +easily become captains (and to these the barbarities were generally +chargeable by actual perpetration, or by consent) till they had been two +or three voyages in this employ, we shall see the reason why it would be +almost a miracle, if they, who were thus employed in it, were not rather +to become monsters, than to continue to be men. + +While I was at Bristol, I heard from an officer of the Alfred, who gave +me the intelligence privately, that the steward of a Liverpool ship, +whose name was Green, had been murdered in that ship. The Alfred was in +Bonny river at the same time, and his own captain, (so infamous for his +cruelty, as has been before shown,) was on board when it happened. The +circumstances, he said, belonging to this murder, were, if report were +true, of a most atrocious nature, and deserved to be made the subject of +inquiry. As to the murder itself, he observed, it had passed as a +notorious and uncontradicted fact. + +This account was given me just as I had made an acquaintance with Mr. +Falconbridge, and I informed him of it; he said he had no doubt of its +truth; for in his last voyage he went to Bonny himself, where the ship +was then lying, in which the transaction happened: the king and several +of the black traders told him of it. The report then current was simply +this, that the steward had been barbarously beaten one evening; that +after this he was let down with chains upon him into a boat, which was +alongside of the ship, and that the next morning he was found dead. + +On my arrival at Liverpool, I resolved to inquire into the truth of this +report. On looking into one of the wet docks, I saw the name of the +vessel alluded to; I walked over the decks of several others, and got on +board her. Two people were walking up and down her, and one was leaning +upon a rail by the side. I asked the latter how many slaves this ship +had carried in her last voyage; he replied he could not tell; but one of +the two persons walking about could answer me, as he had sailed out and +returned in her. This man came up to us, and joined in conversation. He +answered my questions and many others, and would have shown me the ship, +but on asking him how many seamen had died on the voyage, he changed his +manner, and said, with apparent hesitation, that he could not tell. I +asked him next, what had become, of the steward Green. He said he +believed he was dead. I asked how the seamen had been used. He said, not +worse than others. I then asked whether Green had been used worse than +others. He replied, he did not then recollect. I found that he was now +quite upon his guard, and as I could get no satisfactory answer from him +I left the ship. + +On the next day I looked over the muster-roll of this vessel; on +examining it, I found that sixteen of the crew had died; I found also +the name of Peter Green; I found, again, that the latter had been put +down among the dead. I observed, also, that the ship had left Liverpool +on the 5th of June, 1786, and had returned on the 5th of June, 1787, and +that Peter Green was put down as having died on the 19th of September; +from all which circumstances it was evident that he must, as my Bristol +informant asserted, have died upon the Coast. + +Notwithstanding this extraordinary coincidence of name, mortality, time, +and place, I could gain no further intelligence about the affair till +within about ten days before I left Liverpool; when among the seamen, +who came to apply to me in Williamson Square was George Ormond. He came +to inform me of his own ill-usage; from which circumstance I found that +he had sailed in the same ship with Peter Green. This led me to inquire +into the transaction in question, and I received from him the following +account. + +Peter Green had been shipped as steward. A black woman, of the name of +Rodney, went out in the same vessel; she belonged to the owners of it, +and was to be an interpretess to the slaves who should be purchased. +About five in the evening, some time in the month of September, the +vessel then lying in Bonny river, the captain, as was his custom, went +on shore. In his absence, Rodney, the black woman, asked Green for the +keys of the pantry, which he refused her, alleging that the captain had +already beaten him for having given them to her on a former occasion, +when she drank the wine. The woman, being passionate, struck him, and a +scuffle ensued, out of which Green extricated himself as well as he +could. + +When the scuffle was over the woman retired to the cabin, and appeared +pensive. Between eight and nine in the evening, the captain, who was +attended by the captain of the Alfred, came on board; Rodney immediately +ran to him, and informed him that Green had made an assault upon her. +The captain, without any inquiry, beat him severely, and ordered his +hands to be made fast to some bolts on the starboard side of the ship +and under the half deck, and then flogged him himself, using the lashes +of the cat-of-nine-tails upon his back at one time, and the double +walled knot at the end of it upon his head at another; and stopping to +rest at intervals, and using each hand alternately, that he might strike +with the greater severity. + +The pain had now become so very severe, that Green cried out, and +entreated the captain of the Alfred, who was standing by, to pity his +hard case, and to intercede for him. But the latter replied, that he +would have served me in the same manner. Unable to find a friend here, +he called upon the chief mate; but this only made matters worse, for the +captain then ordered the latter to flog him also; which he did for some +time, using however only the lashes of the instrument. Green then called +in his distress upon the second mate to speak for him; but the second +mate was immediately ordered to perform the same cruel office, and was +made to persevere in it till the lashes were all worn into threads. But +the barbarity did not close here; for the captain, on seeing the +instrument now become useless, ordered another, with which he flogged +him as before, beating him at times over the head with the double-walled +knot, and changing his hands, and cursing his own left hand for not +being able to strike so severe a blow as his right. + +The punishment, as inflicted by all parties, had now lasted two hours +and a half, when George Ormond was ordered to cut down one of the arms, +and the boatswain the other, from the places of their confinement; this +being done, Green lay motionless on the deck. He attempted to utter +something, Ormond understood it to be the word water; but no water was +allowed him. The captain, on the other hand, said he had not yet done +with him, and ordered him to be confined with his arms across, his right +hand to his left foot, and his left hand to his right foot. For this +purpose the carpenter brought shackles, and George Ormond was compelled +to put them on. The captain then ordered some tackle to be made fast to +the limbs of the said Peter Green, in which situation he was then +hoisted up, and afterwards let down into a boat, which was lying +alongside the ship. Michael Cunningham was then sent to loose the +tackle, and to leave him there. + +In the middle watch, or between one and two next morning, George Ormond +looked out of one of the port-holes, and called to Green, but received +no answer. Between two and three, Paul Berry, a seaman, was sent down +into the boat, and found him dead. He made his report to one of the +officers of the ship. About five in the morning the body was brought up, +and laid on the waist near the half-deck door. The captain on seeing the +body when he rose, expressed no concern, but ordered it to be knocked +out of irons, and to be buried at the usual place of interment for +seamen, or Bonny Point. I may now observe, that the deceased was in good +health before the punishment took place, and in high spirits; for he +played upon the flute only a short time before Rodney asked him for the +keys, while those seamen, who were in health, danced. + +On hearing this cruel relation from George Ormond, who was throughout a +material witness to the scene, I had no doubt in my own mind of the +truth of it; but I thought it right to tell him at once that I had seen +a person, about four weeks ago, who had been the same voyage with him +and Peter Green, but yet who had no recollection of these circumstances. +Upon this he looked quite astonished, and began to grow angry; he +maintained he had seen the whole; he had also held the candle himself +during the whole punishment. He asserted that one candle and half of +another were burnt out while it lasted. He said also that, while the +body lay in the waist, he had handled the abused parts, and had put +three of his fingers into a hole, made by the double walled knot, in the +head, from whence a quantity of blood and, he believed, brains issued. +He then challenged me to bring the man, before him; I desired him upon +this to be cool, and to come to me the next day, and I would then talk +with him again upon the subject. + +In the interim I consulted the muster-roll of the vessel again; I found +the name of George Ormond; he had sailed in her out of Liverpool, and +had been discharged at the latter end of January in the West Indies, as +he had told me. I found also the names of Michael Cunningham and of Paul +Berry, whom he had mentioned. It was obvious also that Ormond's account +of the captain of the Alfred being on board at the time of the +punishment tallied with that given me at Bristol by an officer of that +vessel, and that his account of letting down Peter Green into the boat +tallied with that which Mr. Falconbridge, as I mentioned before, had +heard from the king and the black traders in Bonny river. + +When he came to me next day, he came in high spirits. He said he had +found out the man whom I had seen. The man, however, when he talked to +him about the murder of Peter Green, acknowledged every thing concerning +it. Ormond intimated that this man was to sail again in the same ship +under the promise of being an officer, and that he had been kept on +board, and had been enticed to a second voyage, for no other purpose +than that he might be prevented from divulging the matter. I then asked +Ormond, whether he thought the man would acknowledge the murder in my +hearing. He replied, "that, if I were present, he thought he would not +say much about it, as he was soon to be under the same captain, but that +he would not deny it. If, however, I were out of sight, though I might +be in hearing, he believed he would acknowledge the facts." + +By the assistance of Mr. Falconbridge, I found a public-house, which had +two rooms in it: nearly at the top of the partition between them was a +small window, which a person might look through by standing upon a +chair. I desired Ormond, one evening, to invite the man into the larger +room, in which he was to have a candle, and, to talk with him on the +subject. I proposed to station myself in the smallest in the dark, so +that by looking through the window I could both see and hear him, and +yet be unperceived myself. The room, in which I was to be, was one where +the dead were frequently carried to be owned. We were all in our places +at the time appointed. I directly discovered that it was the same man +with whom I had conversed on board the ship in the wet docks. I heard +him distinctly relate many of the particulars of the murder, and +acknowledge them all. Ormond, after having talked with him some time, +said, "Well, then, you believe Peter Green was actually murdered?" He +replied, "If Peter Green was not murdered, no man ever was." What +followed I do not know. I had heard quite enough; and the room was so +disagreeable in smell, that I did not choose to stay in it longer than +was absolutely necessary. + +I own I was now quite satisfied that the murder had taken place, and my +first thought was to bring the matter before the mayor, and to take up +three of the officers of the ship. But, in mentioning my intention to my +friends, I was dissuaded from it. They had no doubt but that in +Liverpool, as there was now a notion that the Slave Trade would become a +subject of parliamentary inquiry, every, effort would be made to +overthrow me. They were of opinion also that such of the magistrates, as +were interested in the trade, when applied to for warrants of +apprehension, would contrive to give notice to the officers to escape. +In addition to this they believed, that so many in the town were already +incensed against me, that I should be torn to pieces, and the house +where I lodged burnt down, if I were to make the attempt. I thought it +right therefore to do nothing for the present; but I sent Ormond to +London, to keep him out of the way of corruption, till I should make up +my mind as to further proceedings on the subject. + +It is impossible, if I observe the bounds I have prescribed myself, and +I believe the reader will be glad of it on account of his own feelings, +that I should lay open the numerous cases, which came before me at +Liverpool, relative to the ill-treatment of the seamen in this wicked +trade. It may be sufficient to say, that they harassed my constitution, +and affected my spirits daily. They were in my thoughts on my pillow +after I retired to rest, and I found them before my eyes when I awoke. +Afflicting, however, as they were, they were of great use in the +promotion of our cause: for they served, whatever else failed, as a +stimulus to perpetual energy: they made me think light of former +labours, and they urged me imperiously to new. And here I may observe, +that among the many circumstances which ought to excite our joy on +considering the great event of the abolition of the Slave Trade, which +has now happily taken place, there are few for which we ought to be more +grateful, than that from this time our commerce ceases to breed such +abandoned wretches: while those, who have thus been bred in it, and who +may yet find employment in other trades, will, in the common course of +nature, be taken off in a given time, so that our marine will at length +be purified from a race of monsters, which have helped to cripple its +strength, and to disgrace its character. + +The temper of many of the interested people of Liverpool had now become +still more irritable, and their hostility more apparent than before. I +received anonymous letters, entreating me to leave it, or I should +otherwise never leave it alive. The only effect which this advice had +upon me, was to make me more vigilant when I went out at night. I never +stirred out at this time without Mr. Falconbridge; and he never +accompanied me without being well armed. Of this, however, I knew +nothing until we had left the place. There was certainly a time when I +had reason to believe that I had a narrow escape. I was one day on the +pier-head with many others looking at some little boats below at the +time of a heavy gale. Several persons, probably out of curiosity, were +hastening thither. I had seen all I intended to see, and was departing, +when I noticed eight or nine persons making towards me. I was then only +about eight or nine yards from the precipice of the pier, but going from +it. I expected that they would have divided to let me through them; +instead of which they closed upon me and bore me back. I was borne +within a yard of the precipice, when I discovered my danger; and +perceiving among them the murderer of Peter Green, and two others who +had insulted me at the King's Arms, it instantly struck me that they had +a design to throw me over the pier-head; which they might have done at +this time, and yet have pleaded that I had been killed by accident. +There was not a moment to lose. Vigorous on account of the danger, I +darted forward. One of them, against whom I pushed myself, fell down: +their ranks were broken; and I escaped, not without blows, amidst their +imprecations and abuse. + +I determined now to go to Lancaster, to make some inquiries about the +Slave Trade there. I had a letter of introduction to William Jepson, one +of the religious society of the Quakers, for this purpose. I found from +him, that, though there were slave-merchants at Lancaster, they made +their outfits at Liverpool, as a more convenient port. I learnt too from +others, that the captain of the last vessel, which had sailed out of +Lancaster to the coast of Africa for slaves, had taken off so many of +the natives treacherously, that any other vessel known to come from it +would be cut off. There were only now one or two superannuated captains +living in the place. Finding I could get no oral testimony, I was +introduced into the Custom-house. Here I just looked over the +muster-rolls of such slave-vessels as had formerly sailed from this +port; and having found that the loss of seamen was precisely in the same +proportion as elsewhere, I gave myself no further trouble, but left the +place. + +On my return to Liverpool, I was informed by Mr. Falconbridge, that a +ship-mate of Ormond, of the name of Patrick Murray, who had been +discharged in the West Indies, had arrived there. This man, he said, had +been to call upon me in my absence, to seek redress for his own bad +usage; but in the course of conversation he had confirmed all the +particulars as stated by Ormond, relative to the murder of Peter Green. +On consulting the muster-roll of the ship, I found his name, and that he +had been discharged in the West Indies on the 2nd of February. I +determined, therefore, to see him. I cross-examined him in the best +manner I could. I could neither make him contradict himself, nor say +anything that militated against the testimony of Ormond. I was +convinced, therefore, of the truth of the transaction; and, having +obtained his consent, I sent him to London to stay with the latter, till +he should hear further from me. I learnt also from Mr. Falconbridge, +that visitors had continued to come to the King's Arms during my +absence; that they had been very liberal of their abuse of me; and that +one of them did not hesitate to say (which is remarkable) that "I +deserved to be thrown over the pierhead." + +Finding now that I could get no further evidence; that the information +which I had already obtained was considerable[A]; and that the committee +had expressed an earnest desire, in a letter which I had received, that +I would take into consideration the propriety of writing my Essay on the +_Impolicy of the Slave Trade_ as soon as possible, I determined upon +leaving Liverpool. + +[Footnote A: In London, Bristol, and Liverpool, I had already obtained +the names of more than 20,000 seamen, in different voyages, knowing what +had become of each.] + +I went round accordingly and took leave of my friends. The last of these +was William Rathbone, and I have to regret, that it was also the last +time I ever saw him. Independently of the gratitude I owed him for +assisting me in this great cause, I respected him highly as a man: he +possessed a fine understanding with a solid judgment: he was a person of +extraordinary simplicity of manners. Though he lived in a state of +pecuniary independence, he gave an example of great temperance, as well +as of great humility of mind: but however humble he appeared, he had +always the courage to dare to do that which was right, however it might +resist the customs or the prejudices of men. In his own line of trade, +which was that of a timber-merchant on an extensive scale, he would not +allow any article to be sold for the use of a slave-ship, and he always +refused those, who applied to him for materials for such purposes. But +it is evident that it was his intention, if he had lived, to bear his +testimony still more publicly upon this subject; for an advertisement, +stating the ground of his refusal to furnish anything for this traffic +upon Christian principles, with a memorandum for two advertisements in +the Liverpool papers, was found among his papers at his decease. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Author proceeds to Manchester; finds a spirit rising among the people +there for the abolition of the Slave Trade; is requested to deliver a +discourse on the subject of the Slave Trade; heads of it, and +extracts.--Proceeds to Keddleston, and Birmingham; finds a similar +spirit at the latter place.--Revisits Bristol; new and difficult +situation there.--Author crosses the Severn at night; unsuccessful +termination of his journey; returns to London. + + +I now took my departure from Liverpool, and proceeded to Manchester, +where I arrived on the Friday evening. On the Saturday morning, Mr. +Thomas Walker, attended by Mr. Cooper and Mr. Bayley of Hope, called +upon me. They were then strangers to me. They came, they said, having +heard of my arrival, to congratulate me on the spirit which was then +beginning to show itself among the people of Manchester, and of other +places, on the subject of the Slave Trade, and which would +unquestionably manifest itself further by breaking out into petitions to +parliament for its abolition. I was much surprised at this information. +I had devoted myself so entirely to my object, that I had never had time +to read a newspaper since I left London. I never knew, therefore, till +now, that the attention of the public had been drawn to the subject in +such a manner. And as to petitions, though I myself had suggested the +idea at Bridgewater, Bristol, Gloucester, and two, or three other +places, I had only done it provisionally, and this without either the +knowledge or the consent of the committee. The news, however, as it +astonished, so it almost overpowered me with joy. I rejoiced in it, +because it was a proof of the general good disposition of my countrymen; +because it showed me that the cause was such as needed only to be known, +to be patronized; and because the manifestation of this spirit seemed to +me to be an earnest, that success would ultimately follow. + +The gentleman now mentioned took me away with them, and introduced me to +Mr. Thomas Phillips. We conversed, at first, upon the discoveries made +in my journey; but in a little time, understanding that I had been +educated as a clergyman, they came upon me with one voice, as if it had +been before agreed upon, to deliver a discourse the next day, which was +Sunday, on the subject of the Slave Trade. I was always aware that it +was my duty to do all that I could with propriety to serve the cause I +had undertaken, and yet I found myself embarrassed at their request. +Foreseeing, as I have before related, that this cause might demand my +attention to it for the greatest part of my life, I had given up all +thoughts of my profession. I had hitherto but seldom exercised it, and +then only to oblige some friend. I doubted, too, at the first view of +the thing, whether the pulpit ought to be made an engine for political +purposes, though I could not but consider the Slave Trade as a mass of +crimes, and therefore the effort to get rid of it as a Christian duty. I +had an idea, too, that sacred matters should not be entered upon without +due consideration, nor prosecuted in a hasty, but in a decorous and +solemn manner. I saw besides that, as it was then two o'clock in the +afternoon, and this sermon was to be forthcoming the next day, there was +not sufficient time to compose it properly. All these difficulties I +suggested to my new friends without any reserve. But nothing that I +could urge would satisfy them. They would not hear of a refusal, and I +was obliged to give my consent, though I was not reconciled to the +measure. + +When I went into the church it was so full that I could scarcely get to +my place; for notice had been publicly given, though I knew nothing of +it, that such a discourse would be delivered. I was surprised, also, to +find a great crowd of black people standing round the pulpit. There +might be forty or fifty of them. The text that I took, as the best to be +found in such a hurry, was the following:--"Thou shalt not oppress a +stranger, for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers +in the land of Egypt." + +I took an opportunity of showing, from these words, that Moses, in +endeavouring to promote among the children of Israel a tender +disposition towards those unfortunate strangers who had come under their +dominion, reminded them of their own state when strangers in Egypt, as +one of the most forcible arguments which could be used on such an +occasion. For they could not have forgotten that the Egyptians "had made +them serve with rigour; that they had made their lives bitter with hard +bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the +field; and that all the service, wherein they made them serve, was with +rigour." The argument, therefore, of Moses was simply this:--"Ye knew +well, when ye were strangers in Egypt, the nature of your own feelings. +Were you not made miserable by your debased situation there? But if so, +you must be sensible that the stranger, who has the same heart, or the +same feelings with yourselves, must experience similar suffering, if +treated in a similar manner. I charge you, then, knowing this, to stand +clear of the crime of his oppression." + +The law, then, by which Moses commanded the children of Israel to +regulate their conduct with respect to the usage of the stranger, I +showed to be a law of universal and eternal obligation, and for this, +among other reasons, that it was neither more nor less than the +Christian law, which appeared afterwards, that we should not do that to +others which we should be unwilling to have done unto ourselves. + +Having gone into these statements at some length, I made an application +of them in the following words:-- + +"This being the case, and this law of Moses being afterwards established +into a fundamental precept of Christianity, I must apply it to facts of +the present day, and I am sorry that I must apply it to--ourselves. + +"And first,--Are there no strangers whom we oppress? I fear the wretched +African will say, that he drinks the cup of sorrow, and that he drinks +it at our hands. Torn from his Native soil, and from his family and +friends, he is immediately forced into a situation, of all others the +most degrading, where he and his progeny are considered as cattle, as +possessions, and as the possessions of a man to whom he never gave +offence. + +"It is a melancholy fact, but it can be abundantly proved, that great +numbers of the unfortunate strangers, who are carried from Africa to our +colonies, are fraudulently and forcibly taken from their native soil. To +descant but upon a single instance of the kind must be productive of +pain to the ear of sensibility and freedom. Consider the sensations of +the person, who is thus carried off by the ruffians, who have been +lurking to intercept him. Separated from everything which he esteems in +life, without the possibility even of bidding his friends adieu, beheld +him overwhelmed in tears--wringing his hands in despair--looking +backwards upon the spot where all his hopes and wishes lay;--while his +family at home are waiting for him with anxiety and suspense--are +waiting, perhaps, for sustenance--are agitated between hope and +fear--till length of absence confirms the latter, and they are +immediately plunged into inconceivable misery and distress. + +"If this instance, then, is sufficiently melancholy of itself, and is at +all an act of oppression, how complicated will our guilt appear who are +the means of snatching away thousands annually in the same manner, and +who force them and their families into the same unhappy situation, +without either remorse or shame!" + +Having proceeded to show, in a more particular manner than I can detail +here, how, by means of the Slave Trade, we oppressed the stranger, I +made an inquiry into the other branch of the subject, or how far we had +a knowledge of his heart. + +To elucidate this point, I mentioned several specific instances out of +those which I had collected in my journey, and which I could depend upon +as authentic, of honour--gratitude--fidelity--filial, fraternal, and +conjugal affection--and of the finest sensibility on the part of those +who had been brought into our colonies from Africa in the character of +slaves; and then I proceeded for a while in the following words:-- + +"If, then, we oppress the stranger, as I have shown, and if, by a +knowledge of his heart, we find that he is a person of the same passions +and feelings as ourselves, we are certainly breaking, by means of the +prosecution of the Slave Trade, that fundamental principle of +Christianity, which says, that we shall not do that unto another which +we wish should not be done unto ourselves, and, I fear, cutting +ourselves off from all expectation of the Divine blessing. For how +inconsistent is our conduct! We come into the temple of God; we fall +prostrate before Him; we pray to Him, that He will have mercy upon us. +But how shall He have mercy upon us, who have had no mercy upon others! +We pray to Him, again, that He will deliver us from evil. But how shall +He deliver us from evil, who are daily invading the rights of the +injured African, and heaping misery on his head!" + +I attempted, lastly, to show, that, though the sin of the Slave Trade +had been hitherto a sin of ignorance, and might, therefore, have so far +been winked at, yet as the crimes and miseries belonging to it became +known, it would attach even to those who had no concern in it, if they +suffered it to continue either without notice or reproach, or if they +did not exert themselves in a reasonable manner for its suppression. I +noticed particularly, the case of Tyre and Sidon, which were the Bristol +and the Liverpool of those times. A direct judgment had been pronounced +by the prophet Joel against these cities, and, what is remarkable, for +the prosecution of this same barbarous traffic. Thus, "And what have ye +to do with me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? Ye +have cast lots for my people. Ye have sold a girl for wine. The children +of Judah, and the children of Jerusalem, have ye sold unto the Grecians, +that ye might remove them far from their own border. Behold! I will +raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will +recompense your wickedness on your own heads." Such was the language of +the prophet; and Tyre and Sidon fell, as he had pointed out, when the +inhabitants were either cut off, or carried into slavery. + +Having thrown out these ideas to the notice of the audience, I concluded +in the following words:-- + +"If, then, we wish to avert the heavy national judgment which is hanging +over our heads, (for must we not believe that our crimes towards the +innocent Africans lie recorded against us in heaven?) let us endeavour +to assert their cause. Let us nobly withstand the torrent of the evil, +however inveterately it may be fixed among the customs of the times; +not, however, using our liberty as a cloak of maliciousness against +those, who, perhaps, without due consideration, have the misfortune to +be concerned in it, but upon proper motives, and in a proper spirit, as +the servants of God; so that if the sun should be turned into darkness, +and the moon into blood, and the very heaven should fall upon us, we may +fall in the general convulsion without dismay, conscious that we have +done our duty in endeavouring to succour the distressed, and that the +stain of the blood of Africa is not upon us." + +From Manchester I proceeded to Keddleston in Derbyshire, to spend a day +with Lord Scarsdale, and to show him my little collection of African +productions, and to inform him of my progress since I last saw him. Here +a letter was forwarded to me from the Reverend John Toogood, of Keington +Magna in Dorsetshire, though I was then unknown to him. He informed me +that he had addressed several letters to the inhabitants of his own +county, through their provincial paper, on the subject of the Slave +Trade, which letters had produced a considerable effect. It appeared, +however, that, when he began them, he did not know of the formation of +our committee, or that he had a single coadjutor in the cause. + +From Keddleston I turned off to Birmingham, being desirous of visiting +Bristol in my way to London, to see if anything new had occurred since I +was there. I was introduced by letter, at Birmingham, to Sampson and +Charles Lloyd, the brothers of John Lloyd, belonging to our committee, +and members of the religious society of the Quakers. I was highly +gratified in finding that these, in conjunction with Mr. Russell, had +been attempting to awaken the attention of the inhabitants to this great +subject, and that in consequence of their laudable efforts, a spirit was +beginning to show itself there, as at Manchester, in favour of the +abolition of the Slave Trade. The kind manner in which these received +me, and the deep interest which they appeared to take in our cause, led +me to an esteem for them, which, by means of subsequent visits, grew +into a solid friendship. + +At length I arrived at Bristol about ten o'clock on Friday morning. But +what was my surprise, when almost the first thing I heard from my friend +Harry Gandy was, that a letter had been despatched to me to Liverpool, +nearly a week ago, requesting me immediately to repair to this place; +for that in consequence of notice from the lords of the Admiralty, +advertised in the public papers, the trial of the chief mate, whom I had +occasioned to be taken up at Bristol, for the murder of William Lines, +was coming on at the Old Bailey, and that not an evidence was to be +found. This intelligence almost paralyzed me. I cannot describe my +feelings on receiving it. I reproached myself with my own obstinacy for +having resisted the advice of Mr. Burges, as has been before explained. +All his words now came fresh into my mind. I was terrified, too, with +the apprehension that my own reputation was now at stake. I foresaw all +the calumnies which would be spread, if the evidences were not +forthcoming on this occasion. I anticipated, also, the injury which the +cause itself might sustain, if, at our outset, as it were, I should not +be able to substantiate what I had publicly advanced; and yet the mayor +of Bristol had heard and determined the case,--he had not only examined, +but re-examined, the evidences,--he had not only committed, but +re-committed, the accused: this was the only consolation I had. I was +sensible, however, amidst all these workings of my mind, that not a +moment was to be lost, and I began, therefore, to set on foot an inquiry +as to the absent persons. + +On waiting upon the mother of William Lines, I learnt from her, that two +out of four of the witnesses had been bribed by the slave-merchants, and +sent to sea, that they might not be forthcoming at the time of the +trial; that the two others had been tempted also, but that they had been +enabled to resist the temptation; that, desirous of giving their +testimony in this cause, they had gone into some coal-mine between Neath +and Swansea, where they might support themselves till they should be +called for; and that she had addressed a letter to them, at the request +of Mr. Gandy, above a week ago, in which she had desired them to come to +Bristol immediately, but that she had received no answer from them. She +then concluded, either that her letter had miscarried, or that they had +left the place. + +I determined to lose no time, after the receipt of this intelligence; +and I prevailed upon a young man, whom my friend Harry Gandy had +recommended to me, to set off directly, and to go in search of them. He +was to travel all night, and to bring them, or, if weary himself with +his journey, to send them up, without ever sleeping on the road. It was +now between twelve and one in the afternoon. I saw him depart. In the +interim I went to Thompson's, and other places, to inquire if any other +of the seamen, belonging to the Thomas, were to be found; but, though I +hunted diligently till four o'clock, I could learn nothing satisfactory. +I then went to dinner, but I grew uneasy. I was fearful that my +messenger might be at a loss, or that he might want assistance on some +occasion or other. I now judged that it would have been more prudent if +two persons had been sent, who might have conferred with each other, and +who might have divided, when they had reached Neath, and gone to +different mines, to inquire for the witnesses. These thoughts disturbed +me. Those, also, which had occurred when I first heard of the vexatious +way in which things were situated, renewed themselves painfully to my +mind. My own obstinacy in resisting the advice of Mr. Burges, and the +fear of injury to my own reputation, and to that of the cause I had +undertaken, were again before my eyes. I became still more uneasy: and I +had no way of relieving my feelings, but by resolving to follow the +young man, and to give him all the aid in my power. + +It was now near six o'clock. The night was cold and rainy and almost +dark. I got down, however, safe to the passage-house, and desired to be +conveyed across the Severn. The people in the house tried to dissuade me +from my design. They said no one would accompany me, for it was quite a +tempest. I replied that I would pay those handsomely who would go with +me. A person present asked me if I would give him three guineas for a +boat. I replied I would. He could not for shame retract. He went out, +and in about half an hour brought a person with him. We were obliged to +have a lanthorn as far as the boat. We got on board, and went off. But +such a passage I had never before witnessed. The wind was furious. The +waves ran high. I could see nothing but white foam. The boat, also, was +tossed up and down in such a manner that it was with great difficulty I +could keep my seat. The rain, too, poured down in such torrents that we +were all of us presently wet through. We had been, I apprehend, more +than an hour in this situation, when the boatmen began to complain of +cold and weariness. I saw, also, that they began to be uneasy, for they +did not know where they were. They had no way of forming any judgment +about their course, but by knowing the point from whence the wind blew, +and by keeping the boat in a relative position towards it. I encouraged +them as well as I could, though I was beginning to be uneasy myself, and +also sick. In about a quarter of an hour they began to complain again. +They said they could pull no longer. They acknowledged, however, that +they were getting nearer to the shore, though on what part of it they +could not tell. I could do nothing but bid them hope. They then began to +reproach themselves for having come out with me. I told them I had not +forced them, but that it was a matter of their own choice. In the midst +of this conversation I informed them that I thought I saw either a star +or a light straight forward. They both looked at it and pronounced it to +be a light, and added with great joy that it must be a light in the +Passage-house; and so we found it; for in about ten minutes afterwards +we landed, and, on reaching the house, learnt that a servant maid had +been accidentally talking to some other person on the stair-case, near a +window, with a candle in her hand, and that the light had appeared to us +from that circumstance. + +It was now near eleven o'clock. My messenger, it appeared, had arrived +safe about five in the evening, and had proceeded on his route. I was +very cold on my arrival, and sick also. There seemed to be a chilliness +all over me, both within and without. Indeed I had not a dry thread +about me. I took some hot brandy and water, and went to bed; but +desired, as soon as my clothes were thoroughly dried, to be called up, +that I might go forward. This happened at about two in the morning, when +I got up. I took my breakfast by the fire-side. I then desired the +post-boy, if he should meet any persons on the road, to stop and inform +me, as I did not know whether the witnesses might not be coming up by +themselves, and whether they might not have passed my messenger without +knowing his errand. Having taken these precautions, I departed. I +travelled on, but we met no one. I traced, however, my messenger through +Newport, Cardiff, and Cowbridge. I was assured, also, that he had not +passed me on his return; nor had any of those passed me whom he was +seeking. At length, when I was within about two miles of Neath I met +him. He had both the witnesses under his care. This was a matter of +great joy to me. I determined to return with them. It was now nearly two +in the afternoon. I accordingly went back, but we did not reach the +Passage-house again till nearly two the next morning. + +During our journey, neither the wind nor the rain had much abated. It +was quite dark on our arrival. We found only one person, and he had been +sitting up in expectation of us. It was in vain that I asked him for a +boat to put us across the water. He said all the boatmen were in bed; +and, if they were up, he was sure that none of them would venture out. +It was thought a mercy by all of them that we were not lost last night. +Difficulties were also started about horses to take us another way. +Unable, therefore, to proceed, we took refreshment and went to bed. + +We arrived at Bristol between nine and ten the next morning; but I was +so ill that I could go no further; I had been cold and shivering ever +since my first passage across the Severn; and I had now a violent sore +throat and a fever with it. All I could do was to see the witnesses off +for London, and to assign them to the care of an attorney, who should +conduct them to the trial. For this purpose I gave them a letter to a +friend of the name of Langdale. I saw them depart. The mother of William +Lines accompanied them. By a letter received on Tuesday, I learnt that +they had not arrived in town till Monday morning at three o'clock; that +at about nine or ten they found out the office of Mr. Langdale; that, on +inquiring for him, they heard he was in the country, but that he would +be home at noon; that, finding he had not then arrived, they acquainted +his clerk with the nature of their business, and opened my letter to +show him the contents of it; that the clerk went with them to consult +some other person on the subject, when he conveyed them to the Old +Bailey; but that, on inquiring at the proper place about the +introduction of the witnesses, he learnt that the chief mate had been +brought to the bar in the morning, and, no person then appearing against +him, that he had been discharged by proclamation. Such was the end of +all my anxiety and labour in this affair. I was very ill when I received +the letter; but I saw the necessity of bearing up against the +disappointment, and I endeavoured to discharge the subject from my mind +with the following wish, that the narrow escape which the chief mate had +experienced, and which was entirely owing to the accidental +circumstances now explained, might have the effect, under Providence, of +producing in him a deep contrition for his offence, and of awakening him +to a serious attention to his future life[A]. + +[Footnote A: He had undoubtedly a narrow escape; for Mr. Langdale's +clerk had learnt that he had no evidence to produce in his favour. The +slave-merchants, it seems, had counted most upon bribing those who were +to come against him, to disappear.] + +I was obliged to remain in Bristol a few days longer in consequence of +my illness; but as soon as I was able I reached London, when I attended +a sitting of the committee after an absence of more than five months. At +this committee it was strongly recommended to me to publish a second +edition of my _Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species_, +and to insert such of the facts in it in their proper places, out of +those collected in my late travels, as I might judge to be productive of +an interesting effect. There appeared, also, an earnest desire in the +committee, that, directly after this, I should begin my _Essay on the +Impolicy of the Slave Trade_. + +In compliance with their wishes, I determined upon both these works; but +I resolved to retire into the country, that, by being subject to less +interruption there, I might the sooner finish them. It was proper, +however, that I should settle many things in London before I took my +departure from it; and, among these, that I should find out George +Ormond and Patrick Murray, whom I had sent from Liverpool on account of +the information they had given me relative to the murder of Peter Green. +I saw no better way than to take them before Sir Sampson Wright, who was +then at the head of the police of the metropolis. He examined and +cross-examined them several times, and apart from each other. He then +desired their evidence to be drawn up in the form of depositions, copies +of which he gave to me. He had no doubt that the murder would be proved. +The circumstances of the deceased being in good health at nine o'clock +in the evening, and of his severe sufferings till eleven, and of the +nature of the wounds discovered to have been made on his person, and of +his death by one in the morning, could never, he said, be done away by +any evidence who should state that he had been subject to other +disorders which might have occasioned his decease. He found himself, +therefore, compelled to apply to the magistrates of Liverpool, for the +apprehension of three of the principal officers of the ship; but the +answer was that the ship had sailed, and that they whose names had been +specified were then, none of them, to be found in Liverpool. + +It was now for me to consider whether I would keep the two witnesses, +Ormond and Murray, for a year, or perhaps longer, at my own expense, and +run the hazard of the death of the officers in the interim, and of other +calculable events. I had felt so deeply for the usage of the seamen in +this cruel traffic, which indeed had embittered all my journey, that I +had no less than nine prosecutions at law upon my hands on their +account, and nineteen witnesses detained at my own cost. The committee +in London could give me no assistance in these cases. They were the +managers of the public purse for the abolition of the Slave Trade, and +any expenses of this kind were neither within the limits of their +object, nor within the pale of their duty. From the individuals +belonging to it, I picked up a few guineas by way of private +subscription, and this was all. But a vast load still remained upon me, +and such as had occasioned uneasiness to my mind. I thought it, +therefore, imprudent to detain the evidences for this purpose for so +long a time, and I sent them back to Liverpool. I commenced, however, a +prosecution against the captain at common law for his barbarous usage of +them, and desired that it might be pushed on as vigorously as possible; +and the result was, that his attorney was so alarmed, particularly after +knowing what had been done by Sir Sampson Wright, that he entered into a +compromise to pay all the expenses of the suit hitherto incurred, and to +give Ormond and Murray a sum of money as damages for the injury which +they themselves had sustained. This compromise was acceded to. The men +received the money, and signed the release, (of which I insisted upon a +copy,) and went to sea again in another trade, thanking me for my +interference in their behalf. But by this copy, which I have now in my +possession, it appears that care was taken by the captain's attorney to +render their future evidence in the case of Peter Green almost +impracticable; for it was there wickedly stated, "that George Ormond and +Patrick Murray did then and there bind themselves in certain penalties +that they would neither encourage nor support any action at law against +the said captain, by or at the suit or prosecution of any other of the +seamen now or late on board the said ship, and that they released the +said captain also from all manner of actions, suits, and cause and +causes of action, informations, prosecutions, and other proceedings +which they then had, or ever had, or could or might have, by reason of +the said assaults upon their own persons, or _other wrongs or injuries +done by the said captain heretofore and to the date of this +release_[A]." + +[Footnote A: None of the nine actions before mentioned ever came to a +trial; but they were all compromised by paying sums to the injured +parties.] + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Labours of the committee during the author's journey; Quakers the +first to notice its institution; General Baptists the +next.--Correspondence opened with American societies for +Abolition.--First individual who addressed the committee was Mr. +William Smith.--Thanks voted to Ramsay.--Committee prepares lists of +persons to whom to send its publications; Barclay, Taylor, and +Wedgewood, elected members of the committee.--Letters from Brissot and +others.--Granville Sharp elected chairman,--Seal ordered to be +engraved.--Letters from different correspondents, as they offered +their services to the committee. + + +The committee, during my absence, had attended regularly at their posts; +they had been both vigilant and industrious; they were, in short, the +persons who had been the means of raising the public spirit which I had +observed first at Manchester, and afterwards as I journeyed on. It will +be proper, therefore, that I should now say something of their labours, +and of the fruits of them: and if, in doing this, I should be more +minute for a few pages than some would wish, I must apologize for myself +by saying, that there are others who would be sorry to lose the +knowledge of the particular manner in which the foundation was laid, and +the superstructure advanced, of a work which will make so brilliant an +appearance in our history, as that of the abolition of the Slave Trade. + +The committee having dispersed five hundred circular letters, giving an +account of their institution in London and its neighbourhood, the +Quakers were the first to notice it. This they did in their yearly +epistle, of which the following is an extract:--"We have also thankfully +to believe there is a growing attention in many, not of our religious +society, to the subject of negro slavery; and that the minds of the +people are more and more enlarged to consider it as an aggregate of +every species of evil, and to see the utter inconsistency of upholding +it by the authority of any nation whatever, especially of such as +punish, with loss of life, crimes whose magnitude bears scarce any +proportion to this complicated iniquity." + +The General Baptists were the next; for on the 22nd of June, Stephen +Lowdell and Dan Taylor attended as a deputation from the annual meeting +of that religious body, to inform the committee, that those whom they +represented approved their proceedings, and that they would countenance +the object of their institution. + +The first individual who addressed the committee was Mr. William Smith, +the late member for Norwich. In his letter, he expressed the pleasure he +had received in finding persons associated in the support of a cause in +which he himself had taken a deep interest. He gave them advice as to +their future plans. He promised them all the co-operation in his power: +and he exhorted them not to despair, even if their first attempt should +be unsuccessful; "for consolation," says he, "will not be wanting. You +may rest satisfied that the attempt will be productive of some good; +that the fervent wishes of the righteous will be on your side, and that +the blessing of those who are ready to perish will fall upon you." And +as Mr. Smith was the first person to address the committee as an +individual after its formation, so, next to Mr. Wilberforce and the +members of it, he gave the most time and attention to the promotion of +the cause. + +On the 5th of July, the committee opened a correspondence, by means of +William Dillwyn, with the societies of Philadelphia and New York, of +whose institution an account has been given. At this sitting a due sense +was signified of the services of Mr. Ramsay, and a desire of his +friendly communications when convenient. + +The two next meetings were principally occupied in making out lists of +the names of persons in the country, to whom the committee should send +their publications for distribution. For this purpose, every member was +to bring in an account of those whom he knew personally, and whom he +believed not only to be willing, but qualified on account of their +judgment and the weight of their character, to take an useful part in +the work which was to be assigned to them. It is a remarkable +circumstance, that when the lists were arranged, the committee, few as +they were, found they had friends in no less than thirty-nine +counties[A], in each of which there were several, so that a knowledge of +their institution could now be soon diffusively spread. + +[Footnote A: The Quakers, by means of their discipline, have a greater +personal knowledge of each other, than the members of any other +religious society. But two-thirds of the committee were Quakers, and +hence the circumstance is explained. Hence also nine-tenths of our first +coadjutors were Quakers.] + +The committee having now fixed upon their correspondents, ordered five +hundred of the circular letters which have been before mentioned, and +five thousand of the _Summary View_, an account of which has been given +also, to be printed. + +On account of the increase of business, which was expected in +consequence of the circulation of the preceding publications, Robert +Barclay, John Vickris Taylor, and Josiah Wedgewood, Esq., were added to +the committee; and it was then resolved, that any three members might +call a meeting when necessary. + +On the 27th of August, the new correspondents began to make their +appearance. This sitting was distinguished by the receipt of letters +from two celebrated persons. The first was from Brissot, dated Paris, +August the 18th, who, it may be recollected, was an active member of the +National Convention of France, and who suffered in the persecution of +Robespierre. The second was from Mr. John Wesley, whose useful labours +as a minister of the Gospel, are so well known to our countrymen. + +Brissot, in his letter, congratulated the members of the committee, on +having come together for so laudable an object. He offered his own +assistance towards the promotion of it. He desired, also, that his +valuable friend Claviere (who suffered also under Robespierre) might be +joined to him, and that both might be acknowledged by the committee, as +associates in what he called this heavenly work. He purposed to +translate and circulate through France such publications as they might +send him from time to time; and to appoint bankers in Paris, who might +receive subscriptions, and remit them to London, for the good of their +common cause. In the mean time, if his own countrymen should be found to +take an interest in this great cause, it was not improbable that a +committee might be formed in Paris, to endeavour to secure the +attainment of the same object from the government in France. + +The thanks of the committee were voted to Brissot for this disinterested +offer of his services, and he was elected an honorary and corresponding +member. In reply, however, to his letter, it was stated that, as the +committee had no doubt of procuring from the generosity of their own +nation sufficient funds for effecting the object of their institution, +they declined the acceptance of any pecuniary aid from the people of +France; but recommended him to attempt the formation of a committee in +his own country, and to inform them of his progress, and to make to them +such other communications as he might deem necessary upon the subject +from time to time. + +Mr. Wesley, whose letter was read next, informed the committee of the +great satisfaction which he also had experienced, when he heard of their +formation. He conceived that their design, while it would destroy the +Slave Trade, would also strike at the root of the shocking abomination +of slavery also. He desired to forewarn them that they must expect +difficulties and great opposition from those who were interested in the +system; that these were a powerful body; and that they would raise all +their forces, when they perceived their craft to be in danger. They +would employ hireling writers, who would have neither justice nor mercy. +But the committee were not to be dismayed by such treatment, nor even if +some of those who professed goodwill towards them, should turn against +them. As for himself, he would do all he could to promote the object of +their institution. He would reprint a new and large edition of his +_Thought on Slavery_, and circulate it among his friends in England and +Ireland, to whom he would add a few words in favour of their design. And +then he concluded in these words: "I commend you to Him who is able to +carry you through all opposition, and support you under all +discouragements." + +On the 4th, 11th, and 18th of September, the committee were employed +variously. Among other things, they voted their thanks to Mr. Leigh, a +clergyman of the Established Church, for the offer of his services for +the county of Norfolk. They ordered, also, one thousand of the circular +letters to be additionally printed. + +At one of these meetings a resolution was made, that Granville Sharp, +Esq. be appointed chairman. This appointment, though now first formally +made in the minute book, was always understood to have taken place; but +the modesty of Mr. Sharp was such that, though repeatedly pressed, he +would never consent to take the chair; and he generally refrained from +coming into the room till after he knew it to be taken. Nor could he be +prevailed upon, even after this resolution, to alter his conduct: for +though he continued to sign the papers, which were handed to him by +virtue of holding this office, he never was once seated as the chairman, +during the twenty years in which he attended at these meetings. I +thought it not improper to mention this trait in his character. +Conscious that he engaged in the cause of his fellow-creatures, solely +upon the sense of his duty as a Christian, he seems to have supposed +either that he had done nothing extraordinary to merit such a +distinction, or to have been fearful lest the acceptance of it should +bring a stain upon the motive, on which alone he undertook it. + +On the 2nd and 16th of October two sittings took place; at the latter of +which a sub-committee, which had been appointed for the purpose, brought +in a design for a seal. An African was seen, (as in the figure[A],) in +chains, in a supplicating posture, kneeling with one knee upon the +ground, and with both his hands lifted up to heaven, and round the seal +was observed the following motto, as if he was uttering the words +himself,--"Am I not a Man and a Brother?" The design having been +approved of, a seal was ordered to be engraved from it. I may mention +here that this seal, simple as the design was, was made to contribute +largely, as will be shown in its proper place, towards turning the +attention of our countrymen to the case of the injured Africans, and of +procuring a warm interest in their favour. + +[Footnote A: The figure is rather larger than that in the seal.] + +[Illustration: Seal] + +On the 30th of October several letters were read: one of these was from +Brissot and Claviere conjointly; in this they acknowledged the +satisfaction they had received on being considered as associates in the +humane work of the abolition of the Slave Trade, and correspondents in +France for the promotion of it. They declared it to be their intention +to attempt the establishment of a committee there, on the same +principles as that in England; but, in consequence of the different +constitutions of the two governments, they gave the committee reason to +suppose, that their proceedings must be different, as well as slower +than those in England, for the same object. + +A second letter was read from Mr. John Wesley. He said that he had now +read the publications which the committee had sent him, and that he +took, if possible, a still deeper interest in their cause. He exhorted +them to more than ordinary diligence and perseverance; to be prepared +for opposition; to be cautious about the manner of procuring information +and evidence, that no stain might fall upon their character; and to take +care that the question should be argued, as well upon the consideration +of interest as of humanity and justice, the former of which he feared +would have more weight than the latter; and he recommended them and +their glorious concern, as before, to the protection of Him who was able +to support them. + +Letters were read from Dr. Price, approving the institution of the +committee; from Charles Lloyd of Birmingham, stating the interest which +the inhabitants of that town were taking in it; and from William +Russell, Esq. of the same place, stating the same circumstance, and that +he would co-operate with the former in calling a public meeting, and in +doing whatever else was necessary for the promotion of so good a cause. +A letter was read also from Manchester, signed conjointly by George +Barton Thomas Cooper, John Ferriar, Thomas Walker, Thomas Phillips, +Thomas Butterworth Bayley, and George Lloyd, Esqrs., promising their +assistance from that place. Two others were read from John Kerrich, +Esq., of Harleston, and from Joshua Grigby, Esq., of Drinkston, each +tendering their services, one for the county Of Norfolk, and the other +for the county of Suffolk. The latter concluded by saying, "With respect +to myself, in no possible instance of my public conduct can I receive so +much sincere satisfaction, as I shall, by the vote I will most assuredly +give in parliament, in support of this most worthy effort to suppress a +traffic, which is contrary to all the feelings of humanity, and the laws +of our religion." + +A letter was read also at this sitting from Major Cartwright, of +Marnham, in which he offered his own services, in conjunction with those +of the Rev. John Charlesworth, of Ossington, for the county of +Nottingham. + +"I congratulate you," says he, in this letter, "on the happy prospect of +some considerable step at least being taken, towards the abolition of a +traffic, which is not only impious in itself, but of all others tends +most to vitiate the human mind. + +"Although procrastination is generally pernicious in cases depending +upon the feelings of the heart, I should almost fear that, without very +uncommon exertions, you will scarcely be prepared early in the next +sessions, for bringing the business into parliament with the greatest +advantage. But, be that as it may, let the best use be made of the +intermediate time; and then, if there be a superintending Providence, +which governs everything in the moral world, there is every reason to +hope for a blessing on this particular work." + +The last letter was from Robert Boucher Nickolls, dean of Middleham, in +Yorkshire. In this he stated that he was a native of the West Indies, +and had travelled on the continent of America. He then offered some +important information to the committee as his mite, towards the +abolition of the Slave Trade, and as an encouragement to them to +persevere. He attempted to prove, that the natural increase of the +negroes already in the West Indian islands would be fully adequate to +the cultivation of them, without any fresh supplies from Africa; and +that such natural increase would be secured by humane treatment. With +this view, he instanced the two estates of Mr. MacMahon and of Dr. Mapp, +in the island of Barbados. The first required continual supplies of new +slaves, in consequence of the severe and cruel usage adopted upon it. +The latter overflowed with labourers in consequence of a system of +kindness, so that it almost peopled another estate. Having related these +instances, he cited others in North America, where, though the climate +was less favourable to the constitution of the Africans, but their +treatment better, they increased also. He combated, from his own +personal knowledge, the argument, that self-interest was always +sufficient to insure good usage, and maintained that there was only one +way of securing it, which was the entire abolition of the Slave Trade. +He showed in what manner the latter measure would operate to the desired +end: he then dilated on the injustice and inconsistency of this trade, +and supported the policy of the abolition of it, both to the planter, +the merchant, and the nation. + +This letter of the Dean of Middleham, which was a little Essay of +itself, was deemed of so much importance by the committee, but +particularly as it was the result of local knowledge, that they not only +passed a resolution of thanks to him for it, but desired his permission +to print it. + +The committee sat again on the 13th and 22nd of November. At the first +of these sittings, a letter was read from Henry Grimston, Esq., of +Whitwell Hall, near York, offering his services for the promotion of the +cause in his own county. At the second, the Dean of Middleham's answer +was received. He acquiesced in the request of the committee; when five +thousand of his letters were ordered immediately to be printed. + +On the 22nd a letter was read from Mr. James Mackenzie, of the town of +Cambridge, desiring to forward the object of the institution there. Two +letters were read also, one from the late Mr. Jones, tutor of Trinity +College, and the other from Mr. William Frend, fellow of Jesus College. +It appeared from these, that the gentlemen of the University of +Cambridge were beginning to take a lively interest in the abolition of +the Slave Trade, among whom Dr. Watson, the bishop of Llandaff, was +particularly conspicuous. At this committee two thousand new _Summary +View_ were ordered to be printed, and the circular letter to be prefixed +to each. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +Labours of the committee continued to February, 1788.--Committee elect +new members; vote thanks to Falconbridge and others; receive letters +from Grove and others; circulate numerous publications; make a report; +send circular letters to corporate bodies; release negroes unjustly +detained; find new correspondents in Archdeacon Paley, the Marquis de +la Fayette, Bishop of Cloyne, Bishop of Peterborough, and in many +others. + + +The labours of the committee, during my absence, were as I have now +explained them; but as I was obliged, almost immediately, on joining +them, to retire into the country to begin my new work, I must give an +account of their further services till I joined them again, or till the +middle of February, 1788. + +During sittings which were held from the middle of December, 1787, to +the 18th of January, 1788, the business of the committee had so +increased, that it was found proper to make an addition to their number. +Accordingly James Martin and William Morton Pitt, Esquires, members of +parliament, and Robert Hunter, and Joseph Smith, Esquires, were chosen +members of it. + +The knowledge also of the institution of the society had spread to such +an extent, and the eagerness among individuals to see the publications +of the committee had been so great, that the press was kept almost +constantly going during the time now mentioned. No fewer than three +thousand lists of the subscribers, with a circular letter prefixed to +them, explaining the object of the institution, were ordered to be +printed within this period, to which are to be added fifteen hundred of +BENEZET'S _Account of Guinea_, three thousand of the DEAN of MIDDLEHAM'S +_Letters_, five thousand _Summary View,_ and two thousand of a new +edition of the _Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species_, which I had +enlarged before the last of these sittings from materials collected in +my late tour. + +The thanks of the committee were voted during this period to Mr. +Alexander Falconbridge, for the assistance he had given me in my +inquiries into the nature of the Slave Trade. + +As Mr. Falconbridge had but lately returned from Africa, and as facts +and circumstances, which had taken place but a little time ago, were +less liable to objections (inasmuch as they proved the present state of +things) than those which happened in earlier times, he was prevailed +upon to write an account of what he had seen during the four voyages he +had made to that continent; and accordingly, within the period which has +been mentioned, he began his work. + +The committee, during these sittings, kept up a correspondence with +those gentlemen who were mentioned in the last chapter to have addressed +them. But, besides these, they found other voluntary correspondents in +the following persons, Capell Lofft, Esq., of Troston, and the Reverend +B. Brome, of Ipswich, both in the county of Suffolk. These made an +earnest tender of their services for those parts of the county in which +they resided. Similar offers were made by Mr. Hammond, of Stanton, near +St. Ives, in the county of Huntingdon, by Thomas Parker, Esq., of +Beverly, and by William Grove, Esq., of Litchfield, for their respective +towns and neighbourhoods. + +A letter was received also within this period from the society +established at Philadelphia, accompanied with documents in proof of the +good effects of the manumission of slaves, and with specimens of writing +and drawing by the same. In this letter the society congratulated the +committee in London on its formation, and professed its readiness to +co-operate in any way in which it could me made useful. + +During these sittings, a letter was also read from Dr. Bathurst, +afterwards bishop of Norwich, dated Oxford, December 17th, in which he +offered his services in the promotion of the cause. + +Another was read, which stated that Dr. Home, president of Magdalen +College in the same university, and afterwards bishop of the same see as +the former, highly favoured it. + +Another was read from Mr. Lambert, fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, +in which he signified to the committee the great desire he had to +promote the object of their institution. He had drawn up a number of +queries relative to the state of the unhappy slaves in the islands, +which he had transmitted to a friend, who had resided in them, to +answer. These answers he purposed to forward to the committee on their +arrival. + +Another was read from Dr. Hinchliffe, bishop of Peterborough, in which +he testified his hearty approbation of the institution, and of the +design of it, and his determination to support the object of it in +parliament. He gave in at the same time a plan, which he called +_Thoughts on the Means of Abolishing the Slave Trade in Great Britain +and in our West Indian Islands_, for the consideration of the committee. + +At the last of these sittings, the committee thought it right to make a +report to the public relative to the state and progress of their cause; +but as this was composed from materials which the reader has now in his +possession, it may not be necessary to produce it. + +On the 22nd and 29th of January, and on the 5th and 12th of February, +1788, sittings were also held. During these, the business still +increasing, John Maitland, Esq., was elected a member of the committee. + +As the correspondents of the committee were now numerous, and as these +solicited publications for the use of those who applied to them, as well +as of those to whom they wished to give a knowledge of the subject, the +press was kept in constant employ during this period also. Five thousand +two hundred and fifty additional _Reports_ were ordered to be printed, +and also three thousand of FALCONBRIDGE'S _Account of the Slave Trade_, +the manuscript of which was now finished. At this time, Mr. Newton, +rector of St. Mary Woolnoth in London, who had been in his youth to the +coast of Africa, but who had now become a serious and useful divine, +felt it his duty to write his _Thoughts on the African Slave Trade_. The +committee, having obtained permission, printed three thousand copies of +these also. + +During these sittings, the chairman was requested to have frequent +communication with Dr. Porteus, bishop of London, as he had expressed +his desire of becoming useful to the institution. + +A circular letter also, with the report before mentioned, was ordered to +be sent to the majors of several corporate towns. + +A case also occurred, which it may not be improper to notice. The +treasurer reported that he had been informed by the chairman, that the +captain of the Albion, merchant ship, trading to the Bay of Honduras, +had picked up at sea, from a Spanish ship, which had been wrecked, two +black men, one named Henry Martin Burrowes, a free native of Antigua, +who had served in the royal navy, and the other named Antonio Berrat, a +Spanish negro; that the said captain detained these men on board his +ship, then lying in the river Thames, against their will; and that, he +would not give them up. Upon this report, it was resolved that the cause +of these unfortunate captives should be espoused by the committee. Mr. +Sharp accordingly caused a writ of habeas-corpus to be served upon them; +soon after which he had the satisfaction of reporting, that they had +been delivered from the place of their confinement. + +During these sittings the following letters were read also: + +One from Richard How, of Apsley, offering his services to the committee. + +Another from the Reverend Christopher Wyvill, of Burton Hall, in +Yorkshire, to the same effect. + +Another from Archdeacon Plymley, (afterwards Corbett,) in which he +expressed the deep interest he took in this cause of humanity and +freedom, and the desire he had of making himself useful as far as he +could towards the support of it; and he wished to know, as the Clergy of +the diocese of Lichfield and Coventry were anxious to espouse it also, +whether a petition to parliament from them, as a part of the Established +Church, would not be desirable at the present season. + +Another from Archdeacon Paley, containing his sentiments on a plan for +the abolition of the Slave Trade, and the manumission of slaves in our +islands, and offering his future services, and wishing success to the +undertaking. + +Another from Dr. Sharp, prebendary of Durham, inquiring into the +probable amount of the subscriptions which might be wanted, and for what +purposes, with a view of serving the cause. + +Another from Dr. Woodward, bishop of Cloyne, in which he approved of the +institution of the committee. He conceived the Slave Trade to be no less +disgraceful to the legislature and injurious to the true commercial +interests of the country, than it was productive of unmerited misery to +the unhappy objects of it, and repugnant both to the principles and the +spirit of the Christian religion. He wished to be placed among the +assertors of the liberty of his fellow-creatures, and he was therefore +desirous of subscribing largely, as well as of doing all he could, both +in England and Ireland, for the promotion of such a charitable work. + +A communication was made, soon after the reading of the last letter, +through the medium of the Chevalier de Ternant, from the celebrated +Marquis de la Fayette of France. The Marquis signified the singular +pleasure he had received on hearing of the formation of a committee in +England for the abolition of the Slave Trade, and the earnest desire he +had to promote the object of it. With this view, he informed the +committee that he should attempt the formation of a similar society in +France. This he conceived to be one of the most effectual measures he +could devise for securing the object in question; for he was of opinion, +that if the two great nations of France and England were to unite in +this humane and Christian work, the other European nations might be +induced to follow the example. + +The committee, on receiving the two latter communications, resolved, +that the chairman should return their thanks to the Bishop of Cloyne, +and the Marquis de la Fayette, and the Chevalier de Ternant, and that he +should inform them, that they were enrolled among the honorary and +corresponding members of the society. + +The other letters read during these sittings were to convey information +to the committee, that people in various parts of the kingdom had then +felt themselves so deeply interested in behalf of the injured Africans, +that they had determined either on public meetings, or had come to +resolutions, or had it in contemplation to petition parliament, for the +abolition of the Slave Trade. Information was signified to this effect +by Thomas Walker, Esquire, for Manchester; by John Hoyland, William +Hoyles, Esquire, and the Reverend James Wilkinson, for Sheffield; by +William Tuke, and William Burgh, Esquire, for York; by the Reverend Mr. +Foster, for Colchester; by Joseph Harford and Edmund Griffith, Esquires, +for Bristol; by William Bishop, Esquire, the mayor, for Maidstone; by +the Reverend R. Brome and the Reverend J. Wright, for Ipswich; by James +Clarke, Esquire, the mayor, for Coventry; by Mr. Jones, of Trinity +College, for the University of Cambridge; by Dr. Schomberg, of Magdalen +College, for the University of Oxford; by Henry Bullen, Esquire, for +Bury St. Edmunds; by Archdeacon Travis, for Chester; by Mr. Hammond, for +the county of Huntingdon; by John Flint, Esquire, (afterwards Corbett,) +for the town of Shrewsbury and county of Salop; by the Reverend Robert +Lucas, for the town and also for the county of Northampton; by Mr. +Winchester, for the county of Stafford; by the Reverend William Leigh, +for the county of Norfolk; by David Barclay, for the county of Hertford; +and by Thomas Babington, Esquire, for the county of Leicester. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +Further progress to the middle of May.--Petitions begin to be sent to +parliament.--The king orders the privy council to inquire into the +Slave Trade.--Author called up to town; his interviews with Mr. Pitt, +and with Mr.(afterwards Lord) Grenville.--Liverpool delegates examined +first; these prejudice the council; this prejudice at length +counteracted.--Labours of the committee in the interim.--Public +anxious for the introduction of the question into parliament.--Message +of Mr. Pitt to the committee concerning it.--Day fixed for the +motion.--Substance of the debate which followed.--Discussion of the +general question deferred till the next sessions. + + +By this time the nature of the Slave Trade had, in consequence of the +labours of the committee and of their several correspondents, become +generally known throughout the kingdom. It had excited a general +attention, and there was among the people a general feeling in behalf of +the wrongs of Africa. This feeling had also, as may be collected from +what has been already mentioned, broken out into language: for not only +had the traffic become the general subject of conversation, but public +meetings had taken place, in which it had been discussed, and of which +the result was, that an application to parliament had been resolved upon +in many places concerning it. By the middle of February not fewer than +thirty-five petitions had been delivered to the Commons, and it was +known that others were on their way to the same house. + +This ferment in the public mind, which had shown itself in the public +prints even before the petitions had been resolved upon, had excited the +attention of government. To coincide with the wishes of the people on +this subject, appeared to those in authority to be a desirable thing. To +abolish the trade, replete as it was with misery, was desirable also; +but it was so connected with the interest of individuals, and so +interwoven with the commerce and revenue of the country, that a hasty +abolition of it without a previous inquiry appeared to them to be likely +to be productive of as much misery as good. The king, therefore, by an +order of council dated February the eleventh, 1788, directed that a +committee of Privy Council should sit as a board of trade, "to take into +their consideration the present state of the African Trade, particularly +as far as related to the practice and manner of purchasing or obtaining +slaves on the coast of Africa, and the importation and sale thereof, +either in the British colonies and settlements, or in the foreign +colonies and settlements in America or the West-Indies; and also as far +as related to the effects and consequences of the trade both in Africa +and in the said colonies and settlements, and to the general commerce of +this kingdom; and that they should report to him in council the result +of their inquiries, with such observations as they might have to offer +thereupon." + +Of this order of council Mr. Wilberforce, who had attended to this great +subject, as far as his health would permit, since I left him, had +received notice; but he was then too ill himself to take any measures +concerning it. He therefore wrote to me, and begged of me to repair to +London immediately, in order to get such evidence ready as we might +think it eligible to introduce when the council sat. At that time, as +appears from the former chapter, I had finished the additions to my +_Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species_, and I had now +proceeded about half way in that of the Impolicy of it. This summons, +however, I obeyed, and returned to town on the fourteenth of February, +from which day to the twenty-fourth of May I shall now give the history +of our proceedings. + +My first business in London was to hold a conversation with Mr. Pitt +previously to the meeting of the council, and to try to interest him, as +the first minister of state, in our favour. For this purpose Mr. +Wilberforce had opened the way for me, and an interview took place. We +were in free conversation together for a considerable time, during which +we went through most of the branches of the subject. Mr. Pitt appeared +to me to have but little knowledge of it. He had also his doubts, which +he expressed openly, on many points. He was at a loss to conceive how +private interest should not always restrain the master of the slave from +abusing him. This matter I explained to him as well as I could; and if +he was not entirely satisfied with my interpretation of it, he was at +least induced to believe that cruel practices were more probable than he +had imagined. A second circumstance, of the truth of which he doubted, +was the mortality and usage of seamen in this trade; and a third was the +statement by which so much had been made of the riches of Africa, and of +the genius and abilities of her people; for he seemed at a loss to +comprehend, if these things were so, how it happened that they should +not have been more generally noticed before. I promised to satisfy him +upon these points, and an interview was fixed for this purpose the next +day. + +At the time appointed, I went with my books, papers, and African +productions. Mr. Pitt examined the former himself. He turned over leaf +after leaf, in which the copies of the muster-rolls were contained, with +great patience; and when he had looked over above a hundred pages +accurately, and found the name of every seaman inserted, his former +abode or service, the time of his entry, and what had become of him, +either by death, discharge, or desertion, he expressed his surprise at +the great pains which had been taken in this branch of the inquiry; and +confessed, with some emotion, that his doubts were wholly removed with +respect to the destructive nature of this employ; and he said, moreover, +that the facts contained in these documents, if they had been but fairly +copied, could never be disproved. He was equally astonished at the +various woods and other productions of Africa, but most of all at the +manufactures of the natives in cotton, leather, gold, and iron, which +were laid before him. These he handled and examined over and over again. +Many sublime thoughts seemed to rush in upon him at once at the sight of +these, some of which he expressed with observations becoming a great and +a dignified mind. He thanked me for the light I had given him on many of +the branches of this great question. And I went away under a certain +conviction that I had left him much impressed in our favour. + +My next visit was to Mr. (afterwards Lord) Grenville. I called upon him +at the request of Mr. Wilberforce, who had previously written to him +from Bath, as he had promised to attend the meetings of the privy +council during the examinations which were to take place. I found, in +the course of our conversation, that Mr. Grenville had not then more +knowledge of the subject than Mr. Pitt; but I found him differently +circumstanced in other respects, for I perceived in him a warm feeling +in behalf of the injured Africans, and that he had no doubt of the +possibility of all the barbarities which had been alleged against this +traffic. I showed him all my papers and some of my natural productions, +which he examined. I was with him the next day, and once again +afterwards, so that the subject was considered in all its parts. The +effect of this interview with him was of course different from that upon +the minister. In the former case I had removed doubts, and given birth +to an interest in favour of our cause. But I had here only increased an +interest, which had already been excited, I had only enlarged the mass +of feeling, or added zeal to zeal, or confirmed resolutions and +reasonings. Disposed in this manner originally himself, and strengthened +by the documents with which I had furnished him, Mr. Grenville +contracted an enmity to the Slave Trade, which was never afterwards +diminished[A]. + +[Footnote A: I have not mentioned the difference between these two +eminent persons, with a view of drawing any invidious comparisons, but +because, as these statements are true, such persons as have a high +opinion of the late Mr. Pitt's judgment, may see that this great man did +not espouse the cause hastily, or merely as a matter of feeling, but +upon the conviction of his own mind.] + +A report having gone abroad that the committee of privy council would +only examine those who were interested in the continuance of the trade, +I found it necessary to call upon Mr. Pitt again, and to inform him of +it, when I received an assurance that every person whom I chose to send +to the council in behalf of the committee should be heard. This gave +rise to a conversation relative to those witnesses whom we had to +produce on the side of the abolition. And here I was obliged to disclose +our weakness in this respect. I owned with sorrow that, though I had +obtained specimens and official documents in abundance to prove many +important points, yet I had found it difficult to prevail upon persons +to be publicly examined on this subject. The only persons we could then +count upon, were Mr. Ramsay, Mr. H. Gandy, Mr. Falconbridge, Mr. Newton, +and the Dean of Middleham. There was one, however, who would be a host +of himself, if we could but gain him. I then mentioned Mr. Norris. I +told Mr. Pitt the nature[A] and value of the testimony which he had +given me at Liverpool, and the great zeal he had discovered to serve the +cause. I doubted, however, if he would come to London for this purpose, +even if I wrote to him; for he was intimate with almost all the owners +of slave-vessels in Liverpool, and, living among these, he would not +like to incur their resentment by taking a prominent part against them. +I therefore entreated Mr. Pitt to send him a summons of council to +attend, hoping that Mr. Norris would then be pleased to come up, as he +would be enabled to reply to his friends that his appearance had not +been voluntary. Mr. Pitt, however, informed me, that a summons from a +committee of privy council, sitting as a board, was not binding upon the +subject; and therefore that I had no other means left, but of writing to +him, and he desired me to do this by the first post. + +[Footnote A: See his evidence, Chap. XVII.] + +This letter I accordingly wrote, and sent it to my friend William +Rathbone, who was to deliver it in person, and to use his own influence +at the same time; but I received for answer, that Mr. Norris was then in +London. Upon this I tried to find him out, to entreat him to consent to +an examination before the council. At length I found his address; but +before I could see him, I was told by the Bishop of London that he had +come up as a Liverpool delegate in support of the Slave Trade. +Astonished at this information, I made the bishop acquainted with the +case, and asked him how it became me to act; for I was fearful lest, by +exposing Mr. Norris, I should violate the rights of hospitality on the +one hand, and by not exposing him that I should not do my duty to the +cause I had undertaken on the other. His advice was, that I should see +him, and ask him to explain the reasons of his conduct. I called upon +him for this purpose, but he was out. He sent me, however, a letter soon +afterwards, which was full of flattery; and in which, after having paid +high compliments to the general force of my arguments, and the general +justice and humanity of my sentiments on this great question, which had +made a deep impression upon his mind, he had found occasion to differ +from me, since we had last parted, on particular points, and that he had +therefore less reluctantly yielded to the call of becoming a +delegate,--though notwithstanding he would gladly have declined the +office if he could have done it with propriety. + +At length the council began their examinations. Mr. Norris, Lieutenant +Matthews, of the navy, who had just left a slave employ in Africa, and +Mr. James Penny, formerly a slave captain, and then interested as a +merchant in the trade, (which three were the delegates from Liverpool,) +took possession of the ground first. Mr. Miles, Mr. Weuves, and others, +followed them on the same side. The evidence which they gave, as +previously concerted between themselves, may be shortly represented +thus:--They denied that kidnapping either did or could take place in +Africa, or that wars were made there for the purpose of procuring +slaves. Having done away these wicked practices from their system, they +maintained positions which were less exceptionable, as that the natives +of Africa generally became slaves in consequence of having been made +prisoners in just wars, or in consequence of their various crimes. They +then gave a melancholy picture of the despotism and barbarity of some of +the African princes, among whom the custom of sacrificing their own +subjects prevailed. But, of all others, that which was afforded by Mr. +Norris on this ground was the most frightful. The King of Dahomey, he +said, sported with the lives of his people in the most wanton manner. He +had seen at the gates of his palace two piles of heads, like those of +shot in an arsenal. Within the palace, the heads of persons, newly put +to death, were strewed at the distance of a few yards in the passage, +which led to his apartment. This custom of human sacrifice by the King +of Dahomey was not on one occasion only, but on many; such as on the +reception of messengers from neighbouring states, or of white merchants, +or on days of ceremonial. But the great carnage was once a year, when +the poll-tax was paid by his subjects. A thousand persons, at least, +were sacrificed annually on these different occasions. The great men, +too, of the country, cut off a few heads on festival-days. From all +these particulars the humanity of the Slave Trade was inferred, because +it took away the inhabitants of Africa into lands where no such +barbarities were known. But the humanity of it was insisted upon by +positive circumstances also; namely, that a great number of the slaves +were prisoners of war, and that in former times all such were put to +death, whereas now they were saved: so that there was a great accession +of happiness to Africa since the introduction of the trade. + +These statements, and those of others on the same side of the question, +had a great effect, as may easily be conceived, upon the feelings of +those of the council who were present. Some of them began immediately to +be prejudiced against us. There were others who even thought that it was +almost unnecessary to proceed in the inquiry, for that the trade was +actually a blessing. They had little doubt that all our assertions +concerning it would be found false. The Bishop of London himself was so +impressed by these unexpected accounts, that he asked me if +Falconbridge, whose pamphlet had been previously sent by the committee +to every member of the council, was worthy of belief, and if he would +substantiate publicly what he had thus written: but these impressions +unfortunately were not confined to those who had been present at the +examinations. These could not help communicating them to others. Hence, +in all the higher circles (some of which I sometimes used to frequent) I +had the mortification to hear of nothing but the Liverpool evidence, and +of our own credulity, and of the impositions which had been practised +upon us: of these reports the planters and merchants did not fail to +avail themselves. They boasted that they would soon do away all the idle +tales which had been invented against them. They desired the public only +to suspend their judgment till the privy council report should be out, +when they would see the folly and wickedness of all our allegations. A +little more evidence, and all would be over. On the 22nd of March, +though the committee council had not then held its sittings more than a +month, and these only twice or thrice a week, the following paragraph +was seen in a morning paper:--"The report of the committee of privy +council will be ready in a few days. After due examination it appears +that the major part of the complaints against this trade are +ill-founded. Some regulations, however, are expected to take place, +which may serve in a certain degree to appease the cause of humanity." + +But while they, who were interested, had produced this outcry against +us, in consequence of what had fallen from their own witnesses in the +course of their examinations, they had increased it considerably by the +industrious circulation of a most artful pamphlet among persons of rank +and fortune at the west end of the metropolis, which was called, +_Scriptural Researches on the Licitness of the Slave Trade_. This they +had procured to be written by R. Harris, who was then clerk in a +slave-house in Liverpool, but had been formerly a clergyman and a +Jesuit. As they had maintained in the first instance, as has been +already shown, the humanity of the traffic, so, by means of this +pamphlet they asserted its consistency with revealed religion. That such +a book should have made converts in such an age is surprising; and yet +many, who ought to have known better, were carried away by it; and we +had now absolutely to contend, and almost degrade ourselves by doing so, +against the double argument of the humanity and the holiness of the +trade. + +By these means, but particularly by the former, the current of opinion +in particular circles ran against us for the first month, and so strong, +that it was impossible for us to stem it at once; but as some of the +council recovered from their panic, and their good sense became less +biassed by their feelings, and they were in a state to hear reason, +their prejudices began to subside. It began now to be understood among +them, that almost all the witnesses were concerned in the continuance of +the trade. It began to be known also, (for Mr. Pitt and the Bishop of +London took care that it should be circulated,) that Mr. Norris had but +a short time before furnished me at Liverpool with information, all of +which he had concealed[A] from the council, but all of which made for +the abolition of it. Mr. Devaynes also, a respectable member of +parliament, who had been in Africa, and who had been appealed to by Mr. +Norris, when examined before the privy council, in behalf of his +extraordinary facts, was unable, when summoned, to confirm them to the +desired extent. From this evidence the council collected, that human +sacrifices were not made on the arrival of White traders, as had been +asserted; that there was no poll-tax in Dahomey at all; and that Mr. +Norris must have been mistaken on these points, for he must have been +there at the time of the ceremony of watering the graves, when about +sixty persons suffered. This latter custom moreover appeared to have +been a religious superstition of the country, such as at Otaheite, or in +Britain in the time of the Druids, and to have had nothing to do with +the Slave Trade[B]. With respect to prisoners of war, Mr. Devaynes +allowed that the old, the lame, and the wounded, were often put to death +on the spot; but this was to save the trouble of bringing them away. The +young and the healthy were driven off for sale; but if they were not +sold when offered, they were not killed, but reserved for another +market, or became house-slaves to the conquerors. Mr. Devaynes also +maintained, contrary to the allegations of the others, that a great +number of persons were kidnapped in order to be sold to the ships; and +that the government, where this happened, was not strong enough to +prevent it. But besides these drawbacks from the weight of the testimony +which had been given, it began to be perceived by some of the lords of +the council, that the cruel superstitions which had been described, +obtained only in one or two countries in Africa, and these of +insignificant extent; whereas at the time, when their minds were carried +away, as it were by their feelings, they had supposed them to attach to +the whole of that vast continent. They perceived also, that there were +circumstances related in the evidence by the delegates themselves, by +means of which, if they were true, the inhumanity of the trade might be +established, and this to their own disgrace. They had all confessed that +such slaves, as the White traders refused to buy, were put to death; and +yet that these traders, knowing that this would be the case, had the +barbarity uniformly to reject those whom it did not suit them to +purchase. Mr. Matthews had rejected one of this description himself, +whom he saw afterwards destroyed. Mr. Penny had known the refuse thrown +down Melimba rock. Mr. Norris himself, when certain prisoners of war +were offered to him for sale, declined buying them because they appeared +unhealthy; and though the king then told him that he would put them to +death, he could not be prevailed upon to take them but left them to +their hard fate; and he had the boldness to state afterwards, that it +was his belief that many of them actually suffered. + +[Footnote A: This was also the case with another witness, Mr. Weuves. He +had given me accounts, before any stir was made about the Slave Trade, +relative to it, all of which he kept back when he was examined there.] + +[Footnote B: Being a religion custom, it would still have gone on, +though the Slave Trade had been abolished: nor could the merchants at +any time have bought off a single victim.] + +These considerations had the effect of diminishing the prejudices of +some of the council on this great question: and when this was perceived +to be the case, it was the opinion of Mr. Pitt, Mr. Grenville, and the +Bishop of London, that we should send three or four of our own evidences +for examination, who might help to restore matters to an equilibrium. +Accordingly, Mr. Falconbridge, and some others, all of whom were to +speak to the African part of the subject, were introduced. These +produced a certain weight in the opposite scale. But soon after these +had been examined, Dr. Andrew Spaarman, professor of physic, and +inspector of the museum of the royal academy at Stockholm, and his +companion, C.B. Wadstrom, chief director of the assay-office there, +arrived in England. These gentlemen had been lately sent to Africa by +the late king of Sweden, to make discoveries in botany, mineralogy, and +other departments of science. For this purpose the Swedish ambassador at +Paris had procured them permission from the French government to visit +the countries bordering on the Senegal, and had insured them protection +there. They had been conveyed to the place of their destination, where +they had remained from August 1787, to the end of January 1788; but +meeting with obstacles which they had not foreseen, they had left it, +and had returned to Havre de Grace, from whence they had just arrived in +London, on their way home. It so happened, that by means of George +Harrison, one of our committee, I fell in unexpectedly with these +gentlemen. I had not long been with them, before I perceived the great +treasure I had found. They gave me many beautiful specimens of African +produce. They showed me their journals, which they had regularly kept +from day to day. In these I had the pleasure of seeing a number of +circumstances minuted down, all relating to the Slave Trade, and even +drawings on the same subject. I obtained a more accurate and +satisfactory knowledge of the manners and customs of the Africans from +these, than from all the persons put together whom I had yet seen. I was +anxious, therefore, to take them before the committee of council, to +which they were pleased to consent; and as Dr. Spaarman was to leave +London in a few days, I procured him an introduction first. His evidence +went to show, that the natives of Africa lived in a fruitful and +luxuriant country, which supplied all their wants, and that they would +be a happy people, if it were not for the existence of the Slave Trade. +He instanced wars which he knew to have been made by the Moors upon the +Negroes, (for they were entered upon wholly at the instigation of the +White traders,) for the purpose of getting slaves, and he had the pain +of seeing the unhappy captives brought in on such occasions, and some of +them in a wounded state. Among them, were many women and children, and +the women were in great affliction. He saw also the king of Barbesin +send out his parties on expeditions of a similar kind, and he saw them +return with slaves. The king had been made intoxicated on purpose, by +the French agents, or he would never have consented to the measure. He +stated also, that in consequence of the temptations held out by +slave-vessels coming upon the coast, the natives seized one another in +the night, when they found opportunity; and even invited others to their +houses, whom they treacherously detained, and sold at these times; so +that every enormity was practised in Africa, in consequence of the +existence of the trade. These specific instances made a proper +impression upon the lords of the council in their turn; for Dr. Spaarman +was a man of high character; he possessed the confidence of his +sovereign; he had no interest whatever in giving his evidence on this +subject, either on one or the other side; his means of information too +had been large; he had also recorded the facts which had come before +him, and he had his journal, written in the French language, to produce. +The tide, therefore, which had run so strongly against us, began now to +turn a little in our favour. + +While these examinations were going on, petitions continued to be sent +to the House of Commons, from various parts of the kingdom. No less than +one hundred and three were presented in this session. The city of +London, though she was drawn the other way by the cries of commercial +interest, made a sacrifice to humanity and justice: the two universities +applauded her conduct by their own example. Large manufacturing towns, +and whole counties, expressed their sentiments and wishes in a similar +manner. The Established Church in separate dioceses, and the Quakers and +other dissenters, as separate religious bodies, joined in one voice upon +this occasion. + +The committee, in the interim, were not unmindful of the great work they +had undertaken, and they continued to forward it in its different +departments. They kept up a communication by letter with most of the +worthy persons, who have been mentioned to have written to them, but +particularly with Brissot and Claviere; from whom they had the +satisfaction of learning, that a society had at length been established +at Paris, for the abolition of the Slave Trade in France. The learned +Marquis de Condorcet had become the president of it. The virtuous Duc de +la Rochefoucauld and the Marquis de la Fayette had sanctioned it by +enrolling their names as the two first members. Petion, who was placed +afterwards among the mayors of Paris, followed. Women also were not +thought unworthy of being honorary and assistant members of this humane +institution; and among these were found the amiable Marchioness of la +Fayette, Madame de Poivre, widow of the late intendant of the Isle of +France, and Madame Necker, wife of the first minister of state. + +The new correspondents, who voluntarily offered their services to the +committee, during the first part of the period now under consideration, +were S. Whitcomb, Esq., of Gloucester; the Rev. D. Watson, of Middleton +Tyas, Yorkshire; John Murlin, Esq., of High Wycomb; Charles Collins, +Esq., of Swansea; Henry Tudor, Esq., of Sheffield; the Rev. John Hare, +of Lincoln; Samuel Tooker, Esq., of Moorgate, near Rotherham; the Rev. +G. Walker, and Francis Wakefield, Esq., of Nottingham; the Rev. Mr. +Hepworth, of Burton-upon-Trent; the Rev. H. Dannett, of St. John's, +Liverpool; the Rev. Dr. Oglander, of New College, Oxford; the Rev. H. +Coulthurst, of Sidney College, Cambridge; R. Selfe, Esq., of +Cirencester; Morris Birkbeck, of Hanford, Dorsetshire; William Jepson, +of Lancaster; B. Kaye, of Leeds: John Patison, Esq., of Paisley; J.E. +Dolben, Esq., of Northamptonshire; the Rev. Mr. Smith, of Wendover; John +Wilkinson, Esq., of Woodford; Samuel Milford, Esq., of Exeter; Peter +Lunel, Esq., treasurer of the committee at Bristol; James Pemberton, of +Philadelphia; and the president of the Society at New York. + +The letters from new correspondents during the latter part of this +period, were the following:-- + +One from Alexander Alison, Esq., of Edinburgh, in which he expressed it +to be his duty to attempt to awaken the inhabitants of Scotland to a +knowledge of the monstrous evil of the Slave Trade, and to form a +committee there, to act in union with that of London, in carrying the +great object of their institution into effect. + +Another from Elhanan Winchester, offering the committee one hundred of +his sermons, which he had preached against the Slave Trade, in Fairfax +county, in Virginia, so early as in the year 1774. + +Another from Dr. Frossard, of Lyons, in which he offered his services +for the South of France, and desired different publications to be sent +him, that he might be better qualified to take a part in the promotion +of the cause. + +Another from Professor Bruns, of Helmstadt, in Germany, in which he +desired to know the particulars relative to the institution of the +committee, as many thousands upon the continent were then beginning to +feel for the sufferings of the oppressed African race. + +Another from Rev. James Manning, of Exeter, in which he stated himself +to be authorized by the dissenting ministers of Devon and Cornwall, to +express their high approbation of the conduct of the committee, and to +offer their services in the promotion of this great work of humanity and +religion. + +Another from William Senhouse, Esq., of the island of Barbados. In this +he gave the particulars of two estates, one of them his own, and the +other belonging to a nobleman, upon each of which the slaves, in +consequence of humane treatment, had increased by natural population +only. Another effect of this humane treatment had been, that these +slaves were among the most orderly and tractable in that island. From +these and other instances he argued, that if the planters would, all of +them, take proper care of their slaves, their humanity would be repaid +in a few years, by a valuable increase in their property, and they would +never want supplies from a traffic, which had been so justly condemned. + +Two others, the one from Travers Hartley, and the other from Alexander +Jaffray, Esqrs., both of Dublin, were read. These gentlemen sent certain +resolutions, which had been agreed upon by the chamber of commerce and +by the guild of merchants there, relative to the abolition of the Slave +Trade. They rejoiced, in the name of those whom they represented, that +Ireland had been unspotted by a traffic, which they held in such deep +abhorrence; and promised, if it should be abolished in England, to take +the post active measures to prevent it from finding an asylum in the +ports of that kingdom. + +The letters of William Senhouse, and of Travers Hartley, and of +Alexander Jaffray, Esqrs., were ordered to be presented to the committee +of privy council, and copies of them to be left there. + +The business of the committee having almost daily increased within this +period, Dr. Baker and Bennet Langton, Esq., who were the two first to +assist me in my early labours, and who have been mentioned among the +forerunners and coadjutors of the cause, were elected members of it. Dr. +Kippis also was added to the list. + +The honorary and corresponding members, elected within the same period, +were the Dean of Middleham; T.W. Coke, Esq., member of parliament, of +Holkham, in Norfolk; and the Rev. William Leigh, who has been before +mentioned, of Little Plumstead, in the same county. The latter had +published several valuable letters in the public papers, under the +signature of Africanus: these had excited great notice, and done much +good. The worthy author had now collected them into a publication, and +had offered the profits of it to the committee. Hence this mark of their +respect was conferred upon him. + +The committee ordered a new edition of three thousand of the Dean of +Middleham's Letters to be printed. Having approved of a manuscript, +written by James Field Stanfield, a mariner, containing observations +upon a voyage which he had lately made to the coast of Africa for +slaves, they ordered three thousand of these to be printed also. By this +time, the subject having been much talked of, and many doubts and +difficulties having been thrown in the way of the abolition, by persons +interested in the continuance of the trade, Mr. Ramsay, who has been +often so honourably mentioned, put down upon paper all the objections +which were then handed about, and also those answers to each, which he +was qualified, from his superior knowledge of the subject, to suggest. +This he did, that the members of the legislature might see the more +intricate parts of the question unravelled, and that they might not be +imposed upon by the spurious arguments which were then in circulation +concerning it. Observing also the poisonous effect which _The Scriptural +Researches on the Licitness of the Slave Trade_ had produced upon the +minds of many, he wrote an answer on scriptural grounds to that +pamphlet. These works were sent to the press, and three thousand copies +of each of them were ordered to be struck off. + +The committee, in their arrangement of the distribution of their books, +ordered NEWTON'S _Thoughts_, and RAMSAY'S _Objections and Answers_, to +be sent to each member of both houses of parliament. + +They appointed also three sub-committees for different purposes: one to +draw up such facts and arguments respecting the Slave Trade, with a view +of being translated into other languages, as should give foreigners a +suitable knowledge of the subject; another to prepare an answer to +certain false reports which had been spread relative to the object of +their institution, and to procure an insertion of it in the daily +papers; and a third to draw up rules for the government of the society. + +By the latter end of the month of March, there was an anxious +expectation in the public, notwithstanding the privy council had taken +up the subject, that some notice should be taken, in the lower house of +parliament, of the numerous petitions which had been presented there. +There was the same expectation in many of the members of it themselves. +Lord Penrhyn, one of the representatives for Liverpool, and a planter +also, had anticipated this notice, by moving for such papers relative to +ships employed, goods exported, produce imported, and duties upon the +same, as would show the vast value of the trade, which it was in +contemplation to abolish. But at this time Mr. Wilberforce was ill, and +unable to gratify the expectations which had been thus apparent. The +committee, therefore, who partook of the anxiety of the public, knew not +what to do. They saw that two-thirds of the session had already passed. +They saw no hope of Mr. Wilberforce's recovery for some time. Rumours +too were afloat, that other members, of whose plans they knew nothing, +and who might even make emancipation their object, would introduce the +business into the house. Thus situated, they waited, as patiently as +they could, till the 8th of April[A], when they resolved to write to Mr. +Wilberforce, to explain to him their fears and wishes, and to submit it +to his consideration, whether, if he were unable himself, he would +appoint some one in whom he could confide, to make some motion in +parliament on the subject. + +[Footnote A: Brissot attended in person at this committee in his way to +America, which it was then an object with him to visit.] + +But the public expectation became now daily more visible. The +inhabitants of Manchester, many of whom had signed the petition for that +place, became impatient, and they appointed Thomas Walker and Thomas +Cooper, Esquires, as their delegates, to proceed to London to +communicate with the committee on this subject, to assist them in their +deliberations upon it, and to give their attendance while it was under +discussion by the legislature. + +At the time of the arrival of the delegates, who were received as such +by the committee, a letter came from Bath, in which it was stated that +Mr. Wilberforce's health was in such a precarious state, that his +physicians dared not allow him to read any letter which related to the +subject of the Slave Trade. + +The committee were now again at a loss how to act, when they were +relieved from this doubtful situation by a message from Mr. Pitt, who +desired a conference with their chairman. Mr. Sharp accordingly went, +and on his return made the following report: "He had a full +opportunity," he said, "of explaining to Mr. Pitt that the desire of the +committee went to the entire abolition of the Slave Trade. Mr. Pitt +assured him that his heart was with the committee as to this object, and +that he considered himself pledged to Mr. Wilberforce, that the cause +should not sustain any injury from his indisposition; but at the same +time observed, that the subject was of great political importance, and +it was requisite to proceed in it with temper and prudence. He did not +apprehend, as the examinations before the privy council would yet take +up some time, that the subject could be fully investigated in the +present session of parliament; but said he would consider whether the +forms of the house would admit of any measures that would be obligatory +on them to take it up early in the ensuing session." + +In about a week after this conference, Mr. Morton Pitt was deputed by +the minister to write to the committee, to say that he had found +precedents for such a motion as he conceived to be proper, and that he +would submit it to the House of Commons in a few days. + +At the next meeting, which was on the 6th of May, and at which Major +Cartwright and the Manchester delegates assisted, Mr. Morton Pitt +attended as a member of the committee, and said that the minister had +fixed his motion for the 9th. It was then resolved, that deputations +should be sent to some of the leading members of parliament, to request +their support of the approaching motion. I was included in one of these, +and in that which was to wait upon Mr. Fox. We were received by him in a +friendly manner. On putting the question to him, which related to the +object of our mission, Mr. Fox paused for a little while, as if in the +act of deliberation; when he assured us unequivocally, and in language +which could not be misunderstood, that he would support the object of +the committee to its fullest extent, being convinced that there was no +remedy for the evil, but in the total abolition of the trade. + +At length, the 9th, or the day fixed upon, arrived, when this important +subject was to be mentioned in the House of Commons for the first +time[A], with a view to the public discussion of it. It is impossible +for me to give, within the narrow limits of this work, all that was then +said upon it; and yet as the debate which ensued was the first which +took place upon it, I should feel inexcusable if I were not to take some +notice of it. + +[Footnote A: David Hartley made a motion some years before in the same +house, as has been shown in a former part of this work; but this was +only to establish a proposition, That the Slave Trade was contrary to +the Laws of God and the Rights of Man.] + +Mr. Pitt rose. He said he intended to move a resolution relative to a +subject which was of more importance than any which had ever been +agitated in that house. This honour he should not have had, but for a +circumstance which he could not but deeply regret, the severe +indisposition of his friend Mr. Wilberforce, in whose hands every +measure which belonged to justice, humanity, and the national interest, +was peculiarly well placed. The subject in question was no less than +that of the Slave Trade. It was obvious from the great number of +petitions which had been presented concerning it, how much it had +engaged the public attention, and consequently how much it deserved the +serious notice of that house, and how much it became their duty to take +some measure concerning it. But whatever was done on such a subject, +every one would agree, ought to be done with the maturest deliberation. +Two opinions had prevailed without doors, as appeared from the language +of the different petitions. It had been pretty generally thought that +the African Slave Trade ought to be abolished. There were others, +however, who thought that it only stood in need of regulations. But all +had agreed that it ought not to remain as it stood at present. But that +measure which it might be the most proper to take, could only be +discovered by a cool, patient, and diligent examination of the subject +in all its circumstances, relations, and consequences. This had induced +him to form an opinion that the present was not the proper time for +discussing it; for the session was now far advanced, and there was also +a want of proper materials for the full information of the house. It +would, he thought, be better discussed, when it might produce some +useful debate, and when that inquiry which had been instituted by His +Majesty's Ministers, (he meant the examination by a committee of privy +council,) should be brought to such a state of maturity as to make it +fit that the result of it should be laid before the house. That inquiry, +he trusted, would facilitate their investigation, and enable them the +better to proceed to a decision which should be equally founded on +principles of humanity, justice, and sound policy. As there was not a +probability of reaching so desirable an end in the present state of the +business, he meant to move a resolution to pledge the house to the +discussion of the question early in the next session. If by that time +his honourable friend should be recovered, which he hoped would be the +case, then he (Mr. Wilberforce) would take the lead in it; but should it +unfortunately happen otherwise, then he (the Chancellor of the +Exchequer) pledged himself to bring forward some proposition concerning +it. The house, however, would observe, that he had studiously avoided +giving any opinion of his own on this great subject. He thought it wiser +to defer this till the time of the discussion should arrive. He +concluded with moving, after having read the names of the places from +whence the different petitions had come, "That this house will, early in +the next session of parliament, proceed to take into consideration the +circumstances of the Slave Trade complained of in the said petitions, +and what may be fit to be done thereupon." + +Mr. Fox began by observing, that he had long taken an interest in this +great subject, which he had also minutely examined, and that it was his +intention to have brought something forward himself in parliament +respecting it; but when he heard that Mr. Wilberforce had resolved to +take it up, he was unaffectedly rejoiced, not only knowing the purity of +his principles and character, but because, from a variety of +considerations as to the situations in which different men stood in the +house, there was something that made him honestly think it was better +that the business should be in the hands of that gentleman than in his +own. Having premised this, he said that, as so many petitions, and these +signed by such numbers of persons of the most respectable character, had +been presented, he was sorry that it had been found impossible that the +subject of them could be taken up this year, and more particularly as he +was not able to see, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer had done, that +there were circumstances, which might happen by the next year, which +would make it more advisable and advantageous to take it up then, than +it would have been to enter upon it in the present session. For +certainly there could be no information laid before the house, through +the medium of the lords of the council, which could not more +advantageously have been obtained by themselves, had they instituted a +similar inquiry. It was their duty to advise the king, and not to ask +his advice. This the constitution had laid down as one of its most +essential principles; and though in the present instance he saw no cause +for blame, because he was persuaded His Majesty's Ministers had not +acted with any ill intention, it was still a principle never to be +departed from, because it never could be departed from without +establishing a precedent which might lead to very serious abuses. He +lamented that the privy council, who had received no petitions from the +people on the subject, should have instituted an inquiry, and that the +House of Commons, the table of which had been loaded with petitions from +various parts of the kingdom, should not have instituted any inquiry at +all. He hoped these petitions would have a fair discussion in that +house, independently of any information that could be given to it by His +Majesty's Ministers. He urged again the superior advantage of an inquiry +into such a subject carried on within those walls over any inquiry +carried on by the lords of the council. In inquiries carried on in that +house, they had the benefit of every circumstance of publicity; which +was a most material benefit indeed, and that which of all others made +the manner of conducting the parliamentary proceedings of Great Britain +the envy and the admiration of the world. An inquiry there was better +than an inquiry in any other place, however respectable the persons +before and by whom it was carried on. There, all that could be said for +the abolition or against it might be said. In that house every relative +fact would have been produced, no information would have been withheld, +no circumstance would have been omitted, which was necessary for +elucidation; nothing would have been kept back. He was sorry, therefore, +that the consideration of the question, but more particularly where so +much human suffering was concerned, should be put off to another +session, when it was obvious that no advantage could be gained by the +delay. + +He then adverted to the secrecy which the Chancellor of the Exchequer +had observed relative to his own opinion on this important subject. Why +did he refuse to give it? Had Mr. Wilberforce been present, the house +would have had a great advantage in this respect, because doubtless he +would have stated in what view he saw the subject, and in a general way +described the nature of the project he meant to propose. But now they +were kept in the dark as to the nature of any plan, till the next +session. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had indeed said, that it had +been a very general opinion that the African Slave Trade should be +abolished. He had said again, that others had not gone so far, but had +given it as their opinion, that it required to be revised and regulated. +But why did he not give his own sentiments boldly to the world on this +great question? As for himself, he (Mr. Fox) had no scruple to declare +at the outset, that the Slave Trade ought not to be regulated, but +destroyed. To this opinion his mind was made up; and he was persuaded +that, the more the subject was considered, the more his opinion would +gain ground; and it would be admitted, that to consider it in any other +manner, or on any other principles than those of humanity and justice, +would be idle and absurd. If there were any such men, and he did not +know but that there were those, who, led away by local and interested +considerations, thought the Slave Trade might still continue under +certain modifications, these were the dupes of error, and mistook what +they thought their interest, for what he would undertake to convince +them was their loss. Let such men only hear the case further, and they +would find the result to be, that a cold-hearted policy was folly when +it opposed the great principles of humanity and justice. + +He concluded by saying that he would not oppose the resolution, if other +members thought it best to postpone the consideration of the subject; +but he should have been better pleased if it had been discussed sooner; +and he certainly reserved to himself the right of voting for any +question upon it that should be brought forward by any other member in +the course of the present session. + +The Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that nothing he had heard had +satisfied him of the propriety of departing from the rule he had laid +down for himself, of not offering, but of studiously avoiding to offer, +any opinion upon the subject till the time should arrive when it could +be fully argued. He thought that no discussion which could take place +that session, could lead to any useful measure, and therefore, he had +wished not to argue it till the whole of it could be argued. A day would +come, when every member would have an opportunity of stating his +opinion; and he wished it might be discussed with a proper spirit on all +sides, on fair and liberal principles, and without any shackles from +local and interested considerations. + +With regard to the inquiries instituted before the committee of privy +council, he was sure, as soon as it became obvious that the subject must +undergo a discussion, it was the duty of His Majesty's Ministers to set +those inquiries on foot, which should best enable them to judge in what +manner they could meet or offer any proposition respecting the Slave +Trade. And although such previous examinations by no means went to +deprive that house of its undoubted right to institute those inquiries; +or to preclude them, they would be found greatly to facilitate them. +But, exclusive of this consideration, it would have been utterly +impossible to have come to any discussion of the subject, that could +have been brought to a conclusion in the course of the present session. +Did the inquiry then before the privy council prove a loss of time? So +far from it, that, upon the whole, time had been gained by it. He had +moved the resolution, therefore, to pledge the house to bring on the +discussion early in the next session, when they would have a full +opportunity of considering every part of the subject: first, whether the +whole of the trade ought to be abolished; and, if so, how and when. If +it should be thought that the trade should only be put under certain +regulations, what those regulations ought to be, and when they should +take place. These were questions which must be considered; and therefore +he had made his resolution as wide as possible, that there might be room +for all necessary considerations to be taken in. He repeated his +declaration, that he would reserve his sentiments till the day of +discussion should arrive; and again declared, that he earnestly wished +to avoid an anticipation of the debate upon the subject. But if such +debate was likely to take place, he would withdraw his motion, and offer +it another day. + +A few words then passed between Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox in reply to each +other; after which Lord Penrhyn rose. He said there were two classes of +men, the African merchants, and the planters, both of whose characters +had been grossly calumniated. These wished that an inquiry might be +instituted, and this immediately, conscious that the more their conduct +was examined the less they would be found to merit the opprobrium with +which they had been loaded. The charges against the Slave Trade were +either true or false. If they were true, it ought to be abolished; but +if upon inquiry they were found to be without foundation, justice ought +to be done to the reputation of those who were concerned in it. He then +said a few words, by which he signified, that, after all, it might not +be an improper measure to make regulations in the trade. + +Mr. Burke said, the noble lord, who was a man of honour himself, had +reasoned from his own conduct, and, being conscious of his own +integrity, was naturally led to imagine that other men were equally just +and honourable. Undoubtedly the merchants and planters had a right to +call for an investigation of their conduct, and their doing so did them +great credit. The Slave Trade also ought equally to be inquired into. +Neither did he deny that it was right his Majesty's ministers should +inquire into its merits for themselves. They had done their duty; but +that House, who had the petitions of the people on their table, +neglected it, by having so long deferred an inquiry of their own. If +that House wished to preserve their functions, their understandings, +their honour, and their dignity, he advised them to beware of committees +of privy council. If they suffered their business to be done by such +means, they were abdicating their trust and character, and making way +for an entire abolition of their functions, which they were parting with +one after another, Thus:-- + + + Star after star goes out, and all is night. + + +If they neglected the petitions of their constituents, they must fall, +and the privy-counsel be instituted in their stead. What would be the +consequence? His Majesty's Ministers, instead of consulting them, and +giving them the opportunity of exercising their functions of +deliberation and legislation, would modify the measures of government +elsewhere, and bring down the edicts of the privy council to them to +register. Mr. Burke said, he was one of those who wished for the +abolition of the Slave Trade. He thought it ought to be abolished, on +principles of humanity and justice. If, however, opposition of interests +should render its total abolition impossible, it ought to be regulated, +and that immediately. They need not send to the West Indies to know the +opinions of the planters on the subject. They were to consider first of +all, and abstractedly from all political, personal, and local +considerations, that the Slave Trade was directly contrary to the +principles of humanity and justice, and to the spirit of the British +constitution; and that the state of slavery, which followed it, however +mitigated, was a state so improper, so degrading, and so ruinous to the +feelings and capacities of human nature, that it ought not to be +suffered to exist. He deprecated delay in this business, as well for the +sake of planters as of the slaves. + +Mr. Gascoyne, the other member for Liverpool, said he had no objection +that the discussion should stand over to the next session of parliament, +provided it could not come on in the present, because he was persuaded +it would ultimately be found that his constituents, who were more +immediately concerned in the trade, and who had been so shamefully +calumniated, were men of respectable character. He hoped the privy +council would print their Report when they had brought their inquiries +to a conclusion, and that they would lay it before the House and the +public, in order to enable all concerned to form a judgment of what was +proper to be done relative to the subject next session. With respect, +however, to the total abolition of the Slave Trade, he must confess that +such a measure was both unnecessary, visionary, and impracticable; but +he wished some alterations or modifications to be adopted. He hoped +that, when the House came to go into the general question, they would +not forget the trade, commerce, and navigation of the country. + +Mr. Rolle said, he had received instruction from his constituents to +inquire if the grievances, which had been alleged to result from the +Slave Trade, were well founded; and, if it appear that they were, to +assist in applying a remedy. He was glad the discussion had been put off +till next session, as it would give all of them an opportunity of +considering the subject with more mature deliberation. + +Mr. Martin desired to say a few words only. He put the case, that, +supposing the slaves were treated ever so humanely, when they were +carried to the West Indies, what compensation could be made them for +being torn from their nearest relations, and from everything that was +dear to them in life? He hoped no political advantage, no national +expediency, would be allowed to weigh in the scale against the eternal +rules of moral rectitude. As for himself, he had no hesitation to +declare, in this early stage of the business, that he should think +himself a wicked wretch if he did not do everything in his power to put +a stop to the Slave Trade. + +Sir William Dolben said, that he did not then wish to enter into the +discussion of the general question of the abolition of the Slave Trade, +which the Chancellor of the Exchequer was so desirous of postponing; but +he wished to say a few words on what he conceived to be a most crying +evil, and which might be immediately remedied, without infringing upon +the limits of that question. He did not allude to the sufferings of the +poor Africans in their own country, nor afterwards in the West India +islands, but to that intermediate state of tenfold misery which they +underwent in their transportation. When put on board the ships, the poor +unhappy wretches were chained to each other, hand and foot, and stowed +so close, that they were not allowed above a foot and a half for each +individual in breadth. Thus crammed together like herrings in a barrel, +they contracted putrid and fatal disorders; so that they who came to +inspect them in a morning had occasionally to pick dead slaves out of +their rows, and to unchain their carcasses from the bodies of their +wretched fellow-sufferers, to whom they had been fastened. Nor was it +merely to the slaves that the baneful effects of the contagion thus +created were confined. This contagion affected the ships' crews, and +numbers of the seamen employed in the horrid traffic perished. This +evil, he said, called aloud for a remedy, and that remedy ought to be +applied soon; otherwise no less than ten thousand lives might be lost +between this and next session. He wished therefore this grievance to be +taken into consideration, independently of the general question; and +that some regulations, such as restraining the captains from taking +above a certain number of slaves on board, according to the size of +their vessels, and obliging them to let in fresh air, and provide better +accommodation for the slaves during their passage, should be adopted. + +Mr. Young wished the consideration of the whole subject to stand over to +the next session. + +Sir James Johnstone, though a planter, professed himself a friend to the +abolition of the Slave Trade. He said it was highly necessary that the +House should do something respecting it; but whatever was to be done +should be done soon, as delay might be productive of bad consequences in +the islands. + +Mr. L. Smith stood up a zealous advocate for the abolition of the Slave +Trade. He said that even Lord Penrhyn and Mr. Gascoyne, the members for +Liverpool, had admitted the evil of it to a certain extent; for +regulations or modifications, in which they seemed to acquiesce, were +unnecessary where abuses did not really exist. + +Mr. Grigby thought it his duty to declare, that no privy council report, +or other mode of examination, could influence him. A traffic in the +persons of men was so odious, that it ought everywhere, as soon as ever +it was discovered, to be abolished. + +Mr. Bastard was anxious that the House should proceed to the discussion +of the subject in the present session. The whole country, he said, had +petitioned; and was it any satisfaction to the country to be told, that +the committee of privy council were inquiring? Who knew anything of what +was doing by the committee of privy council, or what progress they were +making? The inquiry ought to have been instituted in that House, and in +the face of the public, that everybody concerned might know what was +going on. The numerous petitions of the people ought immediately to be +attended to. He reprobated delay on this occasion; and as the honourable +baronet, Sir William Dolben, had stated facts which were shocking to +humanity, he hoped he would move that a committee might be appointed to +inquire into their existence, that a remedy might be applied, if +possible, before the sailing of the next ships for Africa. + +Mr. Whitbread professed himself a strenuous advocate for the total and +immediate abolition of the Slave Trade. It was contrary to nature, and +to every principle of justice, humanity, and religion. + +Mr. Pelham stated, that he had very maturely considered the subject of +the Slave Trade; and had he not known that the business was in the hands +of an honourable member, (whose absence from the house, and the cause of +it, no man lamented more sincerely than he did,) he should have ventured +to propose something concerning it himself. If it should be thought that +the trade ought not to be entirely done away, the sooner it was +regulated the better. He had a plan for this purpose, which appeared to +him to be likely to produce some salutary effects. He wished to know if +any such thing would be permitted to be proposed in the course of the +present session. + +The Chancellor of the Exchequer said he should be happy, if he thought +the circumstances of the house were such as to enable them to proceed to +an immediate discussion of the question; but as that did not appear, +from the reasons he had before stated, to be the case, he could only +assure the honourable gentleman, that the same motives which had induced +him to propose an inquiry into the subject early in the next session of +parliament, would make him desirous of receiving any other light which +could be thrown upon it. + +The question having been then put, the resolution was agreed to +unanimously. Thus ended the first debate that ever took place in the +Commons, on this important subject. This debate, though many of the +persons concerned in it abstained cautiously from entering into the +merits of the general question, became interesting, in consequence of +circumstances attending it. Several rose up at once to give relief, as +it were, to their feelings by utterance; but by so doing they were +prevented, many of them, from being heard. They who were heard, spoke +with peculiar energy, as if warmed in an extraordinary manner by the +subject. There was an apparent enthusiasm in behalf of the injured +Africans. It was supposed by some, that there was a moment, in which, if +the Chancellor of the Exchequer had moved for an immediate abolition of +the trade, he would have carried it that night; and both he and others, +who professed an attachment to the cause, were censured for not having +taken a due advantage of the disposition which was so apparent. But +independently of the inconsistency of doing this on the part of the +ministry, while the privy council were in the midst of their inquiries, +and of the improbability that the other branches of the legislature +would have concurred in so hasty a measure; what good would have accrued +to the cause, if the abolition had been then carried? Those concerned in +the cruel system would never have rested quietly under the stigma under +which they then laboured. They would have urged, that they had been +condemned unheard. The merchants would have said, that they had had no +notice of such an event, that they might prepare, a way for their +vessels in other trades. The planters would have said, that they had had +no time allowed them to provide such supplies from Africa as might +enable them to keep up their respective stocks. They would, both of +them, have called aloud for immediate indemnification. They would have +decried the policy of the measure of the abolition; and where had it +been proved? They would have demanded a reverse of it; and might they +not in cooler moments have succeeded? Whereas, by entering into a +patient discussion of the merits of the question; by bringing evidence +upon it; by reasoning upon that evidence night after night, and year +after year, and thus by disputing the ground inch as it were by inch, +the abolition of the Slave Trade stands upon a rock, upon which it never +can be shaken. Many of those who were concerned in the cruel system have +now given up their prejudices, because they became convinced in the +contest. A stigma too has been fixed upon it, which can never be erased: +and in a large record, in which the cruelty and injustice of it have +been recognised in indelible characters, its impolicy also has been +eternally enrolled. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +Continuation to the middle of July.--Anxiety of Sir William Dolben to +lessen the horrors of the Middle Passage till the great question +should be discussed; brings in a bill for that purpose; debate upon +it.--Evidence examined against it; its inconsistency and +falsehoods.--Further debate upon it.--Bill passed, and carried to the +Lords; vexatious delays and opposition there; carried backwards and +forwards to both houses.--At length finally passed.--Proceedings of +the committee in the interim; effects of them. + + +It was supposed, after the debate, of which the substance has been just +given, that there would have been no further discussion of the subject +till the next year; but Sir William Dolben became more and more affected +by those considerations which he had offered to the house on the ninth +of May. The trade, he found, was still to go on. The horrors of the +transportation, or Middle Passage, as it was called, which he conceived +to be the worst in the long catalogue of evils belonging to the system, +would of course accompany it. The partial discussion of these, he +believed, would be no infringement of the late resolution of the house. +He was desirous, therefore, of doing something in the course of the +present session, by which the miseries of the trade might be diminished +as much as possible, while it lasted, or till the legislature could take +up the whole of the question. This desire he mentioned to several of his +friends; and as these approved of his design, he made it known on the +twenty-first of May in the House of Commons. + +He began by observing, that he would take up but little of their time. +He rose to move for leave to bring in a bill for the relief of those +unhappy persons, the natives of Africa, from the hardships to which they +were usually exposed in their passage from the coast of Africa to the +colonies. He did not mean, by any regulations he might introduce for +this purpose, to countenance or sanction the Slave Trade, which, however +modified, would be always wicked and unjustifiable. Nor did he mean, by +introducing these, to go into the general question which the house had +prohibited. The bill which he had in contemplation, went only to limit +the number of persons to be put on board to the tonnage of the vessel +which was to carry them, in order to prevent them from being crowded too +closely together; to secure to them good and sufficient provisions; and +to take cognizance of other matters, which related to their health and +accommodation; and this only till parliament could enter into the +general merits of the question. This humane interference he thought no +member would object to. Indeed, those for Liverpool had both of them +admitted, on the ninth of May, that regulations were desirable; and he +had since conversed with them, and was happy to learn that they would +not oppose him on this occasion. + +Mr. Whitbread highly approved of the object of the worthy baronet, which +was to diminish the sufferings of an unoffending people. Whatever could +be done to relieve them in their hard situation, till parliament could +take up the whole of their case, ought to be done by men living in a +civilized country, and professing the Christian religion: he therefore +begged leave to second the motion which had been made. + +General Norton was sorry that he had not risen up sooner. He wished to +have seconded this humane motion himself. It had his most cordial +approbation. + +Mr. Burgess complimented the worthy baronet on the honour he had done +himself on this occasion, and congratulated the house on the good, which +they were likely to do by acceding, as he was sure they would, to his +proposition. + +Mr. Joliffe rose, and said that the motion in question should have his +strenuous support. + +Mr. Gascoyne stated, that having understood from the honourable baronet +that he meant only to remedy the evils, which were stated to exist in +transporting the inhabitants of Africa to the West Indies, he had told +them that he would not object to the introduction of such a bill. Should +it however interfere with the general question, the discussion of which +had been prohibited, he would then oppose it. He must also reserve +another case for his opposition; and this would be, if the evils of +which it took cognizance should appear not to have been well founded. He +had written to his constituents to be made acquainted with this +circumstance, and he must be guided by them on the subject. + +Mr. Martin was surprised how any person could give an opposition to such +a bill. Whatever were the merits of the great question, all would allow, +that if human beings were to be transported across the ocean, they +should be carried over with as little suffering as possible to +themselves. + +Mr. Hamilton deprecated the subdivision of this great and important +question, which the house had reserved for another session. Every +endeavour to meddle with one part of it, before the whole of it could be +taken into consideration, looked rather as if it came from an enemy than +from a friend. He was fearful that such a bill as this would sanction a +traffic, which should never be viewed but in a hostile light, or as +repugnant to the feelings of our nature, and to the voice of our +religion. + +Lord Frederic Campbell was convinced that the postponing of all +consideration of the subject till the next session was a wise measure. +He was sure that neither the house nor the public were in a temper +sufficiently cool to discuss it properly. There was a general warmth of +feeling, or an enthusiasm about it, which ran away with the +understandings of men, and disqualified them from judging soberly +concerning it. He wished, therefore, that the present motion might be +deferred. + +Mr. William Smith said, that if the motion of the honourable Baronet had +trespassed upon the great question reserved for consideration, he would +have opposed it himself; but he conceived the subject which it +comprehended might with propriety be separately considered; and if it +were likely that a hundred, but much more a thousand, lives would be +saved by this bill, it was the duty of that house to adopt it without +delay. + +The Chancellor of the Exchequer, though he meant still to conceal his +opinion as to the general merits of the question, could not be silent, +here. He was of opinion that he could very consistently give this motion +his support. There was a possibility (and a bare possibility was a +sufficient ground with him) that in consequence of the resolution lately +come to by the house, and the temper then manifested in it, those +persons who were concerned in the Slave Trade might put the natives of +Africa in a worse situation, during their transportation to the +colonies, even than they were in before, by cramming additional numbers +on board their vessels, in order to convey as many as possible to the +West Indies before parliament ultimately decided on the subject. The +possibility, therefore, that such a consequence might grow out of their +late resolution during the intervening months between the end of the +present and the commencement of the next session, was a good and +sufficient parliamentary ground for them to provide immediate means to +prevent the existence of such an evil. He considered this as an act of +indispensable duty, and on that ground the bill should have his support. + +Soon after this the question was put, and leave was given for the +introduction of the bill. + +An account of these proceedings of the house having been sent to the +merchants of Liverpool, they held a meeting, and came to resolutions on +the subject. They determined to oppose the bill in every stage in which +it should be brought forward, and, what was extraordinary, even the +principle of it. Accordingly, between the 21st of May and the 2nd of +June, on which latter day the bill having been previously read a second +time was to be committed, petitions from interested persons had been +brought against it, and consent had been obtained, that both council and +evidence should be heard. + +The order of the day having been read on the 2nd of June for the house +to resolve itself into a committee of the whole house, a discussion took +place relative to the manner in which the business was to be conducted. +This being over, the counsel began their observations; and, as soon as +they had finished, evidence was called to the bar in behalf of the +petitions which had been delivered. + +From the 2nd of June to the 17th the house continued to hear the +evidence at intervals, but the members for Liverpool took every +opportunity of occasioning delay. They had recourse twice to counting +out the house; and at another time, though complaint had been made of +their attempts to procrastinate, they opposed the resuming of their own +evidence with the same view; and this merely for the frivolous reason, +that, though there was then a suitable opportunity, notice had not been +previously given. But in this proceeding, other members feeling +indignant at their conduct, they were overruled. + +The witnesses brought by the Liverpool merchants against this humane +bill were the same as they had before sent for examination to the privy +council, namely, Mr. Norris, Lieutenant Matthews, and others. On the +other side of the question it was not deemed expedient to bring any. It +was soon perceived that it would be possible to refute the former out of +their own mouths, and to do this seemed more eligible than to proceed in +the other way. Mr. Pitt, however, took care to send Captain Parrey, of +the Royal Navy, to Liverpool, that he might take the tonnage and +internal dimensions of several slave-vessels, which were then there, +supposing that these, when known, would enable the house to detect any +misrepresentations, which the delegates from that town might be disposed +to make upon this subject. + +It was the object of the witnesses, when examined, to prove two things: +first, that regulations were unnecessary, because the present mode of +the transportation was sufficiently convenient for the objects of it, +and was well adapted to preserve their comfort and their health. They +had sufficient room, sufficient air, and sufficient provisions. When +upon deck, they made merry and amused themselves with dancing. As to the +mortality, or the loss of them by death in the course of their passage, +it was trifling. In short, the voyage from Africa to the West Indies +"was one of the happiest periods of a Negro's life." + +Secondly, that if the merchants were hindered from taking less that two +full sized, or three smaller Africans, to a ton, then the restrictions +would operate not as the regulation, but as the utter ruin of the trade. +Hence the present bill, under the specious mask of a temporary +interference, sought nothing less than its abolition. + +These assertions having been severally made, by the former of which it +was insinuated that the African, unhappy in his own country, found in +the middle passage, under the care of the merchants, little less than an +Elysian retreat, it was now proper to institute a severe inquiry into +the truth of them. Mr. Pitt, Sir Charles Middleton, Mr. William Smith, +and Mr. Beaufoy, took a conspicuous part on this occasion, but +particularly the two latter, to whom much praise was due for the +constant attention they bestowed upon this subject. Question after +question was put by these to the witnesses; and from their own mouths +they dragged out, by means of a cross-examination as severe as could be +well instituted, the following melancholy account:-- + +Every slave, whatever his size might be, was found to have only five +feet and six inches in length, and sixteen inches in breadth, to lie in. +The floor was covered with bodies stowed or packed according to this +allowance: but between the floor and the deck or ceiling were often +platforms or broad shelves in the mid-way, which were covered with +bodies also. The height from the floor to the ceiling, within which +space the bodies on the floor and those on the platforms lay, seldom +exceeded five feet eight inches, and in some cases it did not exceed +four feet. + +The men were chained two and two together by their hands and feet, and +were chained also by means of ring-bolts, which were fastened to the +deck. They were confined in this manner at least all the time they +remained upon the coast, which was from six weeks to six months as it +might happen. + +Their allowance consisted of one pint of water a day to each person, and +they were fed twice a day with yams and horsebeans. + +After meals they jumped up in their irons for exercise. This was so +necessary for their health, that they were whipped if they refused to do +it; and this jumping had been termed dancing. + +They were usually fifteen and sixteen hours below deck out of the +twenty-four. In rainy weather they could not be brought up for two or +three days together. If the ship was full, their situation was then +distressing. They sometimes drew their breath with anxious and laborious +efforts, and some died of suffocation. + +With respect to their health in these voyages, the mortality, where the +African constitution was the strongest, or on the windward coast, was +only about five in a hundred. In thirty-five voyages, an account of +which was produced, about six in a hundred was the average number lost. +But this loss was still greater at Calabar and Bonny, which were the +greatest markets for slaves. This loss, too, did not include those who +died, either while the vessels were lying upon the Coast, or after their +arrival in the West Indies, of the disorders which they had contracted +upon the voyage. Three and four in a hundred had been known to die in +this latter case. + +But besides these facts, which were forced out of the witnesses by means +of the cross-examination which took place, they were detected in various +falsehoods. + +They had asserted that the ships in this trade were peculiarly +constructed, or differently from others, in order that they might carry +a great number of persons with convenience; whereas Captain Parrey +asserted, that out of the twenty-six, which he had seen, ten only had +been built expressly for this employ. + +They had stated the average height between decks at about five feet and +four inches. But Captain Parrey showed, that out of the nine he +measured, the height in four of the smallest was only four feet eight +inches, and the average height in all of them was but five feet two. + +They had asserted that vessels under two hundred tons had no platforms. +But by his account the four just mentioned were of this tonnage, and yet +all of them had platforms either wholly or in part. + +On other points they were found both to contradict themselves and one +another. They had asserted, as before mentioned, that if they were +restricted to less than two full-grown slaves to a ton, the trade would +be ruined. But in examining into the particulars of nineteen vessels, +which they produced themselves, five of them only had cargoes equal to +the proportion which they stated to be necessary to the existence of the +trade. The other fourteen carried a less number of slaves (and they +might have taken more on board if they had pleased); so that the average +number in the nineteen was but one man and four-fifths to a ton, or ten +in a hundred below their lowest standard[A]. One again said, that no +inconvenience arose in consequence of the narrow space allowed to each +individual in these voyages. Another said, that smaller vessels were +more healthy than larger, because, among other reasons, they had a less +proportion of slaves as to number on board. + +[Footnote A: The falsehood of their statements in this respect was +proved again afterwards by facts. For, after the regulation had taken +place, they lost fewer slaves and made greater profits.] + +They were found also guilty of a wilful concealment of such facts, as +they knew, if communicated, would have invalidated their own testimony. +I was instrumental in detecting them on one of these occasions myself. +When Mr. Dalzell was examined, he was not wholly unknown to me; my +Liverpool muster-rolls told me that he had lost fifteen seamen out of +forty in his last voyage. This was a sufficient ground to go upon; for +generally, where the mortality of the seamen has been great, it may be +laid down that the mortality of the slaves has been considerable also. I +waited patiently till his evidence was nearly closed, but he had then +made no unfavourable statements to the house. I desired, therefore, that +a question might be put to him, and in such a manner, that he might know +that they, who put it, had got a clue to his secrets. He became +immediately embarrassed; his voice faltered; he confessed with trembling +that he had lost a third of his sailors in his last voyage. Pressed hard +immediately by other questions, he then acknowledged that he had lost +one hundred and twenty, or a third of his slaves, also. But would he say +that these were all he had lost in that voyage? No; twelve others had +perished by an accident, for they were drowned. But were no others lost +beside the one hundred and twenty and the twelve? None, he said, upon +the voyage, but between twenty and thirty before he left the Coast. Thus +this champion of the merchants, this advocate for the health and +happiness of slaves in the middle passage, lost nearly a hundred and +sixty of the unhappy persons committed to his superior care, in a single +voyage! + +The evidence, on which I have now commented, having been delivered, the +counsel summed up on the 17th of June, when the committee proceeded to +fill up the blanks in the bill. Mr. Pitt moved that the operation of it +be retrospective, and that it commence from the 10th instant. This was +violently opposed by Lord Penrhyn, Mr. Gascoyne, and Mr. Brickdale, but +was at length acceded to. + +Sir William Dolben then proposed to apportion five men to every three +tons in every ship under one hundred and fifty tons burden, which had +the space of five feet between the decks, and three men to two tons in +every vessel beyond one hundred and fifty tons burden, which had equal +accommodation in point of height between the decks. This occasioned a +very warm dispute, which was not settled for some time, and which gave +rise to some beautiful and interesting speeches on the subject. + +Mr. William Smith pointed out in the clearest manner many of the +contradictions, which I have just stated in commenting upon the +evidence; indeed he had been a principal means of detecting them. He +proved how little worthy of belief the witnesses had shown themselves, +and how necessary they had made the present bill by their own +confession. The worthy baronet, indeed, had been too indulgent to the +merchants, in the proportion he had fixed of the number of persons to be +carried to the tonnage of their vessels. He then took a feeling view of +what would be the wretched state of the poor Africans on board, even if +the bill passed as it now stood; and conjured the house, if they would +not allow them more room, at least not to infringe upon that which had +been proposed. + +Lord Belgrave (afterwards Grosvenor) animadverted with great ability +upon the cruelties of the trade, which he said had been fully proved at +the bar. He took notice of the extraordinary opposition which had been +made to the bill then before them, and which he believed every +gentleman, who had a proper feeling of humanity, would condemn. If the +present mode of carrying on the trade received the countenance of that +house, the poor unfortunate African would have occasion doubly to curse +his fate. He would not only curse the womb that brought him forth, but +the British nation also, whose diabolical avarice had made his cup of +misery still more bitter. He hoped that the members for Liverpool would +urge no further opposition to the bill, but that they would join with +the house in an effort to enlarge the empire of humanity; and that, +while they were stretching out the strong arm of justice to punish the +degraders of British honour and humanity in the East, they would with +equal spirit exert their powers to dispense the blessings of their +protection to those unhappy Africans, who were to serve them in the +West. + +Mr. Beaufoy entered minutely into an examination of the information, +which had been given by the witnesses, and which afforded unanswerable +arguments for the passing of the bill. He showed the narrow space which +they themselves had been made to allow for the package of a human body, +and the ingenious measures they were obliged to resort to for stowing +this living cargo within the limits of the ship. He adverted next to the +case of Mr. Dalzell, and showed how one dismal fact after another, each +making against their own testimony, was extorted from him. He then went +to the trifling mortality said to be experienced in these voyages, upon +which subject he spoke in the following words: "Though the witnesses are +some of them interested in the trade, and all of them parties against +the bill, their confession is, that of the negroes of the windward +coast, who are men of the strongest constitution which Africa affords, +no less on an average than five in each hundred perish in the voyage,--a +voyage, it must be remembered but of six weeks. In a twelvemonth, then, +what must be the proportion of the dead? No less than forty-three in a +hundred, which is seventeen times the usual rate of mortality; for all +the estimates of life suppose no more than a fortieth of the people, or +two and a half in the hundred, to die within the space of a year. Such +then is the comparison. In the ordinary course of nature the number of +persons, (including those in age and infancy, the weakest periods of +existence,) who perish in the space of a twelvemonth, is at the rate of +but two and a half in a hundred; but in an African voyage, +notwithstanding the old are excluded and few infants admitted, so that +those who are shipped are in the firmest period of life, the list of +deaths, presents an annual mortality of forty-three in a hundred. It +presents this mortality even in vessels from the windward coast of +Africa; but in those which sail to Bonny, Benin, and the Calabars, from +whence the greatest proportion of the slaves are brought, this mortality +is increased by a variety of causes, (of which the greater length of the +voyage is one,) and is said to be twice as large which supposes that in +every hundred the deaths annually amount to no less than eighty-six. Yet +even the former comparatively low mortality; of which the counsel speaks +with so much satisfaction, as a proof of the kind and compassionate +treatment of the slaves, even this indolent and lethargic destruction +gives to the march of death seventeen times its usual speed. It is a +destruction, which, if general but for ten years, would depopulate the +world, blast the purposes of its creation, and extinguish the human +race." + +After having gone with great ability through the other branches of the +subject, he concluded in the following manner:--"Thus I have considered +the various objections which have been stated to the bill, and am +ashamed to reflect that it could be necessary to speak so long in +defence of such a cause; for what, after all, is asked by the proposed +regulations? On the part of the Africans, the whole of their purport is, +that they whom you allow to be robbed of all things but life, may not +unnecessarily and wantonly be deprived of life also. To the honour; to +the wisdom, to the feelings of the house, I now make my appeal, +perfectly confident that you will not tolerate, as senators, a traffic +which, as men, you shudder to contemplate, and that you will not take +upon yourselves the responsibility of this waste of existence. To the +memory of former parliaments the horrors of this traffic will be an +eternal reproach; yet former parliaments have not known, as you on the +clearest evidence now know, the dreadful nature of this trade. Should +you reject this bill, no exertions of yours to rescue from oppression +the suffering inhabitants of your eastern empire; no records of the +prosperous state to which, after a long and unsuccessful war, you have +restored your native land; no proofs; however splendid, that under your +guidance Great Britain has recovered her rank, and is again the +arbitress of nations, will save your names from the stigma of +everlasting dishonour. The broad mantle of this one infamy will cover +with substantial blackness the radiance of your glory, and change to +feelings of abhorrence the present admiration of the world. But pardon +the supposition of so impossible an event. I believe that justice and +mercy may be considered as the attributes of your character, and that +you will not tarnish their lustre on this occasion." + +The Chancellor of the Exchequer rose next; and after having made some +important observations on the evidence (which took up much time), he +declared himself most unequivocally in favour of the motion made by the +honourable baronet. He was convinced that the regulation proposed would +not tend to the abolition of the trade; but if it even went so far, he +had no hesitation openly and boldly to declare, that if it could not be +carried on in a manner different from that stated by the members for +Liverpool, he would retract what he had said on a former day against +going into the general question; and, waving every other discussion than +what had that day taken place, he would give his vote for the utter +annihilation of it at once. It was a trade, which it was shocking to +humanity to hear detailed. If it were to be carried, on as proposed by +the petitioners, it would, besides its own intrinsic baseness, be +contrary to every humane and Christian principle, and to every sentiment +that ought to inspire the breast of man; and would reflect the greatest +dishonour on the British senate and the British nation. He, therefore, +hoped that the house, being now in possession of such information as +never hitherto had been brought before them, would in some measure +endeavour to extricate themselves from that guilt, and from that +remorse, which every one of them ought to feel for having suffered such +monstrous cruelties to be practised upon an helpless and unoffending +part of the human race. + +Mr. Martin complimented Mr. Pitt in terms of the warmest panegyric on +his noble sentiments, declaring that they reflected the greatest honour +upon him both as an Englishman and as a man. + +Soon after this the house divided upon the motion of Sir William Dolben. +Fifty-six appeared to be in favour of it, and only five against it. The +latter consisted of the two members for Liverpool and three other +interested persons. This was the first division which ever took place on +this important subject. The other blanks were then filled up, and the +bill was passed without further delay. + +The next day, or on the 18th of June, it was carried up to the House of +Lords. The slave-merchants of London, Liverpool, and Bristol, +immediately presented petitions against it, as they had done in the +lower house. They prayed that counsel might open their case; and though +they had been driven from the Commons on account of their evidence, with +disgrace, they had the effrontery to ask that they might call witnesses +here also. + +Counsel and evidence having been respectively heard, the bill was +ordered to be committed the next day. The Lords attended according to +summons. But on a motion by Dr. Warren, the Bishop of Bangor, who stated +that the Lord Chancellor Thurlow was much indisposed, and that he wished +to be present when the question was discussed, the committee was +postponed. + +It was generally thought that the reason for this postponement, and +particularly as it was recommended by a prelate, was that the Chancellor +might have an opportunity of forwarding this humane bill. But it was +found to be quite otherwise. It appeared that the motive was, that he +might give to it, by his official appearance as the chief servant of the +crown in that house, all the opposition in his power. For when the day +arrived which had been appointed for the discussion, and when the Lords +Bathurst and Hawkesbury (afterwards Liverpool) had expressed their +opinions, which were different, relative to the time when the bill +should take place, he rose up and pronounced a bitter and vehement +oration against it. He said, among other things, that it was full of +inconsistency and nonsense from the beginning to the end. The French had +lately offered large premiums for the encouragement of this trade. They +were a politic people, and the presumption was, that we were doing +politically wrong by abandoning it. The bill ought not to have been +brought forward in this session. The introduction of it was a direct +violation of the faith of the other house. It was unjust, when an +assurance had been given that the question should not be agitated till +next year, that this sudden fit of philanthropy, which was but a few +days old, should be allowed to disturb the public mind, and to become +the occasion of bringing men to the metropolis with tears in their eyes +and horror in their countenances, to deprecate the ruin of their +property, which they had embarked on the faith of parliament. + +The extraordinary part which the Lord Chancellor Thurlow took upon this +occasion, was ascribed at the time by many who moved in the higher +circles, to a shyness or misunderstanding which had taken place between +him and Mr. Pitt on other matters; when, believing this bill to have +been a favourite measure with the latter, he determined to oppose it. +But whatever were his motives (and let us hope that he could never have +been actuated by so malignant a spirit as that of sacrificing the +happiness of forty thousand persons for the next year to spite the +gratification of an individual), his opposition had a mischievous +effect, on account of the high situation in which he stood; for he not +only influenced some of the Lords themselves, but, by taking the cause +of the slave-merchants so conspicuously under his wing, he gave them +boldness to look up again under the stigma of their iniquitous calling, +and courage even to resume vigorous operations after their disgraceful +defeat. Hence arose those obstacles which will be found to have been +thrown in the way of the passing of the bill from this period. + +Among the Lords who are to be particularly noticed as having taken the +same side as the Lord Chancellor in this debate, were the Duke of +Chandos and the Earl of Sandwich. The former foresaw nothing but +insurrections of the slaves in our islands, and the massacre of their +masters there, in consequence of the agitation of this question. The +latter expected nothing less than the ruin of our marine. He begged the +house to consider how, by doing that which might bring about the +abolition of this traffic, they might lessen the number of British +sailors; how, by throwing it into the hands of France they might +increase those of a rival nation; and how, in consequence, the flag of +the latter might ride triumphant on the ocean. The Slave Trade was +undoubtedly a nursery for our seamen. All objections against it in this +respect were ill-founded. It was as healthy as the Newfoundland and many +other trades. + +The debate having closed, during which nothing more was done than +filling up the blanks with the time when the bill was to begin to +operate, the committee was adjourned. But the bill after this dragged on +so heavily, that it would be tedious to detail the proceedings upon it +from day to day. I shall, therefore, satisfy myself with the following +observations concerning them:--The committee sat not less than five +different times, which consumed the space of eight days, before a final +decision took place. During this time, so much was it an object to throw +in obstacles which might occupy the little remaining time of the +session, that other petitions were presented against the bill, and leave +was asked, on new pretences contained in these, that counsel might be +heard again. Letters also were read from Jamaica, about the mutinous +disposition of the slaves there, in consequence of the stir which had +been made about the abolition; and also from merchants in France, by +which large offers were made to the British merchants to furnish them +with slaves. Several regulations also were proposed in this interval, +some of which were negatived by majorities of only one or two voices. Of +the regulations which were carried, the most remarkable were those +proposed by Lord Hawkesbury (afterwards Liverpool); namely, that no +insurance should be made on the slaves, except against accidents by fire +and water; that persons should not be appointed as officers of vessels +transporting them, who had not been a certain number of such voyages +before; that a regular surgeon only should be capable of being employed +in them; and that both the captain and surgeon should have bounties, if, +in the course of the transportation, they had lost only two in a hundred +slaves. The Duke of Chandos again, and Lord Sydney, were the more +conspicuous among the opposers of the humane bill; and the Duke of +Richmond, the Marquis Townshend, the Earl of Carlisle, the Bishop of +London, and Earl Stanhope, among the most strenuous supporters of it. At +length it passed by a majority of nineteen to eleven votes. + +On the 4th of July, when the bill had been returned to the Commons, it +was moved, that the amendments made in it by the Lords should be read; +but as it had become a money-bill in consequence of the bounties to be +granted, and as new regulations were to be incorporated in it, it was +thought proper that it should be wholly done away. Accordingly Sir +William Dolben moved, that the further consideration of it should be put +off till that day three months. This having been agreed upon, he then +moved for leave to bring in a new bill. This was accordingly introduced, +and an additional clause was inserted in it, relative to bounties, by +Mr. Pitt. But on the second reading, that no obstacle might be omitted +which could legally be thrown in the way of its progress, petitions were +presented against it, both by the Liverpool merchants and the agent for +the island of Jamaica, under the pretence that it was a new bill. Their +petitions, however, were rejected, and it was committed and passed +through its regular stages, and sent up to the Lords. + +On its arrival there on the 5th of July, petitions from London and +Liverpool still followed it. The prayer of these was against the general +tendency of it, but it was solicited also that counsel might be heard in +a particular case; the solicitation was complied with; after which the +bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. + +On the 7th, when it was taken next into consideration, two other +petitions were presented against it. But here so many objections were +made to the clauses of it as they then stood, and such new matter +suggested that the Duke of Richmond, who was a strenuous supporter of +it, thought it best to move that the committee then sitting should be +deferred till that day seven-night, in order to give time for another +more perfect to originate in the lower house. + +This motion having been acceded to, Sir William Dolben introduced a new +one for the third time into the Commons. This included the suggestions +which had been made in the Lords. It included also a regulation, on the +motion of Mr. Sheridan, that no surgeon should be employed as such in +the slave-vessels, except he had a testimonial that he had passed a +proper examination at Surgeon's Hall. The amendments were all then +agreed to, and the bill was passed through its several stages. + +On the 10th of July, being now fully amended it came for a third time +before the Lords; but it was no sooner brought forward than it met with +the same opposition as it had experienced before. Two new petitions +appeared against it; one from a certain class of persons in Liverpool, +and another from Miles Peter Andrews, Esq., stating that if it passed +into a law it would injure the sale of his gunpowder, and that he had +rendered great services to the government during the last war, by his +provision of that article. But here the Lord Chancellor Thurlow reserved +himself for an effort, which, by occasioning only a day's delay, would, +in that particular period of the session have totally prevented the +passing of the bill. He suggested certain amendments for consideration +and discussion which, if they had agreed upon, must have been carried +again to the lower House, and sanctioned there before the bill could +have been complete. But it appeared afterwards, that there would have +been no time for the latter proceeding. Earl Stanhope, therefore, +pressed this circumstance peculiarly upon the lords who were present. He +observed that the king was to dismiss the parliament next day, and +therefore they must adopt the bill as it stood, or reject it altogether. +There was no alternative, and no time was to be lost: accordingly, he +moved for an immediate division on the first of the amendments proposed +by Lord Thurlow. This having taken place, it was negatived. The other +amendments shared the same fate; and thus, at length, passed through the +Upper House, as through an ordeal as it were of fire, the first bill +that ever put fetters upon that barbarous and destructive monster, the +Slave Trade. + +The next day, or on Friday, July the 11th, the king gave his assent to +it, and, as Lord Stanhope had previously asserted in the House of Lords, +concluded the session. + +While the legislature was occupied in the consideration of this bill, +the lords of the council continued their examinations, that they might +collect as much light as possible previously to the general agitation of +the question in the next session of parliament. Among others I underwent +an examination: I gave my testimony first, relative to many of the +natural productions of Africa, of which I produced the specimens. These +were such as I had collected in the course of my journey to Bristol and +Liverpool, and elsewhere. I explained, secondly, the loss and usage of +seamen in the Slave Trade. To substantiate certain points, which +belonged to this branch of the subject, I left several depositions and +articles of agreement for the examination of the council. With respect +to others, as it would take a long time to give all the data upon which +calculations had been made, and the manner of making them, I was desired +to draw up a statement of particulars, and to send it to the council at +a future time. I left also depositions with them, relative to certain +instances of the mode of procuring and treating slaves. + +The committee also for effecting the abolition of the Slave Trade +continued their attention, during this period, towards the promotion of +the different objects which came within the range of the institution. + +They added the Rev. Dr. Coombe, in consequence of the great increase of +their business, to the list of their members. + +They voted thanks to Mr. Hughes, vicar of Ware, in Hertfordshire, for +his excellent answer to Harris's _Scriptural Researches on the Licitness +of the Slave Trade_, and they enrolled him among their honorary and +corresponding members. Also thanks to William Roscoe, Esq., for his +Answer to the same. Mr. Roscoe had not affixed his name to this pamphlet +any more than to his poem of _The Wrongs of Africa_; but he made himself +known to the committee as the author of both. Also thanks to William +Smith and Henry Beaufoy, Esqrs., for having so successfully exposed the +evidence offered by the slave merchants against the bill of Sir William +Dolben, and for having drawn out of it so many facts, all making for +their great object the abolition of the Slave Trade. + +As the great question was to be discussed in the approaching sessions, +it was moved in the committee to consider of the propriety of sending +persons to Africa and the West Indies, who should obtain information +relative to the different branches of the system as they existed in each +of these countries, in order that they might be able to give their +testimony, from their own experience, before one or both of the houses +of parliament, as it might be judged proper. This proposition was +discussed at two or three several meetings. It was, however, finally +rejected, and principally on the following grounds--First, It was +obvious that persons sent out upon such an errand would be exposed to +such dangers from varying causes, that it was not improbably that both +they and their testimony might be lost. Secondly, Such persons would be +obliged to have recourse to falsehoods, that is, to conceal or +misrepresent the objects of their destination, that they might get their +intelligence with safety; which falsehoods the committee could not +countenance. To which it was added, that few persons would go to these +places, except they were handsomely rewarded for their trouble; but this +reward would lessen the value of their evidence, as it would afford a +handle to the planters and slave-merchants to say that they had been +bribed. + +Another circumstance which came before the committee was the +following:--Many arguments were afloat at this time relative to the +great impolicy of abolishing the Slave Trade, the principal of which +was, that, if the English abandoned it, other foreign nations would take +it up; and thus, while they gave up certain national profits themselves, +the great cause of humanity would not be benefited, nor would any moral +good be done by the measure. Now there was a presumption that, by means +of the society instituted in Paris, the French nation might be awakened +to this great subject; and that the French government might in +consequence, as well as upon other considerations, be induced to favour +the general feeling upon this occasion. But there was no reason to +conclude, either than any other maritime people, who had been engaged in +the Slave Trade, would relinquish it, or that any other, who had not yet +been engaged in it, would not begin it when our countrymen should give +it up. The consideration of these circumstances occupied the attention +of the committee; and as Dr. Spaarman, who was said to have been +examined by the privy council, was returning home, it was thought +advisable to consider whether it would not be proper for the committee +to select certain of their own books on the subject of the Slave Trade, +and send them by him, accompanied by a letter, to the King of Sweden, in +which they should entreat his consideration of this powerful argument +which now stood in the way of the cause of humanity, with a view that, +as one of the princes of Europe, he might contribute to obviate it, by +preventing his own subjects, in case of the dereliction of this commerce +by ourselves, from embarking in it. The matter having been fully +considered, it was resolved that the proposed measure would be proper, +and it was accordingly adapted. By a letter received afterwards from Dr. +Spaarman, it appeared that both the letter and the books had been +delivered, and received graciously; and that he was authorized to say, +that, unfortunately, in consequence of those hereditary possessions +which had devolved upon His Majesty, he was obliged to confess that he +was the sovereign of an island which had been principally peopled by +African slaves, but that he had been frequently mindful of their hard +case. With respect to the Slave Trade, he never heard of an instance in +which the merchants of his own native realm had embarked in it; and as +they had preserved their character pure in this respect, he would do all +he could that it should not be sullied in the eyes of the generous +English nation, by taking up, in the case which had been pointed out to +him, such an odious concern. + +By this time I had finished my _Essay on the Impolicy of the Slave +Trade_, which I composed from materials collected chiefly during my +journey to Bristol, Liverpool, and Lancaster. These materials I had +admitted with great caution and circumspection; indeed I admitted none +for which I could not bring official and other authentic documents, or +living evidences if necessary, whose testimony could not reasonably be +denied; and when I gave them to the world, I did it under the impression +that I ought to give them as scrupulously as if I were to be called upon +to substantiate them upon oath. It was of peculiar moment that this book +should make its appearance at this time. First, Because it would give +the lords of the council, who were then sitting, an opportunity of +seeing many important facts, and of inquiring into their authenticity; +and it might suggest to them, also, some new points, or such as had not +fallen within the limits of the arrangement they had agreed upon for +their examinations on this subject: and secondly, Because, as the +members of the House of Commons were to take the question into +consideration early in the next sessions, it would give them, also, new +light and information upon it before this period. Accordingly the +committee ordered two thousand copies of it to be struck off, for these +and other objects; and though the contents of it were most diligently +sifted by the different opponents of the cause, they never even made an +attempt to answer it. It continued, on the other hand, during the +inquiry of the legislature, to afford the basis or grounds upon which to +examine evidences on the political part of the subject; and evidences +thus examined continued in their turn to establish it. + +Among the other books ordered to be printed by the committee within the +period now under our consideration, were a new edition of two thousand +of the DEAN OF MIDDLEHAM'S _Letter_, and another of three thousand of +FALCONBBIDGE'S _Account of the Slave Trade_. + +The committee continued to keep ups, during the same period, a +communication with many of their old correspondents, whose names have +been already mentioned. But they received, also, letters from others, +who had not hitherto addressed them: namely, from Ellington Wright, of +Erith; Dr. Franklin, of Philadelphia; Eustace Kentish, Esq., high +sheriff for the county of Huntingdon; Governor Bouchier; the Reverend +Charles Symmons, of Haverfordwest; and from John York and William +Downes, Esquires, high sheriffs for the counties of York and Hereford. + +A letter, also, was read in this interval from Mr. Evans, a dissenting +clergyman, of Bristol, stating that the elders of several Baptist +churches, forming the western Baptist association, who had met at, +Portsmouth Common, had resolved to recommend it to the ministers and +members of the same, to unite with the committee in the promotion of the +great object of their institution. + +Another from Mr. Andrew Irvin, of the Island of Grenada, in which he +confirmed the wretched situation of many of the slaves there, and in +which he gave the outlines of a plan for bettering their condition, as +well as that of those in the other islands. + +Another from I.L. Wynne, Esq., of Jamaica. In this he gave an afflicting +account of the suffering and unprotected state of the slaves there, +which it was high time to rectify. He congratulated the committee on +their institution, which he thought would tend to promote so desirable +an end; but desired them not to stop short of the total abolition of the +Slave Trade, as no other measure would prove effectual against the evils +of which he complained. This trade, he said, was utterly unnecessary, as +his own plantation, on which his slaves had increased rapidly by +population, and others which he knew to be similarly circumstanced, +would abundantly testify. He concluded by promising to give the +committee such information from time to time as might be useful on this +important subject. + +The session of parliament having closed, the committee thought it right +to make a report to the public: in which they gave an account of the +great progress of their cause since the last; of the state in which they +then were; and of the unjustifiable conduct of their opponents, who +industriously misrepresented their views, but particularly by +attributing to them the design of abolishing slavery: and they concluded +by exhorting their friends not to relax their endeavours on account of +favourable appearances; but to persevere, as if nothing had been done, +under the pleasing hope of an honourable triumph. + +And now having given the substance of the labours of the committee from +its formation to the present time, I cannot conclude this chapter +without giving to the worthy members of it that tribute of affectionate +and grateful praise, which is due to them for their exertions in having +forwarded the great cause which was intrusted to their care. And this I +can do with more propriety, because, having been so frequently absent +from them when they were engaged in the pursuit of this their duty, I +cannot be liable to the suspicion, that in bestowing commendation upon +them I am bestowing it upon myself. From about the end of May, 1787, to +the middle of July, 1788, they had no less than fifty-one committees. +These generally occupied them from about six in the evening till about +eleven at night. In the intervals between the committees they were often +occupied, having each of them some object committed to his charge. It is +remarkable, too, that though they were all, except one, engaged in, +business or trade, and though they had the same calls as other men for +innocent recreation, and the same interruptions of their health, there +were individuals who were not absent more than five or six times within +this period. In the course of the thirteen months, during which they had +exercised this public trust, they had printed, and afterwards +distributed, not at random, but judiciously, and through, respectable +channels, (besides 26,526 reports, accounts of debates in parliament, +and other small papers,) no less than 51,432 pamphlets, or books. + +Nor, was the effect, produced within this short period otherwise than +commensurate with the efforts used. In May, 1787, the only public notice +taken of this great cause was by this committee of twelve individuals, +of whom all were little known to the world except Mr. Granville Sharp. +But in July, 1788, it had attracted the notice of several distinguished +individuals in France and Germany; and in our own country it had come +within the notice of the government, and a branch of it had undergone a +parliamentary discussion and restraint. It had arrested, also, the +attention of the nation, and it had produced a kind of holy flame, or +enthusiasm, and this to a degree and to an extent never before +witnessed. Of the purity of this flame no better proof can be offered, +than that even Bishops deigned to address an obscure committee, +consisting principally of Quakers; and that Churchmen and Dissenters +forgot their difference of religious opinions, and joined their hands, +all over the kingdom, in its support. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +Continuation from June 1788 to July 1789.--Author travels to collect +further evidence; great difficulties in obtaining it; forms committees +on his tour.--Privy council resume the examinations; inspect cabinet +of African productions; obliged to leave many of the witnesses in +behalf of the abolition unexamined; prepare their report--Labours of +the committee in the interim.--Proceedings of the planters and +others.--Report laid on the table of the House of +Commons.--Introduction of the question, and debate there; twelve +propositions deduced from the report and reserved for future +discussion; day of discussion arrives; opponents refuse to argue from +the report; require new evidence; this granted and introduced; further +consideration of the subject deferred to the next session.--Renewal of +Sir William Dolben's bill.--Death and character of Ramsay. + + +Matters had now become serious. The gauntlet had been thrown down and +accepted. The combatants had taken their stations, and the contest was +to be renewed, which was to be decided soon on the great theatre of the +nation. The committee by the very act of their institution had +pronounced the Slave Trade to be criminal. They, on the other hand, who +were concerned in it, had denied the charge. It became the one to prove, +and the other to refute it, or to fall in the ensuing session. + +The committee, in this perilous situation, were anxious to find out such +other persons as might become proper evidences before the privy council. +They had hitherto sent there only nine or ten, and they had then only +another, whom they could count upon for this purpose, in their view. The +proposal of sending persons to Africa, and the West Indies, who might +come back and report what they had witnessed, had already been +negatived. The question then was, what they were to do. Upon this they +deliberated, and the result was an application to me to undertake a +journey to different parts of the kingdom for this purpose. + +When this determination was made, I was at Teston, writing a long letter +to the privy council on the ill usage and mortality of the seamen +employed in the Slave Trade, which it had been previously agreed should +be received as evidence there. I thought it proper, however, before I +took my departure, to form a system of questions upon the general +subject. These I divided into six tables. The first related to the +productions of Africa, and the dispositions and manners of the natives. +The second, to the methods of reducing them to slavery. The third, to +the manner of bringing them to the ships, their value, the medium of +exchange, and other circumstances. The fourth, to their transportation. +The fifth, to their treatment in the colonies. The sixth, to the seamen +employed in the trade. These tables contained together one hundred and +forty-five questions. My idea was that they should be printed on a small +sheet of paper, which should be folded up in seven or eight leaves, of +the length and breadth of a small almanac, and then be sent in franks to +our different correspondents. These, when they had them, might examine +persons capable of giving evidence, who might live in their +neighbourhoods, or fall in their way, and return us their examinations +by letter. + +The committee having approved and printed the tables of questions, I +began my tour. I had selected the southern counties from Kent to +Cornwall for it. I had done this, because these included the great +stations of the ships of war in ordinary; and as these were all under +the superintendence of Sir Charles Middleton, as comptroller of the +navy, I could get an introduction to those on board them. Secondly, +because sea-faring people, when they retire from a marine life, usually +settle in some town or village upon the coast. + +Of this tour I shall not give the reader any very particular account. I +shall mention only those things which are most worthy of his notice in +it. At Poole, in Dorsetshire, I laid the foundation of a committee, to +act in harmony with that of London for the promotion of the cause. Moses +Neave, of the respectable society of the Quakers, was the chairman; +Thomas Bell, the secretary; and Ellis B. Metford and the Reverend Mr. +Davis and others the committee. This was the third committee which had +been instituted in the country for this purpose. That at Bristol, under +Mr. Joseph Harford as chairman, and Mr. Lunell as secretary, had been +the first: and that at Manchester, under Mr. Thomas Walker as chairman, +and Mr. Samuel Jackson as secretary, had been the second. + +As Poole was a great place for carrying on the trade to Newfoundland, I +determined to examine the assertion of the Earl of Sandwich in the House +of Lords, when he said, in the debate on Sir William Dolben's bill, that +the Slave Trade was not more fatal to seamen than the Newfoundland and +some others. This assertion I knew at the time to be erroneous, as far +as my own researches had been concerned: for out of twenty-four vessels, +which had sailed out of the port of Bristol in that employ, only two +sailors were upon the dead list. In sixty vessels from Poole, I found +but four lost. At Dartmouth, where I went afterwards on purpose, I found +almost a similar result. On conversing, however, with Governor +Holdsworth, I learnt that the year 1786 had been more fatal than any +other in this trade. I learnt that in consequence of extraordinary +storms and hurricanes, no less than five sailors had died and twenty-one +had been drowned in eighty-three vessels from that port. Upon this +statement I determined to look into the muster-rolls of the trade there +for two or three years together. I began by accident with the year 1769, +and I went on to the end of 1772. About eighty vessels on an average had +sailed thence in each of these years. Taking the loss in these years, +and compounding it with that in the fatal year, three sailors had been +lost; but taking it in these four years by themselves, only two had been +lost in twenty-four vessels so employed. On comparison with the Slave +Trade, the result would be, that two vessels to Africa would destroy +more seamen than eighty-three sailing to Newfoundland. There was this +difference also to be noted, that the loss in the one trade was +generally by the weather or by accident, but in the other by cruel +treatment or disease; and that they who went out in a declining state of +health in the one, came home generally recovered; whereas they, who went +out robust in the other, came home in a shattered condition. + +At Plymouth I laid the foundation of another committee. The late William +Cookworthy, the late John Prideaux, and James Fox, all of the society of +the Quakers, and Mr. George Leach, Samuel Northcote and John Saunders, +had a principal share in forming it. Sir William Ellford was chosen +chairman. + +From Plymouth I journeyed on to Falmouth, and from thence to Exeter, +where having meetings with the late Mr. Samuel Milford, the late Mr. +George Manning, the Reverend James Manning, Thomas Sparkes, and others, +a desire became manifest among them of establishing a committee there. +This was afterwards effected; and Mr. Milford, who at a general meeting +of the inhabitants of Exeter, on the 10th of June, on this great +subject, had been called by those present to the chair, was appointed +the chairman of it. + +With respect to evidence, which was the great object of this tour, I +found myself often very unpleasantly situated in collecting it. I heard +of many persons capable of giving it to our advantage, to whom I could +get no introduction. I had to go after these many miles out of my +established route. Not knowing me, they received me coldly, and even +suspiciously; while I fell in with others, who, considering themselves, +on account of their concerns and connexions, as our opponents, treated +me in an uncivil manner. + +But the difficulties and disappointments in other respects which I +experienced in this tour,--even where I had an introduction, and where +the parties were not interested in the continuance of the Slave +Trade,--were greater than people in general would have imagined. One +would have thought, considering the great enthusiasm of the nation on +this important subject, that they who could have given satisfactory +information upon it, would have rejoiced to do it. But I found it +otherwise; and this frequently to my sorrow. There was an aversion in +persons to appear before such a tribunal as they conceived the privy +council to be. With men of shy or timid character this operated as an +insuperable barrier in their way. But it operated more or less upon all. +It was surprising to see what little circumstances affected many. When I +took out my pen and ink to put down the information which a person was +giving me, he became evidently embarrassed and frightened. He began to +excuse himself from staying, by alleging that he had nothing more to +communicate, and he took himself away as quickly as he could with +decency. The sight of the pen and ink had lost me so many good +evidences, that I was obliged wholly to abandon the use of them, and to +betake myself to other means. I was obliged for the future to commit my +tables of questions to memory; and endeavour by practice to put down, +after the examination of a person, such answers as he had given me to +each of them. + +Others went off, because it happened that immediately on my interview, I +acquainted them with the nature of my errand and solicited their +attendance in London. Conceiving that I had no right to ask them such a +favour, or terrified at the abruptness and apparent awfulness of my +request some of them gave me an immediate denial, which they would never +afterwards retract. I began to perceive in time that it was only by the +most delicate management that I could get forward on these occasions. I +resolved, therefore, for the future, except in particular cases, that +when I should be introduced to persons who had a competent knowledge of +this trade, I would talk with them upon it as upon any ordinary subject, +and then leave them without saying anything about their becoming +evidences. I would take care, however, to commit all their conversation +to writing when it was over; and I would then try to find out that +person among their relations or friends, who could apply to them for +this purpose, with the least hazard of a refusal. + +There were others, also, who, though they were not so much impressed by +the considerations mentioned, yet objected to give their public +testimony. Those whose livelihood, or promotion, or expectations, were +dependent upon the government of the country, were generally backward on +these occasions. Though they thought they discovered in the +parliamentary conduct of Mr. Pitt, a bias in favour of the cause, they +knew to a certainty that the Lord Chancellor Thurlow was against it. +They conceived, therefore, that the administration was at least divided +upon the question, and they were fearful of being called upon, lest they +should give offence, and thus injure their prospects in life. This +objection was very prevalent in that part of the kingdom which I had +selected for my tour. + +The reader can hardly conceive how my mind was agitated and distressed +on these different accounts. To have travelled more than two months,--to +have seen many who could have materially served our cause,--and to have +lost most of them,--was very trying. And though it is true that I +applied a remedy, I was not driven to the adoption of it, till I had +performed more than half my tour. Suffice it to say, that after having +travelled upwards of sixteen hundred miles backwards and forwards, and +having conversed with forty-seven persons, who were capable of promoting +the cause by their evidence, I could only prevail upon nine, by all the +interest I could make, to be examined. + +On my return to London, whither I had been called up by the committee, +to take upon me the superintendence of the evidence, which the privy +council was now ready again to hear, I found my brother: he was then a +young officer in the navy; and as I knew he felt as warmly as I did in +this great cause, I prevailed upon him to go to Havre de Grace, the +great slave-port in France, where he might make his observations for two +or three months, and then report what he had seen and heard; so that we +might have some one to counteract any false statement of things, which +might be made relative to the subject in that quarter. + +At length the examinations were resumed, and with them the contest, in +which our own reputation and the fate of our cause were involved. The +committee for the abolition had discovered, one or two willing evidences +during my absence; and Mr. Wilberforce, who was now recovered from his +severe indisposition, had found one or two others. These, added to my +own, made a respectable body; but we had sent no more than four or five +of these to the council, when the king's illness unfortunately stopped +our career. For nearly five weeks between the middle of November and +January, the examinations were interrupted or put off, so that at the +latter period we began to fear, that there would be scarcely time to +hear the rest; for not only the privy council report was to be printed, +but the contest itself was to be decided by the evidence contained in +it, in the existing session. + +The examinations, however, went on; but they went on only slowly, being +still subject to interruption from the same unfortunate cause. Among +others I offered my mite of information again. I wished the council to +see more of my African productions and manufactures, that they might +really know what Africa was capable of affording, instead of the Slave +Trade; and that they might make a proper estimate of the genius and +talents of the natives. The samples which I had collected, had been +obtained by great labour, and at no inconsiderable expense: for whenever +I had notice that a vessel had arrived immediately from that continent, +I never hesitated to go, unless under the most pressing engagements +elsewhere, even as far as Bristol, if I could pick up but a single new +article. The lords having consented, I selected several things for their +inspection out of my box,--of the contents of which the following +account may not be unacceptable to the reader:-- + +The first division of the box consisted of woods of about four inches +square, all polished. Among these were mahogany of five different sorts, +tulip-wood, satin-wood, cam-wood, bar-wood, fustic, black and yellow +ebony, palm-tree, mangrove, calabash, and date. There were seven woods, +of which the native names were remembered; three of these, Tumiah, +Samain, and Jimlake, were of a yellow colour; Acajou was of a beautiful +deep crimson; Bork and Quelle were apparently fit for cabinet work; and +Benten was the wood of which the natives made their canoes. Of the, +various other woods the names had been forgotten, nor were they known in +England at all. One of them was of a fine purple; and from two others, +upon which the privy council had caused experiments to be made, a strong +yellow, a deep orange, and a flesh-colour were extracted. + +The second, division included ivory and musk; four species of pepper, +the long, the black, the Cayenne, and the Malaguetta; three species of +gum, namely, Senegal, Copal, and ruber astringens; cinnamon, rice, +tobacco, indigo, white and Nankin cotton, Guinea corn, and millet; three +species of beans, of which two were used for food, and the other for +dyeing orange; two species of tamarinds, one for food, and the other to +give whiteness to the teeth; pulse, seeds, and fruits of various kinds, +some of the latter of which Dr. Spaarman had pronounced; from a trial +during his residence in Africa, to be peculiarly valuable as drugs. + +The third division contained an African loom, and an African spindle +with spun cotton round it; cloths of cotton of various kinds made by the +natives, some white, but others dyed by them of different colours, and +others in which they had interwoven European silk; cloths and bags made +of grass, and fancifully coloured; ornaments made of the same materials; +ropes made from a species of aloes and others, remarkably strong, from +glass and straw; fine string made from the fibres of the roots of trees; +soap of two kinds; one of which was formed from an earthy substance; +pipe-bowls made of clay, and of a brown red; one of these, which came +from the village of Dakard, was beautifully ornamented by black devices +burnt in, and was besides highly glazed; another brought from Galam, was +made of earth, which was richly impregnated with little particles of +gold; trinkets made by the natives from their own gold; knives and +daggers made by them from our bar-iron; and various other articles, such +as bags, sandals, dagger-cases, quivers, grisgris, all made of leather +of their own manufacture, and dyed of various colours, and ingeniously +sewed together. + +The fourth division consisted of the thumb-screw, speculum oris, and +chains and shackles of different kinds, collected at Liverpool. To these +were added, iron neck-collars, and other instruments of punishment and +confinement used in the West Indies, and collected at other places. The +instrument also, by which Charles Horseler was mentioned to have been +killed, in a former chapter, was to be seen among these. + +We were now advanced far into February, when we were alarmed by the +intelligence that the lords of the council were going to prepare their +report: At this time we had sent but few persons to them to examine, in +comparison with our opponents, and we had yet eighteen to introduce: for +answers had come into my tables of questions from several places, and +persons had been pointed out to us by our correspondents, who had +increased our list of evidences to this number. I wrote therefore to +them, at the desire of the committee for the abolition, and gave them +the names of the eighteen, and requested also, that they would order, +for their own inspection; certain muster-rolls of vessels from Poole and +Dartmouth, that they might be convinced that the objection which the +Earl of Sandwich had made in the House of Lords, against the abolition +of the Slave Trade, had no solid foundation. In reply to my first +request they informed me, that it was impossible, in the advanced state +of the session, (it being then the middle of March,) that the +examinations of so many could be taken; but I was at liberty, in +conjunction with the Bishop of London, to select eight for this purpose. +This occasioned me to address them again; and I then found, to my +surprise and sorrow, that even this last number was to be diminished; +for I was informed in writing, "that the Bishop of London having laid my +last letter before their lordships, they had agreed to meet on the +Saturday next, and on the Tuesday following, for the purposes of +receiving the evidence of some of the gentlemen named in it. And it was +their lordships' desire that I would give notice to any three of them +(whose information I might consider the most material) of the above +determination, that they might attend the committee accordingly." + +This answer, considering the difficulties we had found in collecting a +body of evidence, and the critical situation in which we were, was +peculiarly distressing; but we had no remedy left us, nor could we +reasonably complain. Three therefore were selected, and they were sent +to deliver their testimony on their arrival in town. + +But before the last of these had left the council room, who should come +up to me but Dr. Arnold? He had but lately arrived at Bristol from +Africa; and having heard from our friends there that we had been daily +looking for him, he had come to us in London. He and Mr. Gardiner were +the two surgeons, as mentioned in the former chapter, who had promised +me, when I was in Bristol, in the year 1787, that they would keep a +journal of facts during the voyages they were then going to perform. +They had both kept this promise. Gardiner, I found, had died upon the +coast; and his journal, having been discovered at his death, had been +buried with him in great triumph. But Arnold had survived, and he came +now to offer us his services in the cause. + +As it was a pity that such correct information as that taken down in +writing upon the spot should be lost (for all the other evidences, +except Dr. Spaarman and Mr. Wadstrom, had spoken from their memory +only), I made all the interest I could to procure a hearing for Mr. +Arnold. Pleading now for the examination of him only, and under these +particular circumstances, I was attended to. It was consented, in +consequence of the little time which was now left for preparing and +printing the report, that I should make out his evidence from his +journal under certain heads. This I did. Mr. Arnold swore to the truth +of it, when so drawn up, before Edward Montague, Esquire, a master in +Chancery. He then delivered the paper in which it was contained to the +lords of the council, who, on receiving it, read it throughout, and then +questioned him upon it. + +At this time, also, my brother returned with accounts and papers +relative to the Slave Trade from Havre de Grace; but as I had pledged +myself to offer no other person to be examined, his evidence was lost. +Thus, after all the pains we had taken, and in a contest, too, on the +success of which our own reputation and the fate of Africa depended, we +were obliged to fight the battle with sixteen less than we could have +brought into the field; while our opponents, on the other hand, on +account of their superior advantages, had mustered all their forces, not +having omitted a single man. + +I do not know of any period of my life in which I suffered so much, both +in body and mind, as from the time of resuming these public inquiries by +the privy council, to the time when they were closed. For I had my +weekly duty to attend at the committee for the abolition during this +interval. I had to take down the examinations of all the evidences who +came to London, and to make certain copies of these. I had to summon +these to town, and to make provision against all accidents; and here I +was often troubled, by means of circumstances, which unexpectedly +occurred, lest, when committees of the council had been purposely +appointed to hear them, they should not be forthcoming at the time. I +had also a new and extensive correspondence to keep up; for the tables +of questions which had been sent down to our correspondents, brought +letters almost innumerable on this subject, and they were always +addressed to me. These not only required answers of themselves, but as +they usually related to persons capable of giving their testimony, and +contained the particulars of what they could state, they occasioned +fresh letters to be written to others. Hence the writing often of ten or +twelve daily became necessary. + +But the contents of these letters afforded the circumstances, which gave +birth to so much suffering. They contained usually some affecting tale +of woe. At Bristol my feelings had been harassed by the cruel treatment +of the seamen, which had come to my knowledge there: but now I was +doomed to see this treatment over again in many other melancholy +instances; and, additionally, to take in the various sufferings of the +unhappy slaves. These accounts I could seldom get time to read till late +in the evening, and sometimes not till midnight, when the letters +containing them were to be answered. The effect of these accounts was in +some instances to overwhelm me for a time in tears, and in others to +produce a vivid indignation, which affected my whole frame. Recovering +from these, I walked up and down the room: I felt fresh vigour, and made +new determinations of perpetual warfare against this impious trade. I +implored strength that I might succeed. I then sat down, and continued +my work as long as my wearied eyes would permit me to see. Having been +agitated in this manner, I went to bed; but my rest was frequently +broken by the visions which floated before me. When I awoke, these +renewed themselves to me, and they flitted about with me for the +remainder of the day. Thus I was kept continually harassed: my mind was +confined to one gloomy and heart-breaking subject for months. It had no +respite, and my health began now materially to suffer. + +But the contents of these letters were particularly grievous, on account +of the severe labours which they necessarily entailed upon me in other +ways than those which have been mentioned. It was my duty, while the +privy council examinations went on, not only to attend to all the +evidence which was presented to us by our correspondents, but to find +out and select the best. The happiness of millions depended upon it. +Hence I was often obliged to travel during these examinations, in order +to converse with those who had been pointed out to us as capable of +giving their testimony; and, that no time might be lost, to do this in +the night. More than two hundred miles in a week were sometimes passed +over on these occasions. + +The disappointments too, which I frequently experienced in journeys, +increased the poignancy of the, suffering, which arose from a +contemplation of the melancholy cases which I had thus travelled to +bring forward to the public view. The reader at present can have no idea +of these. I have been sixty miles to visit a person, of whom I had +heard, not only as possessing important knowledge, but as espousing our +opinions on this subject. I have at length seen him. He has applauded my +pursuit at our first interview. He has told me, in the course of our +conversation, that neither my own pen, nor that of any other man, could +describe adequately the horrors, of the Slave Trade, horrors which he +himself had witnessed. He has exhorted me to perseverance in this noble +cause. Could I have wished for a more favourable reception!--But mark +the issue. He was the nearest relation of a rich person concerned in the +traffic; and if he were to come forward with his evidence publicly, he +should ruin all his expectations from that Quarter. In the same week I +have visited another at a still greater distance. I have met with +similar applause. I have heard him describe scenes of misery which he +had witnessed, and on the relation of which he himself almost wept. But +mark the issue again.--"I am a surgeon," says he; "through that window +you see a spacious house; it is occupied by a West Indian. The medical +attendance upon his family is of considerable importance to the temporal +interests of mine. If I give you my evidence I lose his patronage. At +the house above him lives a East Indian. The two families are connected: +I fear, if I lose the support of one, I shall lose that of the other +also: but I will give you privately all the intelligence in my power." + +The reader may now conceive the many miserable hours I must have spent, +after such visits, in returning home; and how grievously my heart must +have been afflicted by these cruel disappointments, but more +particularly where they arose from causes inferior to those which have +been now mentioned, or from little frivolous excuses, or idle and +unfounded conjectures, unworthy of beings expected to fill a moral +station in life. Yes, O man! often in these solitary journeyings have I +exclaimed against the baseness of thy nature, when reflecting on the +little paltry considerations which have smothered thy benevolence, and +hindered thee from succouring an oppressed brother. And yet, on a +further view of things, I have reasoned myself into a kinder feeling +towards thee. For I have been obliged to consider ultimately, that there +were both lights and shades in the human character; and that, if the bad +part of our nature was visible on these occasions, the nobler part of it +ought not to be forgotten. While I passed a censure upon those, who were +backward in serving this great cause of humanity and justice, how many +did I know, who were toiling in the support of it! I drew also this +consolation from my reflections, that I had done my duty; that I had +left nothing untried or undone; that amidst all these disappointments I +had collected information, which might be useful at a future time; and +that such disappointments were almost inseparable from the prosecution +of a cause of such magnitude, and where the interests of so many were +concerned:-- + +Having now given a general account of my own proceedings, I shall state +those of the committee; or show how they contributed, by fulfilling the +duties of their several departments, to promote the cause in the +interim. + +In the first place they completed the rules, or code of laws, for their +own government. + +They continued to adopt and circulate books, that they might still +enlighten the public mind on the subject, and preserve it interested in +favour of their institution. They kept the press indeed almost +constantly going for this purpose. They printed, within the period +mentioned, RAMSAY'S, _Address on the proposed Bill for the Abolition; +The Speech of Henry Beaufoy, Esq., on Sir William Dolben's Bill_, of +which an extract is given in Chap. xxiii.; _Notes by a Planter on the +two Reports from the Committee of the Honourable House of Assembly of +Jamaica_; _Observations on the Slave Trade_ by Mr. Wadstrom; and +DICKSON'S _Letters on Slavery._ These were all new publications. To +those they added others of less note, with new editions of the old. + +They voted their thanks to the Rev. Mr. Clifford, for his excellent +Sermon on the Slave Trade; to the pastor and congregation of the Baptist +church at Maze Pond, Southwark, for their liberal subscription; and to +John Barton, one of their own members, for the services he had rendered +them. The latter, having left his residence in town for one in the +country, solicited permission to resign, and hence this mark of +approbation was given to him. He was continued also as an honorary and +corresponding member. + +They elected David Hartley and Richard Sharpe, Esqs., into their own +body, and Alexander Jaffray, Esq., the Rev. Charles Symmons, of +Haverfordwest, and the Rev. T. Burgess (afterwards bishop of Salisbury), +as honorary and corresponding members. The latter had written +_Considerations on the Abolition of Slavery and the Slave Trade, upon +grounds of natural, religious, and political Duty_, which had been of +great service to the cause. + +Of the new correspondents of the committee within this period I may +first mention Henry Taylor, of North Shields; William Proud, of Hull; +the Rev. T. Gisborne, of Yoxall Lodge; and William Ellford, Esq., of +Plymouth. The latter as chairman of the Plymouth committee, sent up for +inspection an engraving of a plan and section of a slave-ship, in which +the bodies of the slaves were seen stowed in the proportion of rather +less than one to a ton. This happy invention gave all those who saw it a +much better idea, than they could otherwise have had, of the horrors of +their transportation, and contributed greatly, as will appear, +afterwards, to impress the public in favour of our cause. + +The next, whom I shall mention, was C.L. Evans, Esq., of West Bromwich; +the Rev. T. Clarke, of Hull; S.P. Wolferstan, of Stratford, near +Tamworth; Edmund Lodge, Esq., of Halifax; the Rev. Caleb Rotheram, of +Kendal; and Mr. Campbell Haliburton, of Edinburgh. The news which Mr. +Haliburton sent was very agreeable. He informed us that, in consequence +of the great exertions of Mr. Alison, an institution had been formed in +Edinburgh, similar to that in London, which would take all Scotland +under its care and management, as far as related to this great subject. +He mentioned Lord Gardenston as the chairman; Sir William Forbes as the +deputy-chairman; himself as the secretary; and Lord Napier, Professor +Andrew Hunter, Professor Greenfield, and William Creech, Adam Rolland, +Alexander Ferguson, John Dickson, John Erskine, John Campbell, Archibald +Gibson, Archibald Fletcher, and Horatius Canning, Esqrs., as the +committee. + +The others were, the Rev. J. Bidlake, of Plymouth; Joseph Storrs, of +Chesterfield; William Fothergill, of Carr End, Yorkshire; J. Seymour, of +Coventry; Moses Neave, of Poole; Joseph Taylor, of Scarborough; Timothy +Clark, of Doncaster; Thomas Davis, of Milverton; George Croker Fox, of +Falmouth; Benjamin Grubb, of Clonmell in Ireland; Sir William Forbes, of +Edinburgh; the Rev. J. Jamieson, of Forfar; and Joseph Gurney, of +Norwich; the latter of whom sent up a remittance, and intelligence at +the same time, that a committee, under Mr. Leigh, so often before +mentioned, had been formed in that city[A]. + +[Footnote A: On the removal of Mr. Leigh from Norwich, Dr. Pretyman, +precentor of Lincoln and a prebend of Norwich, succeeded him.] + +But the committee in London, while they were endeavouring to promote the +object of their institution at home, continued their exertions for the +same purpose abroad within this period. + +They kept up a communication with the different societies established in +America. + +They directed their attention also to the continent of Europe. They had +already applied, as I mentioned before, to the king of Sweden in favour +of their cause, and had received a gracious answer. They now attempted +to interest other Potentates in it. For this purpose they bound up in an +elegant manner two sets of the _Essays on the Slavery and Commerce of +the Human Species, and on the Impolicy of the Slave Trade_, and sent +them to the Chevalier de Pinto, in Portugal. They bound up in a similar +manner three sets of the same, and sent them to Mr. Eden (afterwards +Lord Aukland), at Madrid, to be given to the king of Spain, the Count +d'Aranda, and the Marquis del Campomanes. + +They kept up their correspondence with the committee at Paris, which had +greatly advanced itself in the eyes of the French nation; so that, when +the different bailliages sent deputies to the states-general, they +instructed them to take the Slave Trade into their consideration as a +national object, and with a view to its abolition. + +They kept up their correspondence with Dr. Frossard of Lyons. He had +already published in France on the subject of the Slave Trade; and now +he offered the committee to undertake the task, so long projected by +them, of collecting such arguments and facts concerning it, and +translating them into different languages, as might be useful in +forwarding their views in foreign parts. + +They addressed letters also to various individuals, to Monsieur +Snetlage, doctor of laws at Halle in Saxony; to Monsieur Ladebat, of +Bordeaux; to the Marquis de Feuillade d'Aubusson, at Paris; and to +Monsieur Necker. The latter in his answer replied in part as follows: +"As this great question," says he, "is not in my department, but in that +of the minister for the colonies, I cannot interfere in it directly, but +I will give indirectly all the assistance in my power. I have for a long +time taken an interest in the general alarm on this occasion, and in the +noble alliance of the friends of humanity in favour of the injured +Africans. Such an attempt throws a new lustre over your nation. It is +not yet, however, a national object in France; but the moment may +perhaps come, and I shall think myself happy in preparing the way for +it. You must be aware, however, of the difficulties which we shall have +to encounter on our side of the water; for our colonies are much more +considerable than yours; so that in the view of political interest we +are not on an equal footing. It will therefore be necessary to find some +middle line at first, as it cannot be expected that humanity alone will +be the governing principle of mankind." + +But the day was now drawing near, when it was expected that this great +contest would be decided. Mr. Wilberforce, on the 19th of March, rose up +in the House of Commons and desired the resolution to be read, by which +the house stood pledged to take the Slave Trade into their consideration +in the then session; He then moved that the house should resolve itself +into a committee of the whole house on Thursday the 23rd of April, for +this purpose. This motion was agreed to; after which he moved for +certain official documents necessary to throw light upon the subject in +the course of its discussion. + +This motion, by means of which the great day of trial was now fixed, +seemed to be the signal for the planters, merchants, and other +interested persons to begin a furious opposition. Meetings were +accordingly called by advertisement. At these meetings much warmth and +virulence were manifested in debate, and propositions breathing a spirit +of anger were adopted. It was suggested there, in the vehemence of +passion, that the islands could exist independently of the mother +country; nor were even threats withheld to intimidate government from +effecting the abolition. + +From this time, also, the public papers began to be filled with such +statements as were thought most likely to influence the members of the +House of Commons, previously to the discussion of the question. + +The first impression attempted to be made upon them was with respect to +the slaves themselves. It was contended, and attempted to be shown by +the revival of the old argument of human sacrifices in Africa, that +these were better off in the islands than in their own country. It was +contended, also, that they were people of very inferior capacities, and +but little removed from the brute creation; whence an inference was +drawn that their treatment, against which so much clamour had arisen, +was adapted to their intellect and feelings. + +The next attempt was to degrade the abolitionists in the opinion of the +house, by showing the wildness and absurdity of their schemes. It was +again insisted upon that emancipation was the real, object of the +former; so that thousands of slaves would be let loose in the islands to +rob or perish, and who could never be brought back again into habits of +useful industry. + +An attempt was then made to excite their pity in behalf of the planters. +The abolition, it was said, would produce insurrections among the +slaves. But insurrections would produce the massacre of their masters; +and, if any of these should happily escape from butchery, they would be +reserved only for ruin. + +An appeal was then made to them on the ground of their own interest and +of that of the people whom they represented. It was stated that the ruin +of the islands would be the ruin of themselves and of the country. Its +revenue would be half annihilated; its naval strength would decay. +Merchants, manufacturers and others would come to beggary. But in this +deplorable situation they would expect to be indemnified for their +losses. Compensation, indeed, must follow: it could not be withheld. But +what would be the amount of it? The country would have no less than from +eighty to a hundred millions to pay the sufferers; and it would be +driven to such distress in paying this sum as it had never before +experienced. + +The last attempt was to show them that a regulation of the trade was all +that was now wanted. While this would remedy the evils complained of, it +would prevent the mischief which would assuredly follow the abolition. +The planters had already done their part. The assemblies of the +different islands had most of them made wholesome laws upon the subject. +The very bills passed for this purpose in Jamaica and Grenada had +arrived in England, and might be seen by the public; the great +grievances had been redressed; no slave could now be mutilated or +wantonly killed by his owner; one man could not now maltreat, or bruise, +or wound the slave of another; the aged could not now be turned off to +perish by hunger. There were laws, also, relative to the better feeding +and clothing of the slaves. It remained only that the trade to Africa +should be put under as wise and humane regulations as the slavery in the +islands had undergone. + +These different statements, appearing now in the public papers from day +to day, began, in this early stage of the question, when the subject in +all its bearings was known but to few, to make a considerable impression +upon those, who were soon to be called to the decision of it. But that +which had the greatest effect upon them, was the enormous amount of the +compensation, which, it was said, must be made. This statement against +the abolition was making its way so powerfully, that Archdeacon Paley +thought it his duty to write, and to send to the committee, a little +treatise called _Arguments against the unjust Pretensions of Slave +Dealers and Holders, to be indemnified by pecuniary Allowances at the +public expense, in case the Slave Trade should be abolished_. This +treatise, when the substance of it was detailed in the public papers, +had its influence upon several members of the House of Commons; but +there were others who had been, as it were, panic-struck by the +statement. These in their fright seemed to have lost the right use of +their eyes, or to have looked through a magnifying glass. With these the +argument of emancipation, which they would have rejected at another time +as ridiculous, obtained now easy credit. The massacres too, and the +ruin, though only conjectural, they admitted also. Hence some of them +deserted our cause wholly, while others, wishing to do justice as far as +they could to the slaves on the one hand, and to their own countrymen on +the other, adopted a middle line of conduct, and would go no further +than the regulation of the trade. + +While these preparations were making by our opponents to prejudice the +minds of those who were to be the judges in this contest, Mr. Pitt +presented the privy council report at the bar of the House of Commons; +and as it was a large folio volume, and contained the evidence upon +which the question was to be decided, it was necessary that time should +be given to the members to peruse it. Accordingly, the 12th of May was +appointed, instead of the 23rd of April, for the discussion of the +question. + +This postponement of the discussion of the question gave time to all +parties to prepare themselves further. The merchants and planters +availed themselves of it to collect petitions to parliament from +interested persons, against the abolition of the trade, to wait upon +members of parliament by deputation, in order to solicit their +attendance in their favour, and to renew their injurious paragraphs in +the public papers. The committee for the abolition availed themselves of +it to reply to these; and here Dr. Dickson, who had been secretary to +Governor Hey, in Barbados, and who had offered the committee his +_Letters on Slavery_ before mentioned, and his services also, was of +singular use. Many members of parliament availed themselves of it to +retire into the country to read the report. Among the latter were Mr. +Wilberforce and Mr. Pitt. In this retirement they discovered, +notwithstanding the great disadvantages under which we had laboured with +respect to evidence, that our cause was safe, and that, as far as it was +to be decided by reason and sound policy, it would triumph. It was in +this retirement that Mr. Pitt made those able calculations which +satisfied him for ever after, as the minister of the country, as to the +safety of the great measure of the abolition of the Slave Trade; for he +had clearly proved, that not only the islands could go on in a +flourishing state without supplies from the coast of Africa, but that +they were then in a condition to do it. + +At length the 12th of May arrived. Mr. Wilberforce rose up in the +Commons and moved the order of the day for the house to resolve itself +into a committee of the whole house, to take into consideration the +petitions which had been presented against the Slave Trade. + +This order having been read, he moved that the report of the committee +of privy council, that the acts passed in the islands relative to +slaves, that the evidence adduced last year on the Slave Trade, that the +petitions offered in the last session against the Slave Trade, and that +the accounts presented to the house in the last and present session +relative to the exports and imports of Africa, be referred to the same +committee. + +These motions having been severally agreed to, the House immediately +resolved itself into a committee of the whole house, and Sir William +Dolben was put into the chair. + +Mr. Wilberforce began by declaring, that when he considered how much +discussion the subject, which he was about to explain to the committee, +had occasioned, not only in that House, but throughout the kingdom, and +throughout Europe; and when he considered the extent and importance of +it, the variety of interests involved in it, and the consequences which +might arise, he owned he had been filled with apprehensions, lest a +subject of such magnitude, and a cause of such weight, should suffer +from the weakness of its advocate; but when he recollected that, in the +progress of his inquiries, he had everywhere been received with candour, +that most people gave him credit for the purity of his motives, and +that, however many of these might then differ from him, they were all +likely to agree in the end, he had dismissed his fears, and marched +forward with a firmer step in this cause of humanity, justice, and +religion. He could not, however, but lament that the subject had excited +so much warmth. He feared that too many on this account were but ill +prepared to consider it with impartiality. He entreated all such to +endeavour to be calm and composed. A fair and cool discussion was +essentially necessary. The motion he meant to offer, was as reconcilable +to political expediency as to national humanity. It belonged to no party +question. It would in the end be found serviceable to all parties, and +to the best interests of the country. He did not come forward to accuse +the West India planter, or the Liverpool merchant, or indeed any one +concerned in this traffic; but, if blame attached anywhere, to take +shame to himself in common, indeed, with the whole parliament of Great +Britain, who, having suffered it to be carried on under their own +authority, were all of them participators in the guilt. + +In endeavouring to explain the great business of the day, he said he +should call the attention of the House only to the leading features of +the Slave Trade. Nor should he dwell long upon these. Every one might +imagine for himself what must be the natural consequence of such a +commerce with Africa. Was it not plain that she must suffer from it? +that her savage manners must be rendered still more ferocious? and that +a trade of this nature, carried on round her coasts, must extend +violence and desolation to her very centre? It was well known that the +natives of Africa were sold as goods, and that numbers of them were +continually conveyed away from their country by the owners of British +vessels. The question then was, which way the latter came by them. In +answer to this question, the privy council report, which was then on the +table, afforded evidence the most satisfactory and conclusive. He had +found things in it, which had confirmed every proposition he had +maintained before, whether this proposition had been gathered from +living information of the best authority, or from the histories he had +read. But it was unnecessary either to quote the report, or to appeal to +history on this occasion. Plain reason and common sense would point out +how the poor Africans were obtained. Africa was a country divided into +many kingdoms, which had different governments and laws. In many parts +the princes were despotic. In others they had a limited rule. But in all +of them, whatever the nature of the government was, men were considered +as goods and property, and, as such, subject to plunder in the same +manner as property in other countries. The persons in power there were +naturally fond of our commodities; and to obtain them, (which could only +be done by the sale of their countrymen,) they waged war on one another, +or even ravaged their own country, when they could find no pretence for +quarrelling with their neighbours: in their courts of law many poor +wretches, who were innocent, were condemned; and to obtain these +commodities in greater abundance, thousands were kidnapped and torn from +their families, and sent into slavery. Such transactions, he said, were +recorded in every history of Africa, and the report on the table +confirmed them. With respect, however, to these he should make but one +or two observations. If we looked into the reign of Henry the Eighth, we +should find a parallel for one of them. We should find that similar +convictions took place; and that penalties followed conviction. With +respect to wars, the kings of Africa were never induced to engage in +them by public principles, by national glory, and least of all by the +love of their people. This had been stated by those most conversant in +the subject, by Dr. Spaarman and Mr. Wadstrom. They had conversed with +these princes, and had learned from their own mouths that to procure +slaves was the object of their hostilities. Indeed, there was scarcely a +single person examined before the privy council who did not prove that +the Slave Trade was the source of the tragedies acted upon that +extensive continent. Some had endeavoured to palliate this circumstance; +but there was not one who did not more or less admit it to be true. By +one the Slave Trade was called the concurrent cause, by the majority it +was acknowledged to be the principal motive, of the African wars. The +same might be said with respect to those instances of treachery and +injustice, in which individuals were concerned. And here he was sorry to +observe that our own countrymen were often guilty. He would only at +present advert to the tragedy at Calabar, where two-large African +villages, having been for some time at war, made peace. This peace was +to have, been ratified by intermarriages; but some of our captains, who +were there, seeing their trade would be stopped for a while, sowed +dissension again between them. They actually set one village against the +other, took a share in the contest, massacred many of the inhabitants, +and carried others of them away as slaves. But shocking as this +transaction might appear, there was not a single history of Africa to be +read, in which scenes of as atrocious a nature were not related. They, +he said, who defended this trade, were warped and blinded by their own +interests, and would not be convinced of the miseries they were daily +heaping on their fellow creatures. By the countenance, they gave it, +they had reduced the inhabitants of Africa to a worse state than that of +the most barbarous nation. They had destroyed what ought to have been +the bond of union and safety among them; they had introduced discord and +anarchy among them; they had set kings against their subjects, and +subjects against each other; they had rendered every private family +wretched; they had, in short, given birth to scenes of injustice and +misery not to be found in any other quarter of the globe. + +Having said thus much on the subject of procuring slaves in, Africa, he +would now go to that of the transportation of them. And here he had +fondly hoped, that when men with affections and feelings like our own +had been torn from their country, and everything dear to them, he should +have found some mitigation of their sufferings; but the sad reverse was +the case. This was the most wretched part of the whole subject. He was +incapable, of impressing the House with what he felt upon it. A +description of their conveyance was impossible. So much misery +condensed, in so little room was more than the human imagination had +ever before conceived. Think only of six hundred persons linked +together, trying to get rid of each other, crammed in a close vessel +with every object that was nauseous and disgusting, diseased, and +struggling with all the varieties of wretchedness. It seemed impossible +to add anything more to human misery. Yet shocking as this description +must be felt to be by every man, the transportation had been described +by several witnesses from Liverpool to be a comfortable conveyance. Mr. +Norris had painted the accommodations on board a slave-ship in the most +glowing colours. He had represented them in a manner which would have +exceeded his attempts at praise of the most luxurious scenes. Their +apartments, he said, were fitted up as advantageously for them as +circumstances could possibly admit: they had several meals a day; some +of their own country provisions, with the best sauces of African +cookery; and, by way of variety, another meal of pulse, according to the +European taste. After breakfast they had water to wash themselves, while +their apartments were perfumed with frankincense and lime-juice. Before +dinner they were amused after the manner of their country; instruments +of music were introduced; the song and the dance were promoted; games of +chance were furnished them; the men played and sang, while the women and +girls made fanciful ornaments from beads, with which they were +plentifully supplied. They were indulged in all their little fancies, +and kept in sprightly humour. Another of them had said, when the sailors +were flogged, it was out of the hearing of the Africans, lest it should +depress their spirits. He by no means wished to say that such +descriptions were wilful misrepresentations. If they were not, it proved +that interest or prejudice was capable of spreading a film over the eyes +thick enough to occasion total blindness. + +Others, however, and these men of the greatest veracity, had given a +different account. What would the house think, when by the concurring +testimony of these the true history was laid open? The slaves who had +been described as rejoicing in their captivity, were so wrung with +misery at leaving their country, that it was the constant practice to +set sail in the night, lest they should know the moment of their +departure. With respect to their accommodation, the right ancle of one +was fastened to the left ancle of another by an iron fetter; and if they +were turbulent, by another on the wrists. Instead of the apartments +described, they were placed in niches, and along the decks, in such a +manner, that it was impossible for any one to pass among them, however +careful he might be, without treading upon them. Sir George Yonge had +testified, that in a slave-ship, on board of which he went, and which +had not completed her cargo by two hundred and fifty, instead of the +scent of frankincense being perceptible to the nostrils, the stench was +intolerable. The allowance of water was, so deficient, that the slaves +were, frequently found gasping for life, and almost suffocated. The +pulse with which they had been said to be favoured, were absolutely +English horse-beans. The legislature of Jamaica had stated the +scantiness both of water and provisions, as a subject which called for +the interference of parliament. As Mr. Norris had said, the song and the +dance were promoted, he could not pass over these expressions without +telling the house what they meant. It would have been much more fair if +he himself had explained the word _promoted_. The truth was, that, for +the sake of exercise, these miserable wretches, loaded with chains and +oppressed with disease, were forced to dance by the terror of the lash, +and sometimes by the actual use of it. "I" said one of the evidences, +"was employed to dance the men, while another person danced the women." +Such then was the meaning of the, word _promoted_; and it might also be +observed with respect to food, that instruments were sometimes carried +out in order to force them to eat; which was the same sort of proof, how +much they enjoyed themselves in this instance also. With respect to +their singing, it consisted of songs, of lamentation for the loss of +their country. While they sung they were in tears: so that one of the +captains, more humane probably than the rest, threatened a woman with a +flogging because the mournfulness of her song was too painful for his +feelings. Perhaps he could not give a better proof of the sufferings of +these injured people during their passage, than by stating the mortality +which accompanied it. This was a species of evidence, which was +infallible on this occasion. Death was a witness which could not deceive +them; and the proportion of deaths would not only confirm, but, if +possible, even aggravate our suspicion of the misery of the transit. It +would be found, upon an average of all the ships, upon which evidence +had been given, that, exclusively of such as perished before they sailed +from Africa, not less than twelve and-a-half per cent died on their +passage: besides these, the Jamaica report stated that four and-a-half +per cent died while in the harbours, or on shore before the day of sale, +which was only about the space of twelve or fourteen days after their +arrival there; and one-third more died in the seasoning: and this in a +climate exactly similar to their own, and where, as some of the +witnesses pretended, they were healthy and happy. Thus out of every lot +of one hundred shipped from Africa, seventeen died in about nine weeks, +and not more than fifty lived to become effective labourers in our +islands. + +Having advanced thus far in his investigation, he felt, he said, the +wickedness of the Slave Trade to be so enormous, so dreadful, and +irremediable, that he could stop at no alternative short of its +abolition, A trade founded on iniquity, and carried on with such +circumstances of horror, must be abolished, let the policy of it be what +it might; and he had from this time determined, whatever were the +consequences, that he would never rest till he had effected that +abolition. His mind had, indeed, been harassed by the objections of the +West India planters, who had asserted, that the ruin of their property +must be the consequence of such a measure. He could not help, however, +distrusting their arguments. He could not believe that the Almighty +Being, who had forbidden the practice of rapine and bloodshed, had made +rapine and bloodshed necessary to any part of his universe. He felt a +confidence in this persuasion, and took the resolution to act upon it. +Light, indeed, soon broke in upon him. The suspicion of his mind was +every day confirmed by increasing information, and the evidence he had +now to offer upon this point was decisive and complete. The principle +upon which he founded the necessity of the abolition was not policy, but +justice: but though justice were the principle of the measure, yet he +trusted he should distinctly prove it to be reconcilable with our truest +political interest. + +In the first place, he asserted that the number of the slaves in our +West India islands might be kept up without the introduction of recruits +from Africa; and to prove this, he would enumerate the different sources +of their mortality. The first was the disproportion of the sexes, there +being, upon an average, about five males imported to three females: but +this evil, when the Slave Trade was abolished, would cure itself. The +second consisted in the bad condition in which they were brought to the +islands, and the methods of preparing them for sale. They arrived +frequently in a sickly and disordered state, and then they were made up +for the market by the application of astringents, washes, mercurial +ointments, and repelling drugs, so that their wounds and diseases might +be hid. These artifices were not only fraudulent but fatal; but these, +it was obvious, would of themselves fall with the trade. A third was, +excessive labour joined with improper food; and a fourth was, the +extreme dissoluteness of their manners. These, also, would both of them +be counteracted by the impossibility of getting further supplies: for +owners, now unable to replace those slaves whom they might lose, by +speedy purchases in the markets, would be more careful how they treated +them in future, and a better treatment would be productive of better +morals. And here he would just advert to an argument used against those +who complained of cruelty in our islands, which was, that it was the +interest of masters to treat their slaves with humanity: but surely it +was immediate and present, not future and distant interest, which was +the great spring of action in the affairs of mankind. Why did we make +laws to punish men? It was their interest to be upright and virtuous: +but there was a present impulse continually breaking in upon their +better judgment, and an impulse, which was known to be contrary to their +permanent advantage. It was ridiculous to say that men would be bound by +their interest, when gain or ardent passion urged them. It might as well +be asserted, that a stone could not be thrown into the air, or a body +move from place to place, because the principle of gravitation bound +them to the surface of the earth. If a planter in the West Indies found +himself reduced in his profits, he did not usually dispose of any part +of his slaves; and his own gratifications were never given up, so long +as there was a possibility of making any retrenchment in the allowance +of his slaves.--But to return to the subject which he had left: he was +happy to state, that as all the causes of the decrease which he had +stated might be remedied, so, by the progress of light and reformation, +these remedies had been gradually coming into practice; and that, as +these had increased, the decrease of slaves had in an equal proportion +been lessened. By the gradual adoption of these remedies, he could prove +from the report on the table, that the decrease of slaves in Jamaica had +lessened to such a degree, that from the year 1774 to the present it was +not quite one in a hundred, and that, in fact, they were at present in a +state of increase; for that the births in that island, at this moment, +exceeded the deaths by one thousand or eleven hundred per annum. +Barbados, Nevis, Antigua, and the Bermudas, were, like Jamaica, +lessening their decrease, and holding forth an evident and reasonable +expectation of a speedy state of increase by natural population. But +allowing the number of Negroes even to decrease for a time, there were +methods which would insure the welfare of the West India islands. The +lands there might be cultivated by fewer hands, and this to greater +advantage to the proprietors and to this country, by the produce of +cinnamon, coffee, and cotton, than by that of sugar. The produce of the +plantations might also be considerably increased, even in the case of +sugar, with less hands than were at present employed, if the owners of +them would but introduce machines of husbandry. Mr. Long himself, long +resident as a planter, had proved, upon his own estate, that the plough, +though so little used in the West Indies, did the service of a hundred +slaves, and caused the same ground to produce three hogsheads of sugar, +which, when cultivated by slaves, would only produce two. The division +of work, which, in free and civilized countries, was the grand source of +wealth, and the reduction of the number of domestic servants, of whom +not less than from twenty to forty were kept in ordinary families, +afforded other resources for this purpose. But, granting that all these +suppositions should be unfounded, and that everyone of these substitutes +should fail for a time, the planters would be indemnified, as is the +case in all transactions of commerce, by the increased price of their +produce in the British market. Thus, by contending against the +abolition, they were defeated in every part of the argument. But he +would never give up the point, that the number of the slaves could be +kept up, by natural population, and without any dependence whatever on +the Slave Trade. He therefore called upon the house again to abolish it +as a criminal waste of life--it was utterly unnecessary--he had proved +it so by documents contained in the report. The merchants of Liverpool, +indeed, had thought otherwise, but he should be cautious how he assented +to their opinions. They declared last year that it was a losing trade at +two slaves to a ton, and yet they pursued it when restricted to five +slaves to three tons. He believed, however, that it was upon the whole a +losing concern; in the same manner as the lottery would be a losing +adventure to any company who should buy all the tickets. Here and there +an individual gained a large prize, but the majority of adventurers +gained nothing. The same merchants, too, had asserted, that the town of +Liverpool would be mined by the abolition. But Liverpool did not depend +for its consequence upon the Slave Trade. The whole export-tonnage from +that place amounted to no less than 170,000 tons; whereas the export +part of it to Africa amounted only to 13,000. Liverpool, he was sure, +owed its greatness to other and very different causes; the Slave Trade +bearing but a small proportion to its other trade. + +Having gone through that part of the subject which related to the +slaves, he would now answer two objections which he had frequently heard +stated. The first of these was, that the abolition of the Slave Trade +would operate to the total ruin of our navy, and to the increase of that +of our rivals. For an answer to these assertions, he referred to what he +considered to be the most valuable part of the report, and for which the +House and the country were indebted to the indefatigable exertions of +Mr. Clarkson. By the report it appeared, that, instead of the Slave +Trade being a nursery for British seamen, it was their grave. It +appeared that more seamen died in that trade in one year than in the +whole remaining trade of the country in two. Out of 910 sailors in it, +216 died in the year, while upon a fair average of the same number of +men employed in the trades to the East and West Indies, Petersburgh, +Newfoundland, and Greenland, no more than eighty-seven died. It appeared +also, that out of 3170, who had left Liverpool in the slave-ships in the +year 1787, only 1428 had returned. And here, while he lamented the loss +which the country thus annually sustained in her seamen, he had +additionally to lament the barbarous usage which they experienced, and +which this trade, by its natural tendency to harden the heart, +exclusively produced. He would just read an extract of a letter from +Governor Parrey, of Barbados, to Lord Sydney, one of the secretaries of +state. The Governor declared he could no longer contain himself on +account of the ill treatment, which the British sailors endured at the +hands of their savage captains. These were obliged to have their vessels +strongly manned, not only on account of the unhealthiness of the climate +of Africa, but of the necessity of guarding the slaves, and preventing +and suppressing insurrections; and when they arrived in the West Indies, +and were out of all danger from the latter, they quarrelled with their +men on the most frivolous pretences, on purpose to discharge them, and +thus save the payment of supernumerary wages home. Thus many were left +in a diseased and deplorable state; either to perish by sickness, or to +enter into foreign service; great numbers of whom were for ever lost to +their country. The Governor concluded by declaring, that the enormities +attendant on this trade were so great, as to demand the immediate +interference of the legislature. + +The next objection to the abolition was, that if we were to relinquish +the Slave Trade, our rivals, the French, would take it up; so that, +while we should suffer by the measure, the evil would still go on, and +this even to its former extent. This was, indeed, a very weak argument; +and, if it would defend the continuance of the Slave Trade, might +equally be urged in favour of robbery, murder, and every species of +wickedness, which, if we did not practise, others would commit. But +suppose, for the sake of argument, that they were to take it up, what +good would it do them? What advantages, for instance, would they derive +from this pestilential commerce to their marine? Should not we, on the +other hand, be benefited by this change? Would they not be obliged to +come to us, in consequence of the cheapness of our manufactures, for +what they wanted for the African market? But he would not calumniate the +French nation so much as to suppose that they would carry on the trade, +if we were to relinquish it. He believed, on the other hand, that they +would abolish it also. Mr. Necker, the minister of France, was a man of +religious principle; and, in his work upon the administration of the +finances, had recorded his abhorrence of this trade. He was happy also +to relate an anecdote of the king of France, which proved that he was a +friend to the abolition; for, being petitioned to dissolve a society, +formed at Paris, for the annihilation of the Slave Trade, his majesty +answered, that he would not, and was happy to hear that so humane an +association was formed in his dominions. And here, having mentioned the +society in Paris, he could not help paying a due compliment to that +established in London for the same purpose, which had laboured with the +greatest assiduity to make this important subject understood, and which +had conducted itself with so much judgment and moderation as to have +interested men of all religions, and to have united them in their cause. + +There was another topic which he would submit to the notice of the +House, before he concluded. They were perhaps not aware that a fair and +honourable trade might be substituted in the natural productions of +Africa, so that our connexion with that continent in the way of +commercial advantage need not be lost. The natives had already made some +advances in it; and if they had not appeared so forward in raising and +collecting their own produce for sale as in some other countries, it was +to be imputed to the Slave Trade: but remove the cause, and Africa would +soon emerge from her present ignorant and indolent state. Civilization +would go on with her as well as with other nations. Europe, three or +four centuries ago, was in many parts as barbarous as Africa at present, +and chargeable with as bad practices. For what would be said, if, so +late as the middle of the thirteenth century, he could find a parallel +there for the Slave Trade?--Yes. This parallel was to be found even in +England. The people of Bristol, in the reign of Henry the Seventh, had a +regular market for children, which were bought by the Irish: but the +latter having experienced a general calamity, which they imputed as a +judgment from Heaven on account of this wicked traffic, abolished it. +The only thing, therefore, which he had to solicit of the House, was to +show that they were now as enlightened as the Irish were four centuries +back, by refusing to buy the children of other nations. He hoped they +would do it. He hoped, too, they would do it in an unqualified manner. +Nothing less than a total abolition of the trade would do away the evils +complained of. The legislature of Jamaica, indeed, had thought that +regulations might answer the purpose. Their report had recommended, that +no person should be kidnapped, or permitted to be made a slave, contrary +to the customs of Africa. But might he not be reduced to this state very +unjustly, and yet by no means contrary to the African laws? Besides, how +could we distinguish between those who were justly or unjustly reduced +to it? Could we discover them by their physiognomy?--But if we could, +who would believe that the British captains would be influenced by any +regulations; made in this country, to refuse to purchase those who had +not been fairly, honestly? and uprightly enslaved? They who were offered +to us for sale, were brought, some of them, three or four thousand +miles, and exchanged like cattle from one hand to another, till they +reached the coast. But who could return these to their homes, or make +them compensation for their sufferings during their long journeyings? He +would now conclude by begging pardon of the House for having detained +them so long. He could indeed have expressed his own conviction in fewer +words. He needed only to have made one or two short statements, and to +have quoted the commandment, "Thou shalt do no murder." But he thought +it his duty to lay the whole of the case, and the whole of its guilt, +before them. They would see now that no mitigations, no palliatives, +would either be efficient or admissible. Nothing short of an absolute +abolition could be adopted. This they owed to Africa: they owed it, too, +to their own moral characters. And he hoped they would follow up the +principle of one of the repentant African captains, who had gone before +the committee of privy council as a voluntary witness, and that they +would make Africa all the atonement in their power for the multifarious +injuries she had received at the hands of British subjects. With respect +to these injuries, their enormity and extent, it might be alleged in +their excuse, that they were not fully acquainted with them till that +moment, and therefore not answerable for their former existence: but now +they could no longer plead ignorance concerning them. They had seen them +brought directly before their eyes, and they must decide for themselves, +and must justify to the world and their own consciences the facts and +principles upon which their decision was formed. + +Mr. Wilberforce having concluded his speech, which lasted three hours +and a half, read, and laid on the table of the House, as subjects for +their future discussion, twelve propositions which he had deduced from +the evidence contained in the privy council report, and of which the +following is the abridged substance:-- + +1. That the number of slaves annually carried from the coast of Africa, +in British vessels, was about 38,000, of which, on an average, 22,500 +were carried to the British islands, and that of the latter only 17,500 +were retained there. + +2. That these slaves, according to the evidence on the table, consisted, +first, of prisoners of war; secondly, of free persons sold for debt, or +on account of real or imputed crimes, particularly adultery and +witchcraft; in which cases they were frequently sold with their whole +families, and sometimes for the profit of those by whom they were +condemned; thirdly, of domestic slaves sold for the profit of their +masters, in some places at the will of the masters, and in others, on +being condemned by them for real or imputed crimes; fourthly, of persons +made slaves by various acts of oppression, violence, or fraud, committed +either by the princes and chiefs of those countries on their subjects, +or by private individuals on each other; or, lastly, by Europeans +engaged in this traffic. + +3. That the trade so carried on, had necessarily a tendency to occasion +frequent and cruel wars among the natives; to produce unjust convictions +and punishments for pretended or aggravated crimes; to encourage acts of +oppression, violence, and fraud, and to obstruct the natural course of +civilization and improvement in those countries! + +4. That Africa in its present state furnished several valuable articles +of commerce, which were partly peculiar to itself, but that it was +adapted to the production of others, with which we were now either +wholly or in great part supplied by foreign nations. That an extensive +commerce with Africa might be substituted in these commodities, so as to +afford a return for as many articles as had annually been carried +thither in British vessels: and, lastly, that such a commerce might +reasonably be expected to increase, by the progress of civilization +there. + +5. That the Slave Trade was peculiarly destructive to the seamen +employed in it; and that the mortality there had been much greater than +in any British vessels employed upon the same coast in any other service +or trade. + +6. That the mode of transporting the slaves from Africa to the West +Indies necessarily exposed them to many and grievous sufferings, for +which no regulations could provide an adequate remedy; and that in +consequence thereof a large proportion had annually perished during the +voyage. + +7. That a large proportion had also perished in the harbours in the West +Indies, from the diseases contracted in the voyage, and the treatment of +the same, previously to their being sold; and that this loss amounted to +four and a half percent of the imported slaves. + +8. That the loss of the newly-imported slaves, within the three first +years after their importation, bore a large proportion to the whole +number imported. + +9. That the natural increase of population among the slaves in the +islands appeared to have been impeded principally by the following +causes:--First, by the inequality of the sexes in the importations from +Africa. Secondly, by the general dissoluteness of manners among the +slaves, and the want of proper regulations for the encouragement of +marriages, and of rearing children among them. Thirdly, by the +particular diseases which were prevalent among them, and which were, in +some instances, to be attributed to too severe labour, or rigorous +treatment; and in others to insufficient or improper food. Fourthly, by +those diseases, which affected a large proportion of negro-children in +their infancy, and by those to which the negroes, newly imported from +Africa, had been found to be particularly liable. + +10. That the whole number of the slaves in the island of Jamaica, in +1768, was about 167,000, in 1774, about 193,000, and in 1787, about +256,000: that by comparing these numbers with the numbers imported and +retained in the said island during all these years, and making proper +allowances, the annual excess of deaths above births was in the +proportion of about seven-eighths per cent.; that in the first six years +of this period it was in the proportion of rather more than one on every +hundred; that in the last thirteen years of the same it was in the +proportion of about three-fifths on every hundred; and that a number of +slaves, amounting to fifteen thousand, perished during the latter +period, in consequence of repeated hurricanes, and of the want of +foreign supplies of provisions. + +11. That the whole number of slaves in the island of Barbados was, in +the year, 1764, about 70,706; in 1774, about 74,874; in 1780, about +68,270; in 1781, after the hurricane, about 63,248, and in 1786, about +62,115; that, by comparing these numbers with the number imported into +this island, (not allowing for any re-exportation,) the annual excess of +deaths above births in the ten years, from 1764 to 1774, was in, the +proportion of about five on every hundred; that in the seven years, from +1774 to 1780, it was in the proportion of about one and one-third on +every hundred; that between the years 1780 and 1781 there had been a +decrease in the number of slaves, of about 5000; that in the six years, +from 1781 to 1786, the excess of deaths was in the proportion of rather +less than seven-eighths on every hundred; that in the four years, from, +1783 to 1786, it was in the proportion of rather less than one-third on +every hundred; and that during the whole period, there was no doubt that +some had been exported from the island, but considerably more in the +first part of this period than in the last. + +12. That the accounts from the Leeward Islands, and from Dominica, +Grenada, and St. Vincent's, did not furnish sufficient grounds for +comparing the state of population in the said islands, at different +periods, with the number of slaves, which had been from time to time +imported there, and exported therefrom; but that from the evidence which +had been received, respecting the present state of these islands, as +well as that of Jamaica and Barbados, and from a consideration of the +means of obviating the causes, which had hitherto operated to impede the +natural increase of the slaves, and of lessening the demand for manual +labour, without diminishing the profit of the planters, no considerable +or permanent inconvenience would result from discontinuing the further +importation of African slaves. + +These propositions having been laid upon the table of the House, Lord +Penrhyn rose in behalf of the planters; and next, after him, Mr. +Gascoyne, (both members for Liverpool,) in behalf of the merchants +concerned in the latter place. They both predicted the ruin and misery +which would inevitably follow the abolition of the trade. The former +said, that no less than seventy millions were mortgaged upon lands in +the West Indies, all of which would be lost. Mr. Wilberforce, therefore, +should have made a motion to pledge the House to the repayment of this +sum, before he had brought forward his propositions. Compensation ought +to have been agreed upon as a previous necessary measure. The latter +said, that in consequence of the bill of last year, many ships were laid +up, and many seamen out of employ. His constituents had large capitals +engaged in the trade, and, if it were to be wholly done away, they would +suffer from not knowing where to employ them: they both joined in +asserting, that Mr. Wilberforce had made so many misrepresentations in +all the branches of this subject, that no reliance whatever was to be +placed on the picture, which he had chosen to exhibit. They should +speak, however, more fully to this point when the propositions were +discussed. + +The latter declaration called up Mr. Wilberforce again, who observed +that he had no intention of misrepresenting any fact: he did not know +that he had done it in any one instance; but, if he had, it would be +easy to convict him out of the report upon the table. + +Mr. Burke then rose. He would not, he said, detain the committee long: +indeed, he was not able, weary and indisposed as he then felt himself, +even if he had an inclination to do it; but as on account of his other +parliamentary duty, he might not have it in his power to attend the +business now before them in its course, he would take that opportunity +of stating his opinion upon it. + +And, first, the House, the nation, and all Europe were under great +obligations to Mr. Wilberforce for having brought this important subject +forward. He had done it in a manner the most masterly, impressive, and +eloquent. He had laid down his principles so admirably, and with so much +order and force, that his speech had equalled anything he had ever heard +in modern oratory, and perhaps it had not been excelled by anything to +be found in ancient times. As to the Slave Trade itself, there could not +be two opinions about it, where men were not interested. A trade begun +in savage war, prosecuted with unheard-of barbarity, continued during +the transportation with the most loathsome imprisonment, and ending in +perpetual exile and slavery, was a trade so horrid in all in +circumstances, that it; was impossible to produce a single argument in +its favour. On the ground of prudence, nothing could be said in defence +of it, nor could it be justified by necessity. It was necessity alone +that could be brought to justify inhumanity; but no case of necessity +could be made out strong enough to justify this monstrous traffic. It +was therefore the duty of the House to put an end to it, and this +without further delay. This conviction, that it became them to do it +immediately, made him regret (and it was the only thing he regretted in +the admirable speech he had heard) that his honourable friend should +have introduced propositions on this subject. He could have wished that +the business had been brought to a conclusion at once, without voting +the propositions which had been read to them. He was not over fond of +abstract propositions; they were seldom necessary, and often occasioned +great difficulty, embarrassment, and delay. There was, besides, no +occasion whatever to assign detailed reasons for a vote, which nature +herself dictated, and which religion enforced. If it should happen that +the propositions were not carried in that House or the other, such a +complication of mischiefs might follow, as might occasion them heartily +to lament that they were ever introduced. If the ultimate resolution +should happen to be lost, he was afraid the propositions would pass as +waste paper, if not be injurious to the cause at a future time. + +And now, as the House must bring this matter to an issue, he would beg +their attention to a particular point. He entreated them to look further +than the present moment, and to ask themselves if they had fortified +their minds sufficiently to bear the consequences which might arise from +the abolition of the Slave Trade, supposing they should decide upon it. +When they abandoned it, other foreign powers might take it up, and +clandestinely supply our islands with slaves. Had they virtue enough to +see another country reaping profits, which they themselves had given up; +and to abstain from that envy natural to rivals, and firmly to adhere to +their determination? If so, let them thankfully proceed to vote the +immediate abolition of the Slave Trade. But if they should repent of +their virtue, (and he had known miserable instances of such repentance,) +all hopes of future reformation of this enormous evil would be lost. +They would go back to a trade they had abandoned with redoubled +attachment, and would adhere to it with a degree of avidity and +shameless ardour, to their own humiliation, and to the degradation and +disgrace of the nation in the eyes of all Europe. These were +considerations worth regarding, before they took a decisive step in a +business, in which they ought not to move with any other determination +than to abide by the consequences at all hazards. The honourable +gentleman (who to his eternal honour had introduced this great subject +to their notice) had, in his eloquent oration, knocked at every door, +and appealed to every passion, well knowing that mankind were governed +by their sympathies. But there were other passions to be regarded; men +were always ready to obey their sympathies when it cost them nothing; +but were they prepared to pay the price of their virtue on this great +occasion? This was the question. If they were, they would do themselves +immortal honour, and would have the satisfaction of having done away a +commerce, which, while it was productive of misery not to be described, +most of all hardened the heart and vitiated the human character. + +With respect to the consequences mentioned by the two members for +Liverpool, he had a word or two to offer upon them. Lord Penrhyn had +talked of millions to be lost and paid for; but seeing no probability of +any loss ultimately, he could see no necessity for compensation. He +believed on the other hand, that the planters would be great gainers by +those wholesome regulations, which they would be obliged to make, if the +Slave Trade were abolished. He did not however flatter them with the +idea that this gain would be immediate. Perhaps they might experience +inconveniences at first, and even some loss. But what then? With their +loss, their virtue would be the greater. And in this light he hoped the +House would consider the matter; for, if they were called upon to do an +act of virtuous energy and heroism, they ought to think it right to +submit to temporary disadvantages for the sake of truth, justice, +humanity, and the prospect of greater happiness. + +The other member, Mr. Gascoyne, had said that his constituents, if the +trade were abolished, could not employ their capitals elsewhere. But +whether they could or not, it was the duty of that House, if they put +them into a traffic which was shocking to humanity and disgraceful to +the nation, to change their application, and not to allow them to be +used to a barbarous purpose. He believed, however, that the merchants of +Liverpool would find no difficulty on this head. All capitals required +active motion; it was in their nature not to remain passive and +unemployed; they would soon turn them into other channels. This they had +done themselves during the American war; for the Slave Trade was almost +wholly lost, and yet they had their ships employed, either as transports +in the service of government or in other ways. + +And as he now called upon the House not to allow any conjectural losses +to become impediments in the way of the abolition of the Slave Trade, so +he called upon them to beware how they suffered any representations of +the happiness of the state of slavery in our islands to influence them +against so glorious a measure. Admiral Barrington had said in his +testimony, that he had often envied the condition of the slaves there. +But surely, the honourable admiral must have meant, that, as he had +often toiled like a slave in the defence of his country, (as his many +gallant actions had proved,) so he envied the day when he was to toil in +a similar manner in the same cause. If, however, his words were to be +taken literally, his sensations could only be accounted for by his +having seen the negroes in the hour of their sports, when a sense of the +misery of their condition was neither felt by themselves not visible to +others. But their appearance on such occasions did by no means disprove +their low and abject state. Nothing made a happy slave but a degraded +man. In proportion as the mind grows callous to its degradation, and all +sense of manly pride is lost, the slave feels comfort. In fact, he is no +longer a man. If he were to define a man, he would say with Shakespeare, + + + Man is a being holding large discourse, + Looking before and after. + + +But, a slave was incapable of looking before and after; he had no motive +to do it; he was a mere passive instrument in the hands of others to be +used at their discretion. Though living, he was, dead as to all +voluntary agency; though moving amidst the creation with an erect form, +and with the shape and semblance of a human being, he was a nullity as a +man. + +Mr. Pitt thanked his honourable friend Mr. Wilberforce for having at +length introduced this great and important subject to the consideration +of the House. He thanked him also for the perspicuous, forcible, and +masterly manner in which he had treated it. He was sure that no argument +compatible with any idea of justice could be assigned for the +continuation of the Slave Trade. And at the same time that he was +willing to listen with candour and attention to everything that could be +urged on the other side of the question, he was sure that the +principles, from which his opinion was deduced, were unalterable. He had +examined the subject with the anxiety which became him, where the +happiness and interests of so many thousands were concerned, and with +the minuteness which would be expected of him, on account of, the +responsible situation which he held; and he averred that it was +sophistry, obscurity of ideas, and vagueness of reasoning, which alone +could have hitherto prevented all mankind (those immediately interested +in the question excepted) from agreeing in one and the same opinion upon +the subject. With respect to the propriety of introducing the individual +propositions which had been offered, he differed with Mr. Burke, and he +thanked his honourable friend Mr. Wilberforce for having chosen the only +way in which it could be made obvious to the worlds that they were +warranted on every ground of reason and of fact in coming to that vote, +which he trusted would be the end of their proceeding. The grounds for +the attainment of this end were distinctly stated in the propositions. +Let the propositions be brought before the House, one by one, and argued +from the evidence, and it would then be seen that they were such as no +one, who was not deaf to the language of reason, could deny. Let them be +once entered upon the journals of that House, and it was almost +impossible they should fail. The abolition must be voted; as to the mode +of it, or how it should be effected, they were not at present to discuss +it; but he trusted it would be such as would not invite foreign powers +to supply our islands with slaves by a clandestine trade. After a debt, +founded on the immutable principles of justice, was found to be due, it +was impossible but the country had means to cause it to be paid. Should +such an illicit proceeding be attempted; the only language which it +became us to adopt, was, that Great Britain had resources to enable her +to protect her islands, and to prevent that traffic from being +clandestinely carried on by them, which she had thought fit from a +regard to her character to abandon. It was highly becoming Great Britain +to take the lead of other nations in such a virtuous and magnificent +measure, and he could not but have confidence that they would he +inclined to share the honour with us, or be pleased to follow us as +their example. If we were disposed to set about this glorious work in +earnest, they might he invited to concur with us by a negotiation to be +immediately opened for that purpose. He would only now observe, before +he sat down, in answer to certain ideas thrown out, that he could by no +means acquiesce in any compensation for losses which might be sustained +by the people of Liverpool or by others in any other part of the +kingdom, in the execution of this just and necessary undertaking. + +Sir William Yonge said, he wanted no inducement to concur with the +honourable mover of the propositions, provided the latter could be +fairly established, and no serious mischiefs were to arise from the +abolition. But he was apprehensive, that many evils might follow in the +case of any sudden or unlooked-for decrease in the slaves. They might be +destroyed by hurricanes. They might be swept off by many fatal +disorders. In these cases, the owners of them would not be able to fill +up their places, and they who had lent money upon the lands, where the +losses had happened, would foreclose their mortgages. He was fearful, +also, that a clandestine trade would be carried on, and then the +sufferings of the Africans, crammed up in small vessels, which would be +obliged to be hovering about from day to day, to watch an opportunity of +landing, would be ten times greater than any which they now experienced +in the legal trade. He was glad, however, as the matter was to be +discussed, that it had been brought forward in the shape of distinct +propositions, to be grounded upon the evidence in the privy council +report. + +Mr. Fox observed that he did not like, where he agreed as to the +substance of a measure, to differ with respect to the form of it. If, +however, he differed in any thing in the present case, it was with a +view rather to forward the business than to injure it, or to throw +anything like an obstacle in its way. Nothing like either should come +from him. What he thought was, that all the propositions were not +necessary to be voted previously to the ultimate decision, though some +of them undoubtedly were. He considered them as of two classes: the one, +alleging the grounds upon which it was proper to proceed to the +abolition; such as that the trade was productive of inexpressible +misery, in various ways, to the innocent natives of Africa; that it was +the grave of our seamen, and so on; the other merely answering +objections which might be started, and where there might be a difference +of opinion. He was, however, glad that the propositions were likely to +be entered upon the journals; since, if, from any misfortune, the +business should be deferred, it might succeed another year. Sure he was +that it could not fail to succeed sooner or later. He highly approved of +what Mr. Pitt had said relative to the language it became us to hold out +to foreign powers, in case of a clandestine trade. With respect, +however, to the assertion of Sir William Yonge that a clandestine trade +in slaves would be worse than a legal one, he could not admit it. Such a +trade, if it existed at all, ought only to be clandestine. A trade in +human flesh and sinews was so scandalous, that it ought not openly to be +carried on by any government whatever, and much less by that of a +Christian country. With regard to the regulation of the Slave Trade, he +knew of no such thing as a regulation of robbery and murder. There was +no medium. The legislature must either abolish it, or plead guilty of +all the wickedness which had been shown to attend it. He would now say a +word or two with respect to the conduct of foreign nations on this +subject. It was possible that these, when they heard that the matter had +been discussed in that House, might follow the example, or they might go +before us and set one themselves. If this were to happen, though we +might be the losers, humanity would be the gainer. He himself had been +thought sometimes to use expressions relative to France, which were too +harsh, and as if he could only treat her as the enemy of this country. +Politically speaking, France was our rival. But he well knew the +distinction between political enmity and illiberal prejudice. If there +was any great and enlightened nation in Europe, it was France, which was +as likely as any country upon the face of the globe to catch a spark +from the light of our fire, and to act upon the present subject with +warmth and enthusiasm. France had often been improperly stimulated by +her ambition; and he had no doubt but that, in the present instance, she +would readily follow its honourable dictates. + +Mr. (afterwards Lord) Grenville would not detain the house by going into +a question which had been so ably argued; but he should not do justice +to his feelings, if he did not express publicly to his honourable +friend, Mr. Wilberforce, the pleasure he had received from one of the +most masterly and eloquent speeches he had ever heard; a speech which, +while it did honour to him, entitled him to the thanks of the House, of +the people of England, of all Europe, and of the latest posterity. He +approved of the propositions as the best mode of bringing this great +question to a happy issue. He was pleased, also, with the language which +had been held out with respect to foreign nations, and with our +determination to assert our right of preventing our colonies from +carrying on any trade which we had thought it our duty to abandon. + +Aldermen Newnham, Sawbridge, and Watson, though they wished well to the +cause of humanity, could not, as representatives of the city of London, +give their concurrence to a measure which would injure it so essentially +as the abolition of the Slave Trade. This trade might undoubtedly be put +under wholesome regulations, and made productive of great commercial +advantages; but, if it were abolished, it would render the city of +London one scene of bankruptcy and ruin. It became the house to take +care, while they were giving way to the goodness of their hearts, that +they did not contribute to the ruin of the mercantile interests of their +country. + +Mr. Martin stated that he was so well satisfied with the speech of the +honourable gentleman who had introduced the propositions, and with the +language held out by other distinguished members on this subject, that +he felt himself more proud than ever of being an Englishman. He hoped +and believed that the melancholy predictions of the worthy aldermen +would not prove true, and that the citizens of London would have too +much public spirit to wish that a great national object (which +comprehended the great duties of humanity and justice) should be set +aside, merely out of consideration to their own private interests. + +Mr. Dempster expected, notwithstanding all he had heard, that the first +proposition submitted to them would have been to make good out of the +public purse all the losses individuals were liable to sustain from an +abolition of the Slave Trade. This ought to have been, as Lord Penrhyn +had observed, a preliminary measure. He did not like to be generous out +of the pockets of others. They were to abolish the trade, it was said, +out of a principle of humanity. Undoubtedly they owed humanity to all +mankind; but they also owed justice to those who were interested in the +event of the question, and had embarked their fortunes on the faith of +parliament. In fact he did not like to see men introducing even their +schemes of benevolence to the detriment of other people; and much less +did he like to see them going to the colonies, as it were upon their +estates, and prescribing rules to them for their management. With +respect to his own speculative opinion, as it regarded cultivation, he +had no objection to give it. He was sure that sugar could be raised +cheaper by free-men than by slaves. This the practice in China +abundantly proved; but yet neither he, nor any other person, had a right +to force a system upon others. As to the trade itself, by which the +present labourers were supplied, it had been considered by that House as +so valuable that they had preferred it to all others, and had annually +voted a considerable sum towards carrying it on. They had hitherto +deemed it an essential nursery for our seamen. Had it really been such +as had been represented, our ancestors would scarcely have encouraged +it; and therefore, upon these and other considerations, he could not +help thinking that they would be wanting in their duty if they abolished +it altogether. + +Mr. William Smith would not detain the House long at that late hour upon +this important subject; but he could not help testifying the great +satisfaction he felt at the manner, in which the honourable gentleman +who opened the debate (if it could be so called) had treated it. He +approved of the propositions as the best mode of bringing the decision +to a happy issue. He gave Mr. Fox great credit for the open and manly +way in which he had manifested his abhorrence of this trade, and for the +support he meant to give to the total and unqualified abolition of it; +for he was satisfied, that the more it was inquired into, the more it +would be found that nothing short of abolition would cure the evil. With +respect to certain assertions of the members for Liverpool, and certain +melancholy predictions about the consequences of such an event, which +others had held out, he desired to lay in his claim for observation upon +them when the great question should come before the House. + +Soon after this the House broke up; and the discussion of the +propositions, which was the next parliamentary measure intended, was +postponed to a future day, which was sufficiently distant to give all +the parties concerned, time to make the necessary preparations for it. + +Of this interval the committee for the abolition availed themselves, to +thank Mr. Wilberforce for the very able and satisfactory manner in which +he had stated to the House his propositions for the abolition of the +Slave Trade, and for the unparalleled assiduity and perseverance with +which he had all along endeavoured to accomplish this object, as well as +to take measures themselves for the further promotion of it. Their +opponents availed themselves of this interval also. But that which now +embarrassed them, was the evidence contained in the privy council +report. They had no idea, considering the number of witnesses they had +sent to be examined, that this evidence, when duly weighed, could by +right reasoning have given birth to the sentiments which had been +displayed in the speeches of the most distinguished members of the House +of Commons, or to the contents of the propositions which had been laid +upon their table. They were thunderstruck as it were by their own +weakness; and from this time they were determined, if possible, to get +rid of it as a standard for decision, or to interpose, every +parliamentary delay in their power. + +On the 21st of May, the subject came again before the attention of the +House. It was ushered in, as was expected, by petitions collected in the +interim, and which were expressive of the frightful consequences which +would attend the abolition of the Slave Trade. Alderman Newnham +presented one from certain merchants in London; Alderman Watson another +from certain merchants, mortgagees, and creditors of the sugar-islands; +Lord Maitland, another from the planters of Antigua; Mr. Blackburne, +another from certain manufacturers of Manchester; Mr. Gascoyne, another +from the corporation of Liverpool; and Lord Penrhyn, others from +different interested bodies in the same town. + +Mr. Wilberforce then moved the order of the day for the House to go into +a committee of the whole house on the report of the privy council, and +the several matters of evidence already upon the table relative to the +Slave Trade. + +Mr. Alderman Sawbridge immediately arose, and asked Mr. Wilberforce if +he meant to adduce any other evidence, besides that in the privy council +report, in behalf of his propositions, or to admit other witnesses, if +such could be found, to invalidate them. Mr. Wilberforce replied, that +he was quite satisfied with the report on the table. It would establish +all his propositions. He should call no witnesses himself; as to +permission to others to call them, that must be determined by the House. + +This question and this answer gave birth immediately to great disputes +upon the subject. Aldermen Sawbridge, Newnham, and Watson; Lords Penrhyn +and Maitland; Messrs. Gascoyne, Marsham, and others, spoke against the +admission of the evidence which had been laid upon the table. They +contended that it was insufficient, defective, and contradictory; that +it was _ex parte_ evidence; that it had been manufactured by ministers; +that it was founded chiefly on hearsay, and that the greatest part of it +was false; that it had undergone no cross-examination; that it was +unconstitutional; and that, if they admitted it, they would establish a +dangerous precedent, and abandon their rights. It was urged on the other +hand by Mr. Courtenay, that it could not be _ex parte_ evidence, because +it contained testimony on both sides of the question. The circumstance, +also, of its being contradictory, which had been alleged against it, +proved that it was the result of an impartial examination. Mr. Fox +observed, that it was perfectly admissible. He called upon those, who +took the other side of the question, to say why, if it was really +inadmissible, they had not opposed it at first. It had now been a long +time on the table, and no fault had been found with it. The truth was, +it did not suit them; and they were determined by a side-wind, as it +were, to put an end to the inquiry. Mr. Pitt observed, that, if +parliament had previously resolved to receive no evidence on a given +subject but from the privy council, such a resolution, indeed, would +strike at the root of the privileges of the House of Commons; but it was +absurd to suppose that the House could upon no occasion receive +evidence, taken where it was most convenient to take it, and subject +throughout to new investigation, if any one doubted its validity. The +report of the privy council consisted, first, of calculations and +accounts from the public offices; and, next, of written documents on the +subject: both of which were just as authentic as if they had been laid +upon the table of that House. The remaining part of it consisted of the +testimony of living witnesses, all of whose names were published; so +that if any one doubted their veracity, it was open to him to re-examine +all or each of them. It had been said by adversaries that the report on +the table was a weak and imperfect report, but would not these have the +advantage of its weakness and imperfection? It was strange, when his +honourable friend, Mr. Wilberforce, had said, "Weak and imperfect as the +report may be thought to be, I think it strong enough to bear me out in +all my propositions," that they, who objected to it, should have no +better reason to give than this, "We object, because the ground of +evidence on which you rest is too weak to support your cause." Unless it +were meant to say (and the meaning seemed to be but thinly disguised) +that the House ought to abandon the inquiry, he saw no reason whatever +for not going immediately into a committee; and he wished gentlemen to +consider whether it became the dignity of their proceedings to obstruct +the progress of an inquiry, which the House had pledged itself to +undertake. Their conduct, indeed, seemed extraordinary on this occasion. +It was certainly singular that; while the report had been five weeks +upon the table, no argument had been brought against its sufficiency; +but that on the moment when the House was expected to come to an +ultimate vote upon the subject, it should be thought defective, +contradictory, unconstitutional, and otherwise objectionable. These +objections, he was satisfied, neither did nor could originate with the +country gentlemen; but they were brought forward; for purposes not now +to be concealed, by the avowed enemies of this noble cause. + +In the course of the discussion which arose upon this subject, every +opportunity was taken to impress the House with the dreadful +consequences of the abolition! Mr. Heriniker read a long letter from the +King of Dahomey to George the First, which had been found among the +papers of James, first Duke of Chandos, and which had remained in the +family till that time. In this, the King of Dahomey boasted of his +victory over the King of Ardrah and how he had ornamented the pavement +and walls of his palace with the heads of the vanquished. These +cruelties, Mr. Henniker said, were not imputable to the Slave Trade. +They showed the Africans to be naturally a savage people, and that we +did them a great kindness by taking them from their country. Alderman +Sawbridge maintained that, if the abolition passed, the Africans who +could not be sold as slaves would be butchered at home; while those who +had been carried, to our islands would be no longer under control. Hence +insurrections, and the manifold evils which belonged to them. Alderman +Newnham was certain that the abolition would be the ruin of the trade of +the country. It would affect even the landed interest and the funds. It +would be impossible to collect money to diminish the national debt. +Every man in the kingdom would feel the abolition come home to hit. +Alderman Watson maintained the same argument, and pronounced the trade +under discussion to be a merciful and humane trade. + +Compensation was also insisted upon by Mr. Drake, Alderman Newnham, Mr. +Senniker, Mr. Cruger, and others. This was resisted by Mr. Burke; who +said, that compensation in such a case would be contrary to every +principle of legislation. Government gave encouragement to any branch of +commerce while it was regarded as conducive to the welfare of the +community; or compatible with humanity and justice; but they were +competent to withdraw their countenance from it, when it was found to be +immoral, and injurious, and disgraceful to the state: They who engaged +in it knew the terms under which they were placed, and adopted it with +all the risks with which it was accompanied; and of consequence it was +but just, that they should be prepared to abide by the loss which might +accrue, when the public should think it right no longer to support it. +But such a trade as this it was impossible any longer to support. Indeed +it was not a trade. It was a system of robbery. It was a system, too, +injurious to the welfare of other nations. How could Africa ever be +civilized under it? While we continued to purchase the natives, they +must remain in a state of barbarism. It was impossible to civilize +slaves. It was contrary to the system of human nature. There was no +country placed under such disadvantageous circumstances, into which the +shadow of improvement had ever been introduced. + +Great pains were taken to impress the house with the propriety of +regulation. Sir Grey Cooper; Aldermen Sawbridge, Watson, and Newnham; +Mr. Marsham, and Mr. Cruger, contended strenuously for it instead of +abolition. It was also stated, that the merchants would consent to any +regulation of the trade which might be offered to them. + +In the course of the debate much warmth of temper was manifested on both +sides. The expression of Mr. Fox in a former debate, "that the Slave +Trade could not be regulated, because there could be no regulation of +robbery and murder," was brought up, and construed by planters in the +house as a charge of these crimes upon themselves. Mr. Fox, however, +would not retract the expression. He repeated it. He had no notion, +however, that any individual would have taken it to himself. If it +contained any reflection at all, it was on the whole parliament, who had +sanctioned such a trade. Mr. Molyneux rose up, and animadverted severely +on the character of Mr. Ramsay, one of the evidences in the privy +council report, during his residence in the West Indies. This called up +Sir William Dolben and Sir Charles Middleton in his defence, the latter +of whom bore honourable testimony to his virtues from an intimate +acquaintance with him, and a residence in the same village with him, for +twenty years. Mr. Molyneux spoke also in angry terms of the measure of +abolition. To annihilate the trade, he said, and to make no compensation +on account of it, was an act of swindling. Mr. Macnamara called the +measure hypocritical, fanatic, and methodistical. Mr. Pitt was so +irritated at the insidious attempt to set aside the privy council +report, when no complaint had been alleged against it before, that he +was quite off his guard, and he thought it right afterwards to apologize +for the warmth into which he had been betrayed. The Speaker, too, was +obliged frequently to interfere. On this occasion no less than thirty +members spoke. And there had probably been few seasons, when so much +disorder had been discoverable in that house. + +The result of the debate was, a permission to those interested in the +continuance of the Slave Trade to bring counsel to the bar on the 26th +of May, and then to introduce such witnesses, as might throw further +light on the propositions in the shortest time: for Mr. Pitt only +acquiesced in this new measure on a supposition, "that there would be no +unnecessary delay, as he could by no means submit to the ultimate +procrastination of so important a business." He even hoped (and in this +hope he was joined by Mr. Fox) that those concerned would endeavour to +bring the whole of the evidence they meant to offer at the first +examination. + +On the day appointed, the house met for the purposes now specified; when +Alderman Newnham, thinking that such an important question should not be +decided but in a full assembly of the representatives of the nation, +moved for a call of the House on that day fortnight. Mr. Wilberforce +stated that he had no objection to such a measure; believing the greater +the number present the more favourable it would be to his cause. This +motion, however, produced a debate and a division, in which it appeared +that there were one hundred and fifty-eight in favour of it, and +twenty-eight against it. The business of the day now commenced. The +house went into a committee, and Sir William Dolben was put into the +chair. Mr. Serjeant Le Blanc was then called in. He made an able speech +in behalf of his clients; and introduced John Barnes, Esquire, as his +first witness, whose examination took up the remainder of the day. By +this step they who were interested in the continuance of the trade, +attained their wishes, for they had now got possession of the ground +with their evidence; and they knew they could keep it, almost as long as +they pleased, for the purposes of delay. Thus they, who boasted, when +the privy council examinations began, that they would soon do away all +the idle tales which had been invented against them, and who desired the +public only to suspend their judgment till the report should come out, +when they would see the folly and wickedness of all our allegations, +dared not abide by the evidence which they themselves had taught others +to look up to as the standard by which they were desirous of being +judged: thus they, who had advantages beyond measure in forming a body +of evidence in their own favour, abandoned that which they had +collected. And here it is impossible for me not to make a short +comparative statement on this subject, if it were only to show how +little can be made out, with the very best opportunities, against the +cause of humanity and religion. With respect to ourselves, we had almost +all our witnesses to seek. We had to travel after them for weeks +together. When we found them, we had scarcely the power of choice. We +where obliged to take them as they came. When we found them, too, we had +generally to implore them to come forward in our behalf. Of those so +implored, three out of four refused, and the plea for this refusal was a +fear lest they should injure their own interests. The merchants, on the +other hand, had their witnesses ready on the spot. They had always ships +in harbour, containing persons who had a knowledge of the subject, they +had several also from whom to choose. If one man was favourable to their +cause in three of the points belonging to it, but was unfavourable in +the fourth, he could be put aside and replaced. When they had thus +selected them, they had not to entreat, but to command their attendance. +They had no fear, again, when they thus commanded, of a refusal on the +ground of interest; because these were promoting their interest by +obliging these who employed them. Viewing these and other circumstances, +which might be thrown into this comparative statement, it was some +consolation to us to know, amidst the disappointment which this new +measure occasioned, and our apparent defeat in the eyes of the public, +that we had really beaten our opponents at their own weapons, and that, +as this was a victory in our own private feelings, so it was the presage +to us of a future triumph. + +On the 29th of May, Mr. Tierney made a motion to divide the +consideration of the Slave Trade into two heads, by separating the +African from the West Indian part of the question. This he did for the +more clear discussion of the propositions, as well as to save time. This +motion, however, was overruled by Mr. Pitt. + +At length, on the 9th of June, by which time it was supposed that new +light, and this in sufficient quantity, would have been thrown upon the +propositions, it appeared that only two witnesses had been fully heard. +The examinations, therefore, were continued, and they went on till the +23rd. On this day, the order for the call of the house, which had been +prolonged, standing unrepealed, there was a large attendance of members. +A motion was then made, to get rid of the business altogether, but it +failed. It was now seen, however, that it was impossible to bring the +question to a final decision in this session; for they who were +interested in it, affirmed that they had yet many important witnesses to +introduce. Alderman Newnham, therefore, by the consent of Mr. +Wilberforce, moved that "the further consideration of the subject be +deferred to the next session." On this occasion, Mr. William Smith +remarked, that though the decision on the great question was thus to be +adjourned, he hoped the examinations at least would be permitted to go +on. He had not heard any good reason why they might not be carried on +for some weeks longer. It was known that the hearing of evidence was, +at all times thinly attended. If, therefore, the few members who did +attend, were willing to give up their time a little longer, why should +other members complain of an inconvenience in the suffering of which +they took no share? He thought that by this the examination of witnesses +on the part of the merchants might be finished, and of consequence the +business brought into a very desirable state of forwardness against the +ensuing session. These observations had not the desired effect, and the +motion of Mr. Alderman Newnham was carried without a division. Thus the +great question, for the elucidation of which all the new evidences were +to be heard at the very first examination, in order that it might be +decided by the 9th of June, was, by the intrigue of our opponents, +deferred to another year. + +The order of the day for going into the further consideration of the +Slave Trade having been discharged, Sir William Dolben rose to state, +that it was his intention to renew his bill of the former year, relative +to the conveyance of the unhappy Africans from their own country to the +West Indies, and to propose certain alterations in it. He made a motion +accordingly, which was adopted; and he and Mr. Wilberforce were desired +to prepare the same. + +This bill he introduced soon afterwards, and it passed; but not without +opposition. It was a matter, however, of great pleasure to find that the +worthy baronet was enabled by the assistance of Captain (afterwards +Admiral) Macbride, and other naval officers in the house, to carry such +clauses, as provided in some degree for the comfort of the poor seamen +who were seduced into this wicked trade. They could not, indeed, provide +against the barbarity of their captains; but they secured them a space +under the half deck in which to sleep. They prescribed a form of +muster-rolls, which they were to see and sign in the presence of the +clearing officer. They regulated their food, both as to kind and +quantity; and they preserved them from many of the impositions to which +they had been before exposed. + +From the time when Mr. Wilberforce gave his first notice this session to +the present, I had been variously employed, but more particularly in the +composition of a new work. It was soon perceived to be the object of our +opponents, to impress upon the public the preference, of regulation to +abolition. I attempted, therefore, to show the fallacy and wickedness of +this notion. I divided the evils belonging to the Slave Trade into two +kinds. These I enumerated in their order. With respect to those of the +first kind, I proved that they were never to be remedied by any acts of +the British parliament. Thus, for instance, what bill could alter the +nature of the human passions? What bill could prevent fraud and violence +in Africa, while the Slave Trade existed there? What bill could prevent +the miserable victims of the trade from rising, when on board the ships, +if they saw an opportunity, and felt a keen sense of their oppression? +Those of the second I stated to admit of a remedy, and after making +accurate calculations on the subject of each, I showed that those +merchants who were to do them away effectually, would be ruined by their +voyages. The work was called _An Essay on the Comparative Efficiency of +Regulation or Abolition as applied to the Slave Trade_. + +The committee, also, in this interval, brought out their famous print of +the plan and section of a slave-ship, which was designed to give the +spectator an idea of the sufferings of the Africans in the Middle +Passage, and this so familiarly, that he might instantly pronounce upon +the miseries experienced there. The committee at Plymouth had been the +first to suggest the idea; but that in London had now improved it. As +this print seemed to make an instantaneous impression of horror upon all +who saw it, and as it was therefore very instrumental, in consequence of +the wide circulation given it, in serving the cause of the injured +Africans, I have given the reader a copy of it in the annexed plate, and +I will now state the ground or basis upon which it was formed. + +It must be obvious that it became the committee to select some one ship, +which had been engaged in the Slave Trade, with her real dimensions, if +they meant to make a fair representation of the manner of the +transportation. When Captain Parrey, of the royal navy, returned from +Liverpool, to which place Government had sent him, he brought with him +the admeasurement of several vessels which had been so employed, and +laid them on the table of the House of Commons. At the top of his list +stood the ship Brookes. The committee, therefore, in choosing a vessel +on this occasion, made use of the ship Brookes; and this they did, +because they thought it less objectionable to take the first that came, +than any other. The vessel, then, in the plate is the vessel now +mentioned, and the following is her admeasurement as given in by Captain +Parrey. + + Ft. In. +Length of the lower deck, gratings, and bulk heads included at A A 100 0 +Breadth of beam on the lower deck inside, B B 25 4 +Depth of hold ooo, from ceiling to ceiling 10 0 +Height between decks from deck to deck 5 8 +Length of the men's room, C C, on the lower deck 46 0 +Breadth of the men's room, C C, on the lower deck 25 4 +Length of the platform, D D, in the men's room 46 0 +Breadth of the platform in the men's room, on each side 6 0 +Length of the boys' room, E E 13 9 +Breadth of the boys' room 25 0 +Breadth of platform, F F, in boys' room 6 0 +Length of women's room, G G 28 6 +Breadth of women's room 23 6 +Length of platform, H H, in women's room 28 6 +Breadth of platform in women's room 6 0 +Length of the gun-room, I I, on the lower deck 10 6 +Breadth of the gun-room on the lower deck 12 0 +Length of the quarter-deck, K K 33 6 +Breadth of the quarter-deck 19 6 +Length of the cabin, L L 14 0 +Height of the cabin 6 2 +Length of the half-deck, M M 16 6 +Height of the half-deck 6 2 +Length of the platform, N N, on the half-deck 16 6 +Breadth of the platform on the half-deck 6 0 +Upper deck, P P + + +The committee, having proceeded thus far, thought that they should now +allow certain dimensions for every man, woman, and child; and then see +how many persons, upon such dimensions and upon the admeasurements just +given, could be stowed in this vessel. They allowed, accordingly, to +every man slave 6 ft. by 1 ft. 4in. for room, to every woman 5 ft. by 1 +ft. 4 in., to every boy 5 ft. by 1 ft. 2 in., and to every girl 4 ft. 6 +in. by 1 ft. They then stowed them, and found them as in the annexed +plate, that is, they found, (deducting the women stowed in z of figures +6 and 7, which spaces, being half of the half-deck, were allowed by Sir +William Dolben's last bill to the seamen,) that only 450 could be stowed +in her; and the reader will find, if he should think it worthwhile to +count the figures in the plate, that, on making the deduction mentioned, +they will amount to this number. + +The committee then thought it right to inquire how many slaves the act +of Sir William Dolben allowed this vessel to carry, and they found the +number to be 454; that is, they found it allowed her to carry four more +than could be put in without trespassing upon the room allotted to the +rest; for we see that the bodies of the slaves, except just at the head +of the vessel, already touch each other, and that no deduction has been +made for tubs or stanchions to support the platforms and decks. + +[Illustration: Slave Ship] + +[Illustration: Slave Ship] + +[Illustration: Slave Ship] + +[Illustration: Slave Ship] + +Such was the picture which the committee were obliged to draw, if they +regarded mathematical accuracy, of the room allotted to the slaves in +this vessel. By this picture was exhibited the nature of the Elysium +which Mr. Norris and others had invented for them during their +transportation from their own country. By this picture were seen also +the advantages of Sir William Dolben's bill; for many, on looking at the +plate, considered the regulation itself as perfect barbarism. The +advantages, however, obtained by it were considerable; for the Brookes +was now restricted to 450 slaves, whereas it was proved that she carried +609 in a former voyage. + +The committee, at the conclusion of the session of parliament, made a +suitable report. It will be unnecessary to detail this, for obvious +reasons. There was, however, one thing contained in it, which ought +not to be omitted. It stated, with appropriate concern, the death of +the first controversial writer, and of one of the most able and +indefatigable labourers in their cause. Mr. Ramsay had been for some +time indisposed. The climate of the West Indies, during a residence of +twenty years, and the agitation in which his mind had been kept for +the last four years of his life, in consequence of the virulent +attacks on his word and character by those interested in the +continuance of the trade, had contributed to undermine his +constitution. During his whole illness he was cheerful and composed; +nor did he allow it to hinder him, severe as it was, from taking any +opportunity which offered, of serving those unhappy persons for whose +injuries he had so deeply felt. A few days only before he died, I +received from him probably the last letter he ever wrote, of which the +following is an extract: + + "My health has certainly taken a most alarming turn; and, if + some considerable alteration does not take place for the + better in a very little time, it will be all over with me: I + mean as to the present life. I have lost all appetite, and + suffer grievously from an almost continual pain in my + stomach, which leaves me no enjoyment of myself, but such as + I can collect from my own reflections, and the comforts of + religion. I am glad the bill for the abolition is in such + forwardness. Whether it goes through the house or not, the + discussion attending it will have a most beneficial effect. + The whole of this business I think now to be in such a train, + as to enable me to bid farewell to the present scene with the + satisfaction of not having lived in vain, and of having done + something towards the improvement of our common nature; and + this at no little expense of time and reputation. The little + I have now written is my utmost effort; yet yesterday I + thought it necessary to write an answer to a scurrilous libel + in _The Diary_ by one Scipio. On my own account he should + have remained unnoticed; but our great cause must be kept + unsullied." + +Mr. Ramsay was a man of active habit, of diligence and perseverance in +his undertakings, and of extraordinary application. He was of mild and +humble manners. He possessed a strong understanding, with great +coolness and courage. Patriotism and public spirit were striking +traits in his character. In domestic life he was amiable: in the +ministry, exemplary and useful; and he died to the great regret of his +parishioners; but most of all to that of those who moved with him in +his attempts to bring about the important event of the abolition of +the Slave Trade. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +Continuation from July 1789 to July 1790.--Author travels to Paris to +promote the abolition in France; attends the committees of the Friends +of the Negroes.--Counter-attempts of the committee of White +Colonists.--An account of the deputies of Colour.--Meeting at the Duke +de la Rochefoucauld's.--Mirabeau espouses the cause; canvasses the +National Assembly.--Distribution of the section of the slave-ship +there.--Character of Brissot.--Author leaves Paris and returns to +England.--Examination of merchants' and planters' evidence resumed in +the House of Commons.--Author travels in search of evidence in favour +of the abolition; opposition to the hearing of it.--This evidence is +at length introduced.--Renewal of Sir William Dolben's +bill.--Distribution of the section of the slave-ship in England; and +of Cowper's Negro's Complaint; and of Wedgewood's Cameos. + + +We usually find, as we give ourselves up to reflection, some little +mitigation of the afflictions we experience; and yet of the evils +which come upon us, some are often so heavy as to overpower the +sources of consolation for a time, and to leave us wretched. This was +nearly our situation at the close of the last session of parliament. +It would be idle not to confess that circumstances had occurred which +wounded us deeply. Though we had foiled our opponents at their own +weapons, and had experienced the uninterrupted good wishes and support +of the public, we had the great mortification to see the enthusiasm of +members of parliament beginning to cool; to see a question of humanity +and justice (for such it was when it was delivered into their hands) +verging towards that of commercial calculation; and finally to see +regulation, as it related to it, in the way of being substituted for +abolition; but most of all were we affected, knowing as we did the +nature and the extent of the sufferings belonging to the Slave Trade, +that these should be continued to another year. This last +consideration almost overpowered me. It had fallen to my lot, more +than to that of any other person, to know these evils, and I seemed +almost inconsolable at the postponement of the question. I wondered +how members of parliament, and these Englishmen, could talk as they +did on this subject; how they could bear for a moment to consider +their fellow-man as an article of trade; and how they should not count +even the delay of an hour, which occasioned so much misery to +continue, as one of the most criminal actions of their lives. + +It was in vain, however, to sink under our burdens. Grief could do no +good; and if our affairs had taken an unfavourable turn, the question +was, how to restore them. It was sufficiently obvious that, if our +opponents were left to themselves, or without any counteracting +evidence, they would considerably soften down the propositions, if not +invalidate them in the minds of many. They had such a power of selection +of witnesses, that they could bring men forward who might say with truth +that they had seen but very few of the evils complained of, and these in +an inferior degree. We knew, also, from the example of the Liverpool +delegates, how interest and prejudice could blind the eyes, and how +others might be called upon to give their testimony, who would dwell +upon the comforts of the Africans when they came into our power; on the +sprinkling of their apartments with frankincense; on the promotion of +music and the dance among them; and on the health and festivity of their +voyages. It seemed, therefore, necessary that we should again be looking +out for evidence on the part of the abolition. Nor did it seem to me to +be unreasonable, if our opponents were allowed to come forward in a new +way, because it was more constitutional, that we should be allowed the +same privilege. By these means the evidence, of which we had now lost +the use, might be restored; indifference might be fanned into warmth; +commercial calculation might be overpowered by justice; and abolition, +rising above the reach of the cry of regulation, might eventually +triumph. + +I communicated my ideas to the committee, and offered to go round the +kingdom to accomplish this object. The committee had themselves been +considering what measures to take, and as each in his own mind had come +to conclusions similar with my own, my proposal was no sooner made than +adopted. + +I had not been long upon this journey when I was called back. Mr. +Wilberforce, always solicitous for the good of this great cause, was of +opinion that, as commotions had taken place in France, which then aimed +at political reforms, it was possible that the leading persons concerned +in them might, if an application were made to them judiciously, be +induced to take the Slave Trade into their consideration, and +incorporate it among the abuses to be done away. Such a measure, if +realized, would not only lessen the quantity of human suffering, but +annihilate a powerful political argument against us. He had a +conference, therefore, with the committee on this subject; and, as they +accorded with his opinion, they united with him in writing a letter to +me, to know if I would change my journey, and proceed to France. + +As I had no object in view but the good of the cause, it was immaterial +to me where I went, if I could but serve it; and therefore, without any +further delay, I returned to London. + +As accounts had arrived in England of the excesses which had taken place +in the city of Paris, and of the agitated state of the provinces through +which I was to pass, I was desired by several of my friends to change my +name. To this I could not consent; and, on consulting the committee, +they were decidedly against it. + +I was introduced as quickly as possible, on my arrival at Paris, to the +friends of the cause there, to the Duke de la Rochefoucauld, the Marquis +de Condorcet, Messieurs Petion de Villeneuve, Claviere, and Brissot, and +to the Marquis de la Fayette. The latter received me with peculiar marks +of attention. He had long felt for the wrongs of Africa, and had done +much to prevent them. He had a plantation in Cayenne, and had devised a +plan, by which the labourers upon it should pass by degrees from slavery +to freedom! With this view he had there laid it down as a principle, +that all crimes were equal, whether they were committed by Blacks or +Whites, and ought equally to be punished. As the human mind is of such a +nature, as to be acted upon by rewards as well as punishments, he +thought it unreasonable, that the slaves should have no advantage from a +stimulus from the former. He laid it down therefore as another +principle, that temporal profits should follow virtuous action. To this +he subjoined a reasonable education to be gradually given. By +introducing such principles, and by making various regulations for the +protection and comforts of the slaves, he thought he could prove to the +planters, that there was no necessity for the Slave Trade; that the +slaves upon all their estates would increase sufficiently by population; +that they might be introduced gradually, and without detriment, to a +state of freedom; and that then the real interests of all would be most +promoted. This system he had began to act upon two years before I saw +him. He had also, when the society was established in Paris, which took +the name of "The Friends of the Negroes," enrolled himself a member of +it. + +The first public steps taken after my arrival in Paris were at a +committee of the Friends of the Negroes, which was but thinly attended. +None of those mentioned, except Brissot, were present. It was resolved +there, that the committee should solicit an audience of Mr. Necker; and +that I should wait upon him, accompanied by a deputation consisting of +the Marquis de Condorcet, Monsieur de Bourge, and Brissot de Warville: +secondly, that the committee should write to the president of the +National Assembly, and request the favour of him to appoint a day for +hearing the cause of the Negroes; and thirdly, that it should be +recommended to the committee in London to draw up a petition to the +National Assembly of France, praying for the abolition of the Slave +Trade by that country. This petition, it was observed, was to be signed +by as great a number of the friends to the cause in England, as could be +procured. It was then to be sent to the committee at Paris, who would +take it in a body to the place of its destination. + +I found great delicacy as a stranger in making my observations upon +these resolutions, and yet I thought I ought not to pass them over +wholly in silence, but particularly the last. I therefore rose up, and +stated that there was one resolution, of which I did not quite see the +propriety; but this might arise from my ignorance of the customs, as +well as of the genius and spirit of the French people. It struck me that +an application from a little committee in England to the National +Assembly of France was not a dignified measure, nor was it likely to +have weight with such a body. It was, besides, contrary to all the +habits of propriety in which I had been educated. The British Parliament +did not usually receive petitions from the subjects of other nations. It +was this feeling which had induced me thus to speak. + +To these observations it was replied, that the National Assembly of +France would glory in going contrary to the example of other nations in +a case of generosity and justice, and that the petition in question, if +it could be obtained, would have an influence there, which the people of +England, unacquainted with the sentiments of the French nation, would +hardly credit. + +To this I had only to reply, that I would communicate the measure to the +committee in London, but that I could not be answerable for the part +they would take in it. + +By an answer received from Mr. Necker, relative to the first of these +resolutions, it appeared that the desired interview had been obtained; +but he granted it only for a few minutes, and this principally to show +his good-will to the cause: for he was then so oppressed with business +in his own department, that he had but little time for any other. He +wrote to me, however, the next day, and desired my company to dinner. He +then expressed a wish to me, that any business relative to the Slave +Trade might be managed by ourselves as individuals, and that I would +take the opportunity of dining with him occasionally for this purpose. +By this plan, he said, both of us would save time. Madame Necker, also, +promised to represent her husband, if I should call in his absence, and +to receive me, and converse with me on all occasions in which this great +cause of humanity and religion might be concerned. + +With respect to the other resolutions, nothing ever came of them; for we +waited daily for an answer from the president during the whole of his +presidency, but we never received any; and the committee in London, when +they had read my letter, desired me unequivocally to say, that they did +not see the propriety of the petition which it had been recommended to +them to obtain. + +At the next meeting it was resolved, that a letter should be written to +the new president for the same purpose as the former. This, it was said, +was now rendered essentially necessary; for the merchants, planters, and +others interested in the continuance of the Slave Trade, were so alarmed +at the enthusiasm of the French people in favour of the new order of +things, and of any change recommended to them, which had the appearance +of prompting the cause of liberty, that they held daily committees to +watch and to thwart the motions of the friends of the Negroes. It was +therefore thought proper, that the appeal to the Assembly should be +immediate on this subject, before the feelings of the people should +cool, or before they, who were thus interested, should poison the minds +by calculations of loss and gain. The silence of the former president +was already attributed to the intrigues of the planters' committee. No +time therefore was to be lost. The letter was accordingly written, but +as no answer was ever returned to it, they attributed this second +omission to the same cause. + +I do not really know whether interested persons ever did, as was +suspected, intercept the letters of the committee to the two presidents +as now surmised; or whether they ever dissuaded them from introducing so +important a question for discussion, when the nation was in such a +heated state; but certain it is, that we had many, and I believe +barbarous, enemies to encounter. At the very next meeting of the +committee, Claviere produced anonymous letters which he had received, +and in which it was stated that, if the society of the Friends of the +Negroes did not dissolve itself, he and the rest of them would be +stabbed. It was said that no less than three hundred persons had +associated themselves for this purpose. I had received similar letters +myself; and on producing mine, and comparing the handwriting in both it +appeared that the same persons had written. + +In a few days after this, the public prints were filled with the most +malicious representations of the views of the committee. One of them +was, that they were going to send twelve thousand muskets to the Negroes +in St. Domingo, in order to promote an insurrection there. This +declaration was so industriously circulated, that a guard of soldiers +was sent to search the committee-room; but these were soon satisfied +when they found only two or three books and some waste paper. Reports +equally unfounded and wicked were spread also in the same papers +relative to myself. My name was mentioned at full length, and the place +of my abode hinted at. It was stated at one time, that I had proposed +such wild and mischievous plans to the committee in London relative to +the abolition of the Slave Trade, that they had cast me out of their own +body, and that I had taken refuge in Paris, where I now tried to impose +equally on the French nation. It was stated at another, that I was +employed by the British government as a spy, and that it was my object +to try to undermine the noble constitution which was then forming for +France. This latter report, at this particular time, when the passions +of men were so inflamed, and when the stones of Paris had not been long +purified from the blood of Foulon and Berthier, might have cost me my +life; and I mentioned it to General la Fayette, and solicited his +advice. He desired me to make a public reply to it: which I did. He +desired me also to change my lodging to the Hotel de Yorck, that I might +be nearer to him; and to send to him if there should be any appearance +of a collection of people about the hotel, and I should have aid from +the military in his quarter. He said, also, that he would immediately +give in my name to the Municipality; and that he would pledge himself to +them, that my views were strictly honourable. + +On dining one day at the house of the Marquis de la Fayette, I met the +deputies of colour. They had arrived only the preceding day from St. +Domingo, I was desired to take my seat at dinner in the midst of them. +They were six in number; of a sallow or swarthy complexion, but yet it +was not darker than that of some of the natives of the south of France. +They were already in the uniform of the Parisian National Guards; and +one of them wore the cross of St. Louis. They were men of genteel +appearance and modest behaviour. They seemed to be well informed, and of +a more solid cast than those whom I was in the habit of seeing daily in +this city. The account which they gave of themselves was this. The white +people of St. Domingo consisting of less than ten thousand persons, had +deputies then sitting in the National Assembly. The people of colour in +the same island greatly exceeded the whites in number. They amounted to +thirty thousand, and were generally proprietors of lands. They were +equally free by law with the former, and paid their taxes to the +mother-country in an equal proportion. But in consequence of having +sprung from slaves they had no legislative power, and moreover were +treated with great contempt. Believing that the mother-country was going +to make a change in its political constitution, they had called a +meeting on the island, and this meeting had deputed them to repair to +France, and to desire the full rights of citizens, or that the free +people of colour might be put upon an equality with the whites. They +(the deputies) had come in consequence. They had brought with them a +present of six millions of livres to the National Assembly, and an +appointment to General la Fayette to be commander-in-chief over their +constituents, as a distinct body. This command, they said, the general +had accepted, though he had declined similar honours from every town in +France, except Paris, in order to show that he patronized their cause. + +I was now very anxious to know the sentiments which these gentlemen +entertained on the subject of the Slave Trade. If they were with us, +they might be very useful to us; not only by their votes in the +Assembly, but by the knowledge of facts which they would be able to +adduce there in our favour. If they were against us, it became me to be +upon my guard against them, and to take measures accordingly. I +therefore stated to them at once the nature of my errand to France, and +desired their opinion upon it. This they gave me without reserve. They +broke out into lavish commendations of my conduct, and called me their +friend. The Slave Trade, they said, was the parent of all the miseries +in St. Domingo, not only on account of the cruel treatment it occasioned +to the slaves, but on account of the discord which it constantly kept up +between the whites and people of colour, in consequence of the hateful +distinctions it introduced. These distinctions could never be +obliterated while it lasted. Indeed both the trade and the slavery must +fall, before the infamy, now fixed upon a skin of colour, could be so +done away, that whites and blacks could meet cordially, and look with +respect upon one another. They had it in their instructions, in case +they should obtain a seat in the Assembly, to propose, an immediate +abolition of the Slave Trade, and an immediate amelioration of the state +of slavery also, with a view to its final abolition in fifteen years. + +But time was flying apace; I had now been nearly seven weeks in Paris, +and had done nothing. The thought of this made me uneasy, and I saw no +consoling prospect before me. I found it even difficult to obtain a +meeting of the Friends of the Negroes. The Marquis de la Fayette had no +time to attend. Those of the committee, who were members of the National +Assembly, were almost constantly engaged at Versailles. Such of them as +belonged to the Municipality, had enough to do at the Hotel deVille. +Others were employed either in learning the use of arms, or in keeping +their daily and nightly guards. These circumstances made me almost +despair of doing anything for the cause at Paris, at least in any +reasonable time. But a new circumstance occurred, which distressed me +greatly; for I discovered, in the most satisfactory manner, that two out +of the six at the last committee were spies. They had come into the +society for no other reason than to watch and report its motions; and +they were in direct correspondence with the slave-merchants at Havre de +Grace. This matter I brought home to them afterwards, and I had the +pleasure of seeing them excluded from all our future meetings. + +From this time I thought it expedient to depend less upon the committee, +and more upon my own exertions; and I formed the resolution of going +among the members of the National Assembly myself, and of learning from +their own mouths the hope I ought to entertain relative to the decision +of our question. In the course of my endeavours I obtained a promise +from the Duke de la Rochefoucauld, the Comte de Mirabeau the Abbe +Sieyes, Monsieur Bergasse, and Monsieur Petion de Villeneuve, five of +the most approved members of the National Assembly, that they would meet +me if I would fix a day. I obtained a similar promise from the Marquis +de Condorcet, and Claviere and Brissot, as members selected from the +committee of the Friends of the Negroes. And Messieurs de Roveray and Du +Monde, two Genevese gentlemen at Versailles, men of considerable +knowledge and interest, and who had heard of our intended meeting, were +to join us at their own request. The place chosen was the house of the +Bishop of Chartres at Versailles. + +I was now in hope that I should soon bring the question to some issue; +and on the 4th of October I went to dine with the Bishop of Chartres to +fix the day. We appointed the 7th. But how soon, frequently, do our +prospects fade! From the conversation which took place at dinner, I +began to fear that our meeting would not be realised. About three days +before, the officers of the Garde du Corps had given the memorable +banquet, recorded in the annals of the revolution, to the officers of +the regiment of Flanders, which then lay at Versailles. This was a topic +on which the company present dwelt. They condemned it as a most fatal +measure in these heated times; and were apprehensive that something +would grow immediately out of it, which might endanger the king's +safety. In passing afterwards through the streets of Versailles my fears +increased. I met several of that regiment in groups. Some were +brandishing their swords. Others were walking arm in arm, and singing +tumultuously. Others were standing and conversing earnestly together. +Among the latter I heard one declare with great vehemence, "that it +should not be; that the revolution must go on." On my arrival at Paris +in the evening, the Palais Royal was full of people; and there were +movements and buzzings among them, as if something was expected to +happen. The next day, when I went into the streets, it was obvious what +was going to take place. Suffice it to say, that the next evening the +king and queen were brought prisoners into Paris. After this, things +were in such an unsettled state for a few days, and the members of the +National Assembly were so occupied in the consideration of the event +itself, and of the consequences which might attend it, that my little +meeting, of which it had cost me so much time and trouble to procure the +appointment, was entirely prevented. + +I had now to wait patiently till a new opportunity should occur. The +Comte de Mirabeau, before the departure of the king, had moved, and +carried the resolution, that "the Assembly was inseparable from his +majesty's person." It was expected, therefore, that the National +Assembly would immediately transfer its sittings to Paris. This took +place on the 19th. It was now more easy for me to bring persons +together, than when I had to travel backward and forward to Versailles. +Accordingly, by watching my opportunities, I obtained the promise of +another meeting. This was held afterwards at the Duke de la +Rochefoucauld's. The persons before mentioned were present; except the +Comte de Mirabeau, whose occupations at that moment made it utterly +impossible for him to attend. + +The duke opened the business in an appropriate manner; and concluded, by +desiring each person to give his opinion frankly and unequivocally as to +what might be expected of the National Assembly relative to the great +measure of the abolition of the Slave Trade. + +The Abbe Sieyes rose up, and said it would probably bring the business +within a shorter compass if, instead of discussing this proposition at +large, I were to put to the meeting my own questions. I accordingly +accepted this offer, and began by asking those present "how long it was +likely that the present National Assembly would sit?" After some +conversation, it was replied that "it would sit till it had completed +the constitution, and interwoven such fixed principles into it, that the +legislature which should succeed it might have nothing more to do than +to proceed on the ordinary business of the state. Its dissolution would +probably not take place till the month of March." + +I then asked them, "whether it was their opinion that the National +Assembly would feel itself authorized to take up such a foreign question +(if I might be allowed the expression) as that of the abolition of the +Slave Trade." The answer to this was, "that the object of the National +Assembly was undoubtedly the formation of a constitution for the French +people. With respect to foreign possessions, it was very doubtful +whether it were the real interest of France to have any colonies at all; +but while it kept such colonies under its dominion, the assembly would +feel that it had the right to take up this question; and that the +question itself would naturally spring out of the bill of rights, which +had already been adopted as the basis of the constitution." + +The next question I proposed was, "whether they were of opinion that the +National Assembly would do more wisely, in the present situation of +things, to determine upon the abolition of the Slave Trade now, or to +transfer it to the legislature, which was to succeed it in the month of +March." + +This question gave birth to a long discussion, during which much +eloquence was displayed; but the unanimous answer, with the reasons for +it, may be conveyed in substance as follows:--"It would be most wise," +it was said, "in the present Assembly, to introduce the question to the +notice of the nation, and this as essentially connected with the bill of +rights, but to transfer the determination of it, in a way the best +calculated to ensure success, to the succeeding legislature. The +revolution was of more importance to Frenchmen than the abolition of the +Slave Trade. To secure this was their first object, and more +particularly because the other would naturally flow from it; but the +revolution might be injured by the immediate determination of the +question. Many persons in the large towns of Bourdeaux, Marseilles, +Rouen, Nantes, and Havre, who were now friends to it, might be converted +into enemies. It would also be held up by those who wished to produce a +counter-revolution, (and the ignorant and prejudiced might believe it,) +that the Assembly had made a great sacrifice to England by thus giving +her an opportunity of enlarging her trade. The English House of Commons +had taken up the subject, but had done nothing; and though they, who +were then present, were convinced of the sincerity of the English +minister who had introduced it, and that the trade must ultimately fall +in England, yet it would not be easy to persuade many bigoted persons in +France of these truths. It would, therefore, be most wise in the +Assembly only to introduce the subject as mentioned; but if +extraordinary circumstances should arise, such as a decree that the +deputies of Colour should take their seats in the Assembly, or that +England should have begun this great work, advantage might be taken of +them, and the abolition of the Slave Trade might be resolved upon in the +present session." + +The last question I proposed was this:--"If the determination of this +great question should be proposed to the next legislature, would it be +more difficult to carry it then than now?" + +This question also produced much conversation; but the answer was +unanimous, "that there would be no greater difficulty in the one than in +the other case; for that the people would daily more and more admire +their constitution; that this constitution would go down to the next +legislature, from whence would issue solid and fixed principles, which +would be resorted to as a standard for decision on all occasions. Hence +the Slave Trade, which would be adjudged by it also, could not possibly +stand. Add to which, that the most virtuous members in the present would +be chosen into the new legislature, which, if the constitution were but +once fairly established, would not regard the murmurs of any town or +province." After this a desultory conversation took place, in which some +were of opinion that it would be proper, on the introduction of the +subject into the Assembly, to move for a committee of inquiry, which +should collect facts and documents against the time when it should be +taken up with a view to its final discussion. + +As it now appeared to me that nothing material would be done with +respect to our cause till after the election of the new legislature, I +had thoughts of returning to England to resume my journey in quest of +evidence; but I judged it right to communicate first with the Comte de +Mirabeau and the Marquis de la Fayette, both of whom would have attended +the meeting just mentioned, if unforeseen circumstances had not +prevented them. + +On conversing with the first, I found that he differed from those whom I +had consulted. He thought that the question, on account of the nature +and urgency of it, ought to be decided in the present legislature. This +was so much his opinion, that he had made a determination to introduce +it there himself; and had been preparing for his motion. He had already +drawn up the outlines of a speech for the purpose; but was in want of +circumstantial knowledge to complete it. With this knowledge he desired +me to furnish him. He then put his speech into my hand, and wished me to +take it home and peruse it. He wrote down, also, some questions, and he +gave them to me directly afterwards, and begged I would answer them at +my leisure. + +On conversing with the latter, he said, "that he believed with those of +the meeting that there would be no greater difficulty in carrying the +question in the succeeding than in the present legislature; but this +consideration afforded an argument for the immediate discussion of it; +for it would make a considerable difference to suffering humanity +whether it were to be decided now or then. This was the moment to be +taken to introduce it; nor did he think that they ought to be deterred +from doing it by any supposed clamours from some of the towns in France. +The great body of the people admired the constitution, and would support +any decisions which were made in strict conformity to its principles. +With respect to any committee of inquiry, he deprecated it. The Slave +Trade, he said, was not a trade. It dishonoured the name of commerce. It +was piracy. But if so, the question which it involved was a question of +justice only; and it could not be decided, with propriety by any other +standard." I then informed him that the Comte de Mirabeau had undertaken +to introduce it into the Assembly. At this he expressed his uneasiness. +"Mirabeau," says he, "is a host in himself; and I should not be +surprised if by his own eloquence and popularity only he were to carry +it; and yet I regret that he has taken the lead in it. The cause is so +lovely that even ambition, abstractedly considered, is too impure to +take it under its protection, and not to sully it. It should have been +placed in the hands of the most virtuous man in France. This man is the +Duc de la Rochefoucauld. But you cannot alter things now. You cannot +take it out of his hands. I am sure he will be second to no one on this +occasion." + +On my return to my hotel, I perused the outlines of the speech which the +Comte de Mirabeau had lent me. It afforded a masterly knowledge of the +evils of the trade, as drawn from reason only. It was put together in +the most striking and affecting manner. It contained an almost +irresistible appeal to his auditors by frequent references to the +ancient system of things in France, and to their situation and prospects +under the new. It flowed at first gently like a river in a level +country; but it grew afterwards into a mountain-torrent, and carried +everything before it. On looking at the questions which he had written +down for me, I found them consist of three. 1. What are the different +ways of reducing to slavery the inhabitants of that part of Africa which +is under the dominion of France? 2. What is the state of society there +with respect to government, industry, and the arts? 3. What are the +various evils belonging to the transportation of the Africans from their +own country? + +It was peculiarly agreeable to me to find, on reading the first two +questions, that I had formed an acquaintance with Monsieur Geoffroy de +Villeneuve, who had been aide-du-camp to the Chevalier de Boufflers at +Goree; but who was then at his father's house in Paris. This gentleman +had entertained Dr. Spaarman and Mr. Wadstrom; and had accompanied them +up the Senegal, when under the protection of the French government in +Africa. He had confirmed to me the testimony which they had given before +the privy council: but he had a fund of information on this subject, +which went far beyond what these possessed, or I had ever yet collected +from books or men. He had travelled all over the kingdom of Cayor on +foot; and had made a map of it. His information was so important, that I +had been with him for almost days together to take it down. I +determined, therefore, to arrange the facts which I had obtained from +him, of which I had now a volume, that I might answer the two first +questions, which had been proposed to me; for it was of great importance +to the Comte de Mirabeau, that he should be able to appeal, in behalf of +the statements in his speech to the Assembly, to an evidence on the +spot. + +In the course of my correspondence with the Comte, which continued with +but little intermission for six weeks, many circumstances took place, +which were connected with the cause, and which I shall now detail in +their order. + +On waiting upon Mr. Necker, at his own request, he gave me the pleasing +intelligence, that the committee of finances, which was then composed of +members of the National Assembly, had resolved, though they had not yet +promulgated their resolution, upon a total abolition of all the bounties +then in existence in favour of the Slave Trade. + +The Deputies of Colour now began to visit me at my own hotel. They +informed me, that they had been admitted, since they had seen me, into +the National Assembly. On stating their claims, the president assured +them, that they might take courage; for that the assembly knew no +distinction between Blacks and Whites, but considered all men as having +equal rights. This speech of the president, they said, had roused all +the White Colonists in Paris. Some of these had openly insulted them. +They had held also a meeting on the subject of this speech; at which +they had worked themselves up so as to become quite furious. Nothing but +intrigue was now going forward among them to put off the consideration +of the claims of the free People of Colour. They, the deputies, had been +flattered by the prospect of a hearing no less than six times; and, when +the day arrived, something had constantly occurred to prevent it. + +At a subsequent interview, they appeared to be quite disheartened; and +to be grievously disappointed as to the object of their mission. They +were now sure, that they should never be able to make head against the +intrigues and plots of the White Colonists. Day after day had been fixed +as before for the hearing of their cause. Day after day it had been +deferred in like manner. They were now weary with waiting. One of them, +Oge, could not contain himself, but broke out with great warmth--"I +begin," says he, "not to care whether the National Assembly will admit +us or not. But let it beware of the consequences. We will no longer +continue to be beheld in a degraded light. Dispatches shall go directly +to St. Domingo; and we will soon follow them. We can produce as good +soldiers on our estates, as those in France. Our own arms shall make us +independent and respectable. If we are once forced to desperate +measures, it will be in vain that thousands will be sent across the +Atlantic to bring us back to our former state." On hearing this, I +entreated the deputies, to wait with patience. I observed to them, that +in a great revolution, like that of France, things, but more +particularly such as might be thought external, could not be discussed +either so soon or so rapidly as men full of enthusiasm would wish. +France would first take care of herself. She would then, I had no doubt, +extend her care to her Colonies. Was not this a reasonable conclusion, +when they, the deputies, had almost all the first men in the Assembly in +their favour? I entreated them therefore to wait patiently; as well as +upon another consideration, which was, that by an imprudent conduct they +might not only ruin their own cause in France, but bring indescribable +misery upon their native land. + +By this time a large packet, for which I had sent, from England arrived. +It consisted of above a thousand of the plan and section of a +slave-ship, with an explanation in French. It contained, also, about +five hundred coloured engravings, made from two views, which Mr. +Wadstrom had taken in Africa. The first of these represented the town of +Joal, and the king's military on horseback returning to it, after having +executed the great pillage, with their slaves. The other represented the +village of Bain; from whence ruffians were forcing a poor woman and her +children to sell them to a ship, which was then lying in the Roads. Both +these scenes Mr. Wadstrom had witnessed. I had collected, also, by this +time, one thousand of my Essays on the _Impolicy of the Slave Trade_, +which had been translated into the French language. These I now wished +to distribute, as preparatory to the motion of Mirabeau, among the +National Assembly. This distribution was afterwards undertaken and +effected by the Archbishop of Aix, the Bishop of Chartres, the Marquis +de la Fayette, the Duc de la Rochefoucauld, the Comte de Mirabeau, +Monsieur Necker, the Marquis de Condorcet, Messieurs Petion de +Villeneuve, Bergasse, Claviere and Brissot, and by the Marchioness de la +Fayette, Madame Necker, and Madame de Poivre, the latter of whom was the +widow of the late intendant of the Isle of France. + +This distribution had not been long begun, before I witnessed its +effects. The virtuous Abbe Gregoire, and several members of the National +Assembly, called upon me. The section of the slave-ship, it appeared, +had been the means of drawing them towards me. They wished for more +accurate information concerning it. Indeed, it made its impression upon +all who saw it. The Bishop of Chartres once told me, that, when he first +espoused our cause, he did it at once; for it seemed obvious to him that +no one could, under the Christian dispensation, hold another as his +slave; and it was no less obvious, where such an unnatural state +existed, that there would be great abuses; but that, nevertheless, he +had not given credit to all the tales which had been related of the +Slave Trade, till he had seen this plate; after which there was nothing +so barbarous which might not readily be believed. The Archbishop of Aix, +when I first showed him the same plate, was so struck with horror, that +he could scarcely speak: and when Mirabeau first saw it, he was so +impressed by it, that he ordered a mechanic to make a model of it in +wood, at a considerable expense. This model he kept afterwards in his +dining-room. It was a ship in miniature, about a yard long, and little +wooden men and women, which were painted black to represent the slaves, +were seen stowed in their proper places. + +But while the distribution of these different articles thus contributed +to make us many friends, it called forth the extraordinary exertions of +our enemies. The merchants and others interested in the continuance of +the Slave Trade wrote letters to the Archbishop of Aix, beseeching him +not to ruin France; which he would inevitably do, if, as then president, +he were to grant a day for hearing the question of the abolition. Offers +of money were made to Mirabeau from the same quarter, if he would +totally abandon his motion. An attempt was made to establish a colonial +committee, consisting of such planters as were members of the National +Assembly, upon whom it should devolve to consider and report upon all +matters relating to the Colonies, before they could be determined there. +Books were circulated in abundance in opposition to mine. Resort was +again had to the public papers, as the means of raising a hue and cry +against the principles of the Friends of the Negroes. I was again +denounced as a spy; and as one sent by the English minister to bribe +members in the Assembly to do that in a time of public agitation, which +in the settled state of France they could never have been prevailed upon +to accomplish. And as a proof that this was my errand, it was requested +of every Frenchman to put to himself the following question, "How it +happened that England, which had considered the subject coolly and +deliberately for eighteen months, and this in a state of internal peace +and quietness, had not abolished the Slave Trade?" + +The clamour which was now made against the abolition pervaded all Paris, +and reached the ears of the king; Mr. Necker had a long conversation +with him upon it; the latter sent for me immediately. He informed me +that His Majesty was desirous of making himself master of the question, +and had expressed a wish to see my _Essay on the Impolicy of the Slave +Trade_; he desired to have two copies of it, one in French, and the +other in English, and he would then take his choice as to which of them +he would read; he (Mr. Necker) was to present them. He would take with +him, also, at the same time, the beautiful specimens of the manufactures +of the Africans, which I had lent to Madame Necker out of the cabinet of +Monsieur Geoffroy de Villeneuve and others; as to the section of the +slave-ship, he thought it would affect His Majesty too much, as he was +then indisposed. All these articles, except the latter, were at length +presented; the king bestowed a good deal of time upon the specimens; he +admired them, but particularly those in gold. He expressed his surprise +at the state of some of the arts in Africa. He sent them back on the +same day on which he had examined them, and commissioned Mr. Necker to +return me his thanks, and to say that he had been highly gratified with +what he had seen; and with respect to the _Essay on the Impolicy of the +Slave Trade_, that he would read it with all the seriousness which such +a subject deserved. + +My correspondence with the Comte de Mirabeau was now drawing near to its +close. I had sent him a letter every other day for a whole month, which +contained from sixteen to twenty pages; he usually acknowledged the +receipt of each; hence many of his letters came into my possession: +these were always interesting, on account of the richness of the +expressions they contained. Mirabeau even in his ordinary discourse was +eloquent; it was his peculiar talent to use such words, that they who +heard them were almost led to believe that he had taken great pains to +cull them for the occasion. But this his ordinary language was the +language also of his letters; and as they show a power of expression, by +which the reader may judge of the character of the eloquence of one, who +was then undoubtedly the greatest orator in France, I have thought it +not improper to submit one of them to his perusal in the annexed +note[A]. I could have wished, as far as it relates to myself, that it +had been less complimentary. It must be observed, however, that I had +already written to him more than two hundred pages with my own hand; and +as this was done at no small expense, time, and trouble, and solely to +qualify him for the office of doing good, he could not but set some +value upon my labours. + +[Footnote A: Je fais toujours mille remercimens plus empresses et plus +affectueux a Monsieur Clarkson pour la vertueuse profusion de ses +lumieres, de ses recherches, et de ses travaux. Comme ma motion, et tous +ses developpemens sont entierement prets, j'attends avec une vive +impatience ses nouvelles lettres, afin d'achever de classer les faits et +les raisonnemens de Monsieur Clarkson, et, cette deduction entierement +finie, de commencer a manoeuvrer en tactique le succes douteux de cette +perilleuse proposition. J'aurai l'honneur de le recevoir Dimanche depuis +onze heures, et meme dix du matin jusqu'a midi, non seulement avec un +vif plaisir, mais avec une sensible reconnaissance. 25_th__Decembre_, +1789.] + +When our correspondence was over, I had some conversation with him +relative to fixing a day for the motion. But he judged it prudent, +previously to this, to sound some of the members of the Assembly on the +subject of it. This he did, but he was greatly disappointed at the +result; there was not one member, out of all those with whom he +conversed, who had not been canvassed by the planters' committee; and +though most of them had been proof against all its intrigues and +artifices, yet many of them hesitated respecting the abolition at that +moment. There was a fear in some that they should injure the revolution +by adopting it; others, who had no such fears, wished for the +concurrence of England in the measure, and suggested the propriety of a +deputation there for that purpose previously to the discussion of the +question in France. While others maintained that, as England had done +nothing, after having had it so long under consideration, it was fair to +presume that she judged it impolitic to abandon the Slave Trade; but if +France were to give it up, and England to continue it, how would +humanity be the gainer? + +While the Comte de Mirabeau was continuing his canvass among the members +of the National Assembly, relative to his motion, attempts were again +made in the public papers to mislead them; emancipation was now stated +to be the object of the friends of the negroes. This charge I repelled, +by addressing myself to Monsieur Beauvet. I explained to him the views +of the different societies which had taken up the cause of the Africans; +and I desired him to show my letter to the planters. I was obliged also +to answer publicly a letter by Monsieur Mosneron de Laung. This writer +professed to detail the substance of the privy council report. He had +the injustice to assert that three things had been distinctly proved +there: First, that slavery had always existed in Africa; Secondly, that +the natives were a bloody people, addicted to human sacrifice, and other +barbarous customs; and, Thirdly, that their soil was incapable of +producing any proper articles for commerce. From these premises he +argued, as if they had been established by the unanimous and +uncontradicted testimony of the witnesses; and he drew the conclusion, +that not only had England done nothing in consequence, but that she +never would do anything which should affect the existence of this trade. + +But these letters had only just made their appearance in the public +papers, when I was summoned to England; parliament, it appeared, had +met, and I was immediately to leave Paris. Among those of whom I had but +just time to take leave, were the deputies of colour. At this, my last +conference with them, I recommended moderation and forbearance, as the +best gifts I could leave them; and I entreated them rather to give up +their seats in the Assembly, than on that account to bring misery on +their country; for that with patience their cause would ultimately +triumph. They replied, that I had prescribed to them a most difficult +task; they were afraid that neither the conduct of the white colonists +nor of the National Assembly could be much longer borne; they thanked +me, however, for my advice. One of them gave me a trinket, by which I +might remember him; and as for himself, he said he should never forget +one, who had taken such a deep interest in the welfare of his mother[A]. +I found, however, notwithstanding all I said, that there was a spirit of +dissatisfaction in them, which nothing but a redress of their grievances +could subdue; and that, if the planters should persevere in their +intrigues, and the National Assembly in delay, a fire would be lighted +up in St. Domingo, which could not easily be extinguished. This was +afterwards realized: for Oge, in about three months from this time, left +his companions, to report to his constituents in St. Domingo the state +of their mission; when hearing, on his arrival in that island, of the +outrageous conduct of the whites of the committee of Aquin, who had +begun a persecution of the people of colour, for no other reason than +that they had dared to seek the common privileges of citizens, and of +the murder of Ferrand and Labadie, he imprudently armed his slaves. With +a small but faithful band he rushed upon superior numbers, and was +defeated; taking refuge at length in the Spanish part of St. Domingo, he +was given up, and his enemies, to strike terror into the people of +colour, broke him upon the wheel. From this time reconciliation between +the parties became impossible; a bloody war commenced, and with it all +those horrors which it has been our lot so frequently to deplore. It +must be remembered, however, that the Slave Trade, by means of the cruel +distinctions it occasioned, was the original cause; and though the +revolution of France afforded the occasion, it was an occasion which +would have been prevented, if it had not been for the intrigues and +injustice of the whites. + +[Footnote A: Africa.] + +Another upon whom I had time to call was the amiable bishop of Chartres. +When I left him, the Abbe Sieyes, who was with him, desired to walk with +me to my hotel; he there presented me with a set of his works, which he +sent for while he staid with me; and, on parting, he made use of this +complimentary expression, in allusion, I suppose, to the cause I had +undertaken,--"I am pleased to have been acquainted with the friend of +man." + +It was necessary that I should see the Comte de Mirabeau and the Marquis +de la Fayette before I left Paris, I had written to each of them to +communicate the intelligence of my departure, as soon as I received it. +The comte, it appeared had nearly canvassed the Assembly; he could count +upon three hundred members, who, for the sake of justice, and without +any consideration of policy or of consequences, would support his +motion. But alas! what proportion did this number bear to twelve +hundred! About five hundred more would support him, but only on one +condition, which was, if England would give an unequivocal proof of her +intention to abolish the trade. The knowledge of these circumstances, he +said, had induced him to write a letter to Mr. Pitt. In this he had +explained how far he could proceed without his assistance, and how far +with it. He had frankly developed to him the mind and temper of the +Assembly on this subject; but his answer must be immediate, for the +white colonists were daily gaining such an influence there, that he +forsaw that it would be impossible to carry the measure, if it were long +delayed. On taking leave of him he desired me to be the bearer of the +letter, and to present it to Mr. Pitt. + +On conversing with the Marquis de la Fayette, he lamented deeply the +unexpected turn which the cause of the Negroes had lately taken in the +Assembly. It was entirely owing to the daily intrigues of the White +Colonists. He feared they would ruin everything. If the Deputies of +Colour had been heard on their arrival, their rights would have been +acknowledged. But now there was little probability that they would +obtain them. He foresaw nothing but desolation in St. Domingo. With +respect to the abolition of the Slave Trade, it might be yet carried; +but not unless England would concur in the measure. On this topic he +enlarged with much feeling. He hoped the day was near at hand, when two +great nations, which had been hitherto distinguished only for their +hostility, one toward the other, would unite in so sublime a measure; +and that they would follow up their union by another, still more lovely, +for the preservation of eternal and universal peace. Thus their future +rivalships might have the extraordinary merit of being rivalships in +good. Thus the revolution of France, through the mighty aid of England, +might become the source of civilization, of freedom, and of happiness to +the whole world. No other nations were sufficiently enlightened for such +an union, but all other nations might be benefited by it. + +The last person whom I saw was Brissot. He accompanied me to my +carriage. With him, therefore, I shall end my French account; and I +shall end it in no way so satisfactory to myself, as in a very concise +vindication of his character, from actual knowledge, against the attacks +of those who have endeavoured to disparage it; but who never knew him. +Justice and truth, I am convinced, demand some little declaration on +this subject at my hands. Brissot then was a man of plain and modest +appearance. His habits, contrary to those of his countrymen in general, +were domestic. In his own family he set an amiable example, both as a +husband and as a father. On all occasions he was a faithful friend. He +was particularly watchful over his private conduct. From the simplicity +of his appearance, and the severity of his morals, he was called "The +Quaker;" at least in all the circles which I frequented. He was a man of +deep feeling. He was charitable to the poor as far as a slender income +permitted him. But his benevolence went beyond the usual bounds. He was +no patriot in the ordinary acceptation of the word; for he took the +habitable globe as his country and wished to consider every foreigner as +his brother. + +I left France, as it may be easily imagined, much disappointed, that my +labours, which had been of nearly six months continuance, should have +had no better success; nor did I see, in looking forward, any +circumstances that were consoling with respect to the issue of them +there; for it was impossible that Mr. Pitt, even if he had been inclined +to write to Mirabeau, circumstanced as matters then were with respect to +the hearing of evidence, could have given him a promise, at least of a +speedy abolition; and, unless his answer had been immediate, it would +have arrived, seeing that the French planters were daily profiting by +their intrigues, too late to be effectual. + +I had but just arrived in England, when Mr. Wilberforce made a new +motion in the House of Commons on the subject of the Slave Trade. In +referring to the transactions of the last session, he found that +twenty-eight days had been allotted to the hearing of witnesses against +the abolition, and that eleven persons only had been examined in that +time. If the examinations were to go on in the same manner, they might +be made to last for years. He resolved, therefore, to move, that, +instead of hearing evidence in future in the house at large, members +should hear it in an open committee above stairs; which committee should +sit notwithstanding any adjournment of the house itself. This motion he +made; and in doing it he took an opportunity of correcting an erroneous +report; which was, that he had changed his mind on this great subject. +This was, he said, so far from being the case, that the more he +contemplated the trade, the more enormous he found it, and the more he +felt himself compelled to persevere in endeavours for its abolition. + +One would have thought that a motion, so reasonable and so +constitutional, would have met with the approbation of all; but it was +vehemently opposed by Mr. Gascoyne, Alderman Newnham, and others. The +plea set up was, that there was no precedent for referring a question of +such importance to a committee. It was now obvious, that the real object +of our opponents in abandoning decision by the privy council evidence +was delay. Unable to meet us there, they were glad to fly to any +measure, which should enable them to put off the evil day. This charge +was fixed upon them in unequivocal language by Mr. Fox; who observed +besides, that if the members of the house should then resolve to hear +evidence in a committee of the whole house as before, it would amount to +a resolution, that the question of the abolition of the Slave Trade +should be put by, or at least that it should never be decided by them. +After a long debate, the motion of Mr. Wilberforce was voted without a +division; and the examination of witnesses proceeded in behalf of those +who were interested in the continuance of the trade. + +This measure having been resolved upon, by which despatch in the +examinations was promoted, I was alarmed lest we should be called upon +for our own evidence, before we were fully prepared. The time which I +had originally allotted for the discovery of new witnesses, had been +taken up, if not wasted, in France. In looking over the names of the +sixteen, who were to have been examined by the committee of privy +council, if there had been time, one had died, and eight, who were +sea-faring people, were out of the kingdom. It was time, therefore, to +stir immediately in this business. Happily, on looking over my letters, +which I found on my arrival in England, the names of several had been +handed to me, with the places of their abode, who could give me +information on the subject of our question. All these I visited with the +utmost despatch. I was absent only three weeks. I had travelled a +thousand miles in this time, had conversed with seventeen persons, and +had prevailed upon three to be examined. + +I had scarcely returned with the addition of these witnesses to my list, +when I found it necessary to go out again upon the same errand. This +second journey arose in part from the following circumstances. There was +a matter in dispute relative to the mode of obtaining slaves in the +rivers of Calabar and Bonny. It was usual, when the slave-ships lay +there, for a number of canoes to go into the inland country. These went +in a fleet. There might be from thirty to forty armed natives in each of +them. Every canoe, also, had a four or a six-pounder (cannon) fastened +to her bow. Equipped in this manner they departed; and they were usually +absent from eight to fourteen days. It was said that they went to fairs, +which were held on the banks of these rivers, and at which there was a +regular show of slaves. On their return they usually brought down from +eight hundred to a thousand of these for the ships. These lay at the +bottom of the canoes; their arms and legs having been first bound by the +ropes of the country. Now the question was, how the people, thus going +up these rivers, obtained their slaves? + +It was certainly a very suspicious circumstance, that such a number of +persons should go out upon these occasions; and that they should be +armed in such a manner. We presumed, therefore, that, though they might +buy many of the slaves, whom they brought down, at the fairs which have +been mentioned, they obtained others by violence, as opportunity +offered. This inference we pressed upon our opponents, and called upon +them to show what circumstances made such warlike preparations necessary +on these excursions. To this they replied readily, "The people in the +canoes," said they, "pass through the territories of different petty +princes; to each of whom, on entering his territory, they pay a tribute +or toll. This tribute has been long fixed; but attempts frequently have +been made to raise it. They who follow the trade cannot afford to submit +to these unreasonable demands; and therefore they arm themselves in case +of any determination on the part of these petty princes to enforce +them." This answer we never judged to be satisfactory. We tried +therefore, to throw light upon the subject, by inquiring if the natives +who went upon these expeditions usually took with them as many goods as +would amount to the number of the slaves they were accustomed to bring +back with them. But we could get no direct answer, from any actual +knowledge, to this question. All had seen the canoes go out and return; +but no one had seen them loaded, or had been on board them. It appeared, +however, from circumstantial evidence, that though the natives on these +occasions might take some articles of trade with them, it was impossible +from appearances that they could take them in the proportion mentioned. +We maintained, then, our inference as before; but it was still uniformly +denied. + +How then were we to decide this important question? for it was said that +no white man was ever permitted by the natives to go up in these canoes. +On mentioning accidentally the circumstances of the case, as I have now +stated them, to a friend, immediately on my return from my last journey, +he informed me that he himself had been in company, about a year before, +with a sailor, a very respectable-looking man, who had been up these +rivers. He had spent half an hour with him at an inn. He described his +person to me; but he knew nothing of his name, or of the place of his +abode. All he knew was, that he was either going, or that he belonged +to, some ship of war in ordinary; but he could not tell at what port. I +might depend upon all these circumstances if the man had not deceived +him; and he saw no reason why he should. + +I felt myself set on fire, as it were, by this intelligence, deficient +as it was; and I seemed to determine instantly that I would, if it were +possible, find him out. For if our suspicions were true that the natives +frequently were kidnapped in these expeditions, it would be of great +importance to the cause of the abolition to have them confirmed; for as +many slaves came annually from these two rivers, as from all the coast +of Africa besides. But how to proceed on so blind an errand was the +question. I first thought of trying to trace the man by letter; but this +might be tedious. The examinations were now going on rapidly. We should +soon be called upon for evidence ourselves; besides, I knew nothing of +his name. I then thought it to be a more effectual way to apply to Sir +Charles Middleton, as comptroller of the navy, by whose permission I +could board every ship of war in ordinary in England, and judge for +myself. But here the undertaking seemed very arduous, and the time it +would consume became an objection in this respect, that I thought I +could not easily forgive myself, if I were to fail in it. My +inclination, however, preponderated this way. At length I determined to +follow it; for, on deliberate consideration, I found that I could not +employ my time more advantageously to the cause; for as other witnesses +must be found out somewhere, it was highly probable that, if I should +fail in the discovery of this man, I should, by moving among such a +number of sea-faring people, find others who could give their testimony +in our favour. + +I must now inform the reader, that ships of war in ordinary, in one of +which this man was reported to be, are those which are out of +commission, and which are laid up in the different rivers and waters in +the neighbourhood of the king's dock-yards. Every one of these has a +boatswain, gunner, carpenter, and assistants on board. They lie usually +in divisions of ten or twelve; and a master in the navy has a command +over every division. + +At length I began my journey. I boarded all the ships of war lying in +ordinary at Deptford, and examined the different persons in each. From +Deptford I proceeded to Woolwich, where I did the same. Thence I +hastened to Chatham, and then, down the Medway, to Sheerness. I had now +boarded above a hundred and sixty vessels of war. I had found out two +good and willing evidences among them; but I could gain no intelligence +of him who was the object of my search. + +From Chatham I made the best of my way to Portsmouth harbour. A very +formidable task presented itself here; but the masters' boats were ready +for me, and I continued my pursuit. On boarding the Pegase, on the +second day, I discovered a very respectable person in the gunner of that +ship. His name was George Millar. He had been on board the Canterbury +slaveship at the dreadful massacre at Calabar. He was the only +disinterested evidence living, of whom I had yet heard. He expressed his +willingness to give, his testimony, if his presence should be thought +necessary in London. I then continued my pursuit for the remainder of +the day. On the next day I resumed and finished it for this quarter. I +had now examined the different persons in more than a hundred vessels in +this harbour, but I had not discovered the person I had gone to seek. + +Matters now began to look rather disheartening, I mean as far as my +grand object was concerned. There was but one other port left, and this +was between two and three hundred miles distant. I determined, however, +to go to Plymouth. I had already been more successful in this tour, with +respect to obtaining general evidences than in any other of the same +length; and the probability was, that as I should continue to move among +the same kind of people, my success would be in a similar proportion +according to the number visited. These were great encouragements to me +to proceed. At length I arrived at the place of my last hope. On my +first day's expedition I boarded forty vessels, but found no one in +these who had been on the coast of Africa in the Slave Trade. One or two +had been there in king's ships; but they had never been on shore. Things +were now drawing near to a close; and, notwithstanding my success as to +general evidence in this journey, my heart began to beat. I was restless +and uneasy during the night. The next morning I felt agitated again +between the alternate pressure of hope and fear; and in this state I +entered my boat. The fifty-seventh vessel, which I boarded in this +harbour was the Melampus frigate. One person belonging to it, on +examining him in the captain's cabin, said he had been two voyages to +Africa; and I had not long discoursed with him before I found, to my +inexpressible joy, that he was the man. I found, too, that he unravelled +the question in dispute precisely as our inferences had determined it. +He had been two expeditions up the river Calabar in the canoes of the +natives. In the first of these, they came within a certain distance of a +village. They then concealed themselves under the bushes, which hung +over the water from the banks. In this position they remained during +day-light; but at night they went up to it armed, and seized all the +inhabitants, who had not time to make their escape. They obtained +forty-five persons in this manner. In the second, they were out eight or +nine days, when they made a similar attempt, and with nearly similar +success. They seized men, women, and children, as they could find them +in the huts. They then bound their arms, and drove them before them to +the canoes. The name of the person, thus discovered on board the +Melampus, was Isaac Parker. On inquiring into his character from the +master of the division, I found it highly respectable. I found, also, +afterwards, that he had sailed with Captain Cook, with great credit to +himself, round the world. It was also remarkable that my brother, on +seeing him in London, when he went to deliver his evidence, recognised +him as having served on board the Monarch man-of-war, and as one of the +most exemplary men in that ship. + +I returned now in triumph. I had been out only three weeks, and I had +found out this extraordinary person, and five respectable witnesses +besides. These, added to the three discovered in the last journey, and +to those provided before, made us more formidable than at any former +period; so that the delay of our opponents, which we had looked upon as +so great an evil, proved in the end truly serviceable to our cause. + +On going into the committee-room of the House of Commons on my return, I +found that the examinations were still going on in the behalf of those +who were interested in the continuance of the trade; and they went on +beyond the middle of April, when it was considered that they had closed. +Mr. Wilberforce moved accordingly, on the 23rd of the same month, that +Captain Thomas Wilson, of the royal navy, and that Charles Berns +Wadstrom and Henry Hew Dalrymple, Esqrs., do attend as witnesses on the +behalf of the abolition. There was nothing now but clamour from those on +the opposite side of the question. They knew well that there were but +few members of the House of Commons, who had read the privy council +report. They knew, therefore, that if the question were to be decided by +evidence, it must be decided by that which their own witnesses had given +before parliament. But this was the evidence only on one side. It was +certain, therefore, if the decision were to be made upon this basis, +that it must be entirely in their favour. Will it then be believed that +in an English House of Commons there could be found persons, who could +move to prevent the hearing of any other witnesses on this subject; and, +what is more remarkable, that they should charge Mr. Wilberforce, +because he proposed the hearing of them, with the intention solely of +delay? Yes, such persons were found; but happily only among the friends +of the Slave Trade. Mr. Wilberforce, in replying to them, could not help +observing that it was rather extraordinary that they, who had occasioned +the delay of a whole year, should charge him with that of which they +themselves had been so conspicuously guilty. He then commented for some +time on the injustice of their motion. He stated, too, that he would +undertake to remove from disinterested and unprejudiced persons many of +the impressions which had been made by the witnesses against the +abolition; and he appealed to the justice and honour of the house in +behalf of an injured people; under the hope that they would not allow a +decision to be made till they had heard the whole of the case. These +observations, however, did not satisfy all those who belonged to the +opposite party. Lord Penrhyn contended for a decision without a moment's +delay. Mr. Gascoyne relented; and said, he would allow three weeks to +the abolitionists, during which their evidence might be heard. At +length, the debate ended; in the course of which Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox +powerfully supported Mr. Wilberforce; when the motion was negatived +without any attempt at a division. + +The witnesses in behalf of the abolition of the Slave Trade now took +possession of the ground which those in favour of it had left. But what +was our surprise, when only three of them had been heard, to find that +Mr. Norris should come forward as an evidence! This he did to confirm +what he had stated to the privy council as to the general question; but +he did it more particularly, as it appeared afterwards, in the +justification of his own conduct: for the part which he had taken at +Liverpool, as it related to me, had become a subject of conversation +with many. It was now well known what assistance he had given me there +in my pursuit; how he had even furnished me with clauses for a bill, for +the abolition of the trade; how I had written to him, in consequence of +his friendly co-operation, to come up as an evidence in our favour; and +how at that moment he had accepted the office of a delegate on the +contrary side. The noise which the relation and repetition of these and +other circumstances had made, had given him, I believe, considerable +pain. His friends, too, had urged some explanation as necessary. But how +short-sighted are they who do wrong! By coming forward in this imprudent +manner, he fixed the stain only the more indelibly on himself; for he +thus imposed upon me the cruel necessity of being examined against him; +and this necessity was the more afflicting, to me, because I was to be +called upon not to state facts relative to the trade, but to destroy his +character as an evidence in its support. I was to be called upon, in +fact, to explain all those communications which have been stated to have +taken place between us on this subject. Glad indeed should I have been +to have declined this painful interference. But no one would hear of a +refusal. The Bishop of London, Mr. Pitt, and Mr. Wilberforce considered +my appearance on this occasion as an imperious duty to the cause of the +oppressed. It may be perhaps sufficient to say that I was examined; that +Mr. Norris was present all the time; that I was cross-examined by +counsel; and, that after this time, Mr. Norris seemed to have no +ordinary sense of his own degradation; for he never afterwards held up +his head or looked the abolitionists in the face, or acted with energy +as a delegate, as on former occasions. + +The hearing of evidence continued to go on in behalf of the abolition of +the trade. No less than twenty-four witnesses altogether were heard in +this session. And here it may not be improper to remark, that during the +examination of our own witnesses, as well as the cross-examination of +those of our opponents, no counsel were ever employed. Mr. Wilberforce +and Mr. William Smith undertook this laborious department; and as they +performed it with great ability, so they did it with great liberality +towards those who were obliged to come under their notice, in the course +of this fiery ordeal. + +The bill of Sir William Dolben was now to be renewed. On this occasion +the enemies of the abolition became again conspicuous; for on the 26th +of May, they availed themselves of a thin house to propose an amendment, +by which they increased the number of the slaves to the tonnage of the +vessel. They increased it, too, without taking into the account, as had +hitherto been done, the extent of the superficies of the vessels which +were to carry them. This was the third indecorous attempt against what +were only reasonable and expected proceedings in the present session. +But their advantage was of no great duration; for the very next day, the +amendment was rejected on the report by a majority of ninety-five to +sixty-nine, in consequence, principally, of the private exertions of Mr. +Pitt. Of this bill, though it was renewed in other years besides the +present, I shall say no more in this _History_; because it has nothing +to do with the general question. Horrible as it yet left the situation +of the poor slaves in their transportation, (which the plate has most +abundantly shown,) it was the best bill which could be then obtained; +and it answered to a certain degree the benevolent wishes of the worthy +baronet who introduced it: for if we could conclude, that these voyages +were made more comfortable to the injured Africans, in proportion as +there was less mortality in them, he had undoubtedly the pleasure of +seeing the end, at least partially, obtained; though he must always have +felt a great drawback from it, by reflecting that the survivors, however +their sufferings might have been a little diminished, were reserved for +slavery. + +The session was now near its close; and we had the sorrow to find, +though we had defeated our opponents in the three instances which have +been mentioned, that the tide ran decidedly against us, upon the general +question, in the House of Commons. The same statements which had struck +so many members with panic in the former sessions, such as that of +emancipation, of the ruin and massacre of the planters, and of +indemnification to the amount of seventy millions, had been +industriously kept up, and this by a personal canvass among them. But +this hostile disposition was still unfortunately increased by +considerations of another sort. For the witnesses of our opponents had +taken their ground first. No less than eleven of them had been examined +in the last sessions. In the present, two-thirds of the time had been +occupied by others on the same side. Hence the impression upon this +ground also was against us; and we had yet had no adequate opportunity +of doing it away. A clamour was also raised, where we thought it least +likely to have originated. They (the planters), it was said, had +produced persons in elevated life, and of the highest character, as +witnesses; whereas we had been obliged to take up with those of the +lowest condition. This idea was circulated directly after the +introduction of Isaac Parker, before mentioned, a simple mariner, and +who was now contrasted with the admirals on the other side of the +question. This outcry was not only ungenerous, but unconstitutional. It +is the glory of the English law, that it has no scale of veracity which +it adapts to persons, according to the station which they may be found +to occupy in life. In our courts of law, the poor are heard as well as +the rich; and if their reputation be fair, and they stand proof against +the cross-examinations they undergo, both the judge and the jury must +determine the matter in dispute by their evidence. But the House of +Commons was now called upon by our opponents, to adopt the preposterous +maxim of attaching falsehood to poverty, or of weighing truth by the +standard of rank and riches. + +But though we felt a considerable degree of pain in finding this adverse +disposition among so many members of the Lower House, it was some +consolation to us to know that our cause had not suffered with their +constituents,--the people. These were still warmly with us. Indeed, +their hatred of the trade had greatly increased. Many circumstances had +occurred in this year to promote it. The committee, during my absence in +France, had circulated the plate of the slave-ship throughout all +England. No one saw it but he was impressed. It spoke to him in a +language which was at once intelligible and irresistible. It brought +forth the tear of sympathy in behalf of the sufferers, and it fixed +their sufferings in his heart. The committee, too, had been particularly +vigilant during the whole of the year with respect to the public papers. +They had suffered no statement in behalf of those interested in the +continuance of the trade to go unanswered. Dr. Dickson, the author of +the _Letters on Slavery_, before mentioned, had come forward again with +his services on this occasion; and, by his active co-operation with a +sub-committee appointed for the purpose, the coast was so well cleared +of our opponents, that, though they were seen the next year again, +through the medium of the same papers, they appeared only in sudden +incursions, as it were, during which they darted a few weapons at us; +but they never afterward ventured upon the plain to dispute the matter, +inch by inch, or point by point, in an open and manly manner. + +But other circumstances occurred to keep up a hatred of the trade among +the people in this interval, which, trivial as they were, ought not to +be forgotten. The amiable poet Cowper had frequently made the Slave +Trade the subject of his contemplation. He had already severely +condemned it in his valuable poem _The Task_. But now he had written +three little fugitive pieces upon it. Of these, the most impressive was +that which he called _The Negro's Complaint_, and of which the following +is a copy:-- + + + Forced from home and all its pleasures, + Afric's coast I left forlorn, + To increase a stranger's treasures, + O'er the raging billows borne; + Men from England bought and sold me, + Paid my price in paltry gold; + But, though theirs they have enroll'd me, + Minds are never to be sold. + + Still in thought as free as ever, + What are England's rights, I ask, + Me from my delights to sever, + Me to torture, me to task? + Fleecy locks and black complexion + Cannot forfeit Nature's claim; + Skins may differ, but affection + Dwells in black and white the same. + + Why did all-creating Nature + Make the plant, for which we toil? + Sighs must fan it, tears must water, + Sweat of ours must dress the soil. + Think, ye masters, iron-hearted, + Lolling at your jovial boards, + Think, how many backs have smarted + For the sweets your cane affords. + + Is there, as you sometimes tell us, + Is there one, who rules on high; + Has he bid you buy and sell us, + Speaking from his throne, the sky? + Ask him, if your knotted scourges, + Fetters, blood-extorting screws, + Are the means, which duty urges + Agents of his will to use? + + Hark! he answers. Wild tornadoes, + Strewing yonder sea with wrecks, + Wasting towns, plantations, meadows, + Are the voice with which he speaks. + He, foreseeing what vexations + Afric's sons should undergo, + Fixed their tyrants' habitations + Where his whirlwinds answer--No. + + By our blood in Afric wasted, + Ere our necks received the chain; + By the miseries, which we tasted + Crossing, in your barks, the main; + By our sufferings, since you brought us + To the man-degrading mart, + All-sustained by patience, taught us + Only by a broken heart: + + Deem our nation brutes no longer, + Till some reason you shall find + Worthier of regard, and stronger, + Than the colour of our kind. + Slaves of gold! whose sordid dealings + Tarnish all, your boasted powers, + Prove that you have human feelings, + Ere you proudly question ours. + + +This little piece Cowper presented in manuscript to some of his friends +in London; and these, conceiving it to contain a powerful appeal in +behalf of the injured Africans, joined in printing it. Having ordered it +on the finest hot-pressed paper, and folded it up in a small and neat +form, they gave it the printed title of _A Subject for Conversation at +the Tea-table_. After this, they sent many thousand copies of it in +franks into the country. From one it spread to another, till it +travelled almost over the whole island. Falling at length into the hands +of the musician, it was set to music; and it then found its way into the +streets, both of the metropolis and of the country, where it was sung as +a ballad; and where it gave a plain account of the subject, with an +appropriate feeling, to those who heard it. + +Nor was the philanthropy of the late Mr. Wedgewood less instrumental in +turning the popular feeling in our favour. He made his own manufactory +contribute to this end. He took the seal of the committee, as exhibited +in Chap. XX., for his model; and he produced a beautiful cameo, of a +less size, of which the ground was a most delicate white, but the Negro, +who was seen imploring compassion in the middle of it, was in his own +native colour. Mr. Wedgewood made a liberal donation of these, when +finished, among his friends. I received from him no less than five +hundred of them myself. They, to whom they were sent, did not lay them +up in their cabinets, but gave them away likewise. They were soon, like +_The Negro's Complaint_, in different parts of the kingdom. Some had +them inlaid in gold on the lid of their snuff-boxes. Of the ladies, +several wore them in bracelets, and others had them fitted up in an +ornamental manner as pins for their hair. At length the taste for +wearing them became general; and thus fashion, which usually confines +itself to worthless things, was seen for once in the honourable office +of promoting the cause of justice, humanity, and freedom. + +I shall now only state that the committee took as members within its own +body, in the period of time which is included in this chapter, the +Reverend Mr. Ormerod, chaplain to the Bishop of London, and Captain +James Bowen, of the royal navy; that they elected the Honourable +Nathaniel Curzon (afterwards Lord Scarsdale), Dr. Frossard, of Lyons, +and Benjamin Garlike, Esq., then secretary to the English embassy at the +Hague, honorary and corresponding members; and that they concluded their +annual labours with a suitable report, in which they noticed the +extraordinary efforts of our opponents to injure our cause in the +following manner:--"In the progress of this business, a powerful +combination of interest has been excited against us. The African trader, +the planter, and the West India merchant, have united their forces to +defend the fortress, in which their supposed treasures lie. Vague +calculations and false alarms have been thrown out to the public, in +order to show that the constitution, and even the existence, of this +free and opulent nation depend on its depriving the inhabitants of a +foreign country of those rights and of that liberty which we ourselves +so highly and so justly prize. Surely, in the nature of things, and in +the order of Providence, it cannot be so. England existed as a great +nation long before the African commerce was known amongst us, and it is +not to acts of injustice and violence that she owes her present rank in +the scale of nations." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +--Continuation from July, 1790, to July, 1791.--Author travels again +throughout the kingdom; object of his journey.--Motion in the House of +Commons to resume the hearing of evidence in favour of the abolition; +list of all those examined on this side of the question; machinations +of interested persons, and cruel circumstances of the times previously +to the day of decision.--Motion at length made for stopping all +further importation of Slaves from Africa; debates upon it; motion +lost.--Resolutions of the committee for the Abolition of the Slave +Trade.--Establishment of the Sierra Leone Company. + + +It was a matter of deep affliction to us to think, that the crimes and +sufferings inseparable from the Slave Trade were to be continued to +another year. And yet it was our duty, in the present moment, to +acquiesce in the postponement of the question. This postponement was not +now for the purpose of delay, but of securing victory. The evidence, on +the side of the abolition, was, at the end of the last session, but half +finished. It was impossible, for the sake of Africa, that we could have +then closed it. No other opportunity might offer in parliament for +establishing an indelible record in her favour, if we were to neglect +the present. It was our duty, therefore, even to wait to complete it, +and to procure such a body of evidence, as should not only bear us out +in the approaching contest, but such as, if we were to fail, would bear +out our successors also. It was possible, indeed, if the inhabitants of +our islands were to improve in civilization, that the poor slaves might +experience gradually an improved treatment with it; and so far testimony +now might not be testimony for ever; but it was utterly impossible, +while the Slave Trade lasted, and the human passion continued to be the +same, that there should be any change for the better in Africa; or that +any modes, less barbarous, should come into use for procuring slaves. +Evidence, therefore, if once collected on this subject, would be +evidence for posterity. In the midst of these thoughts another journey +occurred to me as necessary for this purpose; and I prayed, that I might +have strength to perform it in the most effectual manner; and that I +might be daily impressed, as I travelled along, with the stimulating +thought, that the last hope for millions might possibly rest upon my own +endeavours. + +The committee highly approved of this journey; Mr. Wilberforce saw the +absolute necessity of it also, and had prepared a number of questions, +with great ingenuity, to be put to such persons as might have +information to communicate. These I added to those in the tables, which +have been already mentioned, and they made together a valuable +collection on the subject. + +This tour was the most vexatious of any I had yet undertaken; many still +refused to come forward to be examined, and some on the most frivolous +pretences, so that I was disgusted, as I journeyed on, to find how +little men were disposed to make sacrifices for so great a cause. In one +part of it I went over nearly two thousand miles, receiving repeated +refusals; I had not secured one witness within this distance; this was +truly disheartening. I was subject to the whims and caprice of those +whom I solicited on these occasions[A]; to these I was obliged to +accommodate myself. When at Edinburgh, a person who could have given me +material information declined seeing me, though he really wished well to +the cause; when I had returned southward as far as York, he changed his +mind, and he would then see me; I went back that I might not lose him. +When I arrived, he would give me only private information. Thus I +travelled, backwards and forwards, four hundred miles to no purpose. At +another place a circumstance almost similar happened, though with a +different issue. I had been for two years writing about a person, whose +testimony was important. I had passed once through the town in which he +lived, but he would not then see me; I passed through it now, but no +entreaties of his friends could make him alter his resolution. He was a +man highly respectable as to situation in life, but of considerable +vanity. I said therefore to my friend, on leaving the town, You may tell +him that I expect to be at Nottingham in a few days, and though it be a +hundred and fifty miles distant, I will even come back to see him if he +will dine with me on my return. A letter from my friend announced to me, +when at Nottingham, that his vanity had been so gratified by the thought +of a person coming expressly to visit him from such a distance, that he +would meet me according to my appointment; I went back; we dined +together; he yielded to my request; I was now repaid, and I returned +towards Nottingham in the night. These circumstances I mention, and I +feel it right to mention them, that the reader may be properly impressed +with the great difficulties we found in collecting a body of evidence in +comparison with our opponents. They ought never to be forgotten; for if +with the testimony, picked up as it were under all these disadvantages, +we carried our object against those who had almost numberless witnesses +to command, what must have been the merits of our cause! No person can +indeed judge of the severe labour and trials in these journeys. In the +present, I was out four months; I was almost over the whole island; I +intersected it backwards and forwards both in the night and in the day; +I travelled nearly seven thousand miles in this time, and I was able to +count upon twenty new and willing evidences. + +Having now accomplished my object, Mr. Wilberforce moved on the 4th of +February in the House of Commons, that a committee be appointed to +examine further witnesses in behalf of the abolition of the Slave Trade, +This motion was no sooner made, than Mr. Cawthorne rose, to our great +surprise, to oppose it. He took upon himself to decide that the House +had heard evidence enough. This indecent motion was not without its +advocates. Mr. Wilberforce set forth the injustice of this attempt, and +proved, that out of eighty-one days which had been given up to the +hearing of evidence, the witnesses against the abolition had occupied no +less than fifty-seven. He was strenuously supported by Mr. Burke, Mr. +Martin, and other respectable members. At length the debate ended in +favour of the original motion, and a committee was appointed +accordingly. + +The examinations began again on February 7th, and continued till April +5th, when they were finally closed. In this, as in the former session, +Mr. Wilberforce and Mr. William Smith principally conducted them; and +indeed it was necessary that they should have been present at these +times; for it is perhaps difficult to conceive the illiberal manner in +which our witnesses were treated by those on the other side of the +question. Men who had left the trade upon principle, and who had come +forward, against their apparent interest, to serve the cause of humanity +and justice, were looked upon as mercenaries and culprits, or as men of +doubtful and suspicious character; they were brow-beaten; unhandsome +questions were put to them; some were kept for four days under +examination. It was however highly to their honour that they were found +in no one instance to prevaricate, nor to waver as to the certainty of +their facts. + +But this treatment, hard as it was for them to bear, was indeed good for +the cause; for, coming thus pure out of the fire, they occasioned their +own testimony, when read, to bear stronger marks of truth than that of +the generality of our opponents; nor was it less superior when weighed +by other considerations. For the witnesses, against the abolition were +principally interested; they, who were not, had been hospitably received +at the planters' tables. The evidence, too, which they delivered, was +almost wholly negative. They had not seen such and such evils; but this +was no proof that the evils did not exist. The witnesses, on the other +hand, who came up in favour of the abolition, had no advantage in making +their several assertions. In some instances they came up against their +apparent interest, and, to my knowledge, suffered persecution for so +doing. The evidence also which they delivered was of a positive nature. +They gave an account of specific evils, which had come under their own +eyes; these evils were never disproved; they stood therefore on a firm +basis, as on a tablet of brass. Engraved there in affirmative +characters, a few of them were of more value than all the negative and +airy testimony which had been advanced on the other side of the +question. + +That the public may judge, in some measure, of the respectability of the +witnesses in favour of the abolition, and that they may know also to +whom Africa is so much indebted for her deliverance, I shall subjoin +their names in the three following lists. The first will contain those +who were examined by the privy council only; the second those who were +examined by the privy council and the House of Commons also; and the +third those who were examined-by the House of Commons only. + +LIST I. + +LIST II. + +LIST III. + +The evidence having been delivered on both sides, and then printed, it +was judged expedient by Mr. Wilberforce, seeing that it filled three +folio volumes, to abridge it. This abridgement was made by the different +friends of the cause. William Burgh, Esq., of York; Thomas Babington, +Esq., of Rothley Temple; the Rev. Thomas Gisborne, of Yoxall Lodge; Mr. +Campbell Haliburton, of Edinburgh; George Harrison, with one or two +others of the committee, and myself, were employed upon it. The greater +share, however, of the labour, fell upon Dr. Dickson. That no +misrepresentation of any person's testimony might be made, Matthew +Montagu, Esq., and the Honourable E.J. Elliott, members of Parliament, +undertook to compare the abridged manuscripts with the original text, +and to strike out or correct whatever they thought to be erroneous, and +to insert whatever they thought to have been omitted. The committee for +the abolition, when the work was finished, printed it at their own +expense, Mr. Wilberforce then presented it to the House of Commons, as a +faithful abridgement of the whole evidence. Having been received as +such, under the guarantee of Mr. Montague and Mr. Elliott, the committee +sent it to every individual member of that House. + +The book having been thus presented, and a day fixed for the final +determination of the question, our feelings became almost insupportable; +for we had the mortification to find, that our cause was going down in +estimation, where it was then most important that it should have +increased in favour. Our opponents had taken advantage of the long delay +which the examination of evidence had occasioned, to prejudice the minds +of many of the members of the House of Commons against us. The old +arguments of emancipation, massacre, ruin, and indemnification, had been +kept up; but, as the day of final decision approached, they had been +increased. Such was our situation at this moment, when the current was +turned still more powerfully against us by the peculiar circumstances of +the times. It was, indeed, the misfortune of this great cause to be +assailed by every weapon which could be turned against it. At this time, +Thomas Paine had published his _Rights of Man_. This had been widely +circulated. At this time, also, the French revolution had existed nearly +two years. The people of England had seen, during this interval, a +government as it were dissected. They had seen an old constitution taken +down, and a new one put up, piece by piece, in its stead. The +revolution, therefore, in conjunction with the book in question, had had +the effect of producing dissatisfaction among thousands; and this +dissatisfaction was growing, so as to alarm a great number of persons of +property in the kingdom, as well as the government itself. Now will it +be believed that our opponents had the injustice to lay hold of these +circumstances, at this critical moment, to give a death-blow to the +cause of the abolition? They represented the committee, though it had +existed before the French revolution, or the _Rights of Man_ were heard +of, as a nest of Jacobins; and they held up the cause, sacred as it was, +and though it had the support of the minister, as affording an +opportunity of meeting for the purpose of overthrowing the state. Their +cry succeeded. The very book of the abridgment of the evidence was +considered by many members as poisonous as that of the _Rights of Man_. +It was too profane for many of them to touch; and they who discarded it, +discarded the cause also. + +But these were not the only circumstances which were used as means, at +this critical moment, to defeat us. News of the revolution, which had +commenced in St. Domingo, in consequence of the disputes between the +whites and the people of colour, had, long before this, arrived in +England. The horrible scenes which accompanied it, had been frequently +published as so many arguments against our cause. In January, new +insurrections were announced as having happened in Martinique. The +negroes there were described as armed, and the planters as having +abandoned their estates for fear of massacre. Early in the month of +March, insurrections in the smaller French islands were reported. Every +effort was then made to represent these as the effects of the new +principles of liberty, and of the cry for abolition. But what should +happen, just at this moment, to increase the clamour against us? Nothing +less than an insurrection in Dominica.--Yes!--An insurrection in a +British island. This was the very event for our opponents. "All the +predictions of the planters had now become verified. The horrible +massacres were now realizing at home." To give this news still greater +effect, a meeting of our opponents was held at the London Tavern. By a +letter read there, it appeared that "the ruin of Dominica was now at +hand." Resolutions were voted, and a memorial presented to government, +"immediately to despatch such a military force to the different islands, +as might preserve the whites from destruction, and keep the negroes in +subjection during the present critical state of the slave bill." This +alarm was kept up till the 7th of April, when another meeting took +place, to receive the answer of government to the memorial. It was there +resolved that, "as it was too late to send troops to the islands, the +best way of preserving them would be to bring the question of the Slave +Trade to an immediate issue; and that it was the duty of the government, +if they regarded the safety of the islands, to oppose the abolition of +it." Accounts of all these proceedings were inserted in the public +papers. It is needless to say that they were injurious to our cause. +Many looked upon the abolitionists as monsters. They became also +terrified themselves. The idea with these was, that unless the +discussion on this subject was terminated, all would be lost. Thus, +under a combination of effects, arising from the publication of the +_Rights of Man_, the rise and progress of the French revolution, and the +insurrections of the negroes in the different islands, no one of which +events had anything to do with the abolition of the Slave Trade, the +current was turned against us; and in this unfavourable frame of mind +many members of parliament went into the House, on the day fixed for the +discussion, to discharge their duty with respect to this great question. + +On the 18th of April, Mr. Wilberforce made his motion. He began by +expressing a hope, that the present debate, instead of exciting asperity +and confirming prejudice, would tend to produce a general conviction of +the truth of what in fact was incontrovertible; that the abolition of +the Slave Trade was indispensably required of them, not only by morality +and religion, but by sound policy. He stated that he should argue the +matter from evidence. He adverted to the character, situation, and means +of information of his own witnesses; and having divided his subject into +parts, the first of which related to the manner of reducing the natives +of Africa to a state of slavery, he handled it in the following +manner:-- + +He would begin, he said, with the first boundary of the trade. Captain +Wilson and Captain Hills, of His Majesty's navy, and Mr. Dalrymple, of +the land service, had concurred in stating, that in the country +contiguous to the river Senegal, when slave-ships arrived there, armed +parties were regularly sent out in the evening, who scoured the country, +and brought in their prey. The wretched victims were to be seen in the +morning bound back to back in the huts on shore, whence they were +conveyed, tied hand and foot, to the slave-ships. The design of these +ravages was obvious, because, when the Slave Trade was stopped, they +ceased. Mr. Kiernan spoke of the constant depredations by the Moors to +procure slaves. Mr. Wadstrom confirmed them. The latter gentleman showed +also that they were excited by presents of brandy, gunpowder, and such +other incentives; and that they were not only carried on by one +community against another, but that the kings were stimulated to +practise them in their territories, and on their own subjects: and in +one instance a chieftain, who, when intoxicated, could not resist the +demands of the slave merchants, had expressed, in a moment of reason, a +due sense of his own crime, and had reproached his Christian seducers. +Abundant also were the instances of private rapine. Individuals were +kidnapped, whilst in their fields and gardens. There was an universal +feeling of distrust and apprehension there. The natives never went any +distance from home without arms; and when Captain Wilson asked them the +reason of it, they pointed to a slave-ship then lying within sight. + +On the windward coast, it appeared from Lieutenant Story and Mr. Bowman, +that the evils just mentioned existed, if possible, in a still higher +degree. They had seen the remains of villages, which had been burnt, +whilst the fields of corn were still standing beside them, and every +other trace of recent desolation. Here an agent was sent to establish a +settlement in the country, and to send to the ships such slaves as he +might obtain. The orders he received from his captain were, that "he was +to encourage the chieftains by brandy and gunpowder to go to war, to +make slaves." This he did. The chieftains performed their part in +return. The neighbouring villages were surrounded and set on fire in the +night. The inhabitants were seized when making their escape; and, being +brought to the agent, were by him forwarded to his principal on the +coast. Mr. How, a botanist in the service of Government, stated, that on +the arrival of an order for slaves from Cape Coast Castle, while he was +there, a native chief immediately sent forth armed parties, who brought +in a supply of all descriptions in the night. + +But he would now mention one or two instances of another sort, and these +merely on account of the conclusion, which was to be drawn from them. +When Captain Hills was in the river Gambia, he mentioned accidentally to +a Black pilot, who was in the boat with him, that he wanted a cabin-boy. +It so happened that some youths were then on the shore with vegetables +to sell. The pilot beckoned to them to come on board; at the same time +giving Captain Hills to understand, that he might take his choice of +them; and when Captain Hills rejected the proposal with indignation, the +pilot seemed perfectly at a loss to account for his warmth; and drily +observed, that the slave-captains would not have been so scrupulous. +Again, when General Rooke commanded at Goree, a number of the natives, +men, women, and children, came to pay him a friendly visit. All was +gaiety and merriment. It was a scene to gladden the saddest, and to +soften the hardest, heart. But a slave-captain was not so soon thrown +off his guard. Three English barbarians of this description had the +audacity jointly to request the general, to seize the whole unsuspicious +multitude and sell them. For this they alleged the precedent of a former +governor. Was not this request a proof of the frequency of such acts of +rapine? for how familiar must such have been to slave-captains, when +three of them dared to carry a British officer of rank such a flagitious +proposal! This would stand in the place of a thousand instances. It +would give credibility to every other act of violence stated in the +evidence, however enormous it might appear. + +But he would now have recourse for a moment to circumstantial evidence. +An adverse witness, who had lived on the Gold Coast, had said that the +only way in which children could he enslaved, was by whole families +being sold when the principals had been condemned for witchcraft. But he +said at the same time, that few were convicted of this crime, and that +the younger part of a family in these cases was sometimes spared. But if +this account were true, it would follow that the children in the +slave-vessels would be few indeed. But it had been proved, that the +usual proportion of these was never less than a fourth of the whole +cargo on the coast, and also, that the kidnapping of children was very +prevalent there. + +All these atrocities, he said, were fully substantiated by the evidence; +and here he should do injustice to his cause, if he were not to make a +quotation from the speech of Mr. B. Edwards in the Assembly of Jamaica, +who, though he was hostile to his propositions, had yet the candour to +deliver himself in the following manner there. "I am persuaded," says +he, "that Mr. Wilberforce has been rightly informed as to the manner in +which slaves are generally procured. The intelligence I have collected +from my own negroes abundantly confirms his account; and I have not the +smallest doubt, that in Africa the effects of this trade are precisely +such as he has represented them. The whole, or the greatest part, of +that immense continent is a field of warfare and desolation; a +wilderness, in which the inhabitants are wolves towards each other. That +this scene of oppression, fraud, treachery, and bloodshed, if not +originally occasioned, is in part (I will not say wholly) upheld by the +Slave Trade, I dare not dispute. Every man in the Sugar Islands may be +convinced that it is so, who will enquire of any African negroes, on +their first arrival, concerning the circumstances of their captivity. +The assertion that it is otherwise, is mockery and insult." + +But it was not only by acts of outrage that the Africans were brought +into bondage. The very administration of justice was turned into an +engine for that end. The smallest offence was punished by a fine equal +to the value of a slave. Crimes were also fabricated; false accusations +were resorted to; and persons were sometimes employed to seduce the +unwary into practices with a view to the conviction and the sale of +them. + +It was another effect of this trade, that it corrupted the morals of +those who carried it on. Every fraud was used to deceive the ignorance +of the natives by false weights and measures, adulterated commodities, +and other impositions of a like sort. These frauds were even +acknowledged by many who had themselves practised them, in obedience to +the orders of their superiors. For the honour of the mercantile +character of the country, such a traffic ought immediately to be +suppressed. + +Yet these things, however clearly proved by positive testimony, by the +concession of opponents, by particular inference, by general reasoning, +by the most authentic histories of Africa, by the experience of all +countries and of all ages,--these things, and (what was still more +extraordinary) even the possibility of them, were denied by those who +had been brought forward on the other side of the question. These, +however, were chiefly persons who had been trading-governors of forts in +Africa, or who had long commanded ships in the Slave Trade. As soon as +he knew the sort of witnesses which was to be called against him, he had +been prepared to expect much prejudice. But his expectations had been +greatly surpassed by the testimony they had given. He did not mean to +impeach their private characters, but they certainly showed themselves +under the influence of such gross prejudices, as to render them +incompetent judges of the subject they came to elucidate. They seemed +(if he might so say) to be enveloped by a certain atmosphere of their +own; and to see, as it were, through a kind of African medium. Every +object which met their eyes came distorted and turned from its true +direction. Even the declarations, which they made on other occasions, +seemed wholly strange to them. They sometimes not only forgot what they +had seen, but what they had said; and when to one of them his own +testimony to the privy council was read, he mistook it for that of +another, whose evidence he declared to be "the merest burlesque in the +world." + +But the House must be aware that there was not only an African medium, +but an African logic. It seemed to be an acknowledged axiom in this, +that every person who offered a slave for sale had a right to sell him, +however fraudulently he might have obtained him. This had been proved by +the witnesses who opposed him. "It would have stopped my trade," said +one of them, "to have asked the broker how he came by the person he was +offering me for sale."--"We always suppose," said another, "the broker +has a right to sell the person he offers us."--"I never heard of such a +question being asked," said a third; "a man would be thought a fool who +should put such a question."--He hoped the House would see the practical +utility of this logic. It was the key-stone which held the building +together. By means of it, slave-captains might traverse the whole coast +of Africa, and see nothing but equitable practices. They could not, +however, be wholly absolved, even if they availed themselves of this +principle to its fullest extent; for they had often committed +depredations themselves; especially when they were passing by any part +of the coast, where they did not mean to continue or to go again. Hence +it was (as several captains of the navy and others had declared on their +examination), that the natives, when at sea in their canoes, would never +come near the men-of-war, till they knew them to be such. But finding +this, and that they were not slave-vessels, they laid aside their fears, +and came and continued on board with unsuspecting cheerfulness. With +respect to the miseries of the Middle Passage, he had said so much on a +former occasion, that he would spare the feelings of the committee as +much as he could. He would therefore simply state that the evidence, +which was before them, confirmed all those scenes of wretchedness which +he had then described: the same suffering from a state of suffocation, +by being crowded together; the same dancing in fetters; the same +melancholy singing; the same eating by compulsion; the same despair; the +same insanity; and all the other abominations which characterized the +trade. New instances however had occurred, where these wretched men had +resolved on death to terminate their woes. Some had destroyed themselves +by refusing sustenance, in spite of threats and punishments. Others had +thrown themselves into the sea; and more than one, when in the act of +drowning, were seen to wave their hands in triumph, "exulting" (to use +the words of an eye-witness) "that they had escaped." Yet these and +similar things, when viewed through the African medium he had mentioned, +took a different shape and colour. Captain Knox, an adverse witness, had +maintained, that slaves lay during the night in tolerable comfort. And +yet he confessed, that in a vessel of one hundred and twenty tons, in +which he had carried two hundred and ninety slaves, the latter had not +all of them room to lie on their backs. How comfortably, then, must they +have lain in his subsequent voyages! for he carried afterwards, in a +vessel of a hundred and eight tons, four hundred and fifty; and in a +vessel of one hundred and fifty tons, no less than six hundred slaves. +Another instance of African deception was to be found in the testimony +of Captain Frazer, one of the most humane captains in the trade. It had +been said of him, that he had held hot coals to the mouth of a slave, to +compel him to eat. He was questioned on this point; but not admitting, +in the true spirit of African logic, that he who makes another commit a +crime is guilty of it himself, he denied the charge indignantly, and +defied a proof. But it was said to him, "Did you never order such a +thing to be done?" His reply was, "Being sick in my cabin, I was +informed that a man-slave would neither eat, drink, nor speak. I desired +the mate and surgeon to try to persuade him to speak. I desired that the +slaves might try also. When I found he was still obstinate, not knowing +whether it was from sulkiness or insanity, I ordered a person to present +him with a piece of fire in one hand, and a piece of yam in the other, +and to tell me what effect this had upon him. I learnt that he took the +yam and began to eat it, but he threw the fire overboard." Such was his +own account of the matter. This was eating by duresse, if anything could +be called so. The captain, however, triumphed in his expedient; and +concluded by telling the committee, that he sold this very slave at +Grenada for forty pounds. Mark here the moral of the tale, and learn the +nature and the cure of sulkiness. + +But upon whom did the cruelties, thus arising out of the prosecution of +this barbarous traffic, fall? Upon a people with feeling and intellect +like ourselves. One witness had spoken of the acuteness of their +understandings; another, of the extent of their memories; a third, of +their genius for commerce: a fourth, of their proficiency in +manufactures at home. Many had admired their gentle and peaceable +disposition, their cheerfulness, and their hospitality. Even they who +were nominally slaves, in Africa lived a happy life. A witness against +the abolition had described them as sitting and eating with their +masters in the true style of patriarchal simplicity and comfort. Were +these, then, a people incapable of civilization? The argument that they +were an inferior species had been proved to be false. + +He would now go to a new part of the subject. An opinion had gone forth +that the abolition of the trade would be the ruin of the West India +Islands. He trusted he should prove that the direct contrary was the +truth; though, had he been unable to do this, it would have made no +difference as to his own vote. In examining, however, this opinion; he +should exclude the subject of the cultivation of new lands by fresh +importations of slaves. The impolicy of this measure, apart from its +inhumanity, was indisputably clear. Let the committee consider the +dreadful mortality which attended it. Let them look to the evidence of +Mr. Woolrich, and there see a contrast drawn between the slow, but sure, +progress of cultivation carried on in the natural way, and the attempt +to force improvements, which, however flattering the prospect at first, +soon produced a load of debt, and inextricable embarrassments. He might +even appeal to the statements of the West Indians themselves, who +allowed that more than twenty millions were owing to the people of this +country, to show that no system could involve them so deeply as that on +which they had hitherto gone. But he would refer them to the accounts of +Mr. Irving, as contained in the evidence. Waving, then, the +consideration of this part of the subject, the opinion in question must +have arisen from a notion, that the stock of slaves, now in the islands, +could not be kept up by propagation; but that it was necessary, from +time to time, to recruit them with imported Africans. In direct +refutation of this position he should prove: First, that, in the +condition and treatment of the Negroes, there were causes sufficient to +afford us reason to expect a considerable decrease, but particularly +that their increase had not been a serious object of attention: +Secondly, that this decrease was in fact, notwithstanding, very +trifling; or rather, he believed, he might declare it had now actually +ceased: and, Thirdly, he should urge many direct and collateral facts +and arguments, constituting on the whole an irresistible proof, that +even a rapid increase might henceforth be expected. + +He wished to treat the West Indians with all possible candour: but he +was obliged to confess, in arguing upon these points, that whatever +splendid instances there might be of kindness towards their slaves, +there were some evils of almost universal operation, which were +necessarily connected with the system of slavery. Above all, the state +of degradation to which they were reduced, deserved to be noticed, as it +produced an utter inattention to them as moral agents; they were kept at +work under the whip like cattle; they were left totally ignorant of +morality and religion; there was no regular marriage among them; hence +promiscuous intercourse, early prostitution, and excessive drinking, +were material causes of their decrease. With respect to the instruction +of the slaves in the principles of religion, the happiest effects had +resulted, particularly in Antigua, where, under the Moravians and +Methodists, they had so far profited, that the planters themselves +confessed their value as property had been raised one-third by their +increased habits of regularity and industry. + +Whatever might have been said to the contrary, it was plainly to be +inferred from the evidence that the slaves were not protected by law. +Colonial statutes had indeed been passed, but they were a dead letter; +since, however ill they were treated, they were not considered as having +a right to redress. An instance of astonishing cruelty by a Jew had been +mentioned by Mr. Ross; it was but justice to say, that the man was held +in detestation for it, but yet no one had ever thought of calling him to +a legal account. Mr. Ross conceived a master had a right to punish his +slave in whatever manner he might think proper; the same was declared by +numberless other witnesses. Some instances indeed had lately occurred of +convictions. A master had wantonly cut the mouth of a child, of six +months old, almost from ear to ear. But did not the verdict of the jury +show, that the doctrine of calling masters to an account was entirely +novel, as it only pronounced him "Guilty, subject to the opinion of the +court, if immoderate correction of a slave by his master be a crime +indictable!" The court determined in the affirmative; and what was the +punishment of this barbarous act?--A fine of forty shillings currency, +equivalent to about twenty-five shillings sterling. + +The slaves were but ill off in point of medical care. Sometimes four or +five, and even eight or nine thousand of them, were under the care of +one medical man; which, dispersed on different and distant estates, was +a greater number than he could possibly attend to. + +It was also in evidence that they were in general under-fed; they were +supported partly by the produce of their own provision-ground, and +partly by an allowance of flour and grain from their masters. In one of +the islands, where provision-ground did not answer one year in three, +the allowance to a working Negro was but from five to nine pints of +grain per week: in Dominica, where it never failed, from six to seven +quarts: in Nevis and St. Christopher's, where there was no +provision-ground, it was but eleven pints. Add to this, that it might be +still less, as the circumstances of their masters might become +embarrassed, and in this case both an abridgment of their food and an +increase of their labour would follow. + +But the great cause of the decrease of the slaves was in the +non-residence of the planters. Sir George Yonge, and many others, had +said, they had seen the slaves treated in a manner which their owners +would have resented if they had known it. Mr. Orde spoke in the +strongest terms of the misconduct of managers. The fact was, that these +in general sought to establish their characters by producing large crops +at a small immediate expense; too little considering how far the slaves +might suffer from ill-treatment and excessive labour. The pursuit of +such a system was a criterion for judging of their characters, as both +Mr. Long and Mr. Ottley had confessed. + +But he must contend, in addition to this, that the object of keeping up +the stock of slaves by breeding had never been seriously attended to. +For this he might appeal both to his own witnesses and to those of his +opponents, but he would only notice one fact. It was remarkable that, +when owners and managers were asked about the produce of their estates, +they were quite at home as to the answer; but when they were asked about +the proportion of their male and female slaves, and their infants, they +knew little about the matter. Even medical men were adepts in the art of +planting, but when they were asked the latter questions, as connected +with breeding and rearing, they seemed quite amazed, and could give no +information upon the subject of them. + +Persons, however, of great respectability had been called as witnesses +who had not seen the treatment of the Negroes as he had now described +it. He knew what was due to their characters, but yet he must enter a +general protest against their testimony. "I have often," says Mr. Ross, +"attended both governors and admirals upon tours in the island of +Jamaica, but it was not likely that these should see much distress upon +these occasions. The white people and drivers would take care not to +harrow up the feelings of strangers of distinction by the exercise of +the whip, or the infliction of punishments, at that particular time; +and, even if there were any disgusting objects, it was natural to +suppose that they would then remove them." But in truth these gentlemen +had given proofs that they were under the influence of prejudice. Some +of them had declared the abolition would ruin the West Indies; but this, +it was obvious, must depend upon the practicability of keeping up the +stock without African supplies; and yet, when they were questioned upon +this point, they knew nothing about it; hence they had formed a +conclusion without premises. Their evidence, too, extended through a +long series of years; they had never seen one instance of ill-treatment +in the time, and yet, in the same breath, they talked of the amended +situation of the slaves, and that they were now far better off than +formerly. One of them, to whom his country owed much, stated that a +master had been sentenced to death for the murder of his own slave; but +his recollection must have failed him, for the murder of a slave was not +then a capital crime. A respectable governor also had delivered an +opinion to the same effect; but, had he looked into the statute-book of +the island, he would have found his error. + +It had been said that the slaves were in a better state than the +peasantry of this country; but when the question was put to Mr. Ross, +did he not answer, "that he would not insult the latter by a +comparison!" + +It had been said again, that the Negroes were happier as slaves than +they would be if they were to be made free. But how was this +reconcilable with facts? If a Negro under extraordinary circumstances +had saved money enough, did he not always purchase his release from this +situation of superior happiness by the sacrifice of his last shilling? +Was it not also notorious, that the greatest reward which a master +thought he could bestow upon his slave for long and faithful services +was his freedom. + +It had been said again, that Negroes, when made free, never returned to +their own country. But was not the reason obvious? If they could even +reach their own homes in safety, their kindred and connexions might be +dead. But would they subject themselves to be kidnapped again; to be +hurried once more on board a slave-ship, and again to endure and survive +the horrors of the passage? Yet the love of their native country had +been proved beyond a doubt; many of the witnesses had heard them talk of +it in terms of the strongest affection. Acts of suicide, too, were +frequent in the islands, under the notion that these afforded them the +readiest means of getting home. Conformably with this, Captain Wilson +had maintained that the funerals, which in Africa were accompanied with +lamentations and cries of sorrow, were attended, in the West Indies with +every mark of joy. + +He had now, he said, made good his first proposition--that in the +condition of the slaves there were causes, which should lead us to +expect, that there would be a considerable decrease among them. This +decrease in the island of Jamaica was but trifling, or, rather, it had +ceased some years ago; and if there was a decrease, it was only on the +imported slaves. It appeared from the privy council report, that from +1698 to 1730 the decrease was three and a-half per cent.; from 1730 to +1755 it was two and a-half per cent.; from 1755 to 1768 it was lessened +to one and three-quarters; and from 1768 to 1788 it was not more than +one per cent. This last decrease was not greater than could be accounted +for from hurricanes and consequent famines, and from the number of +imported Africans who perished in the seasoning. The latter was a cause +of mortality, which, it was evident, would cease with the importations. +This conclusion was confirmed in part by Dr. Anderson, who, in his +testimony to the Assembly of Jamaica, affirmed that there was a +considerable increase on the properties of the island, and particularly +in the parish in which he resided. + +He would now proceed to establish his second proposition, that from +henceforth a very considerable increase might be expected. This he might +support by a close reasoning upon the preceding facts; but the testimony +of his opponents furnished him with sufficient evidence. He could show, +that wherever the slaves were treated better than ordinary, there was +uniformly an increase in their number. Look at the estates of Mr. +Willock, Mr. Ottley, Sir Ralph Payne, and others. In short, he should +weary the committee, if he were to enumerate the instances of +plantations, which were stated in the evidence to have kept up their +numbers only from a little variation in their treatment. A remedy also +had been lately found for a disorder, by which vast numbers of infants +had been formerly swept away. Mr. Long, also, had laid it down, that +whenever the slaves should bear a certain proportion to the produce, +they might be expected to keep up their numbers; but this proportion +they now exceeded. The Assembly of Jamaica had given it also as their +opinion, "that when once the sexes should become nearly equal in point +of number, there was no reason to suppose, that the increase of the +Negroes by generation would fall short of the natural increase of the +labouring poor in Great Britain." But the inequality, here spoken of, +could only exist in the case of the African Negroes, of whom more males +were imported than females; and this inequality would be done away soon +after the trade should cease. + +But the increase of the Negroes, where their treatment was better than +ordinary, was confirmed in the evidence by instances in various parts of +the world. From one end of the continent of America to the other, their +increase had been undeniably established; and this to a prodigious +extent, though they had to contend with the severe cold of the winter, +and in some parts with noxious exhalations in the summer. This was the +case, also, in the settlement of Bencoolen in the East Indies. It +appeared from the evidence of Mr. Botham, that a number of Negroes, who +had been imported there in the same disproportion of the sexes as in +West Indian cargoes, and who lived under the same disadvantages, as in +the islands, of promiscuous intercourse and general prostitution, began, +after they had been settled a short time, annually to increase. + +But to return to the West Indies.--A slave-ship had been, many years +ago, wrecked near St. Vincent's. The slaves on board, who escaped to the +island, were without necessaries; and, besides, were obliged to maintain +a war with the native Caribbs: yet they soon multiplied to an +astonishing number; and, according to Mr. Ottley, they were now on the +increase. From Sir John Dalrymple's evidence it appeared that the +domestic slaves in Jamaica, who were less worked than those in the +field, increased; and from Mr. Long, that the free Blacks and Mulattoes +there increased also. + +But there was an instance which militated against these facts (and the +only one in the evidence), which he would now examine. Sir Archibald +Campbell had heard that the Maroons in Jamaica, in the year 1739, +amounted to three thousand men fit to carry arms. This supposed their +whole number to have been about twelve thousand; but in the year 1782, +after a real muster by himself, he found, to his great astonishment, +that the fighting men did not then amount to three hundred. Now the fact +was, that Sir Archibald Campbell's first position was founded upon +rumour only, and was not true; for, according to Mr. Long, the Maroons +were actually numbered in 1749, when they amounted to about six hundred +and sixty in all, having only a hundred and fifty men fit to carry arms. +Hence, if when mustered by Sir Archibald Campbell he found three hundred +fighting men, they must from 1749 to 1782 have actually doubled their +population. + +Was it possible, after these instances, to suppose that the Negroes +could not keep up their numbers, if their natural increase were made a +subject of attention? The reverse was proved by sound reasoning. It had +been confirmed by unquestionable facts. It had been shown, that they had +increased in every situation, where there was the slightest circumstance +in their favour. Where there had been any decrease, it was stated to be +trifling; though no attention appeared to have been paid to the subject. +This decrease had been gradually lessening; and, whenever a single cause +of it had been removed (many still remaining), it had altogether ceased. +Surely these circumstances formed a body of proof which was +irresistible. + +He would now speak of the consequences of the abolition of the Slave +Trade in other points of view; and first, as to its effects upon our +marine. An abstract of the Bristol and Liverpool muster-rolls had been +just laid before the House. It appeared from this, that in three hundred +and fifty slave-vessels, having on board twelve thousand two hundred and +sixty-three persons, two thousand six hundred and forty-three were lost +in twelve months; whereas in four hundred and sixty-two West Indiamen, +having on board seven thousand six hundred and forty persons, one +hundred and eighteen only were lost in seven months. This rather +exceeded the losses stated by Mr. Clarkson. For their barbarous usage on +board these ships, and for their sickly and abject state in the West +Indies, he would appeal to Governor Parry's letter; to the evidence of +Mr. Ross; to the assertion of Mr. B. Edwards, an opponent; and to the +testimony of Captains Sir George Yonge and Thompson, of the Royal Navy. +He would appeal, also, to what Captain Hall, of the Navy, had given in +evidence. This gentleman, after the action of the 12th of April, +impressed thirty hands from a slave-vessel, whom he selected with the +utmost care from a crew of seventy; and he was reprimanded by his +admiral, though they could scarcely get men to bring home the prizes, +for introducing such wretches to communicate disorders to the fleet. +Captain Smith of the Navy had also declared, that when employed to board +Guineamen to impress sailors, although he had examined near twenty +vessels, he never was able to get more than two men, who were fit for +service; and these turned out such inhuman fellows, although good +seamen, that he was obliged to dismiss them from the ship. + +But he hoped the committee would attend to the latter part of the +assertion of Captain Smith. Yes: this trade, while it injured the +constitutions of our sailors, debased their morals. Of this, indeed, +there was a barbarous illustration in the evidence. A slave-ship had +struck on some shoals, called the Morant Keys, a few leagues from the +east end of Jamaica. The crew landed in their boats, with arms and +provisions, leaving the slaves on board in their irons. This happened in +the night. When morning came, it was discovered that the Negroes had +broken their shackles, and were busy in making rafts; upon which +afterwards they placed the women and children. The men attended upon the +latter, swimming by their side, whilst they drifted to the island where +the crew were. But what was the sequel? From an apprehension that the +Negroes would consume the water and provisions, which had been landed, +the crew resolved to destroy them as they approached the shore. They +killed between three and four hundred. Out of the whole cargo only +thirty-three were saved, who, on being brought to Kingston, were sold. +It would, however, be to no purpose, he said, to relieve the Slave Trade +from this act of barbarity. The story of the Morant Keys was paralleled +by that of Captain Collingwood; and were you to get rid of these, +another, and another, would still present itself, to prove the barbarous +effects of this trade on the moral character. + +But of the miseries of the trade there was no end. Whilst he had been +reading out of the evidence the story of the Morant Keys, his eye had +but glanced on the opposite page, and it met another circumstance of +horror. This related to what were called the refuse-slaves. Many people +in Kingston were accustomed to speculate in the purchase of those, who +were left after the first day's sale. They then carried them out into +the country, and retailed them. Mr. Ross declared, that he had seen +these landed in a very wretched state, sometimes in the agonies of +death, and sold as low as for a dollar, and that he had known several +expire in the piazzas of the vendue-master. The bare description +superseded the necessity of any remark. Yet these were the familiar +incidents of the Slave Trade. + +But he would go back to the seamen. He would mention another cause of +mortality, by which many of them lost their lives. In looking over +Lloyd's list, no less than six vessels were cut off by the irritated +natives in one year, and the crews massacred. Such instances were not +unfrequent. In short, the history of this commerce was written +throughout in characters of blood. + +He would next consider the effects of the abolition on those places +where it was chiefly carried on. But would the committee believe, after +all the noise which had been made on this subject, that the Slave Trade +composed but a thirtieth part of the export trade of Liverpool, and that +of the trade of Bristol it constituted a still less proportion? For the +effects of the abolition on the general commerce of the kingdom, he +would refer them to Mr. Irving; from whose evidence it would appear, +that the medium value of the British manufactures, exported to Africa, +amounted only to between four and five hundred thousand pounds annually. +This was but a trifling sum. Surely the superior capital, ingenuity, +application, and integrity of the British manufacturer would command new +markets for the produce of his industry, to an equal amount, when this +should be no more. One branch, however, of our manufactures, he +confessed, would suffer from the abolition; and that was the manufacture +of gunpowder; of which the nature of our connexion with Africa drew from +us as much as we exported to all the rest of the world besides. + +He hastened, however, to another part of the argument. Some had said, +"We wish to put an end to the Slave Trade, but we do not approve of your +mode. Allow more time. Do not displease the legislatures of the West +India islands. It is by them that those laws must be passed, and +enforced, which will secure your object." Now he was directly at issue +with these gentlemen. He could show, that the abolition was the only +certain mode of amending the treatment of the slaves, so as to secure +their increase: and that the mode which had been offered to him, was at +once inefficacious and unsafe. In the first place, how could any laws, +made by these legislatures, be effectual, whilst the evidence of Negroes +was in no case admitted against White men? What was the answer from +Grenada? Did it not state, "that they who were capable of cruelty, would +in general be artful enough to prevent any but slaves from being +witnesses of the fact?" Hence it had arisen, that when positive laws had +been made, in some of the islands, for the protection of the slaves, +they had been found almost a dead letter. Besides, by what law would you +enter into every man's domestic concerns, and regulate the interior +economy of his house and plantation? This would be something more than a +general excise. Who would endure such a law? And yet on all these and +innumerable other minutiae must depend the protection of the slaves, +their comforts, and the probability of their increase. It was +universally allowed, that the Code Noir had been utterly neglected in +the French islands, though there was an officer appointed by the crown +to see it enforced. The provisions of the Directorio had been but of +little more avail in the Portuguese settlements, or the institution of a +Protector of the Indians, in those of the Spaniards. But what degree or +protection the slaves would enjoy might be inferred from the admission +of a gentleman, by whom this very plan of regulation had been +recommended, and who was himself no ordinary person, but a man of +discernment and legal resources. He had proposed a limitation of the +number of lashes to be given by the master or overseer for one offence. +But, after all, he candidly confessed, that his proposal was not likely +to be useful, while the evidence of slaves continued inadmissible +against their masters. But he could even bring testimony to the +inefficacy of such regulations. A wretch in Barbados had chained a Negro +girl to the floor, and flogged her till she was nearly expiring. Captain +Cook and Major Fitch, hearing her cries, broke open the door and found +her. The wretch retreated from their resentment, but cried out +exultingly, "that he had only given her thirty-nine lashes (the number +limited by law) at any one time; and that he had only inflicted this +number three times since the beginning of the night," adding, "that he +would prosecute them for breaking open his door; and that he would flog +her to death for all any one, if he pleased; and that he would give her +the fourth thirty-nine before morning." + +But this plan of regulation was not only inefficacious, but unsafe. He +entered his protest against the fatal consequences which might result +from it. The Negroes were creatures like ourselves; but they were +uninformed, and their moral character was debased. Hence they were unfit +for civil rights. To use these properly they must be gradually restored +to that level, from which they had been so unjustly degraded. To allow +them an appeal to the laws, would be to awaken in them a sense of the +dignity of their nature. The first return of life, after a swoon, was +commonly a convulsion, dangerous at once to the party himself and to all +around him. You should first prepare them for the situation, and not +bring the situation to them. To be under the protection of the law was +in fact to be a freeman; and to unite slavery and freedom in one +condition was impracticable. The abolition, on the other hand, was +exactly such an agent as the case required. All hopes of supplies from +the coast being cut off, breeding would henceforth become a serious +object of attention; and the care of this, as including better clothing, +and feeding, and milder discipline, would extend to innumerable +particulars, which an act of assembly could neither specify nor enforce. +The horrible system, too, which many had gone upon, of working out their +slaves in a few years, and recruiting their gangs with imported +Africans, would receive its death-blow from the abolition of the trade. +The opposite would force itself on the most unfeeling heart. Ruin would +stare a man in the face, if he were not to conform to it. The +non-resident owners would then express themselves in the terms of Sir +Philip Gibbs, "that he should consider it as the fault of his manager, +if he were not to keep up the number of his slaves." This reasoning +concerning the different tendencies of the two systems was self-evident; +but facts were not wanting to confirm it. Mr. Long had remarked, that +all the insurrections and suicides in Jamaica had been found among the +imported slaves, who, not having lost the consciousness of civil rights, +which they had enjoyed in their own country, could not brook the +indignities to which they were subjected in the West Indies. An instance +in point was afforded also by what had lately taken place in the island +of Dominica. The disturbance there had been chiefly occasioned by some +runaway slaves from the French islands. But what an illustration was it +of his own doctrine to say, that the slaves of several persons, who had +been treated with kindness, were not among the number of the insurgents +on that occasion! + +But when persons coolly talked of putting an end to the Slave Trade +through the medium of the West India legislatures, and of gradual +abolition, by means of regulations, they surely forgot the miseries +which this horrid traffic occasioned in Africa during every moment of +its continuance. This consideration was conclusive with him, when called +upon to decide whether the Slave Trade should be tolerated for a while, +or immediately abolished. The divine law against murder was absolute and +unqualified. Whilst we were ignorant of all these things, our sanction +of them might, in some measure, be pardoned. But now, when our eyes were +opened, could we tolerate them for a moment, unless we were ready at +once to determine, that gain should be our god, and, like the heathens +of old, were prepared to offer up human victims at the shrine of our +idolatry? + +This consideration precluded also the giving heed for an instant to +another plea, namely, that if we were to abolish the trade it would be +proportionably taken up by other nations. But, whatever other nations +did, it became Great Britain, in every point of view, to take a forward +part. One half of this guilty commerce had been carried on by her +subjects. As we had been great in crime we should be early in our +repentance. If Providence had showered his blessings upon us in +unparalleled abundance, we should show ourselves grateful for them by +rendering them subservient to the purposes for which they were intended. +There would be a day of retribution, wherein we should have to give an +account of all those talents, faculties, and opportunities with which we +have been intrusted. Let it not then appear that our superior power had +been employed to oppress our fellow-creatures, and our superior light to +darken the creation of God. He could not but look forward with delight +to the happy prospects which opened themselves to his view in Africa, +from the abolition of the Slave Trade, when a commerce, justly deserving +that name, should be established with her; not like that, falsely so +called, which now subsisted, and which all who were interested for the +honour of the commercial character (though there were no superior +principle) should hasten to disavow. Had this trade indeed been ever so +profitable, his decision would have been in no degree affected by that +consideration. "Here's the smell of blood on the hand still, and all the +perfumes of Arabia cannot sweeten it." + +He doubted whether it was not almost an act of degrading condescension +to stoop to discuss the question in the view of commercial interest. On +this ground, however, he was no less strong than on every other. Africa +abounded with productions of value, which she would gladly exchange for +our manufactures, when these were not otherwise to be obtained: and to +what an extent her demand might then grow, exceeded almost the powers of +computation. One instance already existed of a native king, who being +debarred by his religion the use of spirituous liquors, and therefore +not feeling the irresistible temptation to acts of rapine which they +afforded to his countrymen, had abolished the Slave Trade throughout all +his dominions, and was encouraging an honest industry. + +For his own part, he declared that, interested as he might be supposed +to be in the final event of the question, he was comparatively +indifferent as to the present decision of the House upon it. Whatever +they might do, the people of Great Britain, he was confident, would +abolish the Slave Trade when, as would then soon happen, its injustice +and cruelty should be fairly laid before them. It was a nest of +serpents, which would never have existed so long but for the darkness in +which they lay hid. The light of day would now be let in on them, and +they would vanish from the sight. For himself, he declared he was +engaged in a work which he would never abandon; the consciousness of the +justice of his cause would carry him forward, though he were alone; but +he could not but derive encouragement from considering with whom he was +associated. Let us not, he said, despair; it is a blessed cause, and +success ere long will crown our exertions. Already we have gained one +victory; we have obtained for these poor creatures the recognition of +their human nature[A], which, for a while, was most shamefully denied +them. This is the first fruits of our efforts; let us persevere, and our +triumph will be complete. Never, never, will we desist till we have +wiped away this scandal from the Christian name; till we have released +ourselves from the load of guilt under which we at present labour; and +till we have extinguished every trace of this bloody traffic, which our +posterity, looking back to the history of these enlightened times, will +scarcely believe had been suffered to exist so long, a disgrace and a +dishonour to our country. + +[Footnote A: This point was actually obtained by the evidence before the +House of Commons; for, after this, we heard no more of them as an +inferior race.] + +He then moved, that the chairman be instructed to move for leave to +bring in a bill to prevent the further importation of slaves into the +British colonies in the West Indies. + +Colonel Tarleton immediately rose up, and began by giving an historical +account of the trade from the reign of Elizabeth to the present time. He +then proceeded to the sanction which parliament had always given it; +hence it could not then be withdrawn without a breach of faith: hence, +also, the private property embarked in it was sacred; nor could it be +invaded, unless an adequate compensation were given in return. + +They who had attempted the abolition of the trade were led away by a +mistaken humanity; the Africans themselves had no objection to its +continuance. + +With respect to the middle passage, he believed the mortality there to +be on an average only five in the hundred; whereas in regiments sent out +to the West Indies, the average loss in the year was about ten and a +half per cent. + +The Slave Trade was absolutely necessary, if we meant to carry on our +West India commerce; for many attempts had been made to cultivate the +lands in the different islands by white labourers, but they had always +failed. + +It had also the merit of keeping up a number of seamen in readiness for +the state. Lord Rodney had stated this as one of its advantages on the +breaking out of a war. Liverpool alone could supply nine hundred and +ninety-three seamen annually. + +He would now advert to the connexions dependent upon the African trade. +It was the duty of the House to protect the planters, whose lives had +been, and were then, exposed to imminent, dangers, and whose property +had undergone an unmerited, depreciation. To what could this +depreciation, and to what could the late insurrection at Dominica be +imputed, which had been saved from horrid carnage and midnight-butchery +only by the adventitious arrival of two British regiments? They could +only be attributed to the long delayed question of the abolition of the +Slave Trade; and if this question were to go much longer unsettled, +Jamaica would be endangered also. + +To members of landed property he would observe, that the abolition would +lessen the commerce of the country, and increase the national debt and +the number of their taxes. The minister, he hoped, who patronized this +wild scheme had some new pecuniary resource in store to supply the +deficiencies it would occasion. + +To the mercantile members he would speak thus: "A few ministerial men in +the house had been gifted with religious inspiration, and this had been +communicated to other eminent personages in it: these enlightened +philanthropists had discovered that it was necessary, for the sake of +humanity, and for the honour of the nation, that the merchants concerned +in the African trade should be persecuted, notwithstanding the sanction +of their trade by Parliament, and notwithstanding that such persecution +must aggrandize the rivals of Great Britain." Now how did this language +sound? It might have done in the twelfth century, when all was bigotry +and superstition; but let not a mistaken humanity, in these enlightened +times, furnish a colourable pretext for any injurious attack on property +or character. + +These things being considered, he should certainly oppose the measure in +contemplation. It would annihilate a trade, whose exports amounted to +eight hundred thousand pounds annually, and which employed a hundred and +sixty vessels, and more than five thousand seamen. It would destroy also +the West India trade, which was of the annual value of six millions; and +which employed one hundred and sixty thousand tons of shipping, and +seamen in proportion. These were objects of too much importance to the +country to be hazarded on an unnecessary speculation. + +Mr. Grosvenor then rose. He complimented the humanity of Mr. +Wilberforce, though he differed from him on the subject of his motion. +He himself had read only the privy council report, and he wished for no +other evidence. The question had then been delayed two years; had the +abolition been so clear a point as it was said to be, it could not have +needed either so much evidence or time. + +He had heard a good deal about kidnapping, and other barbarous +practices. He was sorry for them. But these were the natural +consequences of the laws of Africa; and it became us as wise men to turn +them to our own advantage. The Slave Trade was certainly not an amiable +trade. Neither was that of a butcher; but yet it was a very necessary +one. + +There was great reason to doubt the propriety of the present motion. He +had twenty reasons for disapproving it. The first was, that the thing +was impossible. He needed not, therefore to give the rest. Parliament, +indeed might relinquish the trade. But to whom? To foreigners, who would +continue it, and without the humane regulations which were applied to it +by his countrymen. + +He would give advice to the House on this subject, in the words which +the late Alderman Beckford used a different occasion:--"Meddle, not with +troubled waters; they will be found to be bitter waters; and the waters +of affliction." He again admitted, that the Slave Trade was not an +amiable trade; but he would not gratify his humanity at the expense of +the interests of his country; and he thought we should not too curiously +inquire into the unpleasant circumstances which attended it. + +Mr. James Martin succeeded Mr. Grosvenor. He said he had been long aware +how much self-interest could pervert the judgment; but he was not +apprized of the full power of it, till the Slave Trade became a subject +of discussion. He had always conceived that the custom of trafficing in +human beings had been incautiously begun, and without any reflection +upon it; for he never could believe that any man, under the influence of +moral principles, could suffer himself knowingly to carry on a trade +replete with fraud, cruelty, and destruction; with destruction indeed, +of the worst kind, because it subjected the sufferers to a lingering +death. But he found now, that even such a trade as this could be +sanctioned. + +It was well observed, in the petition from the University of Cambridge +against the Slave Trade, "that a firm belief in the providence of a +benevolent Creator assured them that no system, founded on the +oppression of one part of mankind, could be beneficial to another." He +felt much concern, that in an assembly of the representatives of the +country, boasting itself zealous, not only for the preservation of its +own liberties, but for the general rights of mankind, it should be +necessary to say a single word upon such a subject; but the +deceitfulness of the human heart was such, as to change the appearances +of truth, when it stood in opposition to self-interests. And he had to +lament that even among those, whose public duty it was to cling to the +universal and eternal principles of truth, justice, and humanity, there +were found some who could defend that which was unjust, fraudulent, and +cruel. + +The doctrines he had heard that evening ought to have been reserved for +times the most flagrantly profligate and abandoned. He never expected +then to learn that the everlasting laws of righteousness were to give +way to imaginary, political, and commercial expediency; and that +thousands of our fellow-creatures were to be reduced to wretchedness, +that individuals might enjoy opulence, or government a revenue. + +He hoped that the House, for the sake of its own character, would +explode these doctrines with all the marks of odium they deserved; and +that all parties would join in giving a death-blow to this execrable +trade. The royal family would, he expected, from their known +benevolence, patronize the measure. Both Houses of Parliament were now +engaged in the prosecution of a gentleman accused of cruelty and +oppression in the East. But what were these cruelties, even if they +could be brought home to him, when compared in number and degree to +those which were every day and every hour committed in the abominable +traffic which was now under their discussion! He considered, therefore, +both Houses of Parliament as pledged upon this occasion. Of the support +of the bishops he could have no doubt; because they were to render +Christianity amiable, both by their doctrine and their example. Some of +the inferior clergy had already manifested a laudable zeal in behalf of +the injured Africans. The University of Cambridge had presented a +petition to that House worthy of itself. The sister-university had, by +one of her representatives, given sanction to the measure. Dissenters of +various denominations, but particularly the Quakers, (who, to their +immortal honour, had taken the lead in it,) had vied with those of the +Established Church in this amiable contest. The first counties, and some +of the largest trading towns, in the kingdom had espoused the cause. In +short, there had never been more unanimity in the country, than in this +righteous attempt. + +With such support, and with so good a cause, it would be impossible to +fail. Let but every man stand forth who had at any time boasted of +himself as an Englishman, and success would follow. But if he were to be +unhappily mistaken as to the result, we must give up the name of +Englishmen. Indeed, if we retained it, we should be the greatest +hypocrites in the world; for we boasted of nothing more than of our own +liberty; we manifested the warmest indignation at the smallest personal +insult; we professed liberal sentiments towards other nations: but to do +these things, and to continue such a traffic, would be to deserve the +hateful character before mentioned. While we could hardly bear the sight +of anything resembling slavery, even as a punishment, among ourselves, +how could we consistently entail an eternal slavery upon others? + +It had been frequently, but most disgracefully, said, that "we should +not be too eager in setting the example: let the French begin it." Such +a sentiment was a direct libel upon the ancient, noble, and generous +character of this nation. We ought, on the other hand, under the +blessings we enjoyed, and under the high sense we entertained of our own +dignity as a people, to be proudly fearful, lest other nations should +anticipate our design, and obtain the palm before us. It became us to +lead. And if others should not follow us, it would belong to them to +glory in the shame of trampling under foot the laws of reason, humanity, +and religion. + +This motion, he said, came strongly recommended to them. The honourable +member who introduced it was justly esteemed for his character. He was +the representative, too of a noble county, which had been always ready +to take the lead in every public measure for the good of the community, +or for the general benefit of mankind; of a county, too, which had had +the honour of producing a Saville. Had his illustrious predecessor been +alive, he would have shown the same zeal on the same occasion. The +preservation of the unalienable rights of all his fellow-creatures was +one of the chief characteristics of that excellent citizen. Let every +member in that House imitate him in the purity of their conduct and in +the universal rectitude of their measures, and they would pay the same +tender regard to the rights of other countries as to those of their own; +and, for his part, he should never believe those persons to be sincere +who were loud in their professions of love of liberty, if he saw that +love confined to the narrow circle of one community, which ought to be +extended to the natural rights of every inhabitant of the globe. + +But we should be better able to bring ourselves up to this standard of +rectitude, if we were to put ourselves into the situation of those whom +we oppressed. This was the rule of our religion. What should we think of +those who should say, that it was their interest to injure us? But he +hoped we should not deceive ourselves so grossly as to imagine that it +was our real interest to oppress any one. The advantages to be obtained +by tyranny were imaginary, and deceitful to the tyrant; and the evils +they caused to the oppressed were grievous, and often insupportable. + +Before he sat down, he would apologize if he had expressed himself too +warmly on this subject. He did not mean to offend any one. There were +persons connected with the trade, some of whom he pitied on account of +the difficulty of their situation. But he should think most contemptibly +of himself as a man if he could talk on this traffic without emotion. It +would be a sign to him of his own moral degradation. He regretted his +inability to do justice to such a cause; but if, in having attempted to +forward it, he had shown the weakness of his powers, he must console +himself with the consideration, that he felt more solid comfort in +having acted up to sound public principles, than he could have done from +the exercise of the most splendid talents, against the conviction of his +conscience. + +Mr. Burdon rose, and said he was embarrassed to know how to act. Mr. +Wilberforce had in a great measure met his ideas. Indeed he considered +himself as much in his hands; but he wished to go gradually to the +abolition of the trade. He wished to give time to the planters to +recruit their stocks. He feared the immediate abolition might occasion a +monopoly among such of them as were rich, to the detriment of the less +affluent. We ought, like a judicious physician, to follow nature, and to +promote a gradual recovery. + +Mr. Francis rose next. After complimenting Mr. Wilberforce, he stated +that personal considerations might appear to incline him to go against +the side which he was about to take, namely, that of strenuously +supporting his motion. Having himself an interest in the West Indies, he +thought that what he should submit to the House would have the double +effect of evidence, and argument; and he stated most unequivocally his +opinion, that the abolition of the Slave Trade would tend materially to +the benefit of the West Indies. + +The arguments urged by the honourable mover were supported by the facts, +which he had adduced from the evidence, more strongly than any arguments +had been supported in any speech he had ever heard. He wished, however, +that more of these facts had been introduced into the debate; for they +were apt to have a greater effect upon the mind than mere reasonings, +however just and powerful. Many had affirmed that the Slave Trade was +politic and expedient; but it was worthy of remark, that no man had +ventured to deny that it was criminal. Criminal, however, he declared it +to be in the highest degree; and he believed it was equally impolitic. +Both its inexpediency and injustice had been established by the +honourable mover. He dwelt much on the unhappy situation of the negroes +in the West Indies, who were without the protection of government or of +efficient laws, and subject to the mere caprice of men, who were at once +the parties, the judges, and the executioners. + +He instanced an overseer, who, having thrown a negro into a copper of +boiling cane-juice, for a trifling offence, was punished merely by the +loss of his place, and by being obliged to pay the value of the slave. +He stated another instance of a girl of fourteen, who was dreadfully +whipped for coming too late to her work. She fell down motionless after +it; and was then dragged along the ground, by the legs, to an hospital; +where she died. The murderer, though tried, was acquitted by a jury of +his peers, upon the idea, that it was impossible a master could destroy +his own property. This was a notorious fact. It was published in the +_Jamaica Gazette;_ and it had even happened since the question of the +abolition had been started. + +The only argument used against such cruelties, was the master's interest +in the slave; but he urged the common cruelty to horses, in which their +drivers had an equal interest with the drivers of men in the colonies, +as a proof that this was no security. He had never heard an instance of +a master being punished for the murder of his slave. The propagation of +the slaves was so far from being encouraged, that it was purposely +checked, because it was thought more profitable and less troublesome to +buy a full grown negro, than to rear a child. He repeated that his +interest might have inclined him to the other side of the question; but +he did not choose to compromise between his interest and his duty; for, +if he abandoned his duty, he should not be happy in this world; nor +should he deserve happiness in the next. + +Mr. Pitt rose; but he said it was only to move, seeing that justice +could not be done to the subject this evening, that the further +consideration of the question might be adjourned to the next. + +Mr. Cawthorne and Colonel Tarleton both opposed this motion, and Colonel +Phipps and Lord Carhampton supported it. + +Mr. Fox said, the opposition to the adjournment was uncandid and +unbecoming. They who opposed it well knew that the trade could not bear +discussion. Let it be discussed; and, although there were symptoms of +predetermination in some, the abolition of it must be carried. He would +not believe that there could be found in the House of Commons men of +such hard hearts and inaccessible understandings, as to vote an assent +to its continuance, and then go home to their families, satisfied with +their vote, after they had been once made acquainted with the subject. + +Mr. Pitt agreed with Mr. Fox, that from a full discussion of the subject +there was every reason to augur that the abolition would be adopted. +Under the imputations, with which this trade was loaded, gentlemen +should remember, they could not do justice to their own characters, +unless they stood up, and gave their reasons for opposing the abolition +of it. It was unusual also to force any question of such importance to +so hasty a decision. For his own part, it was his duty, from the +situation in which he stood, to state fully his own sentiments on the +question; and, however exhausted both he and the House might be, he was +resolved it should not pass without discussion, as long as he had +strength to utter a word upon it. Every principle that could bind a man +of honour and conscience, would impel him to give the most powerful +support he could to the motion for the abolition. + +The motion of Mr. Pitt was assented to, and the House was adjourned +accordingly. + +On the next day the subject was resumed. Sir William Yonge rose, and +said, that, though he differed from the honourable mover, he had much +admired his speech of the last evening. Indeed the recollection of it +made him only the more sensible of the weakness of his own powers; and +yet, having what he supposed to be irrefragable arguments in his +possession, he felt emboldened to proceed. + +And, first, before he could vote for the abolition, he wished to be +convinced, that, whilst Britain were to lose, Africa would gain. As for +himself, he hated a traffic in men, and joyfully anticipated its +termination at no distant period under a wise system of regulation: but +he considered the present measure as crude and indolent; and as +precluding better and wiser measures, which were already in train. A +British Parliament should attain not only the best ends, but by the +wisest means. + +Great Britain might abandon her share of this trade, but she could not +abolish it. Parliament was not an assembly of delegates from the powers +of Europe, but of a single nation. It could not therefore suppress the +trade; but would eventually aggravate those miseries incident to it, +which every enlightened man must acknowledge, and every good man must +deplore. He wished the traffic for ever closed. But other nations were +only waiting for our decision, to seize the part we should leave them. +The new projects of these would be intemperate; and, in the zeal of +rivalship, the present evils of comparatively sober dealing would be +aggravated beyond all estimate in this new and heated auction of bidders +for life and limb. We might, indeed, by regulation give an example of +new principles of policy and of justice; but if we were to withdraw +suddenly from this commerce, like Pontius Pilate, we should wash our +hands, indeed, but we should not be innocent as to the consequences. + +On the first agitation of this business, Mr. Wilberforce had spoken +confidently of other nations following our example. But had not the +National Assembly of France referred the Slave Trade to a select +committee, and had not that committee rejected the measure of its +abolition? By the evidence it appeared, that the French and Spaniards +were then giving bounties to the Slave Trade; that Denmark was desirous +of following it; that America was encouraging it; and that the Dutch had +recognized its necessity, and recommended its recovery. Things were bad +enough indeed as they were, but he was sure this rivalship would make +them worse. + +He did not admit the disorders imputed to the trade in all their extent. +Pillage and kidnapping could not be general, on account of the +populousness of the country; though too frequent instances of it had +been proved. Crimes might be falsely imputed. This he admitted; but only +partially. Witchcraft, he believed, was the secret of poisoning, and +therefore deserved the severest punishment. That there should be a +number of convictions for adultery, where polygamy was a custom, was not +to be wondered at; but he feared, if a sale of these criminals were to +be done away, massacre would be the substitute. + +An honourable member had asked on a former day, "Is it an excuse for +robbery to say that another would hare committed it?" But the Slave +Trade did not necessarily imply robbery. Not long since Great Britain +sold her convicts, indirectly at least, to slavery; but he was no +advocate for the trade. He wished it had begun, and that it might soon +terminate. But the means were not adequate to the end proposed. + +Mr. Burke had said on a former occasion, "that in adopting measure we +must prepare to pay the price of our virtue." He was ready to pay his +share of that price; but the effect of the purchase must be first +ascertained. If they did not estimate this, it was not benevolence, but +dissipation. Effects were to be duly appreciated; and though statesmen +might rest everything on a manifesto of causes, the humbler moralist, +meditating peace and good will towards men, would venture to call such +statesmen responsible for consequences. + +In regard to the colonies, a sudden abolition would be oppression. The +legislatures there should be led, and not forced, upon this occasion. He +was persuaded they would act wisely to attain the end pointed out to +them. They would see that a natural increase of their negroes might be +effected by an improved system of legislation; and that in the result +the Slave Trade would be no longer necessary. + +A sudden abolition, also, would occasion dissatisfaction there. Supplies +were necessary for some time to come. The negroes did not yet generally +increase by birth. The gradation of ages was not yet duly filled. These +and many defects might be remedied, but not suddenly. + +It would cause, also, distress there. The planters, not having their +expected supplies, could not discharge their debts; hence their slaves +would be seized and sold. Nor was there any provision in this case +against the separation of families, except as to the mother and infant +child. These separations were one of the chief outrages complained of in +Africa. Why, then, should we promote them in the West Indies? The +confinement on board a slave-ship had been also bitterly complained of; +but, under distraint for the debt of a master, the poor slave might +linger in a gaol twice or thrice the time of the Middle Passage. + +He again stated his abhorrence of the Slave Trade; but as a resource, +though he hoped but a temporary one, it was of such consequence to the +existence of the country, that it could not suddenly be withdrawn. The +value, of the imports and exports between Great Britain and the West +Indies, including the excise and customs, was between seven and eight +millions annually; and the tonnage of the ships employed about an eighth +of the whole tonnage of these kingdoms. + +He complained that in the evidence the West Indian planters had been by +no means spared. Cruel stories had been hastily and lightly told against +them. Invidious comparisons had been made to their detriment; but it was +well known that one of our best comic writers, when he wished to show +benevolence in its fairest colours, had personified it in the character +of the West Indian. He wished the slave might become as secure as the +apprentice in this country; but it was necessary that the alarms +concerning the abolition of the Slave Trade should, in the mean time, be +quieted; and he trusted that the good sense and true benevolence of the +House would reject the present motion. + +Mr. Matthew Montagu rose and said a few words in support of the motion; +and after condemning the trade in the strongest manner, he declared, +that as long as he had life he would use every faculty of his body and +mind in endeavouring to promote its abolition. + +Lord John Russell succeeded Mr. Montagu. He said, that although slavery +was repugnant to his feelings, he must vote against the abolition as +visionary and delusive. It was a feeble attempt, without the power, to +serve the cause of humanity. Other nations would take up the trade. +Whenever a bill of wise regulation should be brought forward, no man +would be more ready than himself to lend his support. In this way the +rights of humanity might be asserted without injury to others. He hoped +he should not incur censure by his vote; for, let his understanding be +what it might, he did not know that he had, notwithstanding the +assertions of Mr. Fox, an inaccessible heart. + +Mr. Stanley (agent for the islands) rose next. He felt himself called +upon, he said, to refute the many calumnies which had for years been +propagated against the planters, (even through the medium of the pulpit, +which should have been employed to better purposes,) and which had at +length produced the mischievous measure, which was now under the +discussion of the House. A cry had been sounded forth, and from one end +of the kingdom to the other, as if there had never been a slave from +Adam to the present time. But it appeared to him to have been the +intention of Providence, from the very beginning, that one set of men +should be slaves to another. This truth was as old as it was universal. +It was recognised in every history, under every government, and in every +religion. Nor did the Christian religion itself if the comments of Dr. +Halifax, Bishop of Gloucester, on a passage of St. Paul's epistle to the +Corinthians were true, show more repugnance to slavery than any other. + +He denied that the slaves were procured in the manner which had been +described. It was the custom of all savages to kill their prisoners; and +the Africans ought to be thankful that they had been carried safe into +the British colonies. + +As to the tales of misery in the Middle Passage, they were gross +falsehoods; and as to their treatment in the West Indies, he knew +personally that it was, in general, indulgent and humane. + +With regard to promoting their increase by any better mode of treatment, +he wished gentlemen would point it out to him. As a planter he would +thank them for it. It was absurd to suppose that he and others were +blind to their own interest. It was well known that one Creole slave was +worth two Africans; and their interest, therefore, must suggest to them, +that the propagation of slaves was preferable to the purchase of +imported negroes, of whom one half very frequently died in the +seasoning. + +He then argued the impossibility of beasts doing the work of the +plantations. He endeavoured to prove that the number of these adequate +to this purpose could not be supplied with food; and after having made +many other observations, which, on account of the lowness of his voice, +could not be heard, he concluded by objecting to the motion. + +Mr. William Smith rose. He wondered how the last speaker could have had +the boldness to draw arguments from scripture in support of the Slave +Trade. Such arguments could be intended only to impose on those who +never took the trouble of thinking for themselves. Could it be thought +for a moment, that the good sense of the House could be misled by a few +perverted or misapplied passages, in direct opposition to the whole +tenor, and spirit of Christianity; to the theory, he might say, of +almost every religion, which had ever appeared in the world? Whatever +might have been advanced, every body must feel that the Slave Trade +could not exist an hour, if that excellent maxim, "to do to others as we +would wish that others should do to us," had its proper influence on the +conduct of men. + +Nor was Mr. Stanley more happy in his argument of the antiquity and +universality of slavery. Because a practise had existed, did it +necessarily follow that it was just? By this argument every crime might +be defended from the time of Cain. The slaves of antiquity, however were +in a situation far preferable to that of the negroes in the West Indies. +A passage in Macrobius, which exemplified this in the strongest manner, +was now brought to his recollection. "Our ancestors," says Macrobius, +"denominated the master, father of the family, and the slave, domestic, +with the intention of removing all odium from the condition of the +master, and all contempt from that of the servant." Could this language +be applied to the present state of West India slavery? + +It had been complained of by those who supported the trade, that they +laboured under great disadvantages by being obliged to contend against +the most splendid abilities which the House could boast. But he believed +they laboured under one, which was worse and for which no talents could +compensate; he meant the impossibility of maintaining their ground +fairly on any of those principles, which every man within those walls +had been accustomed, from his infancy, to venerate as sacred. He and his +friends, too, laboured under some disadvantages. They had been charged +with fanaticism. But what had Mr. Long said, when he addressed himself +to those planters, who were desirous of attempting improvements on their +estates? He advised them "not to be diverted by partial views, vulgar +prejudices, or the ridicule which might spring from weak minds, from a +benevolent attention to the public good." But neither by these nor by +other charges were he or his friends to be diverted from the prosecution +of their purpose. They were convinced of the rectitude and high +importance of their object; and were determined never to desist from +pursuing it, till it should be attained. + +But they had to struggle with difficulties far more serious. The West +Indian interest which opposed them, was a collected body; of great +power, affluence, connexions, and respectability. + +Artifice had also been employed. Abolition and emancipation had been so +often confounded, and by those who knew better, that it must have been +purposely done, to throw an odium on the measure which was now before +them. + +The abolitionists had been also accused as the authors of the late +insurrection in Dominica. A revolt had certainly taken place in that +island. But revolts there had occured frequently before. Mr. Stanley +himself, in attempting to fix this charge upon them, had related +circumstance which amounted to their entire exculpation. He had said +that all was quiet there till the disturbances in the French islands; +when some negroes from the latter had found their way to Dominica, and +had excited the insurrection in question. He had also said, that the +negroes in our own islands hated the idea of the abolition; for they +thought, as no new labourers were to come in, they should be subjected +to increased hardships. But if they and their masters hated this same +measure, how was this coincidence of sentiment to give birth to +insurrections? + +Other fallacies, also, had been industriously propogated. Of the African +trade, it had been said, that the exports amounted to a million +annually; whereas, from the report on the table, it had on an average +amounted to little more than half a million; and this included the +articles for the purchase of African produce which were of the value of +140,000_l._ + +The East Indian Trade, also, had been said to depend on the West Indian +and the African. In the first place, it had but very little connexion +with the former at all. Its connexion with the latter was principally on +account of the saltpetre which it furnished for making gunpowder. Out of +nearly three millions of pounds in weight of the latter article, which +had been exported in a year from this country, one-half had been sent to +Africa alone; for the purposes, doubtless, of maintaining peace, and +encouraging civilization among its various tribes! Four or five thousand +persons were said, also, to depend for their bread in manufacturing guns +for the African trade; and these, it was pretended, could not make guns +of another sort.--But where lay the difficulty?--One of the witnesses +had unravelled it. He had seen the negroes maimed by the bursting of +these guns. They killed more from the butt than from the muzzle. Another +had stated, that on the sea-coast the natives were afraid to fire a +trade-gun. + +In the West Indian commerce, two hundred and forty thousand tons of +shipping were stated to be employed. But here deception intruded itself +again. This statement included every vessel, great and small, which went +from the British West Indies to America, and to the foreign islands; and +what was yet more unfair, all the repeated voyages of each throughout +the year. The shipping, which could only fairly be brought into this +account, did but just exceed half that which had been mentioned. + +In a similar manner had the islands themselves been overrated. Their +value had been computed, for the information of the privy council, at +thirty-six millions; but the planters had estimated them at seventy. The +truth, however, might possibly lie between these extremes. He by no +means wished to depreciate their importance; but he did not like that +such palpable misrepresentations should go unnoticed. + +An honourable member (Colonel Tarleton) had disclaimed every attempt to +interest the feelings of those present, but had desired to call them to +reason and accounts. He also desired (though it was a question of +feeling, if any one ever was,) to draw the attention of the committee to +reason and accounts--to the voice of reason instead of that of +prejudice, and to accounts in the place of idle apprehensions. The +result, he doubted not, would be a full persuasion, that policy and +justice were inseparable upon this, as upon every other occasion. + +The same gentleman had enlarged on the injustice of depriving the +Liverpool merchants of a business, on which were founded their honour +and their fortunes. On what part of it they founded their honour he +could not conjecture, except from those passages in the evidence, where +it appeared, that their agents in Africa had systematically practised +every fraud and villany, which the meanest and most unprincipled cunning +could suggest, to impose on the ignorance of those with whom they +traded. + +The same gentleman had also lamented, that the evidence had not been +taken upon oath. He himself lamented it too. Numberless facts had been +related by eye-witnesses, called in support of the abolition, so +dreadfully atrocious, that they appeared incredible; and seemed rather, +to use the expression of Ossian, like "the histories of the days of +other times." These procured for the trade a species of acquittal, which +it could not have obtained, had the committee been authorised to +administer an oath. He apprehended, also, in this case, that some other +persons would have been rather more guarded in their testimony. Captain +Knox would not then perhaps have told the committee, that six hundred +slaves could have had comfortable room at night in his vessel of about +one hundred and forty tons; when there could have been no more than five +feet six inches in length, and fifteen inches in breadth, to about +two-thirds of his number. + +The same gentleman had also dwelt upon the Slave Trade as a nursery for +seamen. But it had appeared by the muster-rolls of the slave-vessels, +then actually on the table of the house, that more than a fifth of them +died in the service, exclusive of those who perished when discharged in +the West Indies; and yet he had been instructed by his constituents to +maintain this false position. His reasoning, too, was very curious; for, +though numbers might die, yet as one half who entered were landsmen, +seamen were continually forming. Not to dwell on the expensive cruelty +of forming these seamen by the yearly destruction of so many hundreds, +this very statement was flatly contradicted by the evidence. The +muster-rolls from Bristol stated the proportion of landsmen in the trade +there at one twelfth, and the proper officers of Liverpool itself at but +a sixteenth of the whole employed. In the face again of the most glaring +facts, others had maintained that the mortality in these vessels did not +exceed that of other trades in the tropical climates. But the same +documents, which proved that twenty-three per cent were destroyed in +this wasting traffic, proved that in West India ships only about one and +a half per cent were lost, including every casualty. But the very men, +under whose management this dreadful mortality had been constantly +occurring, had coolly said, that much of it might be avoided by proper +regulations. How criminal then were they, who, knowing this, had neither +publicly proposed, nor in their practice adopted, a remedy! + +The average loss of the slaves on board, which had been calculated by +Mr. Wilberforce at twelve and a half per cent., had been denied. He +believed this calculation, taking in all the circumstances connected +with it, to be true; but that for years not less than one-tenth had so +perished, he would challenge those concerned in the traffic to disprove. +Much evidence had been produced on the subject; but the voyages had been +generally selected. There was only one who had disclosed the whole +account. This was Mr. Anderson of London, whose engagements in this +trade had been very inconsiderable. His loss had only amounted to three +per cent.; but, unfortunately for the slave-traders of Liverpool, his +vessel had not taken above three-fourths of that number in proportion to +the tonnage which they had stated to be necessary to the very existence +of their trade. + +An honourable member (Mr. Grosvenor) had attributed the protraction of +this business to those who had introduced it. But from whom did the +motion for further evidence (when that of the privy council was refused) +originate, but from the enemies of the abolition? The same gentleman had +said, it was impossible to abolish the trade; but where was the +impossibility of forbidding the further importation of slaves into our +own colonies? and beyond this the motion did not extend. + +The latter argument had also been advanced by Sir William Yonge and +others. But allowing it its full force, would there be no honour in the +dereliction of such a commerce? Would it be nothing publicly to +recognise great and just principles? Would our example be nothing!--Yes: +every country would learn, from our experiment, that American colonies +could be cultivated without the necessity of continual supplies equally +expensive and disgraceful. + +But we might do more than merely lay down principles or propose +examples. We might, in fact, diminish the evil itself immediately by no +inconsiderable part,--by the whole of our own supply; and here he could +not at all agree with the honourable baronet, in what seemed to him a +commercial paradox, that the taking away from an open trade by far the +largest customer, and the lessening of the consumption of the article, +would increase both the competition and the demand, and of course all +those mischiefs, which it was their intention to avert. + +That the civilization of the Africans was promoted, as had been +asserted, by their intercourse with the Europeans, was void of +foundation, as had appeared from the evidence. In manners and dishonesty +they had indeed assimilated with those who frequented their coasts. But +the greatest industry and the least corruption of morals were in the +interior, where they were out of the way of this civilizing connexion. + +To relieve Africa from famine, was another of the benign reasons which +had been assigned for continuing the trade. That famines had occurred +there, he did not doubt; but that they should annually occur, and with +such arithmetical exactness as to suit the demands of the Slave Trade, +was a circumstance most extraordinary; so wonderful, indeed, that, could +it once be proved, he should consider it as a far better argument in +favour of the divine approbation of that trade, than any which had ever +yet been produced. + +As to the effect of the abolition on the West Indies, it would give +weight to every humane regulation which had been made; by substituting a +certain and obvious interest, in the place of one depending upon chances +and calculation. An honourable member (Mr. Stanley) had spoken of the +impossibility of cultivating the estates there without further +importations of negroes; and yet, of all the authorities he had brought +to prove his case, there was scarcely one which might not be pressed to +serve more or less effectually against him. Almost every planter he had +named had found his negroes increase under the good treatment he had +professed to give them; and it was an axiom, throughout the whole +evidence, that, wherever they were well used, importations were not +necessary. It had been said, indeed, by some adverse witnesses, that in +Jamaica all possible means had been used to keep up the stock by +breeding; but how preposterous was this, when it was allowed that the +morals of the slaves had been totally neglected, and that the planters +preferred buying a larger proportion of males than females! + +The misfortune was, that prejudice, and not reason, was the enemy to be +subdued. The prejudices of the West Indians on these points were +numerous and inveterate. Mr. Long himself had characterised them on this +account, in terms which he should have felt diffident in using. But Mr. +Long had shown his own prejudices also: for he justified the chaining of +the Negroes on board the slave-vessels, on account of "their bloody, +cruel, and malicious dispositions." But hear his commendation of some of +the Aborigines of Jamaica, "who had miserably perished in caves, whither +they had retired to escape the tyranny of the Spaniards. These," says +he, "left a glorious monument of their having disdained to survive the +loss of their liberty and their country." And yet this same historian +could not perceive that this natural love of liberty might operate as +strongly and as laudably in the African Negro, as in the Indian of +Jamaica. + +He was concerned to acknowledge that these prejudices were yet further +strengthened by resentment against those who had taken an active part in +the abolition of the Slave Trade. But it was never the object of these +to throw a stigma on the whole body of the West Indians; but to prove +the miserable effects of the trade. This it was their duty to do; and +if, in doing this, disgraceful circumstances had come out, it was not +their fault; and it must never be forgotten that they were true. + +That the slaves were exposed to great misery in the islands, was true as +well from inference as from facts: for what might not be expected from +the use of arbitrary power, where the three characters of party, judge, +and executioner were united! The slaves, too, were more capable on +account of their passions, than the beasts in the field, of exciting the +passions of their tyrants. To what a length the ill-treatment of them +might be carried, might be learnt from, the instance which General +Tottenham mentioned to have seen in the year 1780 in the streets of +Bridge Town, Barbados: "A youth about nineteen (to use his own words in +the evidence), entirely naked, with an iron collar about his neck, +having five long projecting spikes. His body both before and behind was +covered with wounds. His belly and thighs were almost cut to pieces, +with running ulcers all over them; and a finger might have been laid in +some of the weals. He could not sit down, because his hinder part was +mortified; and it was impossible for him to lie down, on account of the +prongs of his collar." He supplicated the General for relief. The latter +asked who had punished him so dreadfully? The youth answered, his master +had done it. And because he could not work, this same master, in the +same spirit of perversion, which extorts from Scripture a justification +of the Slave Trade, had fulfilled the apostolic maxim, that he should +have nothing to eat. The use he meant to make of this instance was to +show the unprotected state of the slaves. What must it be, where such an +instance could pass not only unpunished, but almost unregarded! If, in +the streets of London, but a dog were to be seen lacerated like this +miserable man, how would the cruelty of the wretch be execrated, who had +thus even abused a brute! + +The judicial punishments also inflicted upon the Negro showed the low +estimation, in which, in consequence of the strength of old customs and +deep-rooted prejudices, they were held. Mr. Edwards, in his speech to +the Assembly at Jamaica, stated the following case, as one which had +happened in one of the rebellions there. Some slaves surrounded the +dwelling-house of their mistress. She was in bed with a lovely infant. +They deliberated upon the means of putting her to death in torment. But +in the end one of them reserved her for his mistress; and they killed +her infant with an axe before her face. "Now," says Mr. Edwards, +(addressing himself to his audience) "you will think that no torments +were too great for such horrible excesses. Nevertheless I am of a +different opinion. I think that death, unaccompanied with cruelty, +should be the utmost exertion of human authority over our unhappy +fellow-creatures." Torments, however, were always inflicted in these +cases. The punishment was gibbeting alive, and exposing the delinquents +to perish by the gradual effects of hunger, thirst, and parching sun; in +which situation they were known to suffer for nine days, with a +fortitude scarcely credible, never uttering a single groan. But horrible +as the excesses might have been, which occasioned these punishments, it +must be remembered, that they were committed by ignorant savages, who +had been dragged from all they held most dear; whose patience had been +exhausted by a cruel and loathsome confinement during their +transportation; and whose resentment had been wound up to the highest +pitch of fury by the lash of the driver. + +But he would now mention another instance, by way of contrast, out of +the evidence. A child on board a slave-ship, of about ten months old, +took sulk and would not eat. The captain flogged it with a cat; swearing +that he would make it eat, or kill it. From this and other ill-treatment +the child's legs swelled. He then ordered some water to be made hot to +abate the swelling. But even his tender mercies were cruel; for the +cook, on putting his hand into the water, said it was too hot. Upon this +the captain swore at him, and ordered the feet to be put in. This was +done. The nails and skin came off. Oiled cloths were then put round +them. The child was at length tied to a heavy log. Two or three days +afterwards, the captain caught it up again; and repeated that he would +made it eat, or kill it. He immediately flogged it again, and in a +quarter of an hour it died. But, after the child was dead, whom should +the barbarian select to throw it overboard, but the wretched mother? In +vain she started from the office. He beat her, till he made her take up +the child and carry it to the side of the vessel. She then dropped it +into the sea, turning her head the other way that she might not see it. +Now it would naturally be asked, was not this captain also gibbeted +alive? Alas! although the execrable barbarity of the European exceeded +that of the Africans before mentioned, almost as much as his +opportunities of instruction has been greater than theirs, no notice +whatsoever was taken of this horrible action; and a thousand similar +cruelties had been committed in this abominable trade with equal +impunity: but he would say no more. He would vote for the abolition, not +only as it would do away all the evils complained of in Africa and the +Middle Passage; but as it would be the most effectual means of +ameliorating the condition of those unhappy persons, who were still to +continue slaves in the British colonies. + +Mr. Courtenay rose. He said, he could not but consider the assertion of +Sir William Yonge as a mistake, that the Slave Trade, if abandoned by +us, would fall into the hands of France. It ought to be recollected, +with what approbation the motion for abolishing it, made by the late +Mirabeau, had been received; although the situation of the French +colonies might then have presented obstacles to carrying the measure +into immediate execution. He had no doubt, if parliament were to begin, +so wise and enlightened a body as the National Assembly would follow the +example. But even if France were not to relinquish the trade, how could +we, if justice required its abolition, hesitate as to our part of it? + +The trade, it had been said, was conducted upon the principles of +humanity. Yes: we rescued the Africans from what we were pleased to call +their wretched situation in their own; country, and then we took credit +for our humanity; because, after having killed one half of them in the +seasoning, we substituted what we were again pleased to call a better +treatment than that which they would have experienced at home. + +It had been stated that the principle of war among savages was a general +massacre. This was not true. They frequently adopted the captives into +their own families; and, so far from massacring the women and children, +they often gave them the protection which the weakness of their age and +sex demanded. + +There could be no doubt, that the practice of kidnapping; prevailed in +Africa. As to witchcraft, it had been made a crime in the reign of James +the First in this country, for the purpose of informations; and how much +more likely were informations to take place in Africa, under the +encouragement afforded by the Slave Trade! This trade, it had been said, +was sanctioned by twenty-six acts of parliament. He did not doubt but +fifty-six might be found, by which parliament had sanctioned witchcraft +of the existence of which we had now no belief whatever.... + +It had been said by Mr. Stanley that the pulpit had been used as an +instrument of attack on the Slave Trade. He was happy to learn it had +been so well employed; and he hoped the Bishops would rise up in the +House of Lords, with the virtuous indignation which became them, to +abolish a traffic so contrary to humanity, justice, and religion. + +He entreated every member to recollect, that on his vote that night +depended the happiness of millions; and that it was then in his power to +promote a measure, of which the benefits would be felt over one whole +quarter of the globe; that the seeds of civilization might, by the +present bill, be sown all over Africa: and the first principles of +humanity be established in regions where they had hitherto been excluded +by the existence of this execrable trade. + +Lord Carysfort rose, and said, that the great cause of the abolition had +flourished by the manner in which it had been opposed. No one argument +of solid weight had been adduced against it. It had been shown, but +never disproved, that the colonial laws were inadequate to the +protection of the slaves; that the punishments of the latter were most +unmerciful; that they were deprived of the right of self-defence against +any White man; and, in short, that the system was totally repugnant to +the principles of the British constitution. + +Colonel Phipps followed Lord Carysfort. He denied that this was a +question in which the rights of humanity and the laws of nature were +concerned. The Africans became slaves in consequence of the constitution +of their own governments. These were founded in absolute despotism. +Every subject was an actual slave. The inhabitants were slaves to the +great men, and the great men were slaves to the prince. Prisoners of +war, too, were by law subject to slavery. Such being the case, he saw no +more cruelty in disposing of them to our merchants, than to those of any +other nation. Criminals, also, in cases of adultery and witchcraft, +became slaves by the same laws. + +It had been said, that there were no regulations in the West Indies for +the protection of slaves. There were several; though he was ready to +admit that more were necessary; and he would go in this respect as far +as humanity might require. He had passed ten months in Jamaica, where he +had never seen any such acts of cruelty as had been talked of. Those +which he had seen were not exercised by the Whites, but by the Blacks. +The dreadful stories which had been told, ought no more to fix a general +stigma upon the planters, than the story of Mrs. Brownrigg to stamp this +polished metropolis with the general brand of murder. There was once a +haberdasher's wife (Mrs. Nairne) who locked up her apprentice girl, and +starved her to death; but did ever any body think of abolishing +haberdashery on this account? He was persuaded the Negroes in the West +Indies were cheerful and happy. They were fond of ornaments; but it was +not the characteristic of miserable persons to show a taste for finery. +Such a taste, on the contrary, implied a cheerful and contented mind. He +was sorry to differ from his friend Mr. Wilberforce, but he must oppose +his motion. + +Mr. Pitt rose, and said, that from the first hour of his having had the +honour to sit in parliament down to the present, among all the +questions, whether political or personal, in which it had been his +fortune to take a share, there had never been one in which his heart was +so deeply interested as in the present; both, on account of the serious +principles it involved, and the consequences connected with it. + +The present was not a mere question of feeling. The argument, which +ought, in his opinion, to determine the committee, was, that the Slave +Trade was unjust. It was, therefore, such a trade as it was impossible +for him to support, unless it could be first proved to him, that there +were no laws of morality binding upon nations; and that it was not the +duty of a legislature to restrain its subjects, from invading the +happiness of other countries, and from violating; the fundamental +principles of justice. + +Several had stated the impracticability of the measure before them. They +wished to see the trade abolished; but there was some necessity for +continuing it, which they conceived to exist. Nay, almost every, one, he +believed, appeared to wish that the further importation of slaves might +cease, provided, it could be made out that, the population of the West +Indies could be maintained without it. He proposed, therefore, to +consider the latter point; for, as the impracticability of keeping up +the population there appeared to operate as the chief objection, he +trusted that, by showing it to be ill founded, he should clear away all +other obstacles whatever; so that, having no ground either of justice or +necessity to stand upon, there could be no excuse left to the committee +for resisting the present motion. + +He might reasonably, however, hope that they would not reckon any small +or temporary disadvantage, which might arise from the abolition, to be a +sufficient reason against it. It was surely not any slight degree of +expediency, nor any small balance of profit, nor any light shades of +probability on the one side, rather than on the other, which would +determine them on this question. He asked pardon even for the +supposition. The Slave Trade was an evil of such magnitude, that there +must be a common wish in the committee at once to put an end to it, if +there were no great and serious obstacles. It was a trade, by which +multitudes of unoffending nations were deprived of the blessings of +civilization, and had their peace and happiness invaded. It ought, +therefore, to be no common expediency, it ought to be nothing less than +the utter ruin of our islands, which it became those to plead, who took +upon them to defend the continuance of it. + +He could not help thinking that the West India gentlemen had manifested +an over great degree of sensibility as to the point in question; and +that their alarms had been unreasonably excited upon it. He had examined +the subject carefully for himself: and he would now detail those +reasons, which had induced him firmly to believe, not only that no +permanent mischief would follow from the abolition, but not even any +such temporary inconvenience as could be stated to be a reason for +preventing the House from agreeing to the motion before them; on the +contrary, that the abolition itself would lay the foundation for the +more solid improvement of all the various interests of those colonies. + +In doing this he should apply his observations chiefly to Jamaica, which +contained more than half the slaves in the British West Indies; and if +he should succeed in proving that no material detriment could arise to +the population there, this would afford so strong a presumption with +respect to the other islands, that the House could no longer hesitate +whether they should, or should not, put a stop to this most horrid +trade. + +In the twenty years ending in 1788, the annual loss of slaves in Jamaica +(that is, the excess of deaths above the births,) appeared to be one in +the hundred. In a preceding period the loss was greater; and, in a +period before that greater still; there having been a continual +gradation in the decrease through the whole time. It might fairly be +concluded, therefore, that (the average logs of the last period being +one per cent.) the loss in the former part of it would be somewhat more, +and in the latter part somewhat less, than one per cent; insomuch that +it might be fairly questioned, whether, by this time, the births and +deaths in Jamaica might not be stated as nearly equal. It was to be +added, that a peculiar calamity, which swept away fifteen thousand +slaves, had occasioned a part of the mortality in the last-mentioned +period. The probable loss, therefore, now to be expected, was very +inconsiderable indeed. + +There was, however, one circumstance to be added, which the West India +gentlemen, in stating this matter, had entirely overlooked; and which +was so material, as clearly to reduce the probable diminution in the +population of Jamaica down to nothing. In all the calculations he had +referred to of the comparative number of births and deaths, all the +Negroes in the island were included. The newly imported, who died in the +seasoning, made apart; but these swelled, most materially, the number of +the deaths. Now, as these extraordinary deaths would cease, as soon as +the importation ceased, a deduction of them ought to be made from his +present calculation. + +But the number of those, who thus died in the seasoning, would make up +of itself nearly the whole of that one per cent. which had been stated. +He particularly pressed an attention to this circumstance; for the +complaint of being likely to want hands in Jamaica, arose from the +mistake of including the present unnatural deaths, caused by the +seasoning, among the natural and perpetual muses of mortality. These +deaths, being erroneously taken into the calculations, gave the planters +an idea that the numbers could not be kept up. These deaths, which were +caused merely by the Slave Trade, furnished the very ground, therefore, +on which the continuance of that trade had been thought necessary. + +The evidence as to this point was clear; for it would be found in that +dreadful catalogue of deaths, arising from the seasoning and the +passage, which the House had been condemned to look into, that one half +died. An annual mortality of two thousand slaves in Jamaica might be +therefore charged to the importation; which, compared with the whole +number on the island, hardly fell short of the whole one per cent. +decrease. + +Joining this with all the other considerations, he would then ask, could +the decrease of the slaves in Jamaica be such--could the colonies be so +destitute of means--could the planters, when by their own accounts they +were establishing daily new regulations for the benefit of the +slaves--could they, under all these circumstances, be permitted to plead +that total impossibility of keeping up their number, which they had +rested on, as being indeed the only possible pretext for allowing fresh +importations from Africa? He appealed, therefore, to the sober judgment +of all, whether the situation of Jamaica was such, as to justify a +hesitation in agreeing to the present motion. + +It might be observed, also, that, when the importations should stop, +that disproportion between the sexes, which was one of the obstacles to +population, would gradually diminish; and a natural order of things be +established. Through the want of this natural order, a thousand +grievances were created, which it was impossible to define; and which it +was in vain to think that, under such circumstances, we could cure. But +the abolition, of itself, would work this desirable effect. The West +Indians would then feel a near and urgent interest to enter into a +thousand little details, which it was impossible for him to describe, +but which would have the greatest influence on population. A foundation +would thus be laid for the general welfare of the islands; a new system +would rise up, the reverse of the old; and eventually both their general +wealth and happiness would increase. + +He had now proved far more than he was bound to do; for, if he could +only show that the abolition would not be ruinous, it would be enough. +He could give up, therefore, three arguments out of four, through the +whole of what he had said, and yet have enough left for his position. As +to the Creoles, they would undoubtedly increase. They differed in this +entirely from the imported slaves, who were both a burthen and a curse +to themselves and others. The measure now proposed would operate like a +charm; and, besides stopping all the miseries in Africa and the passage, +would produce even more benefit in the West Indies than legal +regulations could effect. + +He would now just touch upon the question of emancipation. A rash +emancipation of the slaves would be mischievous. In that unhappy +situation, to which our baneful conduct had brought ourselves and them, +it would be no justice on either side to give them liberty. They were as +yet incapable of it; but their situation might be gradually amended. +They might be relieved from everything harsh and severe; raised from +their present degraded state; and put under the protection of the law. +Till then, to talk of emancipation was insanity. But it was the system +of fresh importations, which interfered with these principles of +improvement; and it was only the abolition which could establish them. +This suggestion had its foundation in human nature. Wherever the +incentive of honour, credit, and fair profit appeared, energy would +spring up; and when these labourers should have the natural springs of +human action afforded them, they would then rise to the natural level of +human industry. + +From Jamaica he would now go to the other islands. In Barbadoes the +slaves had rather increased. In St. Kitts the decrease for fourteen +years had been but three-fourths per cent.; but here many of the +observations would apply, which he had used in the case of Jamaica. In +Antigua many had died by a particular calamity. But for this, the +decrease would have been trifling. In Nevis and Montserrat there was +little or no disproportion of the sexes; so that it might well be hoped, +that the numbers would be kept up in these islands. In Dominica some +controversy had arisen about the calculation; but Governor Orde had +stated an increase of births above the deaths. From Grenada and St. +Vincent's no accurate accounts had been delivered in answer to the +queries sent them; but they were probably not in circumstances less +favourable than in the other islands. + +On a full review, then, of the state of the Negro population in the West +Indies, was there any serious ground of alarm from the abolition of the +Slave Trade? Where was the impracticability, on which alone so many had +rested their objections? Must we not blush at pretending, that it would +distress our consciences to accede to this measure, as far as the +question of the Negro population was concerned? + +Intolerable were the mischiefs of this trade, both in its origin, and +through every stage of its progress. To say that slaves could be +furnished us by fair and commercial means was ridiculous. The trade +sometimes ceased, as during the late war. The demand was more or less +according to circumstances. But how was it possible, that to a demand so +exceedingly fluctuating the supply should always exactly accommodate +itself? Alas! We made human beings the subject of commerce; we talked of +them as such; and yet we would not allow them the common principle of +commerce, that the supply must accommodate itself to the consumption. It +was not from wars, then, that the slaves were chiefly procured. They +were obtained in proportion as they were wanted. If a demand for slaves +arose, a supply was forced in one way or other; and it was in vain, +overpowered as we then were with positive evidence, as well as the +reasonableness of the supposition, to deny that by the Slave Trade we +occasioned all the enormities which had been alleged against it. + +Sir William Yonge had said, that if we were not to take the Africans +from their country, they would be destroyed. But he had not yet read +that all uncivilized nations destroyed their captives. We assumed, +therefore, what was false. The very selling of them implied this; for, +if they would sell their captives for profit, why should they not employ +them so as to receive a profit also? Nay, many of them, while there was +no demand from the slave merchants, were often actually so employed. The +trade, too, had been suspended during the war; and it was never said, or +thought, that any such consequence had then followed. + +The honourable baronet had also said, to justification of the Slave +Trade, that witchcraft commonly implied poison, and was therefore a +punishable crime; but did he recollect that not only the individual +accused, but that his whole family, were sold as slaves? The truth was, +we stopped the natural progress of civilization in Africa. We cut her +off from the opportunity of improvement. We kept her down in a state of +darkness, bondage, ignorance, and bloodshed. Was not this an awful +consideration for this country? Look at the map of Africa, and see how +little useful intercourse had been established on that vast continent! +While other countries were assisting and enlightening each other, Africa +alone had none of these benefits. We had obtained as yet only so much +knowledge of her productions, as to show that there was a capacity for +trade, which we checked. Indeed, if the mischiefs there were out of the +question, the circumstance of the Middle Passage alone would, in his +mind, be reason enough for the abolition. Such a scene as that of the +slave-ships passing over with their wretched cargoes to the West Indies, +if it could be spread before the eyes of the House, would be sufficient +of itself to make them vote in favour of it; but when it could be added, +that the interest even of the West Indies themselves rested on the +accomplishment of this great event, he could not conceive an act of more +imperious duty, than that which was imposed upon the House, of agreeing +to the present motion. + +Sir Archibald Edmonstone rose, and asked whether the present motion went +so far as to pledge those who voted for it to a total and immediate +abolition. + +Mr. Alderman Watson rose next. He defended the Slave Trade as highly +beneficial to the country, being one material branch of its commerce. +But he could not think of the African trade without connecting it with +the West Indian. The one hung upon the other. A third important branch +also depended upon it, which was the Newfoundland fishery; the latter +could not go on, if it were not for the vast quantity of inferior fish +bought up for the Negroes in the West Indies, and which quite unfit for +any other market. If, therefore, we destroyed the African, we destroyed +the other trades. Mr. Turgot, he said, had recommended in the National +Assembly of France the gradual abolition of the Slave Trade. He would, +therefore, recommend it to the House to adopt the same measure, and to +soften the rigours of slavery by wholesome regulations; but an immediate +abolition he could not countenance. + +Mr. Fox at length rose. He observed that some expressions which he had +used on the preceding day, had been complained of as too harsh and +severe. He had since considered them, but he could not prevail upon +himself to retract them; because, if any gentleman, after reading the +evidence on the table, and attending to the debate, could avow himself +an abettor of this shameful traffic in human flesh, it could only be +either from some hardness of heart, or some difficulty of understanding, +which he really knew not how to account for. + +Some had considered this question as a question of political, whereas, +it was a question of personal, freedom. Political freedom was +undoubtedly a great blessing; but when it came to be compared with +personal, it sunk to nothing. To confound the two, served, therefore, to +render all arguments on either perplexing and unintelligible. Personal +freedom was the first right of every human being. It was a right, of +which he who deprived a fellow-creature was absolutely criminal in so +depriving him, and which he who withheld was no less criminal in +withholding. He could not, therefore, retract his words with respect to +any, who (whatever respect he might otherwise have for them) should, by +their vote of that night, deprive their fellow-creatures of so great a +blessing. Nay, he would go further. He would say, that if the House, +knowing what the trade was by the evidence, did not, by their vote, mark +to all mankind their abhorrence of a practice so savage, so enormous, so +repugnant to all laws human and divine, they would consign their +character to eternal infamy. + +That the pretence of danger to our West Indian islands from the +abolition of the Slave Trade was totally unfounded, Mr. Wilberforce had +abundantly proved; but if there were they who had not been satisfied +with that proof, was it possible to resist the arguments of Mr. Pitt on +the same subject? It had been shown, on a comparison of the births and +deaths in Jamaica, that there was not now any decrease of the slaves. +But if there had been, it would have made no difference to him in his +vote; for, had the mortality been ever so great there, he should have +ascribed it to the system of importing Negroes, instead of that of +encouraging their natural increase. Was it not evident that the planters +thought it more convenient to buy them fit for work, than to breed them? +Why, then, was this horrid trade to be kept up?--To give the planters +truly the liberty of misusing their slaves, so as to check population: +for it was from ill-usage only that, in a climate so natural to them, +their numbers could diminish. The very ground, therefore, on which the +planters rested the necessity of fresh importations, namely, the +destruction of lives in the West Indies, was itself the strongest +argument that could be given, and furnished the most imperious call upon +parliament for the abolition of the trade. + +Against this trade innumerable were the charges. An honourable member, +Mr. Smith, had done well to introduce those tragical stories which had +made such an impression upon the House. No one of these had been yet +controverted. It had, indeed, been said; that the cruelty of the African +captain to the child was too bad to be true; and we had been desired to +look at the cross-examination of the witness, as if we should find +traces of the falsehood in his testimony there. But his +cross-examination was peculiarly honourable to his character; for, after +he had been pressed in the closest manner by some able members of the +House, the only inconsistency they could fix upon him was, whether the +fact had happened on the same day of the same month of the year 1764 or +the year 1765. + +But it was idle to talk of the incredibility of such instances. It was +not denied that absolute power was exercised by the slave-captains; and +if this was granted, all the cruelties charged upon them would naturally +follow. Never did he hear of charges so black and horrible as those +contained in the evidence on the table. They unfolded such a scene of +cruelty, that if the House, with all their present knowledge of the +circumstances, should dare to vote for its continuance, they must have +nerves of which he had no conception. We might find instances, indeed, +in history, of men violating the feelings of nature on extraordinary +occasions. Fathers had sacrificed their sons and daughters, and husbands +their wives; but to imitate their characters, we ought to have not only +nerves as strong as the two Brutuses, but to take care that we had a +cause as good; or that we had motives for such a dereliction of our +feelings as patriotic as those which historians had annexed to these +when they handed them to the notice of the world. + +But what was our motive in the case before us?--to continue a trade +which was a wholesale sacrifice of a whole order and race of our +fellow-creatures, which carried them away by force from their native +country, in order to subject them to the mere will and caprice, the +tyranny and oppression of other human beings, for their whole natural +lives, them and their posterity for ever!! O most monstrous wickedness! +O unparalleled barbarity! And, what was more aggravating, this most +complicated scene of robbery and murder which mankind had ever +witnessed, had been honoured by the name of trade. + +That a number of human beings should be at all times ready to be +furnished as fair articles of commerce, just as our occasions might +require, was absurd. The argument of Mr. Pitt on this head was +unanswerable. Our demand was fluctuating: it entirely ceased at some +times: at others it was great and pressing. How was it possible, on +every sudden call, to furnish a sufficient return in slaves, without +resorting to those execrable means of obtaining them, which were stated +in the evidence? These were of three sorts, and he would now examine +them. + +Captives in war, it was urged, were consigned either to death or +slavery. This, however, he believed to be false in point of fact. But +suppose it were true; did it not become us, with whom it was a custom, +founded in the wisest policy, to pay the captives a peculiar respect and +civility, to inculcate the same principles in Africa? But we were so far +from doing this, that we encouraged wars for the sake of taking, not +men's goods and possessions, but men themselves; and it was not the war +which was the cause of the Slave Trade, but the Slave Trade which was +the cause of the war. It was the practice of the slave-merchants to try +to intoxicate the African kings in order to turn them to their purpose. +A particular instance occurred in the evidence of a prince, who, when +sober, resisted their wishes; but in the moment of inebriety he gave the +word for war, attacked the next village, and sold the inhabitants to the +merchants. + +The second mode was kidnapping. He referred the House to various +instances of this in the evidence: but there was one in particular, from +which we might immediately infer the frequency of the practice. A black +trader had kidnapped a girl and sold her; but he was presently +afterwards kidnapped and sold himself; and, when he asked the captain +who bought him, "What! do you buy me, who am a great trader?" the only +answer was, "Yes, I will buy you, or her, or anybody else, provided any +one will sell you;" and accordingly both the trader and the girl were +carried to the West Indies, and sold for slaves. + +The third mode of obtaining slaves was by crimes committed or imputed. +One of these was adultery. But was Africa the place, where Englishmen, +above all others, were to go to find out and punish adultery? Did it +become us to cast the first stone? It was a most extraordinary +pilgrimage for a most extraordinary purpose! And yet upon this plea we +justified our right of carrying off its inhabitants. The offence alleged +next was witchcraft. What a reproach it was to lend ourselves to this +superstition!--Yes: we stood by; we heard the trial; we knew the crime +to be impossible; and that the accused must be innocent: but we waited +in patient silence for his condemnation; and then we lent our friendly +aid to the police of the country, by buying the wretched convict, with +all his family; whom, for the benefit of Africa, we carried away also +into perpetual slavery. + +With respect to the situation of the slaves in their transportation, he +knew not how to give the House a more correct idea of the horrors of it, +than by referring them to the printed section of the slave-ship; where +the eye might see what the tongue must fall short in describing. On this +dismal part of the subject he would not dwell. He would only observe, +that the acts of barbarity, related of the slave-captains in these +voyages, were so extravagant, that they had been attributed in some +instances to insanity. But was not this the insanity of arbitrary power? +Who ever read the facts recorded of Nero without suspecting he was mad? +Who would not be apt to impute insanity to Caligula--or Domitian--or +Caracalla--or Commodus--or Heliogabalus? Here were six Roman emperors, +not connected in blood, nor by descent, who, each of them, possessing +arbitrary power, had been so distinguished for cruelty, that nothing +short of insanity could be imputed to them. Was not the insanity of the +masters of slave-ships to be accounted for on the same principles? + +Of the slaves in the West Indies it had been said, that they were taken +from a worse state to a better. An honourable member, Mr. W. Smith, had +quoted some instances out of the evidence to the contrary. He also would +quote one or two others. A slave under hard usage had run away. To +prevent a repetition of the offence his owner sent for his surgeon, and +desired him to cut off the man's leg. The surgeon refused. The owner, to +render it a matter of duty in the surgeon, broke it. "Now," says he, +"you must cut it off; or the man will die." We might console ourselves, +perhaps, that this happened in a French island; but he would select +another instance, which had happened in one of our own. Mr. Ross heard +the shrieks of a female issuing from an out-house; and so piercing, that +he determined to me what was going on. On looking in he perceived a +young female tied up to a beam by her wrists, entirely naked, and in the +act of involuntary writhing and swinging; while the author of her +torture was standing below her with a lighted torch in his hand, which +he applied to all the parts of her body as it approached him. What crime +this miserable woman had perpetrated he knew not; but the human mind +could not conceive a crime warranting such a punishment. + +He was glad to see that these tales affected the House. Would they then +sanction enormities, the bare recital of which made them shudder? Let +them remember that humanity did not consist in a squeamish ear. It did +not consist in shrinking and starting at such tales as these; but in a +disposition of the heart to remedy the evils they unfolded. Humanity +belonged rather to the mind than to the nerves. But, if so, it should +prompt men to charitable exertion. Such exertion was necessary in the +present case. It was necessary for the credit of our jurisprudence at +home, and our character abroad. For what would any man think of our +justice, who should see another hanged for a crime, which would be +innocence itself, if compared with those enormities, which were allowed +in Africa and the West Indies under the sanction of the British +parliament? + +It had been said, however, in justification of the trade, that the +Africans were less happy at home than in the Islands. But what right had +we to be judges of their condition? They would tell us a very different +tale, if they were asked. But it was ridiculous to say, that we bettered +their condition, when we dragged them from everything dear in life to +the most abject state of slavery. + +One argument had been used, which for a subject so grave was the most +ridiculous he had ever heard. Mr. Alderman Watson had declared the Slave +Trade to be necessary on account of its connexion with our fisheries. +But what was this but an acknowledgment of the manner, in which these +miserable beings, were treated? The trade was to be kept up, with all +its enormities, in order that there might be persons to consume the +refuse fish from Newfoundland, which was too bad for anybody else to +eat. + +It had been said that England ought not to abolish the Slave Trade, +unless other nations would also give it up. But what kind of morality +was this? The Trade was defensible upon no other principle than that of +a highwayman. Great Britain could not keep it upon these terms. Mere +gain was not a motive for a great country to rest on, as a justification +of any measure. Honour was its superior; and justice was superior to +honour. + +With regard to the emancipation of those in slavery, he coincided with +Mr. Wilberforce and Mr. Pitt; and upon this principle, that it might be +as dangerous to give freedom at once to a man used to slavery, as, in +the case of a man who had never seen day-light, to expose him all at +once to the full glare of a meridian sun. + +With respect to the intellect and sensibility of the Africans, it was +pride only, which suggested a difference between them and ourselves. +There was a remarkable instance to the point in the evidence, and which +he would quote. In one of the slave-ships was a person of consequence; a +man, once high in a military station, and with a mind not insensible to +the eminence of his rank. He had been taken captive and sold; and was +then in the hold, confined promiscuously with the rest. Happening in the +night to fall asleep, he dreamed that he was in his own country; high in +honour and command; caressed by his family and friends; waited on by his +domestics; and surrounded with all his former comforts in life. But +awaking suddenly, and finding where he was, he was heard to burst into +the loudest groans and lamentations on the miserable contrast of his +present state; mixed with the meanest of his subjects; and subjected to +the insolence of wretches a thousand times lower than himself in every +kind of endowment. He appealed to the House, whether this was not as +moving a picture of the miserable effects of the Slave Trade, as could +be well imagined. There was one way, by which they might judge of it. +Let them make the case their own. This was the Christian rule of +judging; and, having mentioned Christianity, he was sorry to find that +any should suppose, that it had given countenance to such a system of +oppression. So far was this from being the case, that he thought it one +of the most splendid triumphs of this religion, that it had caused +slavery to be so generally abolished on its appearance in the world. It +had done this by teaching us, among other beautiful precepts, that, in +the sight of their Maker, all mankind were equal. Its influence appeared +to have been more powerful in this respect than that of all the ancient +systems of philosophy; though even in these, in point of theory, we +might trace great liberality and consideration for human rights. Where +could be found finer sentiments of liberty than in Demosthenes and +Cicero? Where bolder assertions of the rights of mankind, than in +Tacitus and Thucydides? But, alas! these were the holders of slaves: It +was not so with those who had been converted to Christianity. He knew, +however, that what he had been ascribing to Christianity had been +imputed by others to the advances which philosophy had made. Each of the +two parties took the merit to itself. The philosopher gave it to +philosophy, and the divine to religion. He should not, then, dispute +with either of them; but, as both coveted the praise, why should they +not emulate each other by promoting this improvement in the condition of +the human race? + +He would now conclude by declaring, that the whole country, indeed the +whole civilized world, must rejoice that such a bill as the present had +been moved for, not merely as a matter of humanity, but as an act of +justice; for he would put humanity out of the case. Could it be called +humanity to forbear committing murder? Exactly upon this ground did the +motion stand; being strictly a question of national justice. He thanked +Mr. Wilberforce for having pledged himself so strongly to pursue his +object till it was accomplished; and, as for himself, he declared, that, +in whatever situation he might ever be, he would use his warmest efforts +for the promotion of this righteous cause. + +Mr. Stanley (the member for Lancashire) rose, and declared that, when he +came into the house, he intended to vote against the abolition; but that +the impression made both on his feelings and on his understanding was +such, that he could not persist in his resolution. He was now convinced +that the entire abolition of the Slave Trade was called for equally by +sound policy and justice. He thought it right and fair to avow manfully +this change in his opinion. The abolition, ho was sure, could not long +fail of being carried. The arguments for it were irresistible. + +The Honourable Mr. Ryder said that he came to the house not exactly in +the same circumstances as Mr. Stanley, but very undecided on the +subject. He was, however, so strongly convinced by the arguments he had +heard, that he was become equally earnest for the abolition. + +Mr. Smith (member for Pontefract) said, that he should not trouble the +House, at so late an hour, further than to enter his protest, in the +most solemn manner, against this trade, which he considered as most +disgraceful to the country, and contrary to all the principles of +justice and religion. + +Mr. Sumner declared himself against the total, immediate, and +unqualified abolition, which he thought would wound at least the +prejudices of the West Indians, and might do mischief; but a gradual +abolition should have his hearty support. + +Major Scott declared there was no member in the house, who would give a +more independent vote upon this question than himself. He had no concern +either in the African or West Indian trades; but in the present state of +the finances of the country, he thought it would be a dangerous +experiment to risk any one branch of our foreign commerce. As far as +regulation would go, he would join in the measure. + +Mr. Burke said he would use but few words. He declared that he had for a +long time had his mind drawn towards this great subject. He had even +prepared a bill for the regulation of the trade, conceiving at that time +that the immediate abolition of it was a thing hardly to be hoped for; +but when he found that Mr. Wilberforce had seriously undertaken the +work, and that his motion was for the abolition, which he approved much +more than his own, he had burnt his papers; and made an offering of them +in honour of this nobler proposition, much in the same manner as we +read, that the curious books were offered up and burnt at the approach +of the Gospel. He highly applauded the confessions of Mr. Stanley and +Mr. Ryder. It would be a glorious tale for them to tell their +constituents, that it was impossible for them, however prejudiced, if +sent to hear, discussion in that House, to avoid surrendering up their +hearts and judgments at the shrine of reason. + +Mr. Drake said, that he would oppose the abolition to the utmost. We +had, by a want of prudent conduct, lost America. The House should be +aware of being carried away by the meteors with which they had been +dazzled. The leaders, it was true, were for the abolition; but the minor +orators, the dwarfs, the pigmies, he trusted, would that night carry the +question against them. The property of the West Indians was at stake; +and, though men might be generous with their own property, they should +not be so with the property of others. + +Lord Sheffield reprobated the overbearing language which had been used +by some gentlemen towards others, who differed in opinion from them on a +subject of so much difficulty as the present. He protested against a +debate, in which he could trace nothing like reason; but, on the +contrary, downright phrensy, raised perhaps by the most extraordinary +eloquence. The abolition, as proposed, was impracticable. He denied the +right of the legislature to pass a law for it. He warned the Chancellor +of the Exchequer to beware of the day, on which the bill should pass, as +the worst he had ever seen. + +Mr. Milnes declared, that he adopted all those expressions against the +Slave Trade, which had been thought so harsh; and that the opinion of +the noble lord had been turned in consequence of having become one of +the members for Bristol. He quoted a passage from Lord Sheffield's +pamphlet; and insisted that the separation of families in the West +Indies, there complained of by himself, ought to have compelled him to +take the contrary side of the question. + +Mr. Wilberforce made a short reply to some arguments in the course of +the debate; after which, at half-past three in the morning, the House +divided. There appeared for Mr. Wilberforce's motion eighty-eight, and +against it one hundred and sixty-three; so that it was lost by a +majority of seventy-five votes. + +By this unfavourable division the great contest, in which we had been so +long engaged, was decided. We were obliged to give way to superior +numbers. Our fall, however, grievous as it was, was rendered more +tolerable by the circumstance of having been prepared to expect it. It +was rendered more tolerable, also, by other considerations; for we had +the pleasure of knowing, that we had several of the most distinguished +characters in the kingdom, and almost all the splendid talents of the +House of Commons[A], in our favour. We knew, too, that the question had +not been carried against us either by evidence or by argument; but that +we were the victims of the accidents and circumstances of the times. And +as these considerations comforted us, when we looked forward to future +operations on this great question, so we found great consolation as to +the past, in believing, that, unless human constitutions were stronger +than they really were, we could not have done more than we had done +towards the furtherance of the cause. + +[Footnote A: It is a pity that no perfect list was ever made of this or +of any other division in the House of Commons on this subject. I can +give, however, the names of the following, members, as having voted for +Mr. Wilberforce's motion at this time. + +Mr. Pitt, Lord Bayham, Mr. Duncombe, +Mr. Fox, Lord Arden, Mr. Martin, +Mr. Burke, Lord Carysfort, Mr. Milnes, +Mr. Grey, Lord Muncaster, Mr. Steele, +Mr. Windham, Lord Barnard, Mr. Coke, +Mr. Sheridan, Lord North, Mr. Eliott, +Mr. Whitbread, Lord Euston, Mr. Montagu, +Mr. Courtenay, General Burgoyne, Mr. Bastard, +Mr. Francis, Hon. R. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Stanley, +Mr. Wilberforce, Sir William Dolben, Mr. Plumer, +Mr. Ryder, Sir Henry Houghton, Mr. Beaufoy, +Mr. William Smith, Sir Edward Lyttleton, Mr. I.H. Browne, +Mr. John Smyth, Sir William Scott, Mr. G.N. Edwards, +Mr. Robert Smith, Mr. Samuel Thornton, Mr. W.M. Pitt, +Mr. Powys, Mr. Henry Thornton, Mr. Bankes, +Lord Apsley, Mr. Robert Thornton, + +] + +The committee for the abolition held a meeting soon after this our +defeat. It was the most impressive I ever attended. The looks of all +bespoke the feelings of their hearts. Little was said previously to the +opening of the business; and, after it was opened, it was conducted with +a kind of solemn dignity, which became the occasion. The committee, in +the course of its deliberations, came to the following resolutions:-- + +That the thanks of this committee be respectfully given to the +illustrious minority of the House of Commons, who lately stood forth the +assertors of British justice and humanity, and the enemies of a traffic +in the blood of man. + +That our acknowledgments are particularly due to William Wilberforce, +Esq., for his unwearied exertions to remove this opprobrium of our +national character; and to the right honourable William Pitt, and the +right honourable Charles James Fox, for their virtuous and dignified +co-operation in the same cause. + +That the solemn declarations of these gentlemen, and of Matthew Montagu +and William Smith, Esqrs., that they will not relinquish, but with life, +their struggle for the abolition of the Slave Trade, are not only highly +honourable to themselves as Britons, as statesmen, and as Christians, +but must eventually, as the light of evidence shall be more and more +diffused, be seconded by the good wishes of every man not immediately +interested in the continuance of that detestable commerce. + +And lastly, that anticipating the opposition they should have to sustain +from persons trained to a familiarity with the rapine and desolation +necessarily attendant on the Slave Trade, and sensible, also, of the +prejudices which implicitly arise from long-established usages, this +committee consider the late decision in the House of Commons as a delay, +rather than a defeat. In addressing a free and enlightened nation on a +subject, in which its justice, its humanity, and its wisdom are +involved, they cannot despair of final success; and they do hereby, +under an increasing conviction of the excellence of their cause, and in +conformity to the distinguished examples before them, renew their firm +protestation, that they will never desist from appealing to their +countrymen, till the commercial intercourse with Africa shall cease to +be polluted with the blood of its inhabitants. + +These resolutions were published, and they were followed by a suitable +report. + +The committee, in order to strengthen themselves for the prosecution of +their great work, elected Sir William Dolben, Bart., Henry Thornton, +Lewis Alexander Grant, and Matthew Montagu, Esqrs., who were members of +parliament, and Truman Harford, Josiah Wedgewood, jun., Esq., and John +Clarkson, Esq., of the royal navy, as members of their own body; and +they elected the Rev. Archdeacon Plymley (afterwards Corbett) an +honorary and corresponding member, in consequence of the great services +which he had rendered their cause in the shires of Hereford and Salop, +and the adjacent counties of Wales. + +The several committees, established in the country, on receiving the +resolutions and report as before mentioned, testified their sympathy in +letters of condolence to that of London on the late melancholy occasion; +and expressed their determination to support it as long as any vestiges +of this barbarous traffic should remain. + +At length the session ended; and though, in the course of it, the +afflicting loss of the general question had occurred, there was yet an +attempt made by the abolitionists in parliament, which met with a better +fate. The Sierra Leone Company received the sanction of the Legislature. +The object of this institution was to colonize a small portion of the +coast of Africa. They, who were to settle there, were to have no concern +in the Slave Trade, but to discourage it as much as possible. They were +to endeavour to establish a new species of commerce, and to promote +cultivation in its neighborhood by free labour. The persons more +generally fixed upon for colonists, were such Negroes, with their wives +and families, as chose to abandon their habitations in Nova Scotia. +These had followed the British arms in America; and had been settled +there, as a reward for their services, by the British government. My +brother, just mentioned to have been chosen a member of the committee, +and who had essentially served the great cause of the abolition on many +occasions, undertook a visit to Nova Scotia, to see if those in question +were willing to undergo the change; and in that case to provide +transports, and conduct them to Sierra Leone. This object he +accomplished. He embarked more than eleven hundred persons in fifteen +vessels, of all which he took the command. On landing them he became the +first Governor of the new colony. Having laid the foundation of it, he +returned to England; when a successor was appointed. From that time many +unexpected circumstances, but particularly devastations by the French in +the beginning of the war, took place, which contributed to ruin the +trading company which was attached to it. It is pleasing, however, to +reflect, that though the object of the institution, as far as mercantile +profit was concerned, thus failed, the other objects belonging to it +were promoted. Schools, places of worship, agriculture, and the habits +of civilized life were established. Sierra Leone, therefore, now +presents itself as the medium of civilization for Africa. And, in this +latter point of view, it is worth all the treasure which has been lost +in supporting it; for the Slave Trade, which was the great obstacle to +this civilization, being now happily abolished, there is a metropolis, +consisting of some hundreds of persons, from which may issue the seeds +of reformation to this injured continent; and which, when sown, may be +expected to grow into fruit without interruption. New schools may be +transplanted from thence into the interior. Teachers, and travellers on +discovery, may be sent from thence in various directions, who may return +to it occasionally as to their homes. The natives, too, able now to +travel in safety, may resort to it from various parts. They may see the +improvements which are going on from time to time. They may send their +children to it for education; and thus it may become the medium[A] of a +great intercourse between England and Africa, to the benefit of each +other. + +[Footnote A: To promote this desirable end an association took place +last year, called The African Institution, under the patronage of the +Duke of Gloucester, as president, and of the Mends to the African cause, +particularly of such as were in parliament, and as belonged to the +committee for the abolition of the Slave Trade.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +--Continuation from July 1791 to July 1792.--Author travels round the +kingdom again; object of his journey.--People begin to leave off the +use of sugar; to form committees; and to send petitions to +Parliament.--Motion made in the House of Commons for the immediate +abolition of the trade; Debates upon it; Abolition resolved upon, but +not to commence till 1796.--Resolution taken to the Lords; latter +determine upon hearing evidence; Evidence at length introduced; +further hearing of it postponed to the next session. + + +The defeat which we had just sustained, was a matter of great triumph to +our opponents. When they considered the majority in the House of Commons +in their favour, they viewed the resolutions of the committee, which +have been detailed, as the last spiteful effort of a vanquished and +dying animal, and they supposed that they had consigned the question to +eternal sleep. The committee, however, were too deeply attached to the +cause, vanquished as they were, to desert it; and they knew, also, too +well the barometer of public feeling, and the occasion of its +fluctuations, to despair. In the year 1787, the members of the House of +Commons, as well as the people, were enthusiastic in behalf of the +abolition of the trade. In the year 1788, the fair enthusiasm of the +former began to fade. In 1789, it died. In 1790, prejudice started up as +a noxious weed in its place. In 1791, this prejudice arrived at its +growth. But to what were these changes owing? To delay; during which the +mind, having been gradually led to the question as a commercial, had +been gradually taken from it as a moral object. But it was possible to +restore the mind to its proper place. Add to which, that the nation had +never deserted the cause during this whole period. + +It is much to the honour of the English people, that they should have +continued to feel for the existence of an evil which was so far removed +from their sight. But at this moment their feelings began to be +insupportable. Many of them resolved, as soon as parliament had rejected +the bill, to abstain from the use of West Indian produce. In this state +of things, a pamphlet, written by William Bell Crafton, of Tewksbury, +and called _A Sketch of the Evidence, with a Recommendation on the +Subject to the serious Attention of People in general_, made its +appearance; and another followed it, written by William Fox, of London, +_On the Propriety of abstaining from West India Sugar and Rum_. These +pamphlets took the same ground. They inculcated abstinence from these +articles as a moral duty; they inculcated it as a peaceable and +constitutional measure; and they laid before the reader a truth which +was sufficiently obvious, that, if each would abstain, the people would +have a complete remedy for this enormous evil in their own power. + +While these things were going on, it devolved upon me to arrange all the +evidence on the part of the abolition under proper heads, and to abridge +it into one volume. It was intended that a copy of this should be sent +into different towns of the kingdom, that all might know, if possible, +the horrors (as far as the evidence contained them) of this execrable +trade; and as it was possible that these copies might lie in the places +where they were sent, without a due attention to their contents, I +resolved, with the approbation of the committee, to take a journey, and +for no other purpose than personally to recommend that they might be +read. + +The books, having been printed, were despatched before me. Of this tour +I shall give the reader no other account than that of the progress of +the remedy, which the people were then taking into their own hands. And +first I may observe, that there was no town, through which I passed, in +which there was not some one individual who had left off the use of +sugar. In the smaller towns there were from ten to fifty by estimation, +and in the larger from two to five hundred, who made this sacrifice to +virtue. These were of all ranks and parties. Rich and poor, churchmen +and dissenters, had adopted the measure. Even grocers had left off +trading in the article, in some places. In gentlemen's families, where +the master had set the example, the servants had often voluntarily +followed it; and even children, who were capable of understanding the +history of the sufferings of the Africans, excluded, with the most +virtuous resolution, the sweets, to which they had been accustomed, from +their lips. By the best computation I was able to make from notes taken +down in my journey, no fewer than three hundred thousand persons had +abandoned the use of sugar. + +Having travelled over Wales, and two-thirds of England, I found it would +be impossible to visit Scotland on the same errand. I had already, by +moving upwards and downwards in parallel lines, and by intersecting +these in the same manner, passed over six thousand miles. By the best +calculation I could make, I had yet two thousand to perform. By means of +almost incessant journeyings night and day, I had suffered much in my +health. My strength was failing daily. I wrote, therefore, to the +committee on this subject; and they communicated immediately with Dr. +Dickson, who, on being applied to, visited Scotland in my stead. He +consulted first with the committee at Edinburgh relative to the +circulation of the Abridgment of the Evidence. He then pursued his +journey, and, in conjunction with the unwearied efforts of Mr. Campbel +Haliburton, rendered essential service to the cause for this part of the +kingdom. + +On my return to London, I found that the committee had taken into their +own body T.F. Forster, B.M. Forster, and James West, Esqrs., as members; +and that they had elected Hercules Boss, Esq., an honorary and +corresponding member, in consequence of the handsome manner in which he +had come forward as an evidence, and of the peculiar benefit which had +resulted from his testimony to the cause. + +The effects of the two journeys by Dr. Dickson and myself were soon +visible. The people could not bear the facts, which had been disclosed +to them by the Abridgment of the Evidence. They were not satisfied, many +of them, with the mere abstinence from sugar; but began to form +committees to correspond with that of London. The first of these +appeared at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, so early as the month of October. It +consisted of the Rev. William Turner, as chairman, and of Robert +Ormston, William Batson, Henry, Taylor, Ralph Bambridge, George Brown, +Hadwen Bragg, David Sutton, Anthony Clapham, George Richardson, and +Edward Prowit. It received a valuable addition afterwards by the +admission of many others. The second was established at Nottingham. The +Rev. Jeremiah Bigsby became the president, and the Revs. G. Walker and +J. Smith, and Messrs. Dennison, Evans, Watson, Hart, Storer, Bott, +Hawkesley, Pennington, Wright, Frith, Hall, and Wakefield, the +committee. The third was formed at Glasgow, under the patronage of David +Dale, Scott Montcrieff, Robert Graham, Professor Millar, and others. +Other committees started up in their turn. At length public meetings +began to take place, and after this petitions to be sent to parliament; +and these so generally, that there was not a day for three months, +Sundays excepted, in which five or six were not resolved upon in some +places or other in the kingdom. + +Of the enthusiasm of the nation at this time none can form an opinion +but they who witnessed it. There never was perhaps a season when so much +virtuous feeling pervaded all ranks. Great pains were taken by +interested persons in many places to prevent public meetings. But no +efforts could avail. The current ran with such strength and rapidity, +that it was impossible to stem it. In the city of London a remarkable +instance occurred. The livery had been long waiting for the common +council to begin a petition; but the lord mayor and several of the +aldermen stifled it. The former, indignant at this conduct, insisted +upon a common hall. A day was appointed; and, though the notice given of +it was short, the assemblage was greater than had ever been remembered +on any former occasion. Scarcely a liveryman was absent, unless sick, or +previously engaged. The petition, when introduced, was opposed by those +who had prevented it in the common council. But their voices were +drowned amidst groans and hissings. It was shortly after carried; and it +had not been signed more than half an hour, before it was within the +walls of the House of Commons. The reason of this extraordinary despatch +was, that it had been kept back by intrigue so late, that the very hour +in which it was delivered to the House, was that in which Mr. +Wilberforce was to make his new motion. + +And as no petitions were ever more respectable than those presented on +this occasion, as far as they breathed the voice of the people, and as +far as they were founded on a knowledge of the object which they +solicited, so none were ever more numerous, as far as we have any record +of such transactions. Not fewer than three hundred and ten were +presented from England; one hundred and eighty-seven from Scotland; and +twenty from Wales. Two other petitions also for the abolition came from +England, but they were too late for delivery. On the other side of the +question, one was presented from the town of Reading for regulation, in +opposition to that for abolition from the same place. There were also +four against abolition. The first of these was from certain persons at +Derby, in opposition to the other from that town. The second was from +Stephen Fuller, Esq., as agent for Jamaica. The third from J. Dawson, +Esq., a slave-merchant at Liverpool. And the fourth from the merchants, +planters, mortgagees, annuitants, and others concerned in the West +Indian colonies. Taking in all these statements, the account stood +thus:--for regulation there was one; against all abolition there were +four; and for the total abolition of the trade five hundred and +nineteen. + +On the 2nd of April Mr. Wilberforce moved the order of the day; which +having been agreed to, Sir William Dolben was put into the chair. + +He then began by soliciting the candid attention of the West Indians to +what he was going to deliver to the House. However others might have +censured them indiscriminately, he had always himself made a distinction +between them and their system. It was the latter only which he +reprobated. If aristocracy had been thought a worse form of government +than monarchy, because the people had many tyrants instead of one, how +objectionable must be that form of it, which existed in our colonies! +Arbitrary power could be bought there by any one, who could buy a slave. +The fierceness of it was doubtless restrained by an elevation of mind in +many, as arising from a consciousness of superior rank and consequence: +but, alas! it was too often exercised there by the base and vulgar. The +more liberal, too, of the planters were not resident upon their estates. +Hence a promiscuous censure of them would be unjust, though their system +would undoubtedly be odious. + +As for the cure of this monstrous evil, he had shown, last year, that +internal regulations would not produce it. These could have no effect, +while the evidence of slaves was inadmissible. What would be the +situation of the bulk of the people of this country, if only gentlemen +of five hundred a-year were admitted as evidences in our courts of law? +Neither was the cure of it in the emancipation of the slaves. He did not +deny that he wished them this latter blessing. But, alas, in their +present degraded state, they were unfit for it! Liberty was the child of +reason and order. It was, indeed, a plant of celestial growth, but the +soil must be prepared for its reception. He, who would see it flourish +and bring forth its proper fruit, must not think it sufficient to let it +shoot in unrestrained licentiousness. But if this inestimable blessing +was ever to be imparted to them, the cause must be removed, which +obstructed its introduction. In short, no effectual remedy could be +found but in the abolition of the Slave Trade. + +He then took a copious view of the advantages, which would arise both to +the master and to the slave, if this traffic were done away; and having +recapitulated and answered the different objections to such a measure, +he went to that part of the subject, in which he described himself to be +most interested. + +He had shown, he said, last year, that Africa was exposed to all the +horrors of war; and that most of these wars had their origin in the +Slave Trade. It was then said, in reply, that the natural barbarity of +the natives was alone sufficient to render their country a scene of +carnage. This was triumphantly instanced in the King of Dahomey. But his +honourable friend Lord Muncaster, then in the House, had proved in his +interesting publication, which had appeared since, called _Historical +Sketches of the Slave Trade, and of its Effects in Africa_, addressed to +the people of Great Britain, that the very cruelties of this king, on +which so much stress had been laid, were committed by him in a war, +which had been undertaken expressly to punish an adjacent people for +having stolen some of his subjects and sold them for slaves. + +He had shown, also, last year, that kings were induced to seize and sell +their subjects, and individuals each other, in consequence of the +existence of the Slave Trade. + +He had shown, also, that the administration of justice was perverted, so +as to become a fertile source of supply to this inhuman traffic; that +every crime was punished by slavery; that false accusations were made to +procure convicts; and that even the judges had a profit on the +convictions. + +He had shown again, that many acts of violence were perpetrated by the +Europeans themselves. But he would now relate others which had happened +since. The captain of an English vessel, lying in the river Cameroons, +sent his boat with three sailors and a slave to get water. A Black +trader seized the latter, and took him away. He alleged in his defence, +that the captain owed him goods to a greater amount than the value of +the slave; and that he would not pay him. This being told on board, the +captain, and a part of his crew, who were compelled to blacken their +naked bodies that they might appear like the natives, went on shore at +midnight, armed with muskets and cutlasses. They fired on the trader's +dwelling, and killed three of his children on the spot. The trader, +being badly wounded, died while they were dragging him to the boat; and +his wife, being wounded also, died in half an hour after she was on +board the ship. Resistance having been made to these violent +proceedings, some of the sailors were wounded, and one was killed. + +Some weeks after this affray, a chieftain of the name of Quarmo went on +board the same vessel to borrow some cutlasses and muskets. He was +going, he said, into the country to make war; and the captain should +have half of his booty. So well understood were the practices of the +trade, that his request was granted. Quarmo, however, and his +associates, finding things favourable to their design, suddenly seized +the captain, threw him overboard, hauled him into their canoe, and +dragged him to the shore; where another party of the natives, lying in +ambush, seized such of the crew as were absent from the ship. But how +did these savages behave, when they had these different persons in their +power? Did they not instantly retaliate by murdering them all? No--they +only obliged the captain to give an order on the vessel to pay his +debts. This fact came out only two: months ago in a trial in the Court +of Common Pleas--not in trial for piracy and murder, but in the trial of +a civil suit, instituted by some of the poor sailors, to whom the owners +refused their wages, because the natives, on account of the villainous +conduct of their captain, had kept them from their vessel by detaining +them as prisoners on shore. This instance, he said, proved the dreadful +nature of the Slave Trade, its cruelty, its perfidy, and its effect on +the Africans as well as on the Europeans, who carried it on. The cool +manner in which the transaction was conducted on both sides, showed that +these practices were not novel. It showed also the manner of doing +business in the trade. It must be remembered, too, that these +transactions were carrying on at the very time when the inquiry +concerning this trade was going forward in Parliament, and whilst the +witnesses of his opponents were strenuously denying not only the actual, +but the possible, existence of any such depredations. + +But another instance happened only in August last. Six British ships, +the Thomas, Captain Philips; the Wasp, Captain Hutchinson; the Recovery, +Captain Kimber, of Bristol; the Martha, Captain Houston; the Betsey, +Captain Doyle; and the Amachree, (he believed,) Captain Lee, of +Liverpool; were anchored off the town of Calabar. This place was the +scene of a dreadful massacre about twenty years before. The captains of +these vessels, thinking that the natives asked too much for their +slaves, held a consultation, how they should proceed; and agreed to fire +upon the town unless their own terms were complied with. On a certain +evening they notified their determination to the traders; and told them, +that, if they continued obstinate, they would put it into execution the +next morning. In this they kept their word. They brought sixty-six guns +to bear upon the town; and fired on it for three hours. Not a shot was +returned. A canoe then went to offer terms of accommodation. The parties +however not agreeing, the firing recommenced; more damage was done; and +the natives were forced into submission. There were no certain accounts +of their loss. Report said that fifty were killed; but some were seen +lying badly wounded, and others in the agonies of death by those who +went afterwards on shore. + +He would now say a few words relative to the Middle Passage, principally +to show, that regulation could not effect a cure of the evil there. Mr. +Isaac Wilson had stated in his evidence, that the ship, in which he +sailed, only three years ago, was of three hundred and seventy tons; and +that she carried six hundred and two slaves. Of these she lost one +hundred and fifty-five. There were three or four other vessels in +company with her, and which belonged to the same owners. One of these +carried four hundred and fifty, and buried two hundred; another carried +four hundred and sixty-six, and buried seventy-three; another five +hundred and forty-six, and burled one hundred and fifty-eight; and from +the four together, after the landing of their cargoes, two hundred and +twenty died. He fell in with another vessel, which had lost three +hundred and sixty-two; but the number, which had been bought, was not +specified. Now if to these actual deaths, during and immediately after +the voyage, we were to add the subsequent loss in the seasoning, and to +consider that this would be greater than ordinary in cargoes which were +landed in such a sickly state, we should find a mortality, which, if it +were only general for a few months, would entirely depopulate the globe. + +But he would advert to what Mr. Wilson said, when examined, as a +surgeon, as to the causes of these losses, and particularly on board his +own ship, where he had the means of ascertaining them. The substance of +his reply was this--That most of the slaves laboured under a fixed +melancholy, which now and then broke out into lamentations and plaintive +songs, expressive of the loss of their relations, friends, and country. +So powerfully did this sorrow operate, that many of them attempted in +various ways to destroy themselves, and three actually effected it. +Others obstinately refused to take sustenance; and when the whip and +other violent means were used to compel them to eat, they looked up in +the face of the officer, who unwillingly executed this painful task, and +said, with a smile, in their own language, "Presently we shall be no +more." This, their unhappy state of mind, produced a general languor and +debility, which were increased in many instances by an unconquerable +aversion to food, arising partly from sickness, and partly, to use the +language of the slave-captains, from sulkiness. These causes naturally +produced the flux. The contagion spread; several were carried off daily; +and the disorder, aided by so many powerful auxiliaries, resisted the +power of medicine. And it is worth while to remark, that these grievous +sufferings were not owing either to want of care on the part of the +owners, or to any negligence or harshness of the captain; for Mr. Wilson +declared, that his ship was as well fitted out, and the crew and slaves +as well treated, as anybody could reasonably expect. + +He would now go to another ship. That, in which Mr. Claxton sailed as a +surgeon, afforded a repetition of all the horrid circumstances which had +been described. Suicide was attempted, and effected; and the same +barbarous expedients were adopted to compel the slaves to continue an +existence, which they considered as too painful to be endured. The +mortality, also, was as great. And yet here, again, the captain was in +no wise to blame. But this vessel had sailed since the regulating act. +Nay, even in the last year, the deaths on shipboard would be found to +have been between ten and eleven per cent, on the whole number exported. +In truth, the House could not reach the cause of this mortality by all +their regulations. Until they could cure a broken heart--until they +could legislate for the affections, and bind by their statutes the +passions and feelings of the mind, their labour would be in vain. + +Such were the evils of the Passage. But evils were conspicuous +everywhere in this trade. Never was there, indeed, a system so replete +with wickedness and cruelty. To whatever part of it we turned our eyes, +whether to Africa, the Middle Passage, or the West Indies, we could find +no comfort, no satisfaction, no relief. It was the gracious ordinance of +Providence, both in the natural and moral world, that good should often +arise out of evil. Hurricanes cleared the air; and the propagation of +truth was promoted by persecution, Pride, vanity, and profusion +contributed often; in their remoter consequences, to the happiness of +mankind. In common, what was in itself evil and vicious, was permitted +to carry along with it some circumstances of palliation. The Arab was +hospitable; the robber brave. We did not necessarily find cruelty +associated with fraud, or meanness with injustice. But here the case was +far otherwise. It was the prerogative of this detested traffic to +separate from evil its concomitant good, and to reconcile discordant +mischiefs. It robbed war of its generosity; it deprived peace of its +security: we saw in it the vices of polished society, without its +knowledge or its comforts; and the evils of barbarism without its +simplicity. No age, no sex, no rank, no condition, was exempt from the +fatal influence of this wide-wasting calamity. Thus it attained to the +fullest measure of pure, unmixed, unsophisticated wickedness; and, +scorning all competition and comparison, it stood without a rival in the +secure, undisputed, possession of its detestable preeminence. + +But, after all this, wonderful to relate, this execrable traffic had +been defended on the ground of benevolence! It had been said, that the +slaves were captives and convicts, who, if we were not to carry them +away, would be sacrificed, and many of them at the funerals of people of +rank, according to the savage custom of Africa. He had shown, however, +that our supplies of slaves were obtained from other quarters than +these. But he would wave this consideration for the present. Had it not +been acknowledged by his opponents that the custom of ransoming slaves +prevailed in Africa? With respect to human sacrifices, he did not deny +that there might have been some instances of these; but they had not +been proved to be more frequent than amongst other barbarous nations; +and, where they existed, being acts of religion, they would not be +dispensed with for the sake of commercial gain. In fact, they had +nothing to do with the Slave Trade; only perhaps, if it were abolished, +they might, by means of the civilization which would follow, be done +away. + +But, exclusively of these sacrifices, it had been asserted, that it was +kindness to the inhabitants to take them away from their own country. +But what said the historians of Africa, long before the question of the +abolition was started? "Axim," says Bosman, "is cultivated, and abounds +with numerous large and beautiful villages: its inhabitants are +industriously employed in trade, fishing, or agriculture."--"The +inhabitants of Adom always expose large quantities of corn to sale, +besides what they want for their own use."--"The people of Acron husband +their grounds and time so well, that every year produces a plentiful +harvest." Speaking of the Fetu country, he says,--"Frequently, when +walking through it, I have seen it abound with fine well-built and +populous towns, agreeably enriched with vast quantities of corn and +cattle, palm-wine, and oil. The inhabitants all apply themselves, +without distinction, to agriculture; some sow corn; others press oil, +and draw wine from the palm-trees." + +Smith, who was sent out by the royal African company in 1726, assures +us, "that the discerning natives account it their greatest unhappiness, +that they were ever visited by the Europeans. They say that we +Christians introduced the traffic of slaves; and that before our coming +they lived in peace. But, say they, it is observable, wherever +Christianity comes, there come swords and guns, and powder and ball, +with it." + +"The Europeans," says Bruce, "are far from desiring to act as +peace-makers among them. It would be too contrary to their interests; +for the only object of their wars is to carry off slaves; and, as these +form the principal part of their traffic, they would be apprehensive of +drying up the source of it, were they to encourage the people to live +well together." + +"The neighbourhood of the Damel and Tin keep them perpetually at war, +the benefit of which accrues to the Company, who buy all the prisoners +made on either side; and the more there are to sell, the greater is +their profit; for the only end of their armaments is to make captives, +to sell them to the white traders." + +Artus, of Dantzic, says, that in his time "those liable to pay fines +were banished till the fine was paid; when they returned to their houses +and possessions." + +Bosman affirms, "that formerly all crimes in Africa were compensated by +fine or restitution, and, where restitution was impracticable, by +corporal punishment." + +Moore says, "Since this trade has been used, all punishments have been +changed into slavery. There being an advantage in such condemnation, +they strain the crimes very hard, in order to get the benefit of selling +the criminal. Not only murder, theft, and adultery, are punished by +selling the criminal for a slave, but every trifling crime is punished +in the same manner." + +Loyer affirms that "the King of Sain, on the least pretence, sells his +subjects for European goods. He is so tyrannically severe, that he makes +a whole village responsible for the fault of one inhabitant; and on the +least offence sells them all for slaves." + +Such, he said, were the testimonies, not of persons whom he had +summoned; not of friends of the abolition; but of men who were +themselves, many of them, engaged in the Slave Trade. Other testimonies +might be added; but these were sufficient to refute the assertions of +his opponents, and to show the kind services we had done to Africa by +the introduction of this trade. + +He would just touch upon the argument, so often repeated, that other +nations would carry on the Slave Trade, if we abandoned it. But how did +we know this? Had not Denmark given a noble example to the contrary? She +had consented to abolish the trade in ten years; and had she not done +this, even though we, after an investigation for nearly five years, had +ourselves hung back? But what might not be expected, if we were to take +up the cause in earnest; if we were to proclaim to all nations the +injustice of the trade, and to solicit their concurrence in the +abolition of it! He hoped the representatives of the nation would not be +less just than the people. The latter had stepped forward, and expressed +their sense more generally by petitions, than in any instance in which +they had ever before interfered. To see this great cause thus triumphing +over distinctions and prejudices was a noble spectacle. Whatever might +be said of our political divisions, such a sight had taught us that +there were subjects still beyond the reach of party; that there was a +point of elevation, where we ascended above the jarring of the +discordant elements, which ruffled and agitated the vale below. In our +ordinary atmosphere clouds and vapours obscured the air, and we were the +sport of a thousand conflicting winds and adverse currents; but here we +moved in a higher region, where all was pure and clear, and free from +perturbation and discomposure: + + + As some tall cliff, that lifts its awful form, + Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm; + Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, + Eternal sunshine settles on its head. + + +Here then, on this august eminence, he hoped we should build the Temple +of Benevolence; that we should lay its foundation deep in Truth and +Justice; and that we should inscribe upon its gates, "Peace and Good +Will to Men." Here we should offer the first-fruits of our benevolence, +and endeavour to compensate, if possible, for the injuries we had +brought upon our fellow-men. + +He would only now observe, that his conviction of the indispensable +necessity of immediately abolishing this trade remained as strong as +ever. Let those who talked of allowing three or four years to the +continuance of it, reflect on the disgraceful scenes which had passed +last year. As for himself, he would wash his hands of the blood which +would be spilled in this horrid interval. He could not, however, but +believe, that the hour was come, when we should put a final period to +the existence of this cruel traffic. Should he unhappily be mistaken, he +would never desert the cause; but to the last moment of his life he +would exert his utmost powers in its support. He would now move, "That +it is the opinion of this committee, that the trade carried on by +British subjects for the purpose of obtaining slaves on the coast of +Africa, ought to be abolished." + +Mr. Baillie was in hopes that the friends of the abolition would have +been contented with the innocent blood which had been already shed. The +great island of St. Domingo had been torn to pieces by insurrections. +The most dreadful barbarities had been perpetrated there. In the year +1789, the imports into it exceeded five millions sterling. The exports +from it in the same year amounted to six millions; and the trade +employed three hundred thousand tons of shipping, and thirty thousand +seamen. This fine island, thus advantageously situated, had been lost in +consequence of the agitation of the question of the Slave Trade. Surely +so much mischief ought to have satisfied those who supported it; but +they required the total destruction of all the West Indian colonies, +belonging to Great Britain, to complete the ruin. + +The honourable gentleman, who had just spoken, had dwelt upon the +enormities of the Slave Trade. He was far from denying that many acts of +inhumanity might accompany it; but as human nature was much the same +everywhere, it would be unreasonable to expect among African traders, or +the inhabitants of our islands, a degree of perfection in morals, which +was not to be found in Great Britain itself. Would any man estimate the +character of the English nation by what was to be read in the records of +the Old Bailey? He himself, however, had lived sixteen years in the West +Indies, and he could bear testimony to the general good usage of the +slaves. + +Before the agitation of this impolitic question the slaves were +contented with their situation. There was a mutual confidence between +them and their masters: and this continued to be the case till the new +doctrines were broached. But now depots of arms were necessary on every +estate; and the scene was totally reversed. Nor was their religious then +inferior to their civil state. When the English took possession of +Grenada, where his property lay, they found them baptized and instructed +in the principles of the Roman Catholic faith. The priests of that +persuasion had indeed been indefatigable in their vocation; so that +imported Africans generally obtained within twelve months a tolerable +idea of their religious duties. He had seen the slaves there go through +the public mass in a manner, and with a fervency, which would have done +credit to more civilized societies. But the case was now altered; for, +except where the Moravians had been, there was no trace in our islands +of an attention to their religious interests. + +It had been said that their punishments were severe. There might be +instances of cruelty; but these were not general. Many of them were +undoubtedly ill disposed; though not more, according to their number, on +a plantation, than in a regiment, or in a ship's crew. Had we never +heard of seamen being flogged from ship to ship, or of soldiers dying in +the very act of punishment? Had we not also heard, even in this country +of boasted liberty, of seamen being seized, and carried away, when +returning from distant voyages, after an absence of many years; and this +without even being allowed to see their wives and families? As to +distressed objects, he maintained, that there was more wretchedness and +poverty in St. Giles's, than in all the West Indian islands belonging to +Great Britain. + +He would now speak of the African and West Indian trades. The imports +and exports of these amounted to upwards of ten millions annually; and +they gave employment to three hundred thousand tons of shipping, and to +about twenty-five thousand seamen. These trades had been sanctioned by +our ancestors in parliament. The acts for this purpose might be classed +under three heads. First, they were such as declared the colonies, and +the trade thereof, advantageous to Great Britain, and therefore entitled +to her protection. Secondly, such as authorized, protected, and +encouraged the trade to Africa, as advantageous in itself, and necessary +to the welfare and existence of the sugar colonies: and, Thirdly, such +as promoted and secured loans of money to the proprietors of the said +colonies, either from British subjects, or from foreigners. These +acts[A], he apprehended, ought to satisfy every person of the legality +and usefulness of these trades. They were enacted in reigns +distinguished for the production of great and enlightened characters. We +heard then of no wild and destructive doctrines like the present. These +were reserved for this age of novelty and innovation. But he must remind +the House, that the inhabitants of our islands had as good a right to +the protection of their property, as the inhabitants of Great Britain. +Nor could it be diminished in any shape without full compensation. The +proprietors of lands in the ceded islands, which were purchased of +government under specific conditions of settlement, ought to be +indemnified. They also (of whom he was one), who had purchased the +territory granted by the crown to General Monkton, in the island, of St. +Vincent, ought to be indemnified also. The sale of this had gone on +briskly, till it was known that a plan was in agitation for the +abolition of the Slave Trade. Since that period, the original purchasers +had done little or nothing, and they had many hundred acres on hand, +which would be of no value, if the present question was carried. In +fact, they had a right to compensation. The planters generally spent +their estates in this country. They generally educated their children in +it. They had never been found seditious, or rebellious; and they +demanded of the Parliament of Great Britain that protection, which, upon +the principles of good faith, it was in duty bound to afford them in +common with the rest of his majesty's loyal subjects. + +[Footnote A: Here he quoted them specifically.] + +Mr. Vaughan stated that, being a West Indian by birth, and connected +with the islands, he could speak from his own knowledge. In the early +part of his life he was strongly in favour of the abolition of the Slave +Trade. He had been educated by Dr. Priestley, and the father of Mrs. +Barbauld; who were both of them friends to that question. Their +sentiments he had imbibed; but, although bred at the feet of Gamaliel, +he resolved to judge for himself, and he left England for Jamaica. + +He found the situation of the slaves much better than he had imagined. +Setting aside liberty, they were as well off as the poor in Europe. They +had little want of clothes or fuel; they had a house and garden found +them, were never imprisoned for debts, nor deterred from marrying +through fear of being unable to support a family; their orphans and +widows were taken care of, as they themselves were when old and +disabled; they had medical attendance without expense; they had private +property, which no master ever took from them; and they were resigned to +their situation, and looked for nothing beyond it. Perhaps persons might +have been prejudiced by living in the towns, to which slaves were often +sent for punishment; and where there were many small proprietors; or by +seeing no negro otherwise than as belonging to the labouring poor; but +they appeared to him to want nothing but liberty; and it was only +occasionally that they were abused. + +There were two prejudices with respect to the colonies, which he would +notice. The first was, that cruel usage occasioned the inequality of +births and deaths among the slaves. But did cruelty cause the excess of +deaths above births in the city of London? No--this excess had other +causes. So it had among the slaves. Of these more males were imported +than females: they were dissolute too in their morals; they had also +diseases peculiar to themselves. But in those islands where they nearly +kept up their numbers, there was this difficulty, that the equality was +preserved by the increase on one estate compensating for the decrease on +another. These estates, however, would not interchange their numbers; +whereas, where freedom prevailed, the free labourers circulated from one +employer to another, and appeared wherever they were wanted. + +The second was, that all chastisement of the slaves was cruelty. But +this was not true. Their owners generally withdrew them from public +justice; so that they, who would have been publicly executed elsewhere, +were often kept alive by their masters, and were found punished again +and again for repeating their faults. Distributive justice occasioned +many punishments; as one slave was to be protected against every other +slave: and, when one pilfered from another, then the master interfered. +These punishments were to be distinguished from such as arose from +enforcing labour, or from the cruelty of their owners. Indeed he had +gone over the islands, and he had seen but little ill usage. He had seen +none on the estate where he resided. The whip, the stocks, and +confinement, were all the modes of punishment he had observed in other +places. Some slaves belonging to his father were peculiarly well off. +They saved money, and spent it in their own way. + +But notwithstanding all he had said, he allowed that there was room for +improvement; and particularly for instilling into the slaves the +principles of religion. Where this should be realized, there would be +less punishment, more work, more marriages, more issue, and more +attachment to masters. Other improvements would be the establishment of +medical societies; the introduction of task-work; and grants of premiums +and honorary distinctions both to fathers and mothers, according to the +number of children which they should rear. Besides this, Negro evidence +should be allowed in the courts of law, it being left to the discretion +of the court or jury to take or reject it, according to the nature of +the case. Cruel masters also should be kept in order in various ways. +They should he liable to have their slaves taken from them, and put in +trust. Every instrument of punishment should be banished, except the +whip. The number of lashes should be limited; and the punishment should +not be repeated till after intervals. These and other improvements +should be immediately adopted by the planters. The character of the +exemplary among them was hurt by being confounded with that of lower and +baser men. He concluded by stating, that the owners of slaves were +entitled to compensation, if, by means of the abolition, they should not +be able to find labourers for the cultivation of their lands[A]. + +[Footnote A: Mr. Vaughan declared in a future stage of the debate, that +he wished to see a prudent termination both of the Slave Trade and of +slavery; and that, though he was the eldest son of his father, he never +would, on any consideration, become the owner of a slave.] + +Mr. Henry Thornton conceived, that the two last speakers had not spoken +to the point. The first had described the happy state of the slaves in +the West Indies. The latter had made similar representations; but yet +had allowed, that much improvement might be made in their condition. But +this had nothing to do with the question then before them. The manner of +procuring slaves in Africa was the great evil to be remedied. Africa was +to be stripped of its inhabitants to supply a population for the West +Indies. There was a Dutch proverb, which said, "My son; get money, +honestly if you can--but get money:" or, in other words, "Get slaves, +honestly if you can--but get slaves." This was the real grievance; and +the two honourable gentlemen, by confining their observations to the +West Indies, had entirely overlooked it. + +Though this evil had been fully proved, he could not avoid stating to +the House some new facts, which had come to his knowledge as a director +of the Sierra Leone Company, and which would still further establish it. +The consideration, that they had taken place since the discussion of the +last year on this subject, obliged him to relate them. + +Mr. Falconbridge, agent to the Company, sitting one evening in Sierra +Leone, heard a shout, and immediately afterwards the report of a gun. +Fearing an attack, he armed forty of the settlers, and rushed with them +to the place from whence the noise came. He found a poor wretch, who had +been crossing from a neighbouring village, in the possession of a party +of kidnappers, who were tying his hands. Mr. Falconbridge, however, +dared not rescue him, lest, in the defenceless state of his own town, +retaliation might be made upon him. + +At another time a young woman, living half a mile off, was sold, without +any criminal charge, to one of the slave-ships. She was well acquainted +with the agent's wife, and had been with her only the day before. Her +cries were heard; but it was impossible to relieve her. + +At another time a young lad, one of the free settlers who went from +England, was caught by a neighbouring chief, as he was straggling alone +from home, and sold for a slave. The pretext was, that some one in the +town of Sierra Leone had committed an offence. Hence the first person +belonging to it, who could be seized, was to be punished. Happily the +free settlers saw him in his chains; and they recovered him, before he +was conveyed to the ship. + +To mark still more forcibly the scenes of misery, to which the Slave +Trade gave birth, he would mention a case stated to him in a letter by +King Naimbanna. It had happened to respectable person, in no less than +three instances, to have some branches of his family kidnapped, and +carried off to the West Indies. At one time three young men, Corpro, +Banna, and Marbrour, were decoyed on board a Danish slave-ship, under +pretence of buying something, and were taken away. At another time +another relation piloted a vessel down the river. He begged to be put on +shore, when he came opposite to his own town; but he was pressed to +pilot her to the river's mouth. The captain then pleaded the +impracticability of putting him on shore; carried him to Jamaica; and +sold him for a slave. Fortunately, however, by means of a letter, which +was conveyed there, the man, by the assistance of the governor, was sent +back to Sierra Leone. At another time another relation was also +kidnapped. But he had not the good fortune, like the former, to return. + +He would mention one other instance. A son had sold his own father, for +whom he obtained a considerable price: for, as the father was rich in +domestic slaves, it was not doubted that he would offer largely for his +ransom. The old man accordingly gave twenty-two of these in exchange for +himself. The rest, however, being from that time filled with +apprehensions of being on some ground or other sold to the slave-ships, +fled to the mountains of Sierra Leone, where they now dragged on a +miserable existence. The son himself was sold, in his turn, soon after. +In short, the whole of that unhappy peninsula, as he learnt from +eye-witnesses, had been desolated by the trade in slaves. Towns were +seen standing without inhabitants all over the coast; in several of +which the agent of the Company had been. There was nothing but distrust +among the inhabitants. Every one, if he stirred from home, felt himself +obliged to be armed. + +Such was the nature of the Slave Trade. It had unfortunately obtained +the name of a trade; and many had been deceived by the appellation; but +it was war, and not trade. It was a mass of crimes, and not commerce. It +was that which prevented the introduction of a trade in Africa; for it +was only by clearing and cultivating the lands, that the climate could +be made healthy for settlements; but this wicked traffic, by dispersing +the inhabitants, and causing the lands to remain uncultivated, made the +coast unhealthy to Europeans. He had found, in attempting to establish a +colony there, that it was an obstacle which opposed itself to him in +innumerable ways; it created more embarrassments than all the natural +impediments of the country; and it was more hard to contend with than +any difficulties of climate, soil, or natural disposition of the people. + +He would say a few words relative to the numerous petitions which were +then on the table of the House. They had shown, in an extraordinary +manner, the opinion of the people. He did not wish to turn this into a +constitutional question; but he would observe, that it was of the utmost +consequence to the maintenance of the constitution of this country, that +the reputation of parliament should be maintained. But nothing could +prejudice its character so much, as a vote, which should lead the people +to believe that the legislative body was the more corrupt part of it, +and that it was slow to adopt moral principles. + +It had been often insinuated that parliament, by interfering in this +trade, departed from its proper functions; No idea could be more absurd; +for, was it not its duty to correct abuses? and what abuses were greater +than robbery and murder? He was, indeed, anxious for the abolition. He +desired it, as a commercial man, on account of the commercial character +of the country. He desired it for the reputation of parliament, on which +so materially depended the preservation of our happy constitution; but +most of all he prayed for it for the sake of those eternal principle's +of justice, which it was the duty of nations, as well as of individuals, +to support. + +Colonel Tarleton repeated his arguments of the last year. In addition to +these he inveighed bitterly against the abolitionists, as a junto of +secretaries, sophists, enthusiasts, and fanatics. He condemned the +abolition as useless, unless other nations would take it up. He brought +to the recollection of the House the barbarous scenes which had taken +place it in St. Domingo, all of which, he said, had originated in the +discussion of this question. He described the alarms, in which the +inhabitants of our own islands were kept, lest similar scenes should +occur from the same cause. He ridiculed the petitions on the table. +Itinerant clergymen, mendicant physicians, and others, had extorted +signatures from the sick, the indigent, and the traveller. School-boys +were invited to sign them, under the promise of a holiday. He had +letters to produce, which would prove all these things though he was not +authorized to give up the names of those who had written them. + +Mr. Montagu said, that, in the last session, he had simply entered his +protest against the trade; but now He could be no longer silent; and as +there were many, who had conceived regulation to be more desirable than +abolition, he would himself to that subject. + +Regulation, as it related to the manner of procuring slaves, was utterly +impossible; for how could we know the case of each individual, whom we +forced away into bondage? Could we establish tribunals all along the +coast, and in every ship, to find it out? What judges could we get for +such an office? But, if this could not be done upon the coast, how could +we ascertain the justness of the captivity of by far the greatest +number, who were brought from immense distances inland? + +He would not dwell upon the proof of the inefficiency of regulations, as +to the Middle Passage. His honourable friend, Mr. Wilberforce, had +shown, that, however the mortality might have been lessened in some +ships by the regulations of Sir William Dolben, yet, wherever a +contagious disorder broke out, the greatest part of the cargo was swept +away. But what regulations by the British parliament could prevent these +contagions, or remove them suddenly, when they appeared? + +Neither would regulations be effectual, as they related to the +protection of the slaves in the West Indies. It might, perhaps, be +enacted, as Mr. Vaughan had suggested, that their punishments should be +moderate; and that the number of lashes should be limited. But the +colonial legislatures had already done as much, as the magic of words +alone could do, upon this subject; yet the evidence upon the table +clearly proved, that the only protection of slaves was in the clemency +of their masters. Any barbarity might be exercised with impunity, +provided no White person were to see it, though it happened in the sight +of a thousand slaves. Besides, by splitting the offence, and inflicting +the punishment at intervals, the law could be evaded, although the fact +was within the reach of the evidence of a White man. Of this evasion +Captain Cook, of the 89th regiment, had given a shocking instance; and +Chief Justice Ottley had candidly confessed, that "he could devise no +method of bringing a master, so offending, to justice, while the +evidence of the slave continued inadmissible." But perhaps councils of +protection, and guardians of the slaves, might be appointed. This, +again, was an expedient which sounded well, but which would be nugatory +and absurd. What person would risk the comfort of his life by the +exercise of so invidious an interference? But supposing that one or two +individuals could be found, who would sacrifice all their time, and the +friendship of their associates, for the good of the slaves; what could +they effect? Could they be in all places at once? But even if acts of +barbarity should be related to them, how were they to come at the proof +of them? + +It appeared, then, that no regulations could be effectual until the +slaves were admitted to give their evidence; but to admit them to this +privilege in their present state, would be to endanger the safety and +property of their masters. Mr. Vaughan had, however, recommended this +measure with limitations, but it would produce nothing but discontent; +for how were the slaves to be persuaded that it was fit they should be +admitted to speak the truth, and then be disbelieved and disregarded? +What a fermentation would such conduct naturally excite in men dismissed +with injuries unredressed, though abundantly proved, in their +apprehension, by their testimony? In fact, no regulations would do. +There was no cure for these evils, but in the abolition of the Slave +Trade. He called upon the planters to concur with his honourable friend, +Mr. Wilberforce, in this great measure. He wished them to consider the +progress which the opinion of the injustice of this trade was making in +the nation at large, as manifested by the petitions; which had almost +obstructed the proceedings of the House by their perpetual introduction. +It was impossible for them to stifle this great question. As for +himself, he would renew his profession of last year, that he would never +cease, but with life, to promote so glorious an end. + +Mr. Whitbread said, that even if he could conceive, that the trade was, +as some had asserted it to be, founded on principles of humanity; that +the Africans were rescued from death in their own country; that, upon +being carried to the West Indies, they were put under kind masters; that +their labour there was easy; that at evening they returned cheerful to +their homes; that in sickness they were attended with care; and that +their old age was rendered comfortable; even then he would vote for the +abolition of the Slave Trade, inasmuch as he was convinced that that +which was fundamentally wrong, no practice could justify. + +No eloquence could persuade him, that the Africans were torn from their +country and their dearest connexions, merely that they might lead a +happier life; or that they could be placed under the uncontrolled +dominion of others without suffering. Arbitrary power would spoil the +hearts of the best; hence would arise tyranny on the one side, and a +sense of injury on the other. Hence the passions would be let loose, and +a state of perpetual enmity would follow. + +He needed only to go to the accounts of those who defended the system of +slavery, to show that it was cruel. He was forcibly struck last year by +an expression of an honourable member, an advocate for the trade, who, +when he came to speak of the slaves, on selling off the stock of a +plantation, said that they fetched less than the common price, because +they were damaged. Damaged! What! Were they goods and chattels? What an +idea was this to hold out of our fellow-creatures! We might imagine how +slaves were treated, if they could be spoken of in such a manner. +Perhaps these unhappy people had lingered out the best part of their +lives in the service of their master. Able then to do but little, they +were sold for little! and the remaining substance of their sinews was to +be pressed out by another, yet more hardened than the former, and who +had made a calculation of their vitals accordingly. + +As another proof, he would mention a passage in a pamphlet, in which the +author, describing the happy situation of the slaves, observed, that a +good negro never wanted a character; a bad one could always be detected +by his weals and scars. What was this but to say, that there were +instruments in use which left indelible marks, behind them; and who +would say that these were used justly? + +An honourable gentleman, Mr. Vaughan, had said, that setting aside +slavery, the slaves were better off than the poor in this country. But +what was it that we wished to abolish! Was it not the Slave Trade, which +would destroy in time the cruel distinction he had mentioned? The same +honourable gentleman had also expressed his admiration of their +resignation; but might it not be that resignation which was the +consequence of despair? + +Colonel Tarleton had insinuated that the petitions on the table had been +obtained in an objectionable manner. He had the honour to present one +from his constituents, which he would venture to say had originated with +themselves, and that there did not exist more respectable names in the +kingdom than those of the persons who had signed it. He had also +asserted, that there was a strong similitude in their tenour and +substance, as if they had been manufactured by the same persons. This +was by no means to be wondered at. There was surely but one plain tale +to tell, and it was not surprising that it had been clothed in nearly +the same expressions. There was but one boon to ask, and that was--the +abolition of this wicked trade. + +It had been said by another, (Mr. Baillie,) that the horrible +insurrections in St. Domingo arose from the discussion of the question +of the Slave Trade. He denied the assertion; and maintained that they +were the effect of the trade itself. There was a point of endurance, +beyond which human nature could not go, at which the mind of man rose by +its native elasticity with a spring and violence proportioned to the +degree to which it had been depressed. The calamities in St. Domingo +proceeded from the Slave Trade alone; and, if it were continued, similar +evils were to be apprehended in our own islands. The cruelties which the +slaves had perpetrated in that unfortunate colony they had learnt from +their masters. Had not an African eyes? Had he not ears? Had he not +organs, senses, and passions? If you pricked him, would he not feel the +puncture, and bleed? If you poisoned him, would he not die? and, if you +wronged him, would he not revenge? But he had said sufficient, for he +feared he could not better the instruction. + +Mr. Milbank would only just observe, that the policy of the measure of +the abolition was as great as its justice was undeniable. Where slavery +existed, everything was out of its natural place. All improvement was at +an end; there must also, from the nature of the human heart, be +oppression. He warned the planters against the danger of fresh +importations, and invited their concurrence in the measure. + +Mr. Dundas (afterwards Viscount Melville) declared that he had always +been a warm friend to the abolition of the Slave Trade, though he +differed from Mr. Wilberforce as to the mode of effecting it. + +The abolitionists, and those on the opposite side of the question, had, +both of them, gone into extremes. The former were for the immediate and +abrupt annihilation of the trade; the latter considered it as +essentially necessary to the existence of the West Indian islands, and +therefore laid it down that it was to be continued for ever. Such was +the vast distance between the parties. He would now address himself to +each. + +He would say first, that he agreed with his honourable friend, Mr. +Wilberforce, in very material points. He believed the trade was not +founded in policy; that the continuation of it was not essential to the +preservation of our trade with the West Indian islands; and that the +slaves were not only to be maintained, but increased there, by natural +population. He agreed, too, as to the propriety of the abolition. But +when his honourable friend talked of direct and abrupt abolition, he +would submit it to him, whether he did not run counter to the prejudices +of those who were most deeply interested in the question; and whether, +if he could obtain his object without wounding these, it would not be +better to do it? Did he not also forget the sacred attention which +parliament had ever shown to the private interests and patrimonial +rights of individuals? + +Whatever idea men might then have of the African trade, certain it was +that they, who had connected themselves with it, had done it under the +sanction of parliament. It might also be well worth while to consider, +(though the conduct of other nations ought not to deter us from doing +our duty,) whether British subjects in the West Indies might not be +supplied with slaves under neutral flags. Now he believed it was +possible to avoid these objections, and at the same time to act in +harmony with the prejudices which had been mentioned. This might be done +by regulations, by which we should effect the end much more speedily +than by the way proposed. By regulations, he meant such as would +increase the breed of the slaves in the West Indies; such as would +ensure a moral education to their children; and such as would even in +time extinguish hereditary slavery. The extinction, however, of this was +not to be effected by allowing the son of an African slave to obtain his +freedom on the death of his parent. Such a son should be considered as +born free; he should then be educated at the expense of the person +importing his parents; and, when arrived at such a degree of strength as +might qualify him to labour, he should work for a term of years for the +payment of the expense of his education and maintenance. It was +impossible to emancipate the existing slaves at once; nor would such an +emancipation be of any immediate benefit to themselves; but this +observation would not apply to their descendants, if trained and +educated in the manner he had proposed. + +He would now address himself to those who adopted the opposite extreme; +and he thought he should not assume too much when he said, that if both +slavery and the Slave Trade could be abolished with safety to their +property, it deeply concerned their interests to do it. Such a measure, +also, would only be consistent with the principles of the British +constitution. It was surely strange that we, who were ourselves free, +should carry on a Slave Trade with Africa, and that we should never +think of introducing cultivation into the West Indies by free labourers. + +That such a measure would tend to their interest he had no doubt. Did +not all of them agree with Mr. Long, that the great danger in the West +Indies arose from the importation of the African slaves there? Mr. Long +had asserted, that all the insurrections there arose from these. If this +statement was true, how directly it bore upon the present question! But +we were told, also, by the same author, that the Slave Trade gave rise +to robbery, murder, and all kinds of depredations on the coast of +Africa. Had this been answered? No: except indeed it had been said that +the slaves were such as had been condemned for crimes. Well, then, the +imported Africans consisted of all the convicts, rogues, thieves, and +vagabonds in Africa. But would the West Indians choose to depend on +fresh supplies of these for the cultivation of their lands, and the +security of their islands, when it was also found that every +insurrection had arisen from them? It was plain the safety of the +islands was concerned in this question. There would be danger so long as +the trade lasted. The planters were, by these importations, creating the +engines of their own destruction. Surely they would act more to their +own interest if they would concur in extinguishing the trade, than by +standing up for its continuance. + +He would now ask them, what right they had to suppose that Africa would +for ever remain in a state of barbarism. If once an enlightened prince +were to rise up there, his first act would be to annihilate the Slave +Trade. If the light of heaven were ever to descend upon that continent, +it would directly occasion its downfall. It was their interest then to +contrive a mode of supplying labour, without trusting to precarious +importations from that quarter. They might rest assured that the trade +could not continue. He did not allude to the voice of the people in the +petitions then lying on the table of the House; but he knew certainly, +that an idea not only of the injustice, but of the impolicy, of this +trade had been long entertained by men of the most enlightened +understandings in this country. Was it then a prudent thing for them to +rest on this commerce for the further improvement of their property? + +There was a species of slavery, prevailing only a few years ago, in the +collieries in certain boroughs in Scotland. Emancipation there was +thought a duty by parliament: but what an opposition there was to the +measure! Nothing but ruin would be the consequence of it! After several +years struggle the bill was Carried. Within a year after, the ruin so +much talked of vanished in smoke, and there was an end of the business. +It had also been contended that Sir William Dolben's bill would be the +ruin of Liverpool: and yet one of its representatives had allowed, that +this bill had been of benefit to the owners of the slave-vessels there. +Was he then asking too much of the West Indians, to request a candid +consideration of the real ground of their alarms? He would conclude by +stating, that he meant to propose a middle way of proceeding. If there +was a number of members in the House, who thought with him, that this +trade ought to be ultimately abolished, but yet by moderate measures, +which should neither invade the property nor the prejudices of +individuals, he wished them to unite, and they might then reduce the +question to its proper limits. + +Mr. Addington, the speaker, (now Viscount Sidmouth,) professed himself +to be one of those moderate persons called upon by Mr. Dundas. He wished +to see some middle measure suggested. The fear of doing injury to the +property of others, had hitherto prevented him from giving an opinion +against a system, the continuance of which he could not countenance. + +He utterly abhorred the Slave Trade. A noble and learned lord, who had +now retired from the bench, said on a certain occasion, that he pitied +the loyalty of that man, who imagined that any epithet could aggravate +the crime of treason. So he himself knew of no language which could +aggravate the crime of the Slave Trade. It was sufficient for every +purpose of crimination, to assert, that man thereby was bought; and +sold, or that he was made subject to the despotism of man. But though he +thus acknowledged the justice due to a whole continent on the one side, +he confessed there were opposing claims of justice on the other. The +case of the West Indians deserved a tender consideration also. + +He doubted, if we were to relinquish the Slave Trade alone, whether it +might not be carried on still more barbarously than at present; and +whether, if we were to stop it altogether, the islands could keep up +their present stocks. It had been asserted that they could. But he, +thought that the stopping of the imputations could not be depended upon +for this purpose, so much as a plan for providing them with more +females. + +With the mode suggested by his right honourable friend, Mr. Dundas, he +was pleased, though he, did not wholly agree to it. He could not grant +liberty to the children born in the islands. He thought, also, that the +trade ought to be permitted for ten or twelve years longer, under such +arrangements as should introduce a kind of management among the slaves +there, favourable to their interests, and of course to their future +happiness. One species of regulation which he should propose, would be +greater encouragement to the importation of females than of males, by +means of a bounty on the former till their numbers should be found +equal. Rewards also might be given to those slaves who should raise a +certain number of children; and to those who should devise means of +lightening negro-labour. If the plan of his honourable friend should +comprehend these regulations, he would heartily concur in it. He wished +to see the Slave Trade abolished. Indeed it did not deserve the name of +a trade. It was not a trade, and ought not to be allowed. He was +satisfied, that in a few years it would cease to be the reproach of this +nation and the torment of Africa. But under regulations like these, it +would cease without any material injury to the interests of others. + +Mr. Fox said, that after what had fallen from the two last speakers, he +could remain no longer silent. Something so mischievous had come out, +and something so like a foundation had been laid for preserving, not +only for years to come, but for ever, this detestable traffic, that he +should feel himself wanting in his duty, if he were not to deprecate all +such deceptions and delusions upon the country. + +The honourable gentlemen had called themselves moderate men: but upon +this subject he neither felt, nor desired to feel, anything like a +sentiment of moderation. Their speeches had reminded him of a passage in +MIDDLETON'S _Life of Cicero_. The translation of it was defective, +though it would equally suit his purpose. He says, "To enter into a +man's house, and kill him, his wife, and family, in the night, is +certainly a most heinous crime, and deserving of death; but to break +open his house, to murder him, his wife, and all his children in the +night, may be still very right, provided it be done with moderation." +Now, was there anything more absurd in this passage, than to say, that +the Slave Trade might be carried on with moderation; for, if you could +not rob or murder a single man with moderation, with what moderation +could you pillage and wound a whole nation? In fact, the question of the +abolition was simply a question of justice. It was only, whether we +should authorize by law, respecting Africa, the commission of crimes, +for which, in this country, we should forfeit our lives: notwithstanding +which, it was to be treated, in the opinion of these honourable +gentlemen, with moderation. + +Mr. Addington had proposed to cure the disproportion of the sexes in the +islands, by a bounty on the importation of females; or, in other words, +by offering a premium to any crew of ruffians, who would tear them from +their native country. He would let loose a banditti against the most +weak and defenceless of the sex. He would occasion these to kill +fathers, husbands, and brothers, to get possession of their relatives, +the females, who, after this carnage, were to be reserved for--slavery. +He should like to see the man, who would pen such a moderate clause for +a British parliament. + +Mr. Dundas had proposed to abolish the Slave Trade, by bettering the +state of the slaves in the islands, and particularly that of their +offspring. His plan, with respect to the latter, was not a little +curious. They were to become free, when born; and then they were to be +educated, at the expense of those to whom their fathers belonged. But it +was clear, that they could not be educated for nothing. In order, +therefore, to repay this expense, they were to be slaves for ten or +fifteen years. In short, they were to have an education, which was to +qualify them to become freemen; and after they had been so educated, +they were to become slaves. But as this free education might possibly +unfit them for submitting to slavery; so, after they had been made to +bow under the yoke for ten or fifteen years, they might then, perhaps, +be equally unfit to become free; and therefore, might be retained as +slaves for a few years longer, if not for their whole lives. He never +heard of a scheme so moderate, and yet so absurd and visionary. + +The same honourable gentleman had observed, that the conduct of other +nations should not hinder us from doing, our duty; but yet neutrals +would furnish, our islands with slaves. What was the inference from this +moderate assertion, but that we might as well supply them ourselves? He +hoped, if we were yet to be supplied, it would never be by Englishmen. +We ought no longer to be concerned in such a crime. + +An adversary, Mr. Baillie, had said, that it would not be fair to take +the character of this country from the records of the Old Bailey. He did +not at all wonder, when the subject of the Slave Trade was mentioned, +that the Old Bailey naturally occurred to his recollection. The facts, +which had been described in the evidence, were associated in all our +minds with the ideas of criminal justice. But Mr. Baillie had forgot the +essential difference between the two cases. When we learnt from these +records, that crimes were committed in this country, we learnt also, +that they were punished with transportation and death. But the crimes +committed in the Slave Trade were passed over with impunity. Nay, the +perpetrators were even sent out again to commit others. + +As to the mode of obtaining slaves, it had been suggested as the least +disreputable, that they became so in consequence of condemnation as +criminals. But he would judge of the probability of this mode by the +reasonableness of it. No less than eighty thousand Africans were +exported annually by the different nations of Europe from their own +country. Was it possible to believe that this number could have been +legally convicted of crimes, for which they had justly forfeited their +liberty? The supposition was ridiculous. The truth was, that every +enormity was practised to obtain the persons of these unhappy people; He +referred those present to the case in the evidence of the African +trader, who had kidnapped and sold a girl, and who was afterwards +kidnapped and sold himself. He desired them to reason upon the +conversation which had taken place between the trader and the captain of +the ship on this occasion. He desired them also to reason upon the +instance mentioned this evening, which had happened in the river +Cameroons, and they would infer all the rapine, all the desolation, and +all the bloodshed, which had been placed to the account of this +execrable trade. + +An attempt had been made to impress the House with the horrible scenes +which had taken place in St. Domingo, as an argument against the +abolition of the Slave Trade; but could any more weighty argument be +produced in its favour? What were the causes of the insurrections there? +They were two. The first was the indecision of the National Assembly, +who wished to compromise between that which was right and that which was +wrong on this subject. And the second was the oppression of the people +of colour, and of the slaves. In the first of the causes we saw +something like the moderation of Mr. Dundas and Mr. Addington. One day +this Assembly talked of liberty, and favoured the Blacks. Another day +they suspended their measures and favoured the Whites. They wished to +steer a middle course; but decision had been mercy. Decision even +against the planters would have been a thousand times better than +indecision and half measures. In the mean time, the people of colour +took the great work of justice into their own hands. Unable, however, to +complete this of themselves, they called in the aid of the slaves. Here +began the second cause; for the slaves, feeling their own power, began +to retaliate on the Whites. And here it may be observed, that, in all +revolutions, the clemency or cruelty of the victors will always be in +proportion to their former privileges, of their oppression. That the +slaves then should have been guilty of great excesses, was not to be +wondered at; for where did they learn their cruelty? They learnt it from +those who had tyrannized over them. The oppression, which they +themselves had suffered, was fresh in their memories, and this had +driven them to exercise their vengeance so furiously. If we wished to +prevent similar scenes in our own islands, we must reject all moderate +measures, and at once abolish the Slave Trade. By doing this, we should +procure a better treatment for the slaves there; and when this happy +change of system should have taken place, we might depend on them for +the defence of the islands as much as on the whites themselves. + +Upon the whole, he would give his opinion of this traffic in a few +words. He believed it to be impolitic--he knew it to be inhuman--he was +certain it was unjust--he thought it so inhuman and unjust, that, if the +colonies could not be cultivated without it, they ought not to be +cultivated at all. It would be much better for us to be without them, +than, not abolish the Slave Trade. He hoped therefore that members would +this night act the part which would do them honour. He declared, that, +whether he should vote in a large minority or a small one, he would +never give up the cause. Whether in Parliament or out of it, in whatever +situation he might ever be, as long as he had a voice to speak, this +question should never be at rest. Believing the trade to be of the +nature of crimes and pollutions, which stained the honour of the +country, he would never relax his efforts. It was his duty to prevent +man from preying upon man; and if he and his friends should die before +they had attained their glorious object, he hoped there would never be +wanting men alive to their duty, who would continue to labour till the +evil should be wholly done away. If the situation of the Africans was as +happy as servitude could make them, he could not consent to the enormous +crime of selling man to man; nor permit a practice to continue, which +put an entire bar to the civilization of one quarter of the globe. He +was sure that the nation would not much longer allow the continuance of +enormities which shocked human nature. The West Indians had no right to +demand that crimes should be permitted by this country for their +advantage; and, if they were wise, they would lend their cordial +assistance to such measures, as would bring about, in the shortest +possible time, the abolition of this execrable trade. + +Mr. Dundas rose again, but it was only to move an amendment, namely, +that the word "gradually" should be inserted before the words "to be +abolished" in Mr. Wilberforce's motion. + +Mr. Jenkinson (afterwards Earl of Liverpool) said, that the opinions of +those who were averse to the abolition had been unfairly stated. They +had been described as founded on policy, in opposition to humanity. If +it could be made out that humanity would be aided by the abolition, he +would be the last person to oppose it. The question was not, he +apprehended, whether the trade was founded in injustice and oppression: +he admitted it was. Nor was it, whether it was in itself abstractedly an +evil: he admitted this also; but whether, under all the circumstances of +the case, any considerable advantage would arise to a number of our +fellow-creatures from the abolition of the trade in the manner in which +it had been proposed. + +He was ready to admit, that the Africans at home were made miserable by +the Slave Trade, and that, if it were universally abolished, great +benefit would arise to them. No one, however, would assert, that these +miseries arose from the trade as carried on by Great Britain only. Other +countries occasioned as much of the evil as we did; and if the abolition +of it by us should prove only the transferring of it to those countries, +very little benefit would result from the measure. + +What then was the probability of our example being followed by foreign +powers? Five years had now elapsed since the question was first started, +and what had any of them done? The Portuguese continued the trade. The +Spaniards still gave a bounty to encourage it. He believed there were +agents from Holland in this country, who were then negotiating with +persons concerned in it in order to secure its continuance. The +abolition also had been proposed in the National Assembly of France, and +had been rejected there. From these circumstances he had a right to +infer, that if we gave up the trade, we should only transfer it to those +countries: but this transfer would be entirely against the Africans. The +mortality on board English ships, previously to the regulating bill, was +four and an-eighth per cent. Since that time it had been reduced to +little more than three per cent[A]. In French ships it was near ten, and +in Dutch ships from five to seven, per cent. In Portuguese it was less +than either in French or Dutch, but more than in English ships since the +regulating bill. Thus the deaths of the Africans would be more than +doubled, if we were to abolish the trade. + +[Footnote A: Mr. Wilberforce stated it on the same evening to be between +ten and eleven per cent. for the last year. The number then exported +from Africa to our islands was rather more than 22,000, of whom more +than 2,300 died.] + +Perhaps it might be replied, that the importations being stopped in our +own islands, fewer Africans would experience this misery, because fewer +would be taken from their own country on this account. But he had a +right to infer, that as the planters purchased slaves at present, they +would still think it their interest to have them. The question then was, +whether they could get them by smuggling. Now it appeared by the +evidence, that many hundred slaves had been stolen from time to time +from Jamaica, and carried into Cuba. But if persons could smuggle slaves +out of our colonies, they could smuggle slaves into them; but +particularly when the planters might think it to their interest to +assist them. + +With respect to the slaves there, instances had been related of their +oppression, which shocked the feelings of all who heard them: but was it +fair to infer from these their general ill usage? Suppose a person were +to make a collection of the different abuses, which had happened for a +series of years under our own happy constitution, and use these as an +argument of its worthlessness; should we not say to him, that in the +most perfect system which the human intellect could form some defects +would exist; and that it was unfair to draw inferences from such partial +facts? In the same manner he would argue relative to the alleged +treatment of the slaves. Evidence had been produced upon this point on +both sides. He should not be afraid to oppose the authorities of Lord +Rodney, and others, against any, however respectable, in favour of the +abolition. But this was not necessary. There was another species of +facts, which would answer the same end; Previously to the year 1730 the +decrease of the slaves in our islands was very considerable. From 1730 +to 1755 the deaths were reduced to only two and a-half per cent, above +the births; from 1755 to 1768 to only one and three-fourths; and from +1768 to 1788 to only one per cent. This then, on the first view of the +subject, would show, that whatever might have been the situation of +slaves formerly, it had been gradually improved. But if, in addition to +this, we considered the peculiar disadvanges under which they laboured; +the small proportion of females to males; and the hurricanes, and +famines, which had swept away thousands, we should find it physically +impossible, that they could have increased as related, if they had been +treated as cruelly as the friends of the abolition had described. + +This species of facts would enable him also to draw still more important +conclusions; namely, that as the slaves in the West Indies had gradually +increased, they would continue to increase; that very few years would +pass, not only before the births were equal to the deaths, but before +they were more numerous than the deaths; and that if this was likely to +happen in the present state of things, how much more would it happen, if +by certain regulations the increase of the slaves should be encouraged? + +The only question then was, whether it was more advantageous to breed or +to import. He thought he should prove the former; and if so, then this +increase was inevitable, and the importations would necessarily cease. + +In the first place, the gradual increase of the slaves of late years +clearly proved, that such increase had been encouraged. But their price +had been doubled in the last twenty years. The planter, therefore, must +feel it his interest to desist from purchasing, if possible. But again, +the greatest mortality was among the newly imported slaves. The diseases +they contracted on the passage, and their deaths in the seasoning, all +made for the same doctrine. Add to this, that slaves bred in the islands +were more expert at colonial labour, more reconciled to their situation, +and better disposed towards their masters than those who were brought +from Africa. + +But it had been said, that the births and deaths in the islands were now +equal; and that therefore no further supply was wanted. He denied the +propriety of this inference. The slaves were subject to peculiar +diseases. They were exposed also to hurricanes and consequent famines. +That the day, however, would come, when the stock there would be +sufficient, no person who attended to the former part of his argument +could doubt. That they had gradually increased, were gradually +increasing, and would, by certain regulations, increase more and more, +must be equally obvious. But these were all considerations for +continuing the traffic a little longer. + +He then desired the House to reflect upon the state of St. Domingo. Had +not its calamities been imputed by its own deputies to the advocates for +the abolition? Were ever any scenes of horror equal to those which had +passed there? And should we, when principles of the same sort were +lurking in our own islands, expose our fellow-subjects to the same +miseries, who, if guilty of promoting this trade, had, at least, been +encouraged in it by ourselves? + +That the Slave Trade was an evil, he admitted. That the state of slavery +itself was likewise an evil, he admitted; and if the question was, not +whether we should abolish, but whether we should establish these, he +would be the first to oppose himself to their existence; but there were +many evils, which we should have thought it our duty to prevent, yet +which, when they had once arisen, it was more dangerous to oppose than +to submit to,--The duty of a statesman was, not to consider abstractedly +what was right or wrong, but to weigh the consequences which were likely +to result from the abolition of an evil, against those which were likely +to result from its continuance. Agreeing then most perfectly with the +abolitionists in their end, he differed from them only in the means of +accomplishing it. He was desirous of doing that gradually, which he +conceived they were doing rashly. He had therefore drawn up two +propositions. The first was, That an address be presented to His +Majesty, that he would recommend to the colonial assemblies to grant +premiums to such planters, and overseers, as should distinguish +themselves by promoting the annual increase of the slaves by birth; and +likewise freedom to every female slave, who had reared five children to +the age of seven years. The second was, That a bounty of five pounds per +head be given to the master of every slave-ship, who should import in +any cargo a greater number of females than males, not exceeding the age +of twenty-five years. To bring, forward these propositions, he would now +move that the chairman leave the chair. + +Mr. Este wished the debate to be adjourned. He allowed there were many +enormities in the trade, which called for regulation. There were two +propositions before the House: the one for the immediate, and the other +for the gradual, abolition of the trade. He thought that members should +be allowed time to compare their respective merits. At present his own +opinion was, that gradual abolition would answer the end proposed in the +least exceptionable manner. + +Mr. Pitt rejoiced that the debate had taken a turn, which contracted the +question into such narrow limits. The matter then in dispute was merely +as to the time at which the abolition should take, place. He therefore +congratulated the House, the country, and the world, that this great +point had been gained; that we might now consider this trade as having +received its condemnation; that this curse of mankind was seen in its +true light; and that the greatest stigma on our national character, +which ever yet existed, was about to be removed! Mankind, he trusted, +were now likely to be delivered from the greatest practical evil that +ever afflicted the human race--from the most severe and extensive +calamity recorded in the history of the world. + +His honourable friend (Mr. Jenkinson) had insinuated, that any act for +the abolition would be evaded. But if we were to enforce this act with +all the powers of the country, how could it fail to be effectual? But +his honourable friend had himself satisfied him, upon this point. He had +acknowledged, that the trade would drop of itself, on account of the +increasing dearness of the commodity imported. He would ask then, if we +were to leave to the importer no means of importation but by smuggling; +and if, besides all the present disadvantages, we were to load him with +all the charges and hazards of the smuggler, would there be any danger +of any considerable supply of fresh slaves being poured into the islands +through this channel? The question under these circumstances, he +pronounced, would not bear a dispute. + +His honourable friend had also maintained, that it would be inexpedient +to stop the importations immediately, because the deaths and births in +the islands were as yet not equal. But he (Mr. Pitt) had proved last +year, from the most authentic documents, that an increase of the births +above the deaths had already taken place. This then was the time for +beginning the abolition. But he would now observe, that five years had +elapsed since these documents were framed; and therefore the presumption +was, that the black population was increasing at an extraordinary rate. +He had not, to be sure, in his consideration of the subject, entered +into the dreadful mortality arising from the clearing of new lands. +Importations for this purpose were to be considered, not as carrying on +the trade, but as setting on foot a Slave Trade, a measure which he +believed no one present would then support. He therefore asked his +honourable friend, whether the period he had looked to was now arrived? +whether the West Indies, at this hour, were, not in a state in which +they could maintain their population? + +It had been argued, that one or other of these two, assertions was +false; that either the population of the slaves must be decreasing, +(which the abolitionists denied,) or, if it was increasing, the slaves +must have been well treated. That their population was rather increasing +than otherwise, and also that their general treatment was by no means so +good as it ought to have been, were both points which had been proved by +different witnesses. Neither were they incompatible with each other. But +he would see whether the explanation of this seeming contradiction would +not refute the argument of expediency, as advanced by his honourable +friend. Did the slaves decrease in numbers?--Yes. Then ill usage must +have been the cause of it; but if so, the abolition was immediately +necessary to, restrain it. Did they, on the other hand, increase?--Yes. +But if so, no further importations, were wanted. Was their population +(to take a middle course) nearly stationary, and their treatment neither +so good nor so bad as it might be?--Yes. But if so, this was the proper +period for stopping further supplies; for both the population and the +treatment would be improved by such a measure. + +But he would show again the futility of the, argument of his honourable +friend. He himself had admitted that it was in the power of the +colonists to correct the various abuses, by which the Negro population +was restrained. But, they could not do this without improving the +condition of their slaves; without making them approximate towards the +rank of citizens; without giving them some little interest in their +labour, which would occasion them to work with the energy of men. But +now the Assembly of Grenada had themselves stated, "that though the +Negroes were allowed the afternoons of only one day in every week they +would do as much work in that afternoon, when employed for their own +benefit as in the whole day, when employed in their masters' service." +Now, after, this, confession, the House might burn all his calculations +relative to the Negro population; for, if it had not yet quite reached +the desirable state which he had pointed out, this confession had +proved, that further supplies were not wanted. A Negro, if he worked for +himself, could do double work. By an improvement then in the mode of +labour, the work in the islands could be doubled. But if so, what would +become of the argument of his honourable friend? for then only half the +number of the present labourers were necessary. + +He would now try this argument of expediency by other considerations. +The best informed writers on the subject had told us, that the purchase +of new Negroes was injurious to the, planters. But if this statement was +just, would not the abolition be beneficial to them? That it would, was +the opinion of Mr. Long, their own historian. "If the Slave Trade," says +he, "was prohibited for four or five years, it would enable them to +retrieve their affairs by preventing them from running into debt, either +by renting or purchasing Negroes." To this acknowledgment he would add a +fact from the evidence, which was, that a North American province, by +such a prohibition alone for a few years from being deeply plunged in +debt, had become independent, rich, and flourishing. + +The next consideration was the danger, to which the islands, were +exposed from the newly imported slaves. Mr. Long, with a view of +preventing insurrections, had advised, that a duty equal to a +prohibition, might be laid on the importation of Coromantine slaves. +After noticing one insurrection, which happened through their means, he +speaks of another in the following year, in which thirty-three +Coromantines, "most of whom had been newly imported, murdered and +wounded no less than nineteen Whites in the, space of an hour." To the +authority of Mr Long he would add the recorded opinion of a committee of +the House of Assembly of Jamaica, which was appointed to inquire into +the best means of preventing future insurrections. The committee +reported, that "the rebellion had originated, like most others, with the +Coromantines," and they proposed that a bill should he brought in for +laying a higher duty on the importation of these particular Negroes, +which should operate as a prohibition. But the danger was not confined +to the introduction of Coromantines. Mr. Long accounts for the frequent +insurrections in Jamaica from the greatness of its general importations. +"In two years and a-half," says he, "twenty-seven thousand Negroes have +been imported.--No wonder that we have rebellions!" Surely then, when +his honourable friend spoke of the calamities of St. Domingo, and of +similar dangers impending over our own islands, it ill became him to be +the person to cry out for further importations! It ill became him to +charge upon the abolitionists the crime of stirring up insurrections, +who only recommended what the legislature of Jamaica itself had laid +down in a time of danger with an avowed view to prevent them. It was, +indeed, a great satisfaction to himself, that among the many arguments +for prohibiting the Slave Trade, the security of our West Indian +possessions against internal commotions, as well as foreign enemies, was +among the most prominent and forcible. And here he would ask his +honourable friend, whether in this part of the argument he did not see +reason for immediate abolition. Why should we any longer persist in +introducing those latent principles of conflagration, which, if they +should once burst forth, might annihilate the industry of a hundred +years? which might throw the planters back a whole century in their +profits, in their cultivation, and in their progress towards the +emancipation of their slaves? It was our duty to vote that the abolition +of the Slave Trade should be immediate, and not to leave it to he knew +not what future time or contingency. + +Having now done with the argument of expediency, he would consider the +proposition of his right honourable friend Mr. Dundas; that, on account +of some patrimonial rights of the West Indians, the prohibition of the +Slave Trade would be an invasion of their legal inheritance. He would +first observe, that, if this argument was worth anything, it applied +just as much to gradual as to immediate abolition. He had no doubt, +that, at whatever period we should say the trade should cease; it would +be equally, set up; for it would certainly be just as good an argument +against the measure in seventy years hence, as it was against it now. It +implied also, that Parliament had no right to stop the importations: but +had this detestable traffic received such a sanction, as placed it more +out of the jurisdiction of the legislature for ever after, than any +other branch of our trade? In what a situation did the proposition of +his honourable friend place the legislature of Great Britain! It was +scarcely possible to lay a duty on anyone article, which might not in +someway affect the property of individuals. But if the laws respecting +the Slave Trade implied a contract for its perpetual continuance, the +House could never regulate any other of the branches of our national +commerce. + +But any contract for the promotion of this trade must, in his opinion, +have been void from the beginning: for if it was an outrage upon +justice, and only another name for fraud, robbery, and murder, what +pledge could devolve upon the legislature to incur the obligation of +becoming principals in the commission of such enormities by sanctioning +their continuance? + +But he would appeal to the acts themselves. That of 23 George II. c. 31, +was the one upon which the greatest stress was laid. How would the House +be surprised to hear that the very outrages committed in the prosecution +of this trade had been forbidden by that act! "No master of a ship +trading to Africa," says the act, "shall by fraud, force, or violence, +or by any indirect practice whatever, take on board or carry away from +that coast any Negro, or native of that country, or commit any violence +on the natives, to the prejudice of the said trade; and every person so +offending, shall for every such offence forfeit one hundred pounds." But +the whole trade had been demonstrated to be a system of fraud, force, +and violence; and therefore the contract was daily violated, under which +the Parliament allowed it to continue. + +But why had the trade ever been permitted at all? The preamble of the +act would show: "Whereas the trade to and from Africa is very +advantageous to Great Britain, and necessary for supplying the +Plantations and Colonies thereunto belonging with a sufficient number of +Negroes at reasonable rates, and for that purpose the said trade should +be carried on."--Here then we might see what the Parliament had in view, +when it passed this act. But no one of the occasions, on which it +grounded its proceedings, now existed. He would plead, then, the act +itself as an argument for the abolition. If it had been proved that, +instead of being very advantageous to Great Britain, it was the most +destructive to her interests--that it was the ruin of her seamen--that +it stopped the extension of her manufactures;--if it had been proved, in +the second place, that it was not now necessary for the supply of our +Plantations with Negroes;--if it had been further established, that it +was from the beginning contrary to the first principles of justice, and +consequently that a pledge for its continuance, had one been attempted +to be given, must have been absolutely void--where in this act of +parliament was the contract to be found, by which Britain was bound, as +she was said to be, never to listen to her own true interests and to the +cries of the natives of Africa? Was it not clear, that all argument, +founded on the supposed pledge of Parliament, made against those who +employed it? + +But if we were not bound by existing laws to the support of this trade, +we were doubly criminal in pursuing it; for why ought it to be abolished +at all? Because it was incurable injustice. Africa was the ground on +which he chiefly rested; and there it was, that his two honourable +friends, one of whom had proposed gradual abolition, and the other +regulation, did not carry their principles, to their full extent. Both +had confessed the trade to be a moral evil. How much stronger, then, was +the argument, for immediate than for gradual abolition! If on the ground +of a moral evil it was to be abolished at last, why ought it not now? +Why was injustice to be suffered to remain for a single hour? He knew of +no evil, which ever had existed, nor could he imagine any to exist, +worse than the tearing of eighty thousand persons annually from their +native land, by a combination of the most civilized nations, in the most +enlightened quarter of the globe; but more, especially by that nation, +which called herself the most free and the most happy of them all. + +He would now notice the objection, that other nations would not give up +the Slave Trade, if we were to renounce it. But if the trade were +stained, but by a thousandth part of the criminality which he and +others, after a thorough investigation of the subject, charged upon it, +the House ought immediately to vote for its abolition. This miserable +argument, if persevered in, would be an eternal bar to the annihilation +of the evil. How was it ever to be eradicated, if every nation was thus +prudentially to wait till the concurrence of all the world should be +obtained! But it applied a thousand times more strongly in a contrary +way. How much more justly would other nations say, "Great Britain, free +as she is, just and honourable as she is, not only has not abolished, +but has refused to abolish, the Slave Trade. She has investigated it +well. Her senate has deliberated upon it. It is plain, then, that she +sees no guilt in it." With this argument we should furnish the other +nations of Europe, if we were again to refuse to put an end to this +cruel traffic; and we should have from henceforth not only to answer for +our own, but for their crimes also. Already we have suffered one year to +pass away; and now, when the question was renewed, not only had this +wretched argument been revived, but a proposition had been made for the +gradual abolition of the trade. He knew, indeed, the difficulty of +reforming long established abuses; but in the present case, by proposing +some other period than the present, by prescribing some condition, by +waiting for some contingencies, perhaps till we obtained the general +concurrence of Europe, (A concurrence which he believe never yet took +place at the commencement of any one improvement in policy or morals,) +he fared that this most enormous evil would never be redressed. Was it +not folly to wait for the stream to run down before we crossed the bed +of its channel? Alas! we might wait for ever. The river would still flow +on. We should be no nearer the object which we had in view, so long as +the step, which could alone bring us to it was not taken. + +He would now proceed to the civilization of Africa; and, as his eye had +just glanced upon a West Indian law in the evidence upon the table, he +would begin with an argument, which the sight of it had suggested to +him. This argument had been ably answered in the course of the evening; +but he would view it in yet another light. It had been said, that the +savage disposition of the Africans rendered the prospect of their +civilization almost hopeless. This argument was indeed of long standing; +but, last year, it had been supported upon a new ground. Captain Frazer +had stated in his evidence, that a boy had been put to death at Cabenda, +because there were those who refused to purchase him as a slave. This +single story was deemed by him, and had been considered by others, as a +sufficient proof of the barbarity of the Africans, and of the inutility +of abolishing the Slave Trade. But they, who had used this fact, had +suppressed several circumstances relating to it. It appeared, on +questioning Captain Frazer afterward, that this boy had previously run +away from his master three several times; that the master had to pay his +value, according to the custom of the country, every time he was brought +back; and that partly from anger at the boy for running away so +frequently, and partly to prevent a repetition of the same expense, he +determined to destroy him. Such was the explanation of the signal +instance, which was to fix barbarity on all Africa, as it came out in +the cross-examination of Captain Frazer. That this African master was +unenlightened and barbarous, he freely admitted; but what would an +enlightened and civilized West Indian have done in a similar case? He +would quote the law, passed in the West Indies in 1722, which he had +just cast his eye upon in the book of evidence, by which law this very +same crime of running away was by the legislature, of an island, by the +grave and deliberate sentence of an enlightened legislature, punished +with death; and this, not in the case only of the third offence, but +even in the very first instance. It was enacted, "That, if any Negro or +other slave should withdraw himself from his master for the term of six +months, or any slave, who was absent, should not return within that +time, every such person should suffer death." There was also another +West Indian law, by which every Negro was armed against his fellow +Negro, for he was authorized to kill every runaway slave; and he had +even a reward held out to him for so doing. Let the House now contrast +the two cases. Let them ask themselves which of the two exhibited the +greater barbarity; and whether they could possibly vote for the +continuance of the Slave Trade, upon the principle that the Africans had +shown themselves to be a race of incorrigible barbarians? + +Something like an opposite argument, but with a like view, had been +maintained by others on this subject. It had been said, in justification +of the trade, that the Africans had derived some little civilization +from their intercourse with us. Yes; we had given them just enough of +the forms of justice to enable them to add the pretext of legal trials +to their other modes of perpetrating the most atrocious crimes. We had +given them just enough of European improvements, to enable them the more +effectually to turn Africa into a ravaged wilderness. Alas! alas! we had +carried on a trade with them from this civilized and enlightened +country, which, instead of diffusing knowledge, had been a check to +every laudable pursuit. We had carried a poison into their country, +which spread its contagious effects from one end of it to the other, and +which penetrated to its very centre, corrupting every part to which it +reached. We had there subverted the whole order of nature; we had +aggravated every natural barbarity, and furnished to every man motives +for committing, under the name of trade, acts of perpetual hostility and +perfidy against his neighbour. Thus had the perversion of British +commerce carried misery instead of happiness to one whole quarter of the +globe. False to the very principles of trade, misguided in our policy, +unmindful of our duty, what almost irreparable mischief had we done to +that continent! How should we hope to obtain forgiveness from heaven, if +we refused to use those means which the mercy of Providence had still +reserved to us for wiping away the guilt and shame, with which we were +now covered? If we refused even this degree of compensation, how +aggravated would be our guilt! Should we delay, then, to repair these +incalculable injuries? We ought to count the days, nay the very hours, +which intervened to delay the accomplishment of such a work. + +On this great subject, the civilization of Africa, which, he confessed, +was near his heart, he would yet add a few observations. And first he +would say, that the present deplorable state of that country, especially +when we reflected that her chief calamities were to be ascribed to us, +called for our generous aid, rather than justified any despair, on our +part, of her recovery, and still less a repetition of our injuries. On +what ground of theory or history did we act, when we supposed she was +never to be reclaimed? There was a time, which it might be now fit to +call to remembrance, when human sacrifices, and even this very practice +of the Slave Trade existed in our own island. Slaves, as we may read in +HENRY's _History of Great Britain_, were formerly an established article +of our exports. "Great numbers," he says, "were exported like cattle +from the British coast, and were to be seen exposed for sale in the +Roman markets."--"Adultery, witchcraft, and debt," says the same +historian, "were probably some of the chief sources of supplying the +Roman market with British slaves--prisoners taken in war were added to +the number--there might be also among them some unfortunate gamesters, +who, after having lost all their goods, at length staked themselves, +their wives, and their children." Now every one of these sources of +slavery had been stated to be at this hour a source of slavery in +Africa. If these practices, therefore, were to be admitted as proofs of +the natural incapacity of its inhabitants, why might they not have been +applied to ancient Britain? Why might not then some Roman senator, +pointing to British barbarians, have predicted with equal boldness, that +these were a people who were destined never to be free; who were without +the understanding necessary for the attainment of useful arts; depressed +by the hand of nature below the level of the human species, and created +to form a supply of slaves for the rest of the world? But, happily, +since that time, notwithstanding what would then have been the justness +of these predictions, we had emerged from barbarism. We were now raised +to a situation which exhibited a striking contrast to every circumstance +by which a Roman might have characterized us, and by which we now +characterized Africa. There was indeed one thing wanting to complete the +contrast, and to clear us altogether from the imputation of acting even +to this hour as barbarians; for we continued to this hour a barbarous +traffic in slaves; we continued it even yet, in spite of all our great +pretensions. We were once as obscure among the nations of the earth, as +savage in our manners, as debased in our morals, as degraded in our +understandings, as these unhappy Africans. But in the lapse of a long +series of years, by a progression slow, and for a time almost +imperceptible, we had become rich in a variety of acquirements. We were +favoured above measure in the gifts of Providence, we were unrivalled in +commerce, pre-eminent in arts, foremost in the pursuits of philosophy +and science, and established in all the blessings of civil society; we +were in the possession of peace, of liberty, and of happiness; we were +under the guidance of a mild and a beneficent religion; and we were +protected by impartial laws and the purest administration of justice; we +were living under a system of government, which our own happy experience +led us to pronounce the best and wisest, and which had become the +admiration of the World. From all these blessings we must for ever have +been excluded, had there been any truth in those principles, which some +had not hesitated to lay down as applicable to the case of Africa; and +we should have been at this moment little superior, either in morals, +knowledge, or refinement, to the rude inhabitants of that continent. + +If then we felt that this perpetual confinement in the fetters of brutal +ignorance would have been the greatest calamity which could have +befallen us; if we viewed with gratitude the contrast between our +present and our former situation; if we shuddered to think of the misery +which would still have overwhelmed us, had our country continued to the +present times, through some cruel policy, to be the mart for slaves to +the more civilized nations of the World;--God forbid that we should any +longer subject Africa to the same dreadful scourge, and exclude the +sight of knowledge from her coasts, which had reached every other +quarter of the globe! + +He trusted we should no longer continue this commerce, and that we +should no longer consider ourselves as conferring too great a boon on +the natives of Africa in restoring them to the rank of human beings, He +trusted we should not think ourselves too liberal, if, by abolishing the +Slave Trade, we gave them the same common chance of civilization with +other parts of the World. If we listened to the voice of reason and duty +this night, some of us might live to see a reverse of that picture, from +which we how turned our eyes with shame. We might live to behold the +natives engaged in the calm occupations of industry, and in the pursuit +of a just commerce. We might behold the beams of science and philosophy +breaking in upon their land, which at some happy period in still later +times might blaze with full lustre; and joining their influence to that +of pure religion, might illuminate and invigorate the most distant +extremities of that immense continent. Then might we hope, that even +Africa (though last of all the quarters of the globe) should enjoy at +length, in the evening of her days, those blessings, which had descended +so plentifully upon us in a much earlier period of the world. Then also +would Europe, participating in her improvement and prosperity, receive +an ample recompense for the tardy kindness (if kindness it could be +called) of no longer hindering her from extricating herself out of the +darkness, which, in other more fortunate regions, had been so much more +speedily dispelled. + + + --------Nos primus equis Oriens afflavit anhelis; + Illic sera rubens accendit lumina Vesper. + + +Then might be applied to Africa those words, originally used indeed with +a different view: + + + His demum exactis------ + Devenere locos laetos, et amoena vireta + Fortunatorum nemorum, sedesque beatas; + Largior hic campos aether et lumine vestit + Purpureo. + + +It was in this view--it was as an atonement for our long and cruel +injustice towards Africa, that the measure proposed by his honourable +friend Mr. Wilberforce most forcibly recommended itself to his mind. The +great and happy change to be expected in the state of her inhabitants +was, of all the various benefits of the abolition, in his estimation the +most extensive and important. He should vote against the adjournment; +and he should also oppose every proposition which tended either to +prevent, or even to postpone for an hour, the total abolition of the +Slave Trade. + +Mr. Pitt having concluded his speech (at about six in the morning), Sir +William Dolben, the chairman, proposed the following questions:--The +first was on the motion of Mr. Jenkinson, "that the chairman do now +leave the chair." This was lost by a majority of two hundred and +thirty-four to eighty-seven. The second was on the motion of Mr. Dundas, +"that the abolition should be, gradual;" when the votes for gradual +exceeded those for immediate by one hundred and ninety-three to one +hundred and twenty-five. He then put the amended question, that "it was +the opinion of the committee that the trade ought to be gradually +abolished." The committee having divided again, the votes for a gradual +abolition were, two hundred and thirty, and those against any abolition +were eighty-five. + +After this debate, the committee for the abolition of the Slave Trade +held a meeting. They voted their thanks to Mr. Wilberforce for his +motion, and to Mr. Pitt, Mr. Fox, and those other members of the House +who had supported it. They resolved, also, that the House of Commons, +having determined that the Slave Trade ought to be gradually abolished, +had by that decision manifested their opinion, that it was cruel and +unjust. They resolved, also, that a gradual abolition of it was not an +adequate remedy for its injustice and cruelty; neither could it be +deemed a compliance with the general wishes of the people, as expressed +in their numerous and urgent petitions to Parliament; and they resolved +lastly, that the interval in which the Slave Trade should be permitted +to continue, afforded a prospect of redoubled cruelties and ravages on +the coast of Africa; and that it imposed therefore an additional +obligation on every friend to the cause to use all constitutional means +to obtain its immediate abolition. + +At a subsequent meeting they voted their thanks to the right honourable +Lord Muncaster, for the able support he had given to the great object of +their institution by his _Historical Sketches of the Slave Trade, and of +its Effects in Africa_; addressed to the people of Great Britain; and +they elected the Rev. Richard Gifford, and the Rev. Thomas Gisborne, +honorary and corresponding members; the first on account of his +excellent sermon before-mentioned, and other services; and the latter on +account of his truly Christian and seasonable pamphlet, entitled +_Remarks on the Late Decision of the House of Commons, respecting the +Abolition of the Slave Trade_. + +On the 23rd of April, the House of Commons resolved itself into a +committee of the whole House, to consider the subject again; and Mr. +Beaufoy was put into the chair. + +Mr. Dundas, upon whom the task of introducing a bill for the gradual +abolition of the Slave Trade now devolved, rose to offer the outlines of +a plan for that purpose. He intended, he said, immediately to abolish +that part of the trade, by which we supplied foreigners with slaves. The +other part of it was to be continued seven years from the 1st of January +next. He grounded the necessity of its continuance till this time upon +the documents of the Negro population in the different islands. In many +of these, slaves were imported, but they were re-exported nearly in +equal numbers. Now, all these he considered to be in a state to go on +without future supplies from Africa. Jamaica and the ceded islands +retained almost all the slaves imported into them. This he considered as +a proof that these had not attained the same desirable state; and it was +therefore necessary, that the trade should be continued longer on this +account. It was his intention, however, to provide proper punishments, +while it lasted, for abuses both in Africa and in the Middle Passage, He +would take care, as far as he could, that none but young slaves should +be brought from the Coast of Africa. He would encourage establishments +there for a new species of traffic. Foreign nations should be invited to +concur in the abolition. He should propose a praedial rather than a +personal service for the West Indies, and institutions, by which the +slaves there should be instructed in religious duties. He concluded by +reading several resolutions, which he would leave to the future +consideration of the House. + +Mr. Pitt then rose. He deprecated the resolutions altogether. He denied +also the inferences which Mr. Dundas had drawn from the West Indian +documents relative to the Negro population. He had looked aver his own +calculations from the same documents again and again, and he would +submit them, with all their data, if it should be necessary, to the +House. + +Mr. Wilberforce and Mr. Fox held the same language. They contended also, +that Mr. Dundas had now proved, a thousand times more strongly than +ever, the necessity of immediate abolition. All the resolutions he had +read were operative against his own reasoning. The latter observed, that +the Slave-traders were in future only to be allowed to steal innocent +children from their disconsolate parents. + +After a few observations by Lord Sheffield, Mr. Drake, Colonel Tarleton, +and Mr. Rolle, the House adjourned. + +On the 25th of April it resumed the consideration of the subject. Mr. +Dundas then went over his former resolutions, and concluded by moving, +"that it should not be lawful to import any African Negroes into any +British colonies, in ships owned or navigated by British subjects, at +any time after the 1st of January, 1800." + +Lord Mornington (now Marquis Wellesley) rose to propose an amendment. He +congratulated his countrymen, that the Slave Trade had received its +death-wound. This traffic was founded in injustice; and between right +and wrong there could be no compromise. Africa was not to be sacrificed +to the apparent good of the West Indies. He would not repeat those +enormities out of the evidence, which had made such a deep impression +upon the House. It had been resolved, that the trade should be +abolished. The question then was, how long they were to persevere in the +crime of its continuance? One had said, that they might be unjust for +ten years longer; another, only till the beginning of the next century. +But this diversity of opinion had proceeded from an erroneous statement +of Mr. Dundas against the clear and irrefragable calculations of Mr. +Pitt. The former had argued, that, because Jamaica and the ceded islands +had retained almost all the slaves which had been, imported into them, +they were therefore not yet in a situation to support their population +without further supplies from Africa. But the truth was, that the +slaves, so retained, were kept, not to maintain the population there, +but to clear new land. Now the House had determined, that the trade was +not to be continued for this purpose. The population, therefore, in the +islands was sufficient to continue the ordinary cultivation of them. + +He deprecated the idea, that the Slave Trade had been so sanctioned by +the acts of former Parliaments, that the present could make no +alteration in it. Had not the House altered the import of foreign sugar +into our islands? a measure, which at the time affected the property of +many. Had they not prohibited the exports of provisions from America to +the same quarter; Again, as to compacts, had the Africans ever been +parties to these? It was rather curious also, when King James the Second +gave a charter to the slave-trader, that he should have given them a +right to all the south of Africa, and authority over every person born +therein! But, by doing this, it was clear that he gave them a right +which he never possessed himself. After many other observations, he +concluded by moving, "that the year 1793 be substituted in the place of +the year 1800." + +In the course of the debate, which followed, Mr. Burdon stated his +conviction of the necessity of immediate abolition; but he would support +the amendment, as the shortest of the terms proposed. + +Mr. Robert Thornton would support it also, as the only choice left him. +He dared not accede to a motion, by which we were to continue for seven +years to imbrue our hands in innocent blood. + +Mr. Ryder (now Earl of Harrowby) would not support the trade for one +moment, if he could avoid it. He could not hold a balance with gold in +one scale, and blood in the other. + +Mr. William Smith exposed the wickedness of restricting the trade to +certain ages. The original motion, he said, would only operate as a +transfer of cruelty from the aged and the guilty to the young and the +innocent. He entreated the House to consider, whether, if it related to +their own children, any one of them would vote for it. + +Mr. Windham had hitherto felt a reluctance to speaking, not from the +abstruseness, but from the simplicity, of the subject; but he could not +longer be silent, when he observed those arguments of policy creeping +again out of their lurking-places, which had fled before eloquence and +truth. The House had clearly given up the policy of the question. They +had been determined by the justice of it. Why were they then to be +troubled again with arguments of this nature? These, if admitted, would +go to the subversion of all public as well as private morality. Nations +were as much bound as individuals to a system of morals, though a breach +in the former could not be so easily punished. In private life morality +took pretty good care of itself. It was a kind of retail article, in +which the returns were speedy. If a man broke open his neighbour's +house, he would feel the consequences. There was an ally of virtue, who +rendered it the interest of individuals to be moral, and he was called +the executioner. But as such punishment did not always await us in our +national concerns, we should substitute honour as the guardian of our +national conduct. He hoped the West Indians would consider the character +of the mother-country, and the obligations to national as well as +individual justice. He hoped, also, they would consider the sufferings, +which they occasioned both in Africa, in the passage, and in the West +Indies. In the passage, indeed, no one was capable of describing them. +The section of the slave-ship; however, made up the deficiency of +language, and did away all necessity of argument, on this subject. +Disease there had to struggle with the new affliction of chains and +punishment. At one view were the irksomeness of a goal, and the miseries +of an hospital; so that the holds of these vessels put him in mind of +the regions of the damned. The trade, he said, ought immediately to be +abolished. On a comparison of the probable consequences of the abolition +of it, he saw on one side only doubtful contingencies, but on the other +shame and disgrace. + +Sir James Johnstone contended for the immediate abolition of the trade. +He had introduced the plough into his own plantation in the West Indies, +and he found the land produced more sugar than when cultivated in the +ordinary way by slaves. Even for the sake of the planters, he hoped the +abolition would not be long delayed. + +Mr. Dundas replied: after which a division took place. The number of +votes in favour of the original motion were one hundred and fifty-eight, +and for the amendment one hundred and nine. + +On the 27th of April the House resumed the subject. Mr. Dundas moved, as +before, that the Slave Trade should cease in the year 1800; upon which +Lord Mornington moved, that the year 1795 should be substituted for the +latter period. + +In the course of the debate, which followed, Mr. Hubbard said, that he +had voted against the abolition, when the year 1793 was proposed; but he +thought that, if it were not to take place till 1795, sufficient time +would be allowed the planters. He would support this amendment; and he +congratulated the House on the prospect of the final triumph of truth, +humanity, and justice. + +Mr. Addington preferred the year 1796 to the year 1795. + +Mr. Alderman Watson considered the abolition in 1796, to be as +destructive as if it were immediate. + +A division having taken place, the number of votes in favour of the +original motion were one hundred and sixty-one, and in favour of Lord +Mornington's amendment for the year 1795, one hundred and twenty-one. +Sir Edward Knatchbull, however, seeing that there was a disposition in +the House to bring the matter to a conclusion, and that a middle line +would be preferred, moved that the year 1796 should be substituted for +this year 1800. Upon this the House divided again; when there appeared +for the original motion only one hundred and thirty-two, but for the +amendment one hundred and fifty-one. + +The gradual abolition having been now finally agreed upon for the year +1796, a committee was named, which carried the resolution to the Lords. + +On the 8th of May, the Lords were summoned to consider it; Lord +Stormont, after having spoken for some time, moved, that they should +hear evidence upon it. Lord Grenville opposed the motion on account of +the delay, which would arise from an examination of the witnesses by the +House at large: but he moved that such witnesses should be examined by a +committee of the House. Upon this a debate ensued, and afterwards a +division; when the original motion was carried by sixty-three against +thirty-six. + +On the 15th of May, the Lords met again. Evidence was then ordered to be +summoned in behalf of those interested in the continuance of the trade. +At length it was introduced; but on the 5th of June, when only seven +persons had been examined, a motion was made and carried, that the +further examinations should be postponed to the next session. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +Continuation from July 1792 to July 1793.--Author travels round the +kingdom again.--Motion to renew the resolution of the last year in the +Commons; motion lost.--New motion in the Commons to abolish the +foreign Slave Trade; motion lost.--Proceedings of the Lords. + + +The resolution adopted by the Commons, that the trade should cease in +1796, was a matter of great joy to many; and several, in consequence of +it, returned to the use of sugar. The committee, however, for the +abolition did not view it in the same favourable light. They considered +it as a political manoeuvre to frustrate the accomplishment of the +object. But the circumstance, which gave them the most concern, was the +resolution of the Lords to hear evidence. It was impossible now to say, +when the trade would cease, the witnesses in behalf of the merchants and +planters, had obtained possession of the ground; and they might, keep +it, if they chose, even till the year 1800, to throw light upon a +measure which was to be adopted in 1796. The committee found too, that +they had again the laborious task before them of finding out new persons +to give testimony in behalf of their cause; for some of their former +witnesses were dead, and others were out of the kingdom; and unless they +replaced these, there would be no probability of making out that strong +case in the Lords, which they had established in the Commons. It +devolved therefore upon me once more to travel for this purpose: but as +I was then in too weak a state to bear as much fatigue as formerly, Dr. +Dickson relieved me, by taking one part of the tour, namely, that to +Scotland, upon himself. + +These journeys we performed with considerable success; during which, the +committee elected Mr. Joseph Townsend of Baltimore, in Maryland, an +honorary and corresponding member. + +Parliament having met, Mr. Wilberforce, in February 1793, moved, that +the House resolve itself into a committee of the whole House on Thursday +next, to consider of the circumstances of the Slave Trade. This motion +was opposed by Sir William Yonge, who moved, that this day six months +should be substituted for Thursday next. A debate ensued: of this, +however, as well as of several which followed. I shall give no account; +as it would be tedious to the reader to hear a repetition of the same +arguments. Suffice it to say, that the motion was lost by a majority of +sixty-one to fifty-three. + +This sudden refusal of the House of Commons to renew their own vote of +the former year, gave great uneasiness to the friends of the cause. Mr. +Wilberforce, however, resolved that the session should not pass without +an attempt to promote it in another form; and accordingly, on the 14th +of May, he moved for leave to bring in a bill to abolish that part of +the Slave Trade, by which the British merchants supplied foreigners with +slaves. This motion was opposed like the former; but was carried by a +majority of seven. The bill was then brought in; and it passed its first +and second reading with little opposition; but on the 5th of June, +notwithstanding the eloquence of Mr. Pitt and of Mr. Fox, and the very +able speeches of Mr. Francis, Mr. Courtenay, and others, it was lost by +a majority of thirty-one to twenty-nine. + +In the interval between these motions, the question experienced in the +Lords considerable opposition. The Duke of Clarence moved that the House +should not proceed in the consideration of the Slave Trade till after +the Easter recess. The Earl of Abingdon was still more hostile +afterwards. He deprecated the new philosophy. It was as full of mischief +as the Box of Pandora. The doctrine of the abolition of the Slave Trade +was a species of it; and he concluded by moving, that all further +consideration of the subject be postponed. To the epithets, then +bestowed upon the abolitionists by this nobleman, the Duke of Clarence +added those of fanatics and hypocrites, among whom he included Mr. +Wilberforce by name. All the other Lords, however, who were present, +manifested such a dislike to the sentiments of the Earl of Abingdon, +that he withdrew his motion. + +After this, the hearing of evidence on the resolution of the House of +Commons was resumed; and seven persons were examined before the close of +the session. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +--Continuation from July 1793 to July 1794.--Author travels round the +kingdom again.--Motion to abolish the foreign Slave Trade renewed in +the Commons; and carried; but lost in the Lords; further proceedings +there.--Author, on account of his declining health, obliged to retire +from the cause. + + +The committee for the abolition could not view the proceedings of both +Houses of Parliament on this subject during the year 1793, without being +alarmed for the fate of their question. The only two sources of hope, +which they could discover, were in the disposition then manifested by +the Peers, as to the conduct of the Earl of Abingdon, and in their +determination to proceed in the hearing of evidence. The latter +circumstance indeed was the more favourable, as the resolution, upon +which the witnesses were to be examined, had not been renewed by the +Commons. These considerations, however, afforded no solid ground for the +mind to rest upon. They only broke in upon it, like faint gleams of +sunshine, for a moment, and then were gone. In this situation, the +committee could only console themselves by the reflection, that they had +done their duty. In looking, however, to their future services, one +thing, and only one, seemed practicable; and this was necessary; namely, +to complete the new body of evidence, which they had endeavoured to form +in the preceding year. The determination to do this rendered another +journey on my part indispensable; and I undertook it, broken down, as my +constitution then was, beginning it in September 1793, and completing it +in February 1794. + +Mr. Wilberforce, in this interval, had digested his plan of operations; +and accordingly, early in the session of 1794, he asked leave to renew +his former bill, to abolish that part of the trade, by means of which +British merchants supplied foreigners with slaves. This request was +opposed by Sir William Yonge; but it was granted; on a division of the +House, by a majority of sixty-three to forty votes. + +When the bill was brought in, it was opposed by the same member; upon +which the House divided; and there appeared for Sir William Yonge's +amendment thirty-eight votes, but against it fifty-six. + +On a motion for the recommitment of the bill, Lord Sheffield divided the +House, against whose motion there was a majority of forty-two. And, on +the third reading of it, it was opposed again; but it was at length +carried. + +The speakers against the bill were: Sir William Yonge, Lord Sheffield, +Colonel Tarleton, Alderman Newnham and Messrs; Payne, Este, Lechaiere, +Cawthorae, Jenkinson, and Dent. Those who spoke in favour of it were: +Messrs. Pitt, Fox, William Smith, Whitbread, Francis, Burdon, Vaughan, +Barham, and Serjeants Watson and Adair. + +While the foreign Slave-bill was thus passing through its stages in the +Commons, Dr. Horsley, Bishop of Rochester, who saw no end to the +examinations, while the witnesses were to be examined at the bar of the +House of Lords, moved, that they should be taken in future before a +committee above-stairs. Dr. Porteus, Bishop of London, and the Lords +Guildford, Stanhope, and Grenville, supported this motion. But the Lord +Chancellor Thurlow, aided by the Duke of Clarence, and by the Lords +Mansfield, Hay, Abingdon, and others, negatived it by a majority of +twenty-eight. + +At length the bill itself was ushered into the House of Lords. On +reading it a second time, it was opposed by the Duke of Clarence, Lord +Abingdon, and others. Lord Grenville and the Bishop of Rochester +declined supporting it. They alleged as a reason, that they conceived +the introduction of it to have been improper, pending the inquiry on the +general subject of the Slave Trade. This declaration brought up the +Lords Stanhope and Lauderdale, who charged them with inconsistency as +professed friends of the cause. At length the bill was lost. During +these discussions the examination of the witnesses was resumed by the +Lords; but only two of them were heard in this session[A]. + +[Footnote A: After this the examinations wholly dropped in the House of +Lords.] + +After this decision the question was in a desperate state; for if the +Commons would not renew their own resolution, and the Lords would not +abolish the foreign part of the Slave-trade, what hope was there of +success? It was obvious too, that in the former House, Mr. Pitt and Mr. +Dundas voted against each other. In the latter, the Lord Chancellor +Thurlow opposed every motion in favour of the cause. The committee +therefore were reduced to this;--either they must exert themselves +without hope, or they must wait till some change should take place in +their favour. As far as I myself was concerned, all exertion was then +over. The nervous system was almost shattered to pieces. Both my memory +and my hearing failed me. Sudden dizzinesses seized my head. A confused +singing in the ears followed me, wherever I went. On going to bed the +very, stairs seemed to dance up and down under me, so that, misplacing +my foot, I sometimes fell. Talking too, if it continued but half an +hour, exhausted me, so that profuse perspirations followed; and the same +effect was produced even by an active exertion of the mind for the like +time. These disorders had been brought on by degrees in consequence of +the severe labours necessarily attached to the promotion of the cause. +For seven years I had a correspondence to maintain with four hundred +persons with my own hand. I had some book or other annually to write in +behalf of the cause. In this time I had travelled more than thirty-five +thousand miles in search of evidence, and a great part of these journeys +in the night. All this time my mind had been on the stretch. It had been +bent too to this one subject; for I had not even leisure to attend to my +own concerns. The various instances of barbarity, which had come +successively to my knowledge within this period, had vexed, harassed, +and afflicted it. The wound which these had produced, was rendered still +deeper by those cruel disappointments before related, which arose from +the reiterated refusal of persons to give their testimony, after I had +travelled hundreds of miles in quest of them. But the severest stroke +was that inflicted by the persecution, begun and pursued by persons +interested in the continuance of the trade, of such witnesses as had +been examined against them; and whom, on account of their dependent +situation in life, it was most easy to oppress. As I had been the means +of bringing these forward on these occasions, they naturally came to me, +when thus persecuted, as the author of their miseries and their ruin. +From their supplications and wants it would have been ungenerous and +ungrateful to have fled[A]. These different circumstances, by acting +together, had at length brought me into the situation just mentioned; +and I was therefore obliged, though very reluctantly, to be borne out of +the field, where I had placed the great honour and glory of my life. + +[Footnote A: The late Mr. Whitbread, to whom one day in deep affliction +on this account I related accidentally a circumstance of this kind, +generously undertook, in order to make my mind easy upon the subject, to +make good all injuries, which should in future arise to individuals from +such persecution; and he repaired these, at different times, at a +considerable expense. I feel it a duty to divulge this circumstance, out +of respect to the memory of one of the best of men, and of one, whom, if +the history of his life were written, it would appear to have been an +extraordinary honour to the country to have produced.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +Continuation from July 1794 to July 1799.--Various motions within this +period. + + +I purpose, though it may seem abrupt after the division which has +hitherto been made of the contents of this volume, to throw the events +of the next five years into one chapter. + +Mr. Wilberforce and the members of the committee, whose constitutions +had not suffered like my own, were still left; and they determined to +persevere in the promotion of their great object as long as their health +and their faculties permitted them. The former, accordingly, in the +month of February, 1795, moved in the House of Commons for leave to +bring in a bill for the abolition of the Slave Trade. This motion was +then necessary, if, according to the resolution of that House, the Slave +Trade was to cease in 1796. It was opposed, however, by Sir William +Yonge, and unfortunately lost by a majority of seventy-eight to +fifty-seven. + +In the year 1796, Mr. Wilberforce renewed his efforts in the Commons. He +asked leave to bring in a bill for the abolition of the Slave Trade, but +in a limited time. The motion was opposed as before; but on a division, +there were for it ninety-three, and against it only sixty-seven. + +The bill having been brought in, was opposed in its second reading; but +it was carried through it by a majority of sixty-four to thirty-one. + +In a future stage it was opposed again; but it triumphed by a majority +of seventy-six to thirty-one. Mr. Elliott was then put into the chair. +Several clauses were adopted; and the first of March, 1797, was fixed +for the abolition of the Trade: but in the next stage of it, after a +long speech from Mr. Dundas, it was lost by a majority of seventy-four +against seventy. + +Mr. Francis, who had made a brilliant speech in the last debate, +considering that nothing effectual had been yet done on this great +question, and wishing that a practical beginning might be made, brought +forward soon afterwards, a motion relative to the improvement of the +condition of the slaves in the West Indies. This, after a short debate, +was negatived without a division. Mr. William Smith also moved an +address to His Majesty, that he would be pleased to give directions to +lay before the House copies of the several acts relative to regulations +in behalf of the slaves, passed by the different colonial assemblies +since the year 1788. This motion was adopted by the House. Thus passed +away the session of 1796. + +In the year 1797, while Mr. Wilberforce was deliberating upon the best +measure for the advancement of the cause, Mr. C. Ellis came forward with +a new motion. He began by declaring, that he agreed with the +abolitionists as to their object; but he differed with them as to the +mode of attaining It. The Slave Trade he condemned as a cruel and +pernicious system; but, as it had become an inveterate evil, he feared +it could not be done away all at once, without injury to the interests +of numerous individuals, and even to the Negroes themselves. He +concluded by moving an address to His Majesty, humbly requesting, that +he would give directions to the governors of the West Indian islands, to +recommend it to the colonial assemblies to adopt such measures as might +appear to them best calculated to ameliorate the condition of the +Negroes, and thereby to remove gradually the Slave Trade; and likewise +to assure His Majesty of the readiness of this House to concur in any +measure to accelerate this desirable object; This motion was seconded by +Mr. Barham, It was opposed, however, by Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Pitt, and +others; but was at length carried by a majority of ninety-nine to +sixty-three. + +In the year 1798, Mr. Wilberforce asked leave to renew his former bill, +to abolish the Slave Trade within a limited time. He was supported by +Mr. Canning, Mr. Hobhouse, Sir Robert Buxton, Mr. Bouverie, and others. +Messrs. Sewell, Bryan Edwards, Henniker, and C. Ellis, took the opposite +side of the question. Mr. Ellis, however, observed, that he had no +objection to restricting the Slave Trade to plantations already begun in +the colonies; and Mr. Barham professed; himself a friend to the +abolition, if it; could be accomplished in a reasonable way. On a +division, there appeared to be for Mr. Wilberforce's motion +eighty-three, but against it eighty-seven. + +In the year 1799 Mr. Wilberforce, undismayed by these different +disappointments, renewed his motion. Colonel M. Wood, Mr. Petrie, and +others, among whom were Mr. Windham and Mr. Dundas, opposed it. Mr. +Pitt, Mr. Fox, Mr. W. Smith, Sir William Dolben, Sir R. Milbank, Mr. +Hobhouse, and Mr. Canning, supported it. Sir R. Milbank contended, that +modifications of a system, fundamentally wrong, ought not to be +tolerated by the legislature of a free nation, Mr. Hobhouse said, that +nothing could be so nefarious as this traffic in blood. It was unjust in +its principles it was cruel in its practice: it admitted of no +regulation whatever. The abolition of it was called for equally, by +morality and sound policy, Mr. Canning exposed the folly of Mr. Dundas, +who bad said, that as Parliament had, in the year 1787, left the +abolition to the colonial assemblies, it ought not to be taken out of +their hands. This great event, he observed, could only be accomplished +in two ways; either by these assemblies, or by the Parliament of +England. Now the members of the Assembly of Jamaica had professed that +they would never abolish the trade. Was it not, therefore, idle to rely +upon them for the accomplishment of it? He then took a very +comprehensive view of the arguments, which had been offered in the +course of the debate, and was severe upon the planters in the House, +who, he said, had brought into familiar use certain expressions, with no +other view than to throw a veil over their odious system. Among these +was, "their right to import labourers." But never was the word +"labourers" so prostituted, as when it was used for slaves. Never was +the word "right" so prostituted, not even when "the rights of man" were +talked of; as when the right to trade in man's blood was asserted, by +the members of an enlightened assembly. Never was the right of importing +these labourers worse defended than when the antiquity, of the Slave +Trade, and its foundation on the ancient acts of parliament, were +brought forward in its support. We had been cautioned not to lay our +unhallowed hands on the ancient institution of the Slave Trade; nor to +subvert a fabric, raised by the wisdom of our ancestors, and consecrated +by a lapse of ages. But on what principles did we usually respect the +institutions of antiquity? We respected them, when we saw some shadow of +departed worth and usefulness; or some memorial of what had been +creditable to mankind. But was this the case with the Slave Trade? Had +it begun in principles of justice or national honour, which the changes +of the world alone had impaired? Had it to plead former services and +glories in behalf of its present disgrace? In looking at it we saw +nothing but crimes and sufferings from the beginning--nothing but what +wounded and convulsed our feelings--nothing but what excited indignation +and horror. It had not even to plead what could often be said in favour +of the most unjustifiable wars. Though conquest had sometimes originated +in ambition, and in the worst of motives, yet the conquerors and the +conquered were sometimes blended afterwards into one people; so that a +system of common interest arose out of former differences. But where was +the analogy of the eases? Was it only at the outset that we could trace +violence and injustice on the part of the Slave Trade? Were the +oppressors and the oppressed so reconciled, that enmities ultimately +ceased? No. Was it reasonable then to urge a prescriptive right, not to +the fruits of an ancient and forgotten evil, but to a series of new +violences; to a chain of fresh enormities; to cruelties continually +repeated; and of which every instance inflicted a fresh calamity, and +constituted a separate and substantial crime? + +The debate being over, the House divided; when it appeared that there +were for Mr. Wilberforce's motion seventy-four, but against it +eighty-two. + +The motion for the general abolition of the Slave Trade having been thus +lost again in the Commons, a new motion was made there soon after, by +Mr. Henry Thornton, on the same subject. The prosecution of this +traffic, on certain parts of the coast of Africa, had become so +injurious to the new settlement at Sierra Leone, that not only its +commercial prospects were but its safety endangered. Mr. Thornton, +therefore brought in a bill to confine the Slave Trade within certain +limits. But even this bill, though it had for its object only to free a +portion of the coast from the ravages of this traffic, was opposed by +Mr. Gascoyne, Dent, and others. Petitions also were presented against +it. At length, after two divisions, on the first of which there were +thirty-two votes to twenty-seven, and on the second thirty-eight to +twenty-two, it passed through all its stages. + +When it was introduced into the Lords the petitions were renewed against +it. Delay also was interposed to its progress by the examination of +witnesses. It was not till the fifth of July that the matter was brought +to issue. The opponents of the bill, at that time, were the Duke of +Clarence, Lord Westmoreland, Lord Thurlow, and the Lords Douglas and +Hay, the two latter being Earls of Morton and Kinnoul, in Scotland. The +supporters of it were Lord Grenville, who introduced it, Lord +Loughborough, Lord Holland, and Dr. Horsley, Bishop of Rochester: the +latter was peculiarly eloquent. He began his speech, by arraigning the +injustice and impolicy of the trade:--"injustice," he said, "which no +considerations of policy could extenuate; impolicy, equal in degree to +its injustice." + +He well knew that the advocates for the Slave Trade had endeavoured to +represent the project for abolition, as a branch of jacobinism; but they +who supported it proceeded upon no visionary motives of equality, or of +the imprescriptible rights of man. They strenuously upheld the +gradations of civil society: but they did, indeed, affirm that these +gradations were, both ways, both as they ascended and as they descended, +limited. There was an existence of power, to which no good king would +aspire; and there was an extreme condition of subjection, to which man +could not be degraded without injustice; and this they would maintain, +was the condition of the African, who was torn away into slavery. + +He then explained the limits of that portion of Africa, which the bill +intended to set apart as sacred to peace and liberty. He showed that +this was but one-third of the coast; and, therefore, that two-thirds +were yet left for the diabolical speculations of the slave merchants. He +expressed his surprise that such witnesses, as those against the bill, +should have been introduced at all: he affirmed that their oaths were +falsified by their own log-books; and that, from their own accounts, the +very healthiest of their vessels were little better than pestilential +gaols. Mr. Robert Hume, one of these witnesses, had made a certain +voyage: he had made it in thirty-three days: he had shipped two hundred +and sixty-five slaves, and he had lost twenty-three of them. If he had +gone on losing his slaves, all of whom were under twenty-five years of +age, at this rate, it was obvious, that he would have lost two hundred +and fifty-three of them, if his passage had lasted for a year. Now, in +London only, seventeen would have died of that age, out of one thousand +within the latter period. + +After having exposed the other voyages of Mr. Hume in a similar manner, +he entered into a commendation of the views of the Sierra Leone company, +and then defended the character of the Africans in their own country, as +exhibited in the Travels of Mr. Mungo Park. He made a judicious +discrimination with respect to slavery, as it existed among them: he +showed that this slavery was analogous to that of the heroic and +patriarchal ages, and contrasted it with the West Indian in an able +manner. + +He adverted, lastly, to what had fallen from the learned counsel, who +had supported the petitions of the slave-merchants. One of them had put +this question to their Lordships, "If the Slave Trade were as wicked as +it had been represented, why was there no prohibition of it in the Holy +Scriptures?" He then entered into a full defence of the Scriptures on +this ground, which he concluded by declaring, that, as St. Paul had +coupled men-stealers with murderers, he had condemned the Slave Trade in +one of its most productive modes, and generally in all its modes. And +here it is worthy of remark, that the word used by the apostle on this +occasion, and which has been translated men-stealers, should have been +rendered slave traders. This was obvious from the scholiast of +Aristophanes, whom he quoted. It was clear, therefore, that the Slave +Trade, if murder was forbidden, had been literally forbidden also. + +The learned counsel, too, had admonished their lordships, to beware how +they adopted the visionary projects of fanatics. He did not know in what +direction this shaft was shot; and he cared not. It did not concern him. +With the highest reverence for the religion of the land, with the +firmest conviction of its truth, and with the deepest sense of the +importance Of its doctrines, he was proudly conscious, that the general +shape and fashion of his life bore nothing of the stamp of fanaticism. +But he begged leave, in his turn, to address a word of serious +exhortation to their lordships. He exhorted them to beware how they were +persuaded to bury, under the opprobrious name of fanaticism, the regard +which they owed to the great duties of mercy and justice, for the +neglect of which (if they should neglect them) they would be answerable +at that tribunal, where no prevarication of witnesses could misinform +the judge; and where no subtlety of an advocate, miscalling the names of +things, putting evil for good and good for evil, could mislead his +judgment. + +At length the debate ended: when the bill was lost by a majority of +sixty-eight to sixty-one, including personal votes and proxies. + +I cannot conclude this chapter without offering a few remarks. And, +first, I may observe, as the substance of the debates has not been given +for the period which it contains, that Mr. Wilberforce, upon whom too +much praise cannot be bestowed for his perseverance from year to year, +amidst the disheartening circumstances which attended his efforts, +brought every new argument to which either the discovery of new light, +or the events of the times, produced. I may observe also, in justice to +the memories of Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox, that there was no debate within +this period, in which they did not take a part; and in which they did +not irradiate others from the profusion of their own light; and thirdly, +that in consequence of the efforts of the three, conjoined with those of +others, the great cause of the abolition was secretly gaining ground. +Many members who were not connected with the trade, but who had yet +hitherto supported it, were on the point of conversion. Though the +question had oscillated backwards and forwards, so that an ordinary +spectator could have discovered no gleam of hope at these times, nothing +is more certain, than that the powerful eloquence then displayed had +smoothed the resistance to it, had shortened its vibrations, and had +prepared it for a state of rest. + +With respect to the West-Indians themselves, some of them began to see +through the mists of prejudice, which had covered them. In the year +1794, when the bill for the abolition of the foreign Slave Trade was +introduced, Mr. Vaughan and Mr. Barham supported it. They called upon +the planters in the House to give way to humanity, where their own +interests could not be affected by their submission. This, indeed, may +be said to have been no mighty thing; but it was a frank confession of +the injustice of the Slave Trade, and the beginning of the change which +followed, both with respect to themselves and others. + +With respect to the old friends of the cause, it is with regret I +mention, that it lost the support of Mr. Windham within this period; and +this regret is increased by the consideration, that he went off on the +avowed plea of expediency against moral rectitude; a doctrine, which, at +least upon this subject, he had reprobated for ten years. It was, +however, some consolation, as far as talents were concerned, (for there +can be none for the loss of virtuous feeling,) that Mr. Canning, a new +member, should have so ably supplied his place. + +Of the gradual abolitionists, whom we have always considered as the most +dangerous enemies of the cause, Mr. Jenkinson (afterwards Earl of +Liverpool), Mr. Addington (subsequently Lord Sidmouth), and Mr. Dundas +(afterwards Lord Melville), continued their opposition during all this +time. Of the first two I shall say nothing at present; but I cannot pass +over the conduct of the latter. He was the first person, as we have +seen, to propose the gradual abolition of the Slave Trade; and he fixed +a time for its cessation on the 1st of January, 1800. His sincerity on +this occasion was doubted by Mr. Fox at the very outset; for he +immediately rose and said, that "something so mischievous had come out, +something so like a foundation had been laid for preserving, not only +for years to come, but for anything he knew, for ever, this detestable +traffic, that he felt it his duty immediately to deprecate all such +delusions upon the country." Mr. Pitt, who spoke soon afterwards, in +reply to an argument advanced by Mr. Dundas, maintained, that "at +whatever period the House should say that the Slave Trade should +actually cease, this defence would equally be set up; for it would be +just as good an argument in seventy years hence, as it was against the +abolition then." And these remarks Mr. Dundas verified in a singular +manner within this period: for in the year 1796, when his own bill, as +amended in the Commons, was to take place, he was one of the most +strenuous opposers of it; and in the year 1799, when in point of +consistency it devolved upon him to propose it to the House, in order +that the trade might cease on the 1st of January, 1800, (which was the +time of his own original choice, or a time unfettered by parliamentary +amendment,) he was the chief instrument of throwing out Mr. +Wilberforce's bill, which promised even a longer period to its +continuance: so that it is obvious, that there was no time, within his +own limits, when the abolition would have suited him, notwithstanding +his profession, "that he had always been a warm advocate for the +measure." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +Continuation from July 1799 to July 1805.--Various motions within this +period. + + +The question had now been brought forward in almost every possible way, +and yet had been eventually lost. The total and immediate abolition had +been attempted; and then the gradual. The gradual again had been tried +for the year 1798, then for 1795, and then for 1796, at which period it +was decreed, but never allowed to be executed. An Abolition of a part of +the trade, as it related to the supply of foreigners with slaves, was +the next measure proposed; and when this failed, the abolition of +another part of it, as it related to the making of a certain portion of +the coast of Africa sacred to liberty, was attempted; but this failed +also. Mr. Wilberforce therefore thought it prudent, not to press the +abolition as a mere annual measure, but to allow members time to digest +the eloquence, which had been bestowed upon it for the last five years, +and to wait till some new circumstances should favour its introduction. +Accordingly he allowed the years 1800, 1801, 1802, and 1803, to pass +over without any further parliamentary notice than the moving for +certain papers; during which he took an opportunity of assuring the +House, that he had not grown cool in the cause, but that he would +agitate it in a future session. + +In the year 1804, which was fixed upon for renewed exertion, the +committee for the abolition of the Slave Trade elected James Stephen, +Zachary Macaulay, Henry Brougham, Esqrs., and William Phillips, into +their own body. Four other members, also, Robert Grant, and John +Thornton, Esqrs., and William Manser and William Allen, were afterwards +added to the list. Among, the reasons for fixing upon this year, one may +be assigned, namely, that the Irish members, in consequence of the union +which had taken place between the two countries, had then all taken +their seats in the House of Commons; and that most of them were friendly +to the cause. + +This being the situation of things, Mr. Wilberforce, on the 30th of +March, asked leave to renew his bill for the abolition of the Slave +Trade within a limited time, Mr. Fuller opposed the motion. A debate +ensued. Colonel Tarleton, Mr. Devaynes, Mr. Addington, and Mr. Manning +spoke against it, however, notwithstanding his connection with the West +Indies, said he would support it, if an indemnification were offered to +the planters, in case any actual loss should accompany the measure. + +Sir William Geary questioned the propriety of immediate abolition. + +Sir Robert Buxton, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Barbara spoke in favour of +the motion. + +Mr. William Smith rose, when the latter had seated himself, and +complimented him on this change of sentiment, so honourable to him, +inasmuch as he had espoused the cause of humanity against his supposed +interest as a planter. Mr. Leigh said that he would not tolerate such a +traffic for a moment. All the feelings of nature revolted at it. Lord de +Blaquiere observed, "it was the first time the question had been +proposed to Irishmen as legislators. He believed it would be supported +by most of them. As to the people of Ireland, he could pledge himself +that they were hostile to this barbarous traffic." An amendment having +been proposed by Mr. Manning, a division took place upon it, when leave +was given to bring in the bill, by a majority of one hundred and +twenty-four to forty-nine. + +On the 7th of June, when the second reading of the bill was moved, it +was opposed by Sir W. Yonge, Dr. Laurence, Mr. C. Brook, Mr. Dent, and +others. Among these Lord Castlereagh professed himself a friend to the +abolition of the trade, but he differed as to the mode. Sir J. +Wrottesley approved of the principle of the bill, but would oppose it in +some of its details. Mr. Windham allowed the justice, but differed as to +the expediency, of the measure. Mr. Deverell professed himself to have +been a friend to it; but he had then changed his mind. Sir Laurence +Parsons wished to see a plan for the gradual extinction of the trade. +Lord Temple affirmed that the bill would seal the death-warrant of every +White inhabitant of the islands. The second reading was supported by Sir +Ralph Milbank, Messrs. Pitt, Fox, William Smith, Whitbread, Francis, +Barham, and Grenfell, and Sir John Newport. Mr. Grenfell observed, that +he could not give a silent vote, when the character of the country was +concerned. When the question of the abolition first came before the +public, he was a warm friend to it; and from that day to this he had +cherished the same feelings. He assured Mr. Wilberforce of his constant +support. Sir John Newport stated that the Irish nation took a virtuous +interest in this noble cause. He ridiculed the idea that the trade and +manufactures of the country would suffer by the measure in +contemplation; but, even if they should suffer, he would oppose it. +"Fiat justitia, ruat coelura," Upon a division, there appeared for the +second reading one hundred, and against it forty-two. + +On the 12th of June, when a motion was made to go into a committee upon +the bill, it was opposed by Messrs. Fuller, C. Brook, C. Ellis, Dent, +Deverell, and Manning: and it was supported by Sir Robert Buxton, Mr. +Barham, and the Hon. J.S. Cocks. The latter condemned the imprudence of +the planters. Instead of profiting by the discussions, which had taken +place, and making wise provisions against the great event of the +abolition, which would sooner or later take place, they had only thought +of new stratagems to defeat it. He declared his abhorrence of the trade, +which he considered to be a national disgrace. The House divided: when +there were seventy-nine for the motion, and against it, twenty. + +On the 27th of June the bill was opposed in its last stage by Sir W. +Young, Messrs. Dickenson, Mr. Rose, Addington, and Dent.; and supported +by: Messrs. Pitt, W. Smith, Francis, and Barham; when it was carried by +a majority of sixty-nine to thirty-six. It was then taken up to the +Lords; but on a motion of Lord Hawkesbury, then a member of that House, +the discussion of it was postponed to the next year. + +The session being ended, the committee for the abolition of the Slave +Trade, increased its number, by the election of the Right Honourable +Lord Teignmouth, Dr. Dickson, and Wilson Birkbeek, as members. + +In the year 1805, Mr. Wilberforce renewed his motion of the former year. +Colonel Tarleton, Sir William Yonge, Mr. Puller, and Mr. Gascoyne +opposed it. Leave, however, was given him to introduce his bill. + +On the second reading of it, a serious opposition took place; and an +amendment was moved for postponing it till that day six months. The +amendment was opposed by Mr. Fox and Mr. Huddlestone. The latter could +not help lifting his voice against this monstrous traffic in the sinews +and blood of man, the toleration of which had so long been the disgrace +of the British legislature. He did not charge the enormous guilt +resulting from it upon the nation at large; for the nation had washed +its hands of it by the numerous petitions it had sent against it; and it +had since been a matter of astonishment to all Christendom, how the +constitutional guardians of British freedom should have sanctioned +elsewhere the greatest system of cruelty and oppression in the world. + +He said that a curse attended this trade even in the mode of defending +it. By a certain fatality, none but the vilest arguments were brought +forward, which corrupted the very persons who used them. Every one of +these was built on the narrow ground of interest--of pecuniary +profit--of sordid gain--in opposition to every high consideration--to +every motive that had reference to humanity, justice, and religion--or +to that great principle which comprehended them all. Place only before +the most determined advocate of this odious traffic the exact image of +himself in the garb and harness of a slave, dragged and whipped about +like a beast; place this image also before him, and paint it as that of +one without a ray of hope to cheer him; and you would extort from him +the reluctant confession, that he would not endure for an hour the +misery to which he condemned his fellow-man for life. How dared he, +then, to use this selfish plea of interest against the voice of the +generous sympathies of his nature? But even upon this narrow ground, the +advocates for the traffic had been defeated. If the unhallowed argument +of expediency was worth anything when opposed to moral rectitude, or if +it were to supercede precepts of Christianity, where was a man to stop, +on what was he to draw? For anything he knew, it might be physically +true, that human blood was the best manure for the land; but who ought +to shed it on that account? True expediency, however, was, where it ever +would be found, on the side of that system which was most merciful and +just. He asked how it happened, that sugar could be imported cheaper +from the East Indies than from the West, notwithstanding the vast +difference of the length of the voyages, but on account of the impolicy +of slavery; or that it was made in the former case by the industry of +free men, and in the latter by the languid drudgery of slaves. + +As he had had occasion to advert to the Eastern part of the world, he +would make an observation upon an argument, which had been collected +from that quarter. The condition of the Negroes in the West Indies had +been lately compared with that of the Hindoos. But he would observe that +the Hindoo, miserable as his hovel was, had sources of pride and +happiness, to which not only the West Indian slave, but even his master, +was a stranger. He was to be sure a peasant; and his industry was +subservient to the gratifications of an European lord; but he was, in +his own belief, vastly superior to him. He viewed him as one of the +lowest cast. He would not on any consideration eat from the same plate. +He would not suffer his son to marry the daughter of his master, even if +she could bring him all the West Indies as her portion. He would +observe, too, that the Hindoo peasant drank his water from his native +well; that, if his meal were scanty, he received it from the hand of +her, who was most dear to him; that, when he laboured, he laboured for +her and his offspring. His daily task being finished, he reposed with +his family. No retrospect of the happiness of former days, compared with +existing misery, disturbed his slumber, nor horrid dreams occasioned him +to wake in agony at the dawn of day. No barbarous sounds of cracking +whips reminded him, that with the form and image of a man his destiny +was that of the beast of the field. Let the advocates for the bloody +traffic state what they had to set off on their side of the question +against the comforts and independence of the man, with whom they +compared the slave. + +The amendment was supported by Sir William Yonge, Sir William Pulteney, +Colonel Tarleton, Messrs. Gascoyne, C. Brook, and Hiley Addington. On +dividing the House upon it, there appeared for it seventy-seven, but +against it only seventy. + +This loss of the question, after it had been carried in the last year by +so great a majority, being quite unexpected, was a matter of severe +disappointment; and might have discouraged the friends of the cause in +this infancy of their renewed efforts, if they had not discovered the +reason of its failure. After due consideration it appeared, that no +fewer than nine members, who had never been absent once in sixteen years +when it was agitated, gave way to engagements on the day of the motion, +from a belief that it was safe. It appeared also, that out of the great +number of Irish members, who supported it in the former year, only nine +were in the House, when it was lost. It appeared also that, previously +to this event, a canvass, more importunate than had heard of on any +former occasion, had been made among the latter by those interested in +the continuance of the trade. Many of these, unacquainted with the +detail of the subject, like the English members, admitted the dismal +representations, which were then made to them. The desire, of doing good +on the one hand, and the fear of doing injury on the other, perplexed +them; and in this dubious state they absented themselves at the time +mentioned. + +The causes of the failure having been found accidental, and capable of a +remedy, it was resolved that an attempt should be made immediately in +the House in a new form. Lord Henry Petty signified his intention of +bringing in a bill for the abolition of the foreign part of the Slave +Trade; but the impeachment of Lord Melville, and other weighty matters +coming on, the notice was not acted upon in that session. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +--Continuation from July 1805 to July 1806--Author returns to his duty +in the committee--Travels again round the kingdom--Death of Mr. +Pitt--His character, as it related to the question--Motion for the +abolition of the foreign Slave-Trade--Resolution to take measures for +the total abolition of it--Address to the King to negotiate with +foreign powers for their concurrence in it--Motion to prevent any new +vessel going into the trade--these carried through both Houses of +Parliament. + + +It was now almost certain, to the inexpressible joy of the committee, +that the cause, with proper vigilance, could be carried in the next +session in the House of Commons. It became them therefore to prepare to +support it. In adverting to measures for this purpose, it occurred to +them, that the House of Lords, if the question should be then carried to +them from the Commons, might insist upon hearing evidence on the general +subject. But, alas, even the body of witnesses, which had been last +collected, was broken by death or dispersion! It was therefore to be +formed again. In this situation it devolved upon me, as I had now +returned to the committee after an absence of nine years, to take +another journey for this purpose. + +This journey I performed with extraordinary success. In the course of it +I had also much satisfaction on another account. I found the old friends +of the cause still faithful to it. It was remarkable, however, that the +youth of the rising generation knew but little about the question. For +the last eight or nine years the committee had not circulated any books; +and the debates in the Commons during that time had not furnished them +with the means of an adequate knowledge concerning it. When, however, I +conversed with these, as I travelled along, I discovered a profound +attention to what I said; an earnest desire to know more of the subject; +and a generous warmth in favour of the injured Africans, which I foresaw +could soon be turned into enthusiasm. Hence I perceived that the cause +furnished us with endless sources of rallying: and that the ardour which +we had seen with so much admiration in former years, could be easily +renewed. + +I had scarcely finished my journey, when Mr. Pitt died. This event took +place in January 1806, I shall stop therefore to make a few observations +upon his character, as it related to this cause. This I feel myself +bound in justice to do, because his sincerity towards it has been +generally questioned. + +The way, in which Mr. Pitt became acquainted with this question, has +already been explained. A few doubts having been removed, when it was +first started, he professed himself a friend to the abolition. The first +proof, which he gave of his friendship to it is known but to few; but it +is, nevertheless, true, that so early as in 1788, he occasioned a +communication to be made to the French government, in which he +recommended an union of the two countries for the promotion of the great +measure. This proposition seemed to be then new and strange to the Court +of France; and the answer was not favourable. + +From this time his efforts were reduced within the boundaries of his own +power. As far, however, as he had scope, he exerted them. If we look at +him in his parliamentary capacity, it must be acknowledged by all, that +he took an active, strenuous, and consistent part, and this year after +year, by which he realized his professions. In my own private +communications with him, which were frequent, he never failed to give +proofs of a similar disposition. I had always free access to him. I had +no previous note or letter to write for admission. Whatever papers I +wanted, he ordered. He exhibited also in his conversation with me on +these occasions marks of a more than ordinary interest in the welfare of +the cause. Among the subjects, which were then started, there was one, +which was always near his heart. This was the civilization of Africa. He +looked upon this great work as a debt due to that continent for the many +injuries we had inflicted upon it: and had the abolition succeeded +sooner, as in the infancy of his exertions he had hoped, I know he had a +plan, suited no doubt to the capaciousness of his own mind, for such +establishments in Africa, as he conceived would promote in due time this +important end. + +I believe it will be said, notwithstanding what I have advanced, that if +Mr. Pitt had exerted himself as the Minister of this country in behalf +of the abolition, he could have carried it. This brings the matter to an +issue; for unquestionably the charge of insincerity, as it related to +this great question, arose from the mistaken notion, that, as his +measures in Parliament were supported by great majorities, he could do +as he pleased there. But they who hold this opinion, must be informed, +that there were great difficulties, against which he had to struggle on +this subject! The Lord Chancellor Thurlow ran counter to his wishes +almost at the very outset. Lord Liverpool, and Mr. Dundas, did the same. +Thus, to go no further, three of the most powerful members of the +cabinet were in direct opposition to him. The abolition then, amidst +this difference of opinion, could never become a cabinet measure; but if +so, then all his parliamentary efforts in this case wanted their usual +authority, and he could only exert his influence as a private man[A]. + +[Footnote A: This he did with great effect on one or two occasions. On +the motion of Mr. Cawthorne in 1791, the cause hung as it were by a +thread; and would have failed that day, to my knowledge, but for his +seasonable exertions.] + +But a difficulty, still more insuperable, presented itself, in an +occurrence which took place in the year 1791, but which is much too +delicate to be mentioned. The explanation of it, however, would convince +the reader, that all the efforts of Mr. Pitt from that day were rendered +useless, I mean, as to bringing the question, as a Minister of State, to +a favourable issue. + +But though Mr. Pitt did not carry this great question, he was yet one of +the greatest supporters of it; He fostered it in its infancy. If, in his +public situation, he had then set his face against it, where would have +been our hope? He upheld it also in its childhood; and though in this +state of its existence it did not gain from his protection all the +strength Which it was expected it would have acquired, he yet kept it +from falling, till his successors, in whose administration a greater +number Of favourable circumstances concurred to give it vigour, brought +it to triumphant maturity. + +Lord Grenville and Mr. Fox, having been called to the head of the +executive government on the death of Mr. Pitt, the cause was ushered +into Parliament under new auspices. In a former year His Majesty had +issued a proclamation by which British merchants were forbidden (with +certain defined exceptions) to import slaves into the colonies, which +had been conquered by the British arms in the course of the war. This +circumstance afforded an opportunity of trying the question in the House +of Commons with the greatest hope of success. Accordingly Sir A. Pigott, +the Attorney-General, as an officer of the crown, brought in a bill on +the thirty-first of March 1806, the first object of which was, to give +effect to the proclamation now mentioned. The second was, to prohibit +British subjects from being engaged in importing slaves into the +colonies of any foreign power whether hostile or neutral. And the third +was, to prohibit British subjects and British capital from being +employed in carrying on the Slave Trade in foreign ships; and also to +prevent the outfit of foreign ships from British ports. + +Sir A. Pigott, on the introduction of this bill, made an appropriate +speech. The bill was supported by Mr. Fox, Sir William Yonge, Mr. Brook, +and Mr. Bagwell; but opposed by Generals Tarleton and Gascoyne, Mr. +Rose, Sir Robert Peel, and Sir Charles Price. On the third reading, a +division being called for, there appeared for it thirty-five, and +against it only thirteen. + +On the 7th of May it was introduced into the Lords. The supporters of it +there were, the Duke of Gloucester, Lord Grenville, the Bishops of +London and St. Asaph, the Earl of Buckinghamshire and the Lords Holland, +Lauderdale, Auckland, Sidmouth, and Ellenborough. The opposers were, the +Dukes of Clarence and Sussex, the Marquis of Sligo, the Earl of +Westmoreland, and the Lords Eldon and Sheffield. At length a division +took place, when there appeared to be in favour of it thirty-three, and +against it eighteen. + +During the discussions, to which this bill gave birth, Lord Grenville +and Mr. Fox declared in substance, in their respective Houses of +Parliament, that they felt the question of the Slave Trade to be one, +which involved the dearest interests of humanity, and the most urgent +claims of policy, justice, and religion; and that, should they succeed +in affecting its abolition, they would regard that success as entailing +more true glory on their administration, and more honour and advantage +on their country, than any other measure, in which they could he +engaged. The bill having passed, (the first, which dismembered this +cruel trade,) it was thought proper to follow it up in a prudent manner; +and, as there was not then time in the advanced period of the session to +bring in another for the total extinction of it, to move a resolution, +by which both Houses should record those principles, on which the +propriety of the latter measure was founded. It was judged also +expedient that Mr. Fox, as the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, +should introduce it there. + +On the 10th of June Mr. Fox rose. He began by saying that the motion, +with which he should conclude, would tend in its consequences to effect +the total abolition of the Slave Trade; and he confessed that, since he +had sat in that House (a period of between thirty and forty years), if +he had done nothing else, but had only been instrumental in carrying +through this measure, he should think his life well spent; and should +retire quite satisfied, that he had not lived in vain. + +In adverting to the principle of the trade, he noticed some strong +expressions of Mr. Burke concerning it. "To deal in human flesh and +blood," said that great man, "or to deal, not in the labour of men, but +in men themselves, was to devour the root, instead of enjoying the fruit +of human diligence." + +Mr. Fox then took a view of the opinions of different members of the +House on this great question; and showed that, though many had opposed +the abolition, all but two or three, among whom were the members for +Liverpool, had confessed, that the trade ought to be done away. He then +went over the different resolutions of the House on the subject, and +concluded from thence, that they were bound to support his motion. + +He combated the argument, that the abolition would ruin the West Indian +islands. In doing this he paid a handsome compliment to the memory of +Mr. Pitt, whose speech upon this particular point was, he said, the most +powerful and convincing of any he had ever heard. Indeed they, who had +not; heard it, could have no notion of it. It was a speech, of which he +would say with the Roman author, reciting the words of the Athenian +orator, "Quid esset, si ipsum audivissetis!" It was a speech no less +remarkable for splendid eloquence, than for solid sense and convincing +reason; supported by calculations founded on facts, and conclusions +drawn from premises, as correctly as if they had been mathematical +propositions; all tending to prove that, instead of the West Indian +plantations suffering an injury, they would derive a material benefit by +the abolition of the Slave Trade. He then called upon the friends of +this great man to show their respect for his memory by their votes; and +he concluded with moving, "that this House, considering the African +Slave Trade to be contrary to the principles of justice, humanity, and +policy, will, with all practicable expedition, take effectual measures +for the abolition of the said trade, in such a manner, and at such a +period, as may be deemed advisable." + +Sir Ralph Milbank rose, and seconded the motion. + +General Tarleton rose next. He deprecated the abolition, on account of +the effect which it would have on the trade and revenue of the country. + +Mr. Francis said the merchants of Liverpool were at liberty to ask for +compensation; but he, for one, would never grant it for the loss of a +trade, which had been declared to be contrary to humanity and justice. +As an uniform friend to this great cause, he wished Mr. Fox had not +introduced a resolution, but a real bill for the abolition of the Slave +Trade. He believed that both Houses were then disposed to do it away. He +wished the golden opportunity might not be lost. + +Lord Castlereagh thought it a proposition, on which no one could +entertain a doubt, that the Slave Trade was a great evil in itself; and +that it was the duty and policy of Parliament to extirpate it; but he +did not think the means offered were adequate to the end proposed. The +abolition, as a political question, was a difficult one. The year 1796 +had been once fixed upon by the House, as the period when the trade was +to cease; but, when the time arrived, the resolution was not executed. +This was a proof, either that the House did not wish for the event, or +that they judged it impracticable. It would be impossible, he said, to +get other nations to concur in the measure; and even if they were to +concur, it could not be effected. We might restrain the subjects of the +parent-state from following the trade; but we could not those in our +colonies. A hundred frauds would be committed by these, which we could +not detect. He did not mean by this, that the evil was to go on for +ever. Had a wise plan been proposed at first, it might have been +half-cured by this time. The present resolution would do no good. It was +vague, indefinite, and unintelligible. Such resolutions were only the +slave-merchants' harvests. They would go for more slaves than usual in +the interim. He should have advised a system of duties on fresh +importations of slaves, progressively increasing to a certain extent; +and that the amount of these duties should be given to the planters, as +a bounty to encourage the Negro population upon their estates. Nothing +could be done, unless we went hand in hand with the latter. But he +should deliver himself more fully on this subject, when any thing +specific should be brought forward in the shape of a bill. + +Sir S. Romilly, the Solicitor-General, differed from Lord Castlereagh; +for he thought the resolution of Mr. Fox was very simple and +intelligible. If there was a proposition vague and indefinite, it was +that advanced by the noble lord, of a system of duties on fresh +importations, rising progressively, and this under the patronage and +co-operation of the planters. Who could measure the space between the +present time and the abolition of the trade, if that measure were to +depend upon the approbation of the colonies. + +The cruelty and injustice of the Slave Trade had been established by +evidence beyond a doubt. It had been shown to be carried on by rapine, +robbery, and murder; by fomenting and encouraging wars; by false +accusations; and imaginary crimes. The unhappy victims were torn away +not only in the time of war, but of profound peace. They were then +carried across the Atlantic, in a manner too horrible to describe; and +afterwards subjected to eternal slavery. In support of the continuance +of such a traffic, he knew of nothing but assertions already disproved, +and arguments already refuted. Since the year 1796, when it was to cease +by a resolution of Parliament, no less than three hundred and sixty +thousand Africans had been torn away from their native land. What an +accumulation was this to our former guilt! + +General Gascoyne made two extraordinary assertions: First, that the +trade was defensible on Scriptural ground.--"Both thy bondmen and thy +bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen, that are +round about thee; of them shall you have bondmen and bondmaids. And thou +shalt take them as an heritance for thy children after thee to inherit +them for a possession; they shall be thy bondmen for ever." Secondly, +that the trade had been so advantageous to this country, that it would +have been advisable even to institute a new one, if the old had not +existed. + +Mr. Wilberforce replied to General Gascoyne. He then took a view of the +speech of Lord Castlereagh, which he answered point by point. In the +course of his observations he showed that the system of duties +progressively increasing, as proposed by the noble lord, would be one of +the most effectual modes of perpetuating the Slave Trade. He exposed, +also, the false foundation of the hope of any reliance on the +co-operation of the colonists. The House, he said, had, on the motion of +Mr. Ellis, in the year 1797, prayed his Majesty to consult with the +colonial legislatures to take such measures, as might conduce to the +gradual abolition of the African Slave Trade. This address was +transmitted to them by Lord Melville. It was received in some of the +islands with a declaration, "that they possibly might, in some +instances, endeavour to improve the condition of their slaves; but they +should do this, not with any view to the abolition of the Slave Trade; +for they considered that trade as their birth-right, which could not be +taken from them; and that we should deceive ourselves by supposing, that +they would agree to such a measure." + +He desired to add to this the declaration of General Prevost in his +public letter from Dominica. Did he not say, when asked what steps had +been taken there in consequence of the resolution of the House in 1797, +"that the act of the legislature, entitled an act for the encouragement, +protection, and better government of slaves, appeared to him to have +been considered, from the day it was passed until this hour, as a +political measure to avert the interference of the mother country in the +management of the slaves." + +Sir William Yonge censured the harsh language of Sir Samuel Romilly, who +had applied the terms rapine, robbery, and murder to those, who were +connected with the Slave Trade. He considered the resolution of Mr. Fox +as a prelude to a bill for the abolition of that traffic, and this bill +as a prelude to emancipation, which would not only be dangerous in +itself, but would change the state of property in the islands. + +Lord Henry Petty, after having commented on the speeches of Sir Samuel +Romilly and Lord Castlereagh, proceeded to state his own opinion on the +trade; which was, that it was contrary to justice, humanity, and sound +policy, all of which he considered to be inseparable. On its +commencement in Africa the wickedness began. It produced there fraud and +violence, robbery and murder. It gave birth to false accusations, and a +mockery of justice. It was the parent of every crime, which could at +once degrade and afflict the human race. After spreading vice and misery +all over this continent, it doomed its unhappy victims to hardships and +cruelties which were worse than death. The first of these was +conspicuous in their transportation. It was found there, that cruelty +begat cruelty; that the system, wicked in its beginning, was equally so +in its progress; and that it perpetuated its miseries wherever it was +carried on. Nor was it baneful only to the objects, but to the promoters +of it. The loss of British seamen in this traffic was enormous. +One-fifth of all, who were employed in it, perished; that is, they +became the victims of a system, which was founded on fraud, robbery, and +murder; and which procured to the British nation nothing but the +execration of mankind. Nor had we yet done with the evils which attended +it; for it brought in its train the worst of all moral effects, not only +as it respected the poor slaves, when transported to the colonies, but +as it respected those who had concerns with them there. The arbitrary +power, which it conferred, afforded men of bad dispositions full scope +for the exercise of their passions; and it rendered men, +constitutionally of good dispositions, callous to the misery of others. +Thus it depraved the nature of all who were connected with it. These +considerations had made him a friend to the abolition, from the time he +was capable of reasoning upon it. They were considerations, also, which +determined the House, in the year 1782, to adopt a measure of the same +kind as the present. Had anything happened to change the opinion of +members, since? On the contrary, they had now the clearest evidence, +that all the arguments then used against the abolition were fallacious; +being founded, not upon truth, but on assertions devoid of all truth, +and derived from ignorance or prejudice. + +Having made these remarks, he proved, by a number of facts, the folly of +the argument, that the Africans laboured under such a total degradation +of mental and moral faculties, that they were made for slavery. + +He then entered into the great subject of population. He showed that in +all countries, where there were no unnatural hardships, mankind would +support themselves. He applied this reasoning to the Negro population in +the West Indies; which he maintained could not only be kept up, but +increased, without any further importations from Africa. + +He then noticed the observations of Sir William Yonge, on the words of +Sir Samuel Romilly; and desired him to reserve his indignation for +those, who were guilty of acts of rapine, robbery, and murder, instead +of venting it on those, who only did their duty in describing them. +Never were accounts more shocking than those lately sent to government +from the West Indies. Lord Seaforth, and the Attorney-General, could not +refrain, in explaining them, from the use of the words murder and +torture. And did it become members of that House (in order to +accommodate the nerves of the friends of the Slave Trade) to soften down +their expressions, when they were speaking on that subject; and to +desist from calling that murder and torture, for which a Governor, and +the Attorney-General, of one of the islands could find no better name? + +After making observations relative to the co-operation of foreign powers +in this great work, he hoped that the House would not suffer itself to +be drawn, either by opposition or by ridicule, to the right or to the +left; but that it would advance straight forward to the accomplishment +of the most magnanimous act of justice, that was ever achieved by any +legislature in the world. + +Mr. Rose declared, that on the very first promulgation of this question, +he had proposed to the friends of it the very plan of his noble friend +Lord Castlereagh; namely, a system of progressive duties, and of +bounties for the promotion of the Negro population. This he said to show +that he was friendly to the principle of the measure. He would now +observe, that he did not wholly like the present resolution. It was too +indefinite. He wished, also, that something had been said on the subject +of compensation. He was fearful, also, lest the abolition should lead to +the dangerous change of emancipation. The Negroes, he said, could not be +in a better state, or more faithful to their masters, than they were. In +three attacks made by the enemy on Dominica, where he had a large +property, arms had been put into their hands; and every one of them had +exerted himself faithfully. With respect to the cruel acts in Barbados, +an account of which had been sent to government by Lord Seaforth and the +Attorney-General of Barbados, he had read them; and never had he read +anything on this subject with more horror. He would agree to the +strongest measures for the prevention of such acts in future. He would +even give up the colony, which should refuse to make the wilful murder +of a slave felony. But as to the other, or common, evils complained of, +he thought the remedy should be gradual; and such also as the planters +would concur in. He, would nevertheless not oppose the present +resolution. + +Mr. Barham considered compensation but reasonable, where losses were to +accrue from the measure, when it should be put in execution; but he +believed that the amount of it would be much less than was apprehended. +He considered emancipation, though so many fears had been expressed +about it, as forming no objection to the abolition, though he had +estates in the West Indies himself. Such a measure, if it could be +accomplished successfully, would be an honour to the country, and a +blessing to the planters; but preparation must be made for it by +rendering the slaves fit for freedom, and by creating in them an +inclination to free labour. Such a change could only be the work of +time. + +Sir John Newport said that the expressions of Sir S. Romilly, which had +given such offence, had been used by others; and would be used with +propriety, while the trade lasted. Some slave-dealers of Liverpool had +lately attempted to prejudice certain merchants of Ireland in their +favour. But none of their representations answered; and it was +remarkable, that the reply made to them was in these words. "We will +have no share in a traffic, consisting in rapine, blood, and murder." He +then took a survey of a system of duties progressively increasing, and +showed that it would be utterly inefficient; and that there was no real +remedy for the different evils complained of, but in the immediate +prohibition of the trade. + +Mr. Canning renewed his professions of friendship to the cause. He did +not like the present resolution; yet he would vote for it. He should +have been better pleased with a bill, which would strike at once at the +root of this detestable commerce. + +Mr. Manning wished the question to be deferred to the next session. He +hoped compensation would then be brought forward as connected with it. +Nothing, however, effectual could be done without the concurrence of the +planters. + +Mr. William Smith noticed, in a striking manner, the different +inconsistencies in the arguments of those, who contended for the +continuance of the trade. + +Mr. Windham deprecated not only the Slave Trade, but slavery also. They +were essentially connected with each other. They were both evils, and +ought both of them to be done away. Indeed, if emancipation would follow +the abolition, he should like the latter measure the better. Rapine, +robbery, and murder, were the true characteristics of this traffic. The +same epithets had not indeed been applied to slavery, because this was a +condition, in which some part of the human race had been at every period +of the history of the world. It was, however, a state, which ought not +to be allowed to exist. But, notwithstanding all these confessions, he +should weigh well the consequences of the abolition before he gave it +his support. It would be, on a balance between the evils themselves and +the consequences of removing them, that he should decide for himself on +this question. + +Mr. Fox took a view of all the arguments, which had been advanced by the +opponents of the abolition; and having given an appropriate answer to +each, the House divided, when there appeared for the resolution one +hundred and fourteen, and against it but fifteen. + +Immediately after this division, Mr. Wilberforce moved an address to His +Majesty, "praying that he would be graciously pleased to direct a +negotiation to be entered into, by which foreign powers should be +invited to co-operate with His Majesty in measures to be adopted for the +abolition of the African Slave Trade." + +This address was carried without a division. It was also moved and +carried, that "these resolutions be communicated to the Lords; and that +their concurrence should be desired therein." + +On the 24th of June, the Lords met to consider of the resolution and +address. The Earl of Westmoreland proposed that both counsel and +evidence should be heard against them; but his proposition was +overruled. + +Lord Grenville then read the resolution of the Commons. This resolution, +he said, stated first, that the Slave Trade was contrary to humanity, +justice, and sound policy. That it was contrary to humanity was obvious; +for humanity might be said to be sympathy for the distress of others, or +a desire to accomplish benevolent ends by good means. But did not the +Slave Trade convey ideas the very reverse of this definition? It +deprived men of all those comforts, in which it pleased the Creator to +make the happiness of his creatures to consist,--of the blessings of +society,--of the charities of the dear relationships of husband, wife, +father, son, and kindred,--of the due discharge of the relative duties +of these--and of that freedom, which in its pure and natural sense was +one of the greatest gifts of God to man. + +It was impossible to read the evidence, as it related to this trade, +without acknowledging the inhumanity of it, and our own disgrace. By +what means was it kept up in Africa? By wars instigated, not by the +passions of the natives, but by our avarice. He knew it would be said in +reply to this, that the slaves, who were purchased by us, would be put +to death, if we were not to buy them. But what should we say, if it +should turn out, that we were the causes of those very cruelties, which +we affected to prevent? But, if it were not so, ought the first nation +in the world to condescend to be the executioner of savages? + +Another way of keeping up the Slave Trade was by the practice of +man-stealing. The evidence was particularly clear upon this head. This +practice included violence, and often bloodshed. The inhumanity of it +therefore could not be doubted. + +The unhappy victims, being thus procured, were conveyed, he said, across +the Atlantic in a manner which justified the charge of inhumanity again. +Indeed the suffering here was so great, that neither the mind could +conceive, nor the tongue describe, it. He had said on a former occasion, +that in their transportation there was a greater portion of misery +condensed within a smaller space, than had ever existed in the known +world. He would repeat his words; for he did not know, how he could +express himself better on the subject. And, after all these horrors, +what was their destiny? It was such, as justified the charge in the +resolution again: for, after having survived the sickness arising from +the passage, they were doomed to interminable slavery. + +We had been, he said, so much accustomed to words, descriptive of the +cruelty of this traffic, that we had almost forgotten their meaning. He +wished that some person, educated as an Englishman, with suitable powers +of eloquence, but now for the first time informed of all the horrors of +it, were to address their lordships upon it, and he was sure, that they +would instantly determine that it should cease. But the continuance of +it had rendered cruelty familiar to us; and the recital of its horrors, +had been so frequent, that we could now hear them stated without being +affected as we ought to be. He intreated their lordships, however, to +endeavour to conceive the hard case of the unhappy victims of it; and as +he had led them to the last stage of their miserable existence, which +was in the colonies, to contemplate it there. They were there under the +arbitrary will of a cruel task-master from morning till night. When they +went to rest, would not their dreams be frightful? When they awoke, +would they not awake-- + + + --only to discover sights of woe, + Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace + And rest can never dwell, hope never comes + That comes to all; but torture without end + Still urges?-- + + +They knew no change, except in the humour of their masters, to whom +their whole destiny was entrusted. We might, perhaps, flatter ourselves +with saying, that they were subject to the will of Englishmen. But +Englishmen were not better than others, when in possession of arbitrary +power. The very fairest exercise of it was a never-failing corrupter of +the heart. But suppose it were allowed that self-interest might operate +some little against cruelty; yet where was the interest of the overseer +or the driver? But he knew it would be said, that the evils complained +of in the colonies had been mitigated. There might be instances of this; +but they could never be cured, while slavery existed. Slavery took away +more than half of the human character. Hence the practice, where it +existed, of rejecting the testimony of the slave: but, if this testimony +was rejected, where could be his redress against his oppressor? + +Having shown the inhumanity, he would proceed to the second point in the +resolution, or the injustice of the trade. We had two ideas of justice, +first, as it belonged to society by virtue of a social compact; and, +secondly, as it belonged to men, not as citizens of a community, but as +beings of one common nature. In a state of nature, man had a right to +the fruit of his own labour absolutely to himself; and one of the main +purposes, for which he entered into society, was that he might be better +protected in the possession of his rights. In both cases therefore it +was manifestly unjust, that a man should be made to labour during the +whole of his life, and yet have no benefit from his labour. Hence the +Slave Trade and the colonial slavery were a violation of the very +principle, upon which all law for the protection of property was +founded. Whatever benefit was derived from that trade, to an individual, +it was derived from dishonour and dishonesty. He forced from the unhappy +victim of it that, which the latter did not wish to give him; and he +gave to the same victim that, which he in vain attempted to show was an +equivalent to the thing he took,--it being a thing for which there was +no equivalent; and which, if he had not obtained by force, he would not +have possessed at all. Nor could there be any answer to this reasoning, +unless it could be proved, that it had pleased God to give to the +inhabitants of Britain a property in the liberty and life of the natives +of Africa. But he would go further on this subject. The injustice +complained of was not confined to the bare circumstance of robbing them +of the right to their own labour. It was conspicuous throughout the +system. They, who bought them, became guilty of all the crimes which had +been committed in procuring them, and when they possessed them, of all +the crimes which belonged to their inhuman treatment. The injustice in +the latter case amounted frequently to murder. For what was it but +murder to pursue a practice, which produced untimely death to thousands +of innocent and helpless beings? It was a duty, which their lordships +owed to their Creator, if they hoped for mercy, to do away this +monstrous oppression. + +With respect to the impolicy of the trade, (the third point in the +resolution,) he would say at once, that whatever was inhuman and unjust +must be, impolitic. He had, however, no objection to argue the point +upon its own particular merits: and, first, he would observe, that a +great man, Mr. Pitt, now no more, had exerted his vast powers on many +subjects, to the admiration of his hearers; but on none more +successfully than on the subject of the abolition of the Slave Trade. He +proved, after making an allowance for the price paid for the slaves in +the West Indies, for the loss of them in the seasoning, and for the +expense of maintaining them afterwards; and comparing these particulars +with the amount in value of their labour there, that the evils endured +by the victims of the traffic were no gain to the master, in whose +service they took place. Indeed, Mr. Long had laid it down in his +_History of Jamaica_, that the best way to secure the planters from ruin +would be to do that which the resolution recommended. It was notorious, +that when any planter was in distress, and sought to relieve himself by +increasing the labour on his estate, by means of the purchase of new +slaves, the measure invariably tended to his destruction. What then was +the importation of fresh Africans, but a system tending to the general +ruin of the islands? + +But it had often been said, that without fresh importations the +population of the slaves could not be supported in the islands. This, +however, was a mistake. It had arisen from reckoning the deaths of the +imported Africans, of whom so many were lost in the seasoning, among the +deaths of the Creole slaves. He did not mean to say that, under the +existing degree of misery, the population would greatly increase; but, +he would maintain, that if the deaths and the births were calculated +upon those, who were either born, or who had been a long time in the +islands, so as to be considered as natives, it would be found that the +population had not only been kept up, but that it had been increased. + +If it was true, that the labour of a free-man was cheaper than that of a +slave; and, also, that the labour of a long-imported slave was cheaper +than that of a fresh-imported one; and, again, that the chances of +mortality were much more numerous among the newly-imported slaves in the +West Indies, than among those of old standing there, (propositions, +which he took to be established,) we should see new arguments for the +impolicy of the trade. + +It might be stated also, that the importation of vast bodies of men, who +had been robbed of their rights, and grievously irritated on that +account, into our colonies, (where their miserable condition opened new +sources of anger and revenge,) was the importation only of the seeds of +insurrection into them. And here he could not but view with astonishment +the reasoning of the West Indian planters, who held up the example of +St. Domingo as a warning against the abolition of the Slave Trade; +because the continuance of it was one of the great causes of the +insurrections and subsequent miseries in that devoted island. Let us but +encourage importations in the same rapid progression of increase every +year, which took place in St. Domingo, and we should witness the same +effect in our own islands. + +To expose the impolicy of the trade further, he would observe, that it +was an allowed axiom, that as the condition of man was improved, he +became more useful. The history of our own country, in very early times, +exhibited instances of internal slavery, and this to a considerable +extent. But we should find that; precisely in proportion as that slavery +was ameliorated, the power and prosperity of the country flourished. +This was exactly applicable to the case in question. There could be no +general amelioration of slavery in the West Indies, while the Slave +Trade lasted: but if we were to abolish it, we should make it the +interest of every owner of slaves to do that, which would improve their +condition, and which, indeed, would lead ultimately to the annihilation +of slavery itself. This great event, however, could not be accomplished +at once; it could only be effected in a course of time. + +It would be endless, he said, to go into all the cases, which would +manifest the impolicy of this odious traffic. Inhuman as it was, unjust +as it was, he believed it to be equally impolitic; and if their +Lordships should be of this opinion also, he hoped they would agree to +that part of the resolution, in which these truths were expressed. With +respect to the other part of it, or that they would proceed to abolish +the trade, he observed, that neither the time, nor the manner of doing +it, were specified. Hence, if any of them should differ as to these +particulars, they, might yet vote for the resolution, as they were not +pledged to anything definite in these respects, provided they thought +that the trade should be abolished at some time or other: and he did not +believe that there was any one of them, who would sanction its +continuance for ever. + +Lord Hawkesbury said, that he did not mean to discuss the question, on +the ground of justice and humanity, as contradistinguished from sound +policy. If it could fairly be made out that the African Slave Trade was +contrary to justice and humanity, it ought to be abolished. It did not, +however, follow, because a great evil subsisted, that therefore it +should be removed; for it might be comparatively a less evil, than that +which would accompany the attempt to remove it. The noble lord, who had +just spoken, had exemplified this; for though slavery was a great evil +in itself, he was of opinion that it could not be done away, but in a +course of time. + +A state of slavery, he said, had existed in Africa from the earliest +time; and, unless other nations would concur with England in the measure +of the abolition, we could not change it for the better. + +Slavery had existed also throughout all Europe. It had now happily, in a +great measure, been done away. But how? Not by acts of parliament, for +these might have retarded the event, but by the progress of +civilization, which removed the evil in a gradual and rational manner. + +He then went over the same ground of argument, as when a member of the +Commons in 1792. He said that the inhumanity of the abolition was +visible in this, that not one slave less would be taken from Africa; and +that such as were taken from it, would suffer more than they did now, in +the hands of foreigners. He maintained also, as before, that the example +of St. Domingo afforded one of the strongest arguments against the +abolition of the trade. And he concluded by objecting to the resolution, +inasmuch as it could do no good, for the substance of it would be to be +discussed again in a future session. + +The Bishop of London, Dr. Porteus, began, by noticing the concession of +the last speaker, namely, that if the trade was contrary to humanity and +justice, it ought to be abolished. He expected, he said, that the noble +lord would have proved that it was not contrary to these great +principles, before he had supported its continuance; but not a word had +he said to show that the basis of the resolution in these respects was +false. It followed then, he thought, that as the noble lord had not +disproved the premises; he was bound to abide by the conclusion. + +The ways, he said, in which the Africans were reduced to slavery in +their own country, were by wars,--many of which were excited for the +purpose,--by the breaking up of villages, by kidnapping and by +conviction for a violation of their own laws. Of the latter class many +were accused falsely, and of crimes which did not exist. He then read a +number of extracts from the evidence examined before the privy council, +and from the histories of those, who, having lived in Africa, had thrown +light upon this subject before the question was agitated. All these, he +said, (and similar instances could be multiplied,) proved the truth of +the resolution, that the African Slave Trade was contrary to the +principles of humanity, justice, and sound policy. + +It was moreover, he said, contrary to the principles of the religion we +professed. It was not superfluous to say this, when it had been so +frequently asserted that it was sanctioned both by the Jewish and the +Christian dispensations. With respect to the Jews he would observe, that +there was no such thing as perpetual slavery among them. Their slaves +were of two kinds, those of their own nation, and those from the country +round about them. The former were to be set free on the seventh year; +and the rest, of whatever nation, on the fiftieth, or on the year of +Jubilee. With respect to the Christian dispensation, it was a libel to +say that it countenanced such a traffic. It opposed it both in its +spirit and in its principle; nay, it opposed it positively, for it +classed men-stealers, or slave traders, among the murderers of fathers +and mothers, and the most profane criminals upon earth. + +The antiquity of slavery in Africa, which the noble lord had glanced at, +afforded, he said, no argument for its continuance. Such a mode of +defence would prevent for ever the removal of any evil; it would justify +the practice of the Chinese, who exposed their infants in the streets to +perish; it would also justify piracy, for that practice existed long +before we knew anything of the African Slave Trade. + +He then combatted the argument, that we did a kindness to the Africans +by taking them from their homes; and concluded, by stating to their +lordships, that, if they refused to sanction the resolution, they would +establish these principles, "that though individuals might not rob and +murder, yet that nations might--that though individuals incurred the +penalties of death by such practices, yet that bodies of men might +commit them with impunity for the purposes of lucre;--and that for such +purposes they were not only to be permitted, but encouraged." + +The Lord Chancellor (Erskine) confessed that he was not satisfied with +his own conduct on this subject. He acknowledged, with deep contrition, +that, during the time he was a member of the other House, he had not +once attended when this great question was discussed. + +In the West Indies he could say, personally, that the slaves were well +treated, where he had an opportunity of seeing them. But no judgment was +to be formed there with respect to the evils complained of; they must be +appreciated as they existed in the trade. Of these he had also been an +eye-witness. It was on this account that he felt contrition for not +having attended the House on this subject, for there were some cruelties +in this traffic which the human imagination could not aggravate. He had +witnessed such scenes over the whole coast of Africa; and he could say, +that if their lordships could only have a sudden glimpse of them, they +would be struck with horror, and would be astonished that they could +ever have been permitted to exist. What then would they say to their +continuance year after year, and from age to age? + +From information, which he could not dispute, he was warranted in +saying, that, on this continent, husbands were fraudulently and forcibly +severed from their wives, and parents from their children; and that all +the ties of blood and affection were torn up by the roots. He had +himself seen the unhappy natives put together in heaps in the hold of a +ship, where, with every possible attention to them, their situation must +have been intolerable. He had also heard proved, in courts of justice, +facts still more dreadful than those which he had seen. One of these he +would just mention. The slaves on board a certain ship rose in a mass to +liberate themselves, and having advanced far in the pursuit of their +object, it became necessary to repel them by force. Some of them +yielded, some of them were killed in the scuffle, but many of them +actually jumped into the sea and were drowned, thus preferring death to +the misery of their situation; while others hung to the ship, repenting +of their rashness, and bewailing with frightful noises their horrid +fate. Thus the whole vessel exhibited but one hideous scene of +wretchedness. They who were subdued and secured in chains were seized +with the flux, which carried many of them off. These things were proved +in a trial before a British jury, which had to consider whether this was +a loss which fell within the policy of insurance, the slaves being +regarded as if they had been only a cargo of dead matter. He could +mention other instances, but they were much too shocking to be +described. Surely their lordships could never consider such a traffic to +be consistent with humanity or justice. It was impossible. + +That the trade had long subsisted there was no doubt, but this was no +argument for its continuance. Many evils of much longer standing had +been done away, and it was always our duty to attempt to remove them. +Should we not exult in the consideration, that we, the inhabitants of a +small island, at the extremity of the globe, almost at its north pole, +were become the morningstar to enlighten the nations of the earth, and +to conduct them out of the shades of darkness into the realms of light; +thus exhibiting to an astonished and an admiring world the blessings of +a free constitution? Let us then not allow such a glorious opportunity +to escape us. + +It had been urged that we should suffer by the abolition of the Slave +Trade; he believed that we should not suffer. He believed that our duty +and our interest were inseparable; and he had no difficulty in saying, +in the face of the world, that his own opinion was, that the interests +of a nation would be best preserved by its adherence to the principles +of humanity, justice, and religion. + +The Earl of Westmoreland said, that the African Slave Trade might be +contrary to humanity and justice, and yet it might be politic; at least, +it might be inconsistent with humanity, and yet not be inconsistent with +justice; this was the case when we executed a criminal, or engaged in +war. + +It was, however, not contrary to justice, for justice, in this case, +must be measured by the law of nations. But the purchase of slaves was +not contrary to this law. The Slave Trade was a trade with the consent +of the inhabitants of two nations, and procured by no terror, nor by any +act of violence whatever. Slavery had existed from the first ages of the +world, not only in Africa, but throughout the habitable globe, among the +Persians, Greeks, and Romans; and he would compare, with great advantage +to his argument, the wretched condition of the slaves in these ancient +states with that of those in our colonies. Slavery too had been allowed +in a nation which was under the especial direction of Providence; the +Jews were allowed to hold the heathen in bondage. He admitted that what +the learned prelate had said relative to the emancipation of the latter +in the year of jubilee was correct; but he denied that his quotation +relative to the stealers of men referred to the Christian religion. It +was a mere allusion to that which was done contrary to the law of +nations, which was the only measure of justice between states. + +With respect to the inhumanity of the trade, he would observe, that if +their lordships, sitting there as legislators, were to set their faces +against everything which appeared to be inhuman, much of the security on +which their lives and property depended might be shaken, if not totally +destroyed. The question was, not whether there was not some evil +attending the Slave Trade, but whether by the measure now before them +they should increase or diminish the quantity of human misery in the +world. He believed, for one, considering the internal state of Africa, +and the impossibility of procuring the concurrence of foreign nations in +the measure, that they would not be able to do any good by the adoption +of it. + +As to the impolicy of the trade, the policy of it, on the other hand, +was so great, that he trembled at the consequences of its abolition. The +property connected with this question amounted to a hundred millions. +The annual produce of the islands was eighteen millions, and it yielded +a revenue of four millions annually. How was this immense property and +income to be preserved? Some had said it would be preserved, because the +black population in the islands could be kept up without further +supplies; but the planters denied this assertion, and they were the best +judges of the subject. + +He condemned the resolution as a libel upon the wisdom of the law of the +land; and upon the conduct of their ancestors. He condemned it also, +because, if followed up, it would lead to the abolition of the trade, +and the abolition of the trade to the emancipation of the slaves in our +colonies. + +The Bishop of St. Asaph (Dr. Horsley) said, that, allowing the slaves in +the West Indies even to be pampered with delicacies, or to be put to +rest on a bed of roses, they could not be happy, for--a slave would be +still a slave. The question, however, was not concerning the alteration +of their condition, but whether we should abolish the practice, by which +they were put in that condition? Whether it was humane, just, and +politic in us so to place them? This question was easily answered; for +he found it difficult to form any one notion of humanity, which did not +include a desire of promoting the happiness of others; and he knew of no +other justice than that, which was founded on the principle of doing to +others, as we should wish they should do to us. And these principles of +humanity and justice were so clear, that he found it difficult to make +them clearer. Perhaps no difficulty was greater than that of arguing a +self-evident proposition, and such he took to be the character of the +proposition, that the Slave Trade was inhuman and unjust. + +It had been said, that slavery had existed from the beginning of the +world. He would allow it. But had such a trade as the Slave Trade ever +existed before? Would the noble Earl, who had talked of the slavery of +ancient Rome and Greece, assert, that in the course of his whole +reading, however profound it might have been, he had found anything +resembling such a traffic? Where did it appear in history, that ships +were regularly fitted out to fetch away tens of thousands of persons +annually, against their will, from their native land; that these were +subject to personal indignities and arbitrary punishments during their +transportation; and that a certain proportion of them, owing to +suffocation and other cruel causes, uniformly perished? He averred, that +nothing like the African Slave Trade was ever practised in any nation +upon earth. + +If the trade then was repugnant, as he maintained it was, to justice and +humanity, he did not see how, without aiding and abetting injustice and +inhumanity, any man could sanction it: and he thought that the noble +baron (Hawkesbury) was peculiarly bound to support the resolution; for +he had admitted that if it could be shown, that the trade was contrary +to these principles, the question would be at an end. Now this +contrariety had been made apparent, and his lordship had not even +attempted to refute it. + +He would say but little on the subject of revealed religion, as it +related to this question, because the reverend prelate, near him, had +spoken so fully upon it. He might observe, however, that at the end of +the sixth year, when the Hebrew slave was emancipated, he was to be +furnished liberally from the flock, the floor, and the wine-press of his +master. + +Lord Holland lamented the unfaithfulness of the noble baron (Hawkesbury) +to his own principles, and the inflexible opposition of the noble earl +(Westmoreland), from both which circumstances he despaired for ever of +any assistance from them to this glorious cause. The latter wished to +hear evidence on the subject, for the purpose, doubtless, of delay. He +was sure, that the noble earl did not care what the evidence would say +on either side; for his mind was made up, that the trade ought not to be +abolished. + +The noble earl had made a difference between humanity, justice, and +sound policy. God forbid, that we should ever admit such distinctions in +this country! But he had gone further, and said, that a thing might be +inhuman, and yet not unjust; and he put the case of the execution of a +criminal in support of it. Did he not by this position confound all +notions of right and wrong in human institutions? When a criminal was +justly executed, was not the execution justice to him who suffered, and +humanity to the body of the people at large? + +The noble earl had said also, that we should do no good by the +abolition, because other nations would not concur in it. He did not know +what other nations would do; but this he knew, that we ourselves ought +not to be unjust because they should refuse to be honest. It was, +however, self-obvious, that, if we admitted no more slaves into our +colonies, the evil would be considerably diminished. + +Another of his arguments did not appear to be more solid; for surely the +Slave Trade ought not to be continued, merely because the effect of the +abolition might ultimately be that of the emancipation of the slaves; an +event, which would be highly desirable in its due time. + +The noble lord had also said, that the planters were against the +abolition, and that without their consent it could never be +accomplished. He differed from him in both these points: for, first, he +was a considerable planter himself, and yet he was a friend to the +measure: secondly, by cutting off all further supplies, the planters +would be obliged to pay more attention to the treatment of their slaves, +and this treatment would render the trade unnecessary. + +The noble earl had asserted also, that the population in the West Indies +could not be kept up without further importations; and this was the +opinion of the planters, who were the best judges of the subject. As a +planter he differed from his lordship again. If, indeed, all the waste +lands were to be brought into cultivation, the present population would +be insufficient. But the government had already determined, that the +trade should not be continued for such a purpose. We were no longer to +continue pirates, or executioners for every petty tyrant in Africa, in +order that every holder of a bit of land in our islands might cultivate +the whole of his allotment; a work, which might require centuries. +Making this exception, he would maintain, that no further importations +were necessary. Few or no slaves had been imported into Antigua for many +years; and he believed, that even some had been exported from it. As to +Jamaica, although in one year fifteen thousand died in consequence of +hurricane and famine, the excess of deaths over the births during the +twenty years preceding 1788 was only one per cent. Deducting, however, +the mortality of the newly imported slaves, and making the calculation +upon the Negroes born in the island or upon those who had been long +there, he believed the births and the deaths would be found equal. He +had a right therefore to argue that the Negroes, with better treatment +(which the abolition would secure), would not only maintain but increase +their population, without any aid from Africa. He would add, that the +newly imported Africans brought with them not only disorders which +ravaged the plantations, but danger from the probability of +insurrections. He wished most heartily for the total abolition of the +trade. He was convinced, that it was both inhuman, unjust, and +impolitic. This had always been his opinion as an individual since he +was capable of forming one. It was his opinion then as a legislator. It +was his opinion as a colonial proprietor; and it was his opinion as an +Englishman, wishing for the prosperity of the British empire. + +The Earl of Suffolk contended, that the population of the slaves in the +islands could be kept up by good treatment, so as to be sufficient for +their cultivation. He entered into a detail of calculations from the +year 1772 downwards in support of this statement. He believed all the +miseries of St. Domingo arose from the vast importation of Africans. He +had such a deep sense of the inhumanity and injustice of the Slave +Trade, that, if ever he wished any action of his life to be recorded, it +would be that of the vote he should then give in support of the +resolution. + +Lord Sidmouth said, that he agreed to the substance of the resolution, +but yet he could not support it. Could he be convinced that the trade +would be injurious to the cause of humanity and justice, the question +with him would be decided; for policy could not be opposed to humanity +and justice. He had been of opinion for the last twenty years, that the +interests of the country and those of numerous individuals were so +deeply blended with this traffic, that we should be very cautious how we +proceeded. With respect to the cultivation of new lands, he would not +allow a single Negro to be imported for such a purpose; but he must have +a regard to the old plantations. When he found a sufficient increase in +the Black population to continue the cultivation already established +there, then, but not till then, he would agree to an abolition of the +trade. + +Earl Stanhope said he would not detain their lordships long. He could +not, however, help expressing his astonishment at what had fallen from +the last speaker; for he had evidently confessed that the Slave Trade +was inhuman and unjust, and then he had insinuated, that it was neither +inhuman nor unjust to continue it. A more paradoxical or whimsical +opinion, he believed, was never entertained, or more whimsically +expressed in that house. The noble viscount had talked of the interests +of the planters; but this was but a part of the subject; for surely the +people of Africa were not to be forgotten. He did not understand the +practice of complimenting the planters with the lives of men, women, and +helpless children by thousands, for the sake of their pecuniary +advantage; and they, who adopted it, whatever they might think of the +consistency of their own conduct, offered an insult to the sacred names +of humanity and justice. + +The noble Earl (Westmoreland) had asked what would be the practical +effect of the abolition of the Slave Trade. He would inform him. It +would do away the infamous practices which took place in Africa; it +would put an end to the horrors of the passage; it would save many +thousands of our fellow-creatures from the miseries of eternal slavery; +it would oblige the planters to treat those better, who were already in +that unnatural state; it would increase the population of our islands; +it would give a death-blow to the diabolical calculations, whether it +was cheaper to work the Negroes to death and recruit the gangs by fresh +importations, or to work them moderately and to treat them kindly. He +knew of no event, which would be attended with so many blessings. + +There was but one other matter, which he would notice. The noble baron +(Hawkesbury) had asserted, that all the horrors of St. Domingo were the +consequence of the speculative opinions which were current in a +neighbouring kingdom on the subject at liberty. They had, he said, no +such origin. They were owing to two causes; first, to the vast number of +Negroes recently imported into that island; and, secondly, to a +scandalous breach of faith by the French legislature. This legislature +held out the idea not only of the abolition of the Slave Trade, but also +of all slavery; but it broke its word. It held forth the rights of man +to the whole human race, and then, in practice, it most infamously +abandoned every article in these rights; so that it became the scorn of +all the enlightened and virtuous part of mankind. These were the great +causes of the miseries of St. Domingo, and not the speculative opinions +of France. + +Earl Grosvenor could not but express the joy he felt at the hope, after +all his disappointments, that this wicked trade would be done away. He +hoped that his Majesty's ministers were in earnest, and that they would, +early in the next session, take this great question up with a +determination to go through with it; so that another year should not +pass before we extended the justice and humanity of the country to the +helpless and unhappy inhabitants of Africa. + +Earl Fitzwilliam said he was fearful lest the calamities of St. Domingo +should be brought home to our own islands. We ought not, he thought, too +hastily to adopt the resolution on that account. He should therefore +support the previous question. + +Lord Ellenborough said, he was sorry to differ from his noble friend +(Lord Sidmouth), and yet he could not help saying that if after twenty +years, during which this question had been discussed by both Houses of +Parliament, their lordships' judgments were not ripe for its +determination, he could not look with any confidence to a time when they +would be ready to decide it. + +The question then before them was short and plain. It was, whether the +African Slave Trade was inhuman, unjust, and impolitic. If the premises +were true, we could not too speedily bring it to a conclusion. + +The subject had been frequently brought before him in a way which had +enabled him to become acquainted with it; and he was the more anxious on +that account to deliver his sentiments upon it as a peer of Parliament, +without reference to anything he had been called upon to do in the +discharge of his professional duty. When he looked at the mode in which +this traffic commenced, by the spoliation of the rights of a whole +quarter of the globe; by the misery of whole nations of helpless +Africans; by tearing them from their homes, their families, and their +friends; when he saw the unhappy victims carried away by force; thrust +into a dungeon in the hold of a ship, in which the interval of their +passage from their native to a foreign land was filled up with misery, +under every degree of debasement, and in chains; and when he saw them +afterwards consigned to an eternal slavery, he could not but contemplate +the whole system with horror. It was inhuman in its beginning, inhuman +in its progress, and inhuman to the very end. + +Nor was it more inhuman than it was unjust. The noble earl, +(Westmoreland,) in adverting to this part of the question had considered +it as a question of justice between two nations, but it was a moral +question. Although the natives of Africa might be taken by persons +authorized by their own laws to take and dispose of them, and the +practice, therefore, might be said to be legal as it respected them, yet +no man could doubt, whatever ordinances they might have to sanction it, +that it was radically, essentially, and in principle, unjust; and +therefore there could be no excuse for us in continuing it. On the +general principle of natural justice, which was paramount to all +ordinances of men, it was quite impossible to defend this traffic; and +he agreed with the noble baron (Hawkesbury) that, having decided that it +was inhuman and unjust, we should not inquire whether it was impolitic. +Indeed, the inquiry itself would be impious; for it was the common +ordinance of God, that that which was inhuman and unjust, should never +be for the good of man. Its impolicy, therefore, was included in its +injustice and its inhumanity. And he had no doubt, when the importations +were stopped, that the planters would introduce a change of system among +their slaves which would increase their population, so as to render any +further supplies from Africa unnecessary. It had been proved, indeed, +that the Negro population in some of the islands was already in this +desirable state. Many other happy effects would follow. As to the losses +which would arise from the abolition of the Slave Trade, they, who were +interested in the continuance of it, had greatly over-rated them. When +pleading formerly in his professional capacity for the merchants of +Liverpool at their lordships' bar, he had often delivered statements, +which he had received from them, and which he afterwards discovered to +be grossly incorrect. He could say from his own knowledge, that the +assertion of the noble earl (Westmoreland), that property to the amount +of a hundred millions would be endangered, was wild and fanciful. He +would not however deny, that some loss might accompany the abolition; +but there could be no difficulty in providing for it. Such a +consideration ought not to be allowed to impede their progress in +getting rid of an horrible injustice. + +But it had been said that we should do but little in the cause of +humanity by abolishing the Slave Trade; because other nations would +continue it. He did not believe they would. He knew that America was +about to give it up. He believed the states of Europe would give it up. +But, supposing that they were all to continue it, would not our honour +be the greater? Would not our virtue be the more signal? for then + + + --Faithful we + Among the faithless found: + + +to which he would add, that undoubtedly we should diminish the evil, as +far as the number of miserable beings was concerned, which was +accustomed to be transported to our own colonies. + +Earl Spencer agreed with the noble viscount (Sidmouth), that the +amelioration of the condition of the slaves was an object, which might +be effected in the West Indies; but he was certain, that the most +effectual way of improving it would be by the total and immediate +abolition of the Slave Trade; and for that reason he would support the +resolution. Had the resolution held out emancipation to them, it would +not have had his assent; for it would have ill become the character of +this country, if it had been once promised, to have withheld it from +them. It was to such deception that the horrors of St. Domingo were to +be attributed. He would not enter into the discussion of the general +subject at present. He was convinced that the trade was what the +resolution stated it to be, inhuman, unjust, and impolitic. He wished +therefore, most earnestly indeed, for its abolition. As to the mode of +effecting it, it should be such as would be attended with the least +inconvenience to all parties. At the same time he would not allow small +inconveniences to stand in the way of the great claims of humanity, +justice, and religion. + +The question was then put on the resolution, and carried by a majority +of forty-one to twenty. The same address also to His Majesty, which had +been agreed upon by the Commons, was directly afterwards moved. This +also was carried, but without the necessity of a division. + +The resolution and the motion having passed both Houses, one other +parliamentary measure was yet necessary to complete the proceedings of +this session. It was now almost universally believed, in consequence of +what had already taken place there, that the Slave Trade had received +its death-wound; and that it would not long survive it. It was supposed, +therefore, that the slave-merchants would, in the interim, fit out not +only all the vessels they had, but even buy others, to make what might +be called their last harvest. Hence, extraordinary scenes of rapine and +murder would be occasioned in Africa. To prevent these, a new bill was +necessary. This was accordingly introduced into the Commons. It enacted, +but with one exception, that from and after the first of August, 1806, +no vessel should clear out for the Slave Trade, unless it should have +been previously employed by the same owner or owners in the said trade, +or should be proved to have been contracted for previously to the 10th +of June, 1806, for the purpose of being employed in that trade. It may +now be sufficient to say that this bill also passed both Houses of +Parliament; soon after which the session ended. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +--Continuation from July 1806, to March 1807.--Death of Mr. Fox.--Bill +for the total abolition of the Slave Trade carried in the House of +Lords; sent from thence to the Commons; amended and passed there; +carried back, and passed with its amendments by the Lords; receives +the royal assent.--Reflections on this great event. + + +It was impossible for the committee to look back to the proceedings of +the last session, as they related to the great question under their +care, without feeling a profusion of joy, as well as of gratitude to +those, by whose virtuous endeavours they had taken place. But, alas, how +few of our earthly pleasures come to us without alloy! a melancholy +event succeeded. We had the painful intelligence, in the month of +October 1806, that one of the oldest and warmest friends of the cause +was then numbered with the dead. + +Of the character of Mr. Fox, as it related to this cause, I am bound to +take notice. And, first, I may observe, that he professed an attachment +to it almost as soon as it was ushered into the world. Early in the year +1788, when he was waited upon by a deputation of the committee, his +language was, as has appeared in the first volume, "that he would +support their object to its fullest extent, being convinced that there +was no remedy for the evil but in the total abolition of the trade." + +His subsequent conduct evinced the sincerity of his promises. He was +constant in his attendance in Parliament whenever the question was +brought forward; and he never failed to exert his powerful eloquence in +its favour. The countenance, indeed, which he gave it, was of the +greatest importance to its welfare; for most of his parliamentary +friends, who followed his general political sentiments, patronized it +also. By the aid of these, joined to that of the private friends of Mr. +Pitt, and of other members, who espoused it without reference to party, +it was always so upheld, that after the year 1791 no one of the defeats +which it sustained, was disgraceful. The majority on the side of those +interested in the continuance of the trade was always so trifling, that +the abolitionists were preserved a formidable body, and their cause +respectable. + +I never heard whether Mr. Fox, when he came into power, made any +stipulations with His Majesty on the subject of the Slave Trade: but +this I know, that he determined upon the abolition of it, if it were +practicable, as the highest glory of his administration, and as the +greatest earthly blessing which it was in the power of the Government to +bestow; and that he took considerable pains to convince some of his +colleagues in the cabinet of the propriety of the measure. + +When the resolution, which produced the debates in parliament, as +detailed in the last chapter, was under contemplation, it was thought +expedient that Mr. Fox, as the minister of state in the House of +Commons, should introduce it himself. When applied to for this purpose +he cheerfully undertook the office, thus acting in consistency with his +public declaration in the year 1791, "that in whatever situation he +might ever be, he would use his warmest efforts for the promotion of +this righteous cause." + +Before the next measure, or the bill to prevent the sailing of any new +vessel in the trade after the 1st of August, was publicly disclosed, it +was suggested to him, that the session was nearly over; that he might +possibly weary both Houses by another motion on the subject; and that, +if he were to lose it, or to experience a diminution of his majorities +in either, he might injure the cause, which was then in the road to +triumph. To this objection he replied, "that he believed both Houses +were disposed to get rid of the trade; that his own life was precarious; +that if he omitted to serve the injured Africans on this occasion, he +might have no other opportunity of doing it; and that he dared not, +under these circumstances, neglect so great a duty." + +This prediction relative to himself became unfortunately verified; for +his constitution, after this, began to decline, till at length his +mortal destiny, in the eyes of his medical attendants, was sealed. But +even then, when removed by pain and sickness from the discussion of +political subjects, he never forgot this cause. In his own sufferings he +was not unmindful of those of the injured Africans. "Two things," said +he, on his death-bed, "I wish earnestly to see accomplished,--peace with +Europe--and the abolition of the Slave Trade." But knowing well, that we +could much better protect ourselves against our own external enemies, +than this helpless people against their oppressors, he added, "but of +the two I wish the latter." These sentiments he occasionally repeated, +so that the subject was frequently in his thoughts in his last illness. +Nay, "the very hope of the abolition (to use the expression of Lord +Howick in the House of Commons) quivered on his lips in the last hour of +it." Nor is it improbable, if earthly scenes ever rise to view at that +awful crisis, and are perceptible, that it might have occupied his mind +in the last moment of his existence. Then indeed would joy ineffable, +from a conviction of having prepared the way for rescuing millions of +human beings from misery, have attended the spirit on its departure from +the body; and then also would this spirit, most of all purified when in +the contemplation of peace, good-will, and charity upon earth, be in the +fittest state, on gliding from its earthly cavern, to commix with the +endless ocean of benevolence and love. + +At length the session of 1807 commenced. It was judged advisable by Lord +Grenville, that the expected motion on this subject should, contrary to +the practice hitherto adopted, be agitated first in the Lords. +Accordingly, on the 2nd of January he presented a bill, called an act +for the abolition of the Slave Trade; but he then proposed only to print +it, and to let it lie on the table, that it might be maturely +considered, before it should be discussed. + +On the 4th, no less than four counsel were heard against the bill. + +On the 5th the debate commenced. But of this I shall give no detailed +account; nor, indeed, of any of those which followed it. The truth is, +that the subject has been exhausted. They, who spoke in favour of the +abolition, said very little that was new concerning it. They, who spoke +against it, brought forward, as usual, nothing but negative assertions +and fanciful conjectures. To give therefore what was said by both +parties at these times, would be but useless repetition[A]. To give, on +the other hand, that which was said on one side only would appear +partial. Hence I shall offer to the reader little more than a narrative +of facts upon these occasions. + +[Footnote A: The different debates in both Houses on this occasion would +occupy the half of another volume. This is another circumstance, which +reconciles me to the omission. But that, which reconciles me the most +is, that they will be soon published. In these debates justice has been +done to every individual concerned in them.] + +Lord Grenville opened the debate by a very luminous speech. He was +supported by the Duke of Gloucester, the Bishop of Durham (Dr. +Barrington), the Earls Moira, Selkirk, and Roslyn, and the Lords +Holland, King, and Hood. The opponents of the bill were the Duke of +Clarence, the Earls of Westmoreland and St. Vincent, and the Lords +Sidmouth, Eldon, and Hawkesbury. + +The question being called for at four o'clock in the morning, it +appeared that the personal votes and proxies in favour of Lord +Grenville's motion amounted to one hundred, and those against it to +thirty-six. Thus passed the first bill in England, which decreed, that +the African Slave Trade should cease. And here I cannot omit paying to +his Highness the Duke of Gloucester the tribute of respect, which is due +to him, for having opposed the example of his royal relations on this +subject in behalf of an helpless and oppressed people. The sentiments +too, which he delivered on this occasion, ought not to be forgotten. +"This trade," said he, "is contrary to the principles of the British +constitution. It is, besides, a cruel and criminal traffic in the blood +of my fellow-creatures. It is a foul stain on the national character. It +is an offence to the Almighty. On every ground therefore on which a +decision can be made; on the ground of policy, of liberty, of humanity, +of justice, but, above all, on the ground of religion, I shall vote for +its immediate extinction." + +On the 10th of February, the bill was carried to the House of Commons. +On the 20th counsel were heard against it; after which, by agreement, +the second reading of it took place. On the 23rd the question being put +for the commitment of it, Lord Viscount Howick (now Earl Grey) began an +eloquent speech. After he had proceeded in it some way, he begged leave +to enter his protest against certain principles of relative justice, +which had been laid down. "The merchants and planters," said he, "have +an undoubted right, in common with other subjects of the realm, to +demand justice at our hands. But that, which they denominate justice, +does not correspond with the legitimate character of that virtue: for +they call upon us to violate the rights of others, and to transgress our +own moral duties. That, which they distinguish as justice, involves in +itself the greatest injury to others. It is not, in fact, justice, which +they demand, but--favour--and favour to themselves at the expense of the +most grievous oppression of their fellow-creatures." + +He then argued the question on the ground of policy. He showed, by a +number of official documents, how little this trade had contributed to +the wealth of the nation, being but a fifty-fourth part of its export +trade; and he contended that as four-sevenths of it had been cut off by +His Majesty's proclamation, and the passing of the foreign slave bill in +a former year, no detriment of any consequence would arise from the +present measure. + +He entered into an account of the loss of seamen, and of the causes of +the mortality, in this trade. + +He went largely into the subject of negro-population, in the islands +from official documents, giving an account of it up to the latest date. +He pointed out the former causes of its diminution, and stated how the +remedies for these would follow. + +He showed how, even if the quantity of colonial produce should be +diminished for a time, this disadvantage would, in a variety of +instances, be more than counterbalanced by advantages, which would not +only be great in themselves, but permanent. + +He then entered into a refutation of the various objections which had +been made to the abolition, in an eloquent and perspicuous manner; and +concluded by appealing to the great authorities of Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox +in behalf of the proposed measure. "These precious ornaments," he said, +"of their age and country, had examined the subject with all the force +of their capacious minds. On this question they had dismissed all +animosity--all difference of opinion--and had proceeded in union; and he +believed, that the best tribute of respect we could show, or the most +splendid monument we could raise, to their memories, would be by the +adoption of the glorious measure of the abolition of the Slave Trade." + +Lord Howick was supported by Mr. Roscoe, who was then one of the members +for Liverpool; by Mr. Lushington, Mr. Fawkes, Lord Mahon, Lord Milton, +Sir John Doyle, Sir Samuel Romilly, Mr. Wilberforce, and Earl Percy, the +latter of whom wished that a clause might be put into the bill, by which +all the children of slaves, born after January 1810, should be made +free. General Gascoyne and Mr. Hibbert opposed the bill. Mr. Manning +hoped that compensation would be made to the planters in case of loss. +Mr. Bathurst and Mr. Hiley Addington preferred a plan for gradual +abolition to the present mode. These having spoken, it appeared on a +division, that there were for the question two hundred and eighty-three, +and against it only sixteen. + +Of this majority I cannot but remark, that it was probably the largest +that was ever announced on any occasion, where the House was called upon +to divide. I must observe, also, that there was such an enthusiasm among +the members at this time, that there appeared to be the same kind and +degree of feeling, as manifested itself within the same walls in the +year 1788, when the question was first started. This enthusiasm, too, +which was of a moral nature, was so powerful, that it seemed even to +extend to a conversion of the heart; for several of the old opponents of +this righteous cause went away, unable to vote against it; while others +of them staid in their places, and voted in its favour. + +On the 27th of February, Lord Howick moved, that the House resolve +itself into a committee on the bill for the abolition of the Slave +Trade. Sir C. Pole, Messrs. Hughan, Brown, Bathurst, Windham, and Fuller +opposed the motion; and Sir R. Milbank, and Messrs. Wynne, Barham, +Courtenay, Montague, Jacob, Whitbread, and Herbert (of Kerry), supported +it. At length the committee was allowed to sit _pro forma_, and Mr. +Hobhouse was put into the chair. The bill then went through it, and, the +House being resumed, the report was received and read. + +On the 6th of March, when the committee sat again, Sir C. Pole moved, +that the year 1812 be substituted for the year 1807, as the time when +the trade should be abolished. This amendment produced a long debate, +which was carried on by Sir C. Pole, Messrs. Fuller, Hiley Addington, +Rose, Gascoyne, and Bathurst, on one side; and by Mr. Ward, Sir P. +Francis; General Vyse, Sir T. Turton, Mr. Whitbread, Lord Henry Petty, +Messrs. Canning, Stanhope, Perceval, and Wilberforce on the other. At +length, on a division, there appeared to be one hundred and twenty-five +against the amendment, and for it only seventeen. The chairman then read +the bill, and it was agreed that he should report it with the amendments +on Monday. The bill enacted, that no vessel should clear out for slaves +from any port within the British dominions after the 1st of May, 1807, +and that no slave should be landed in the colonies after the 1st of +March, 1808. + +On the 16th of March, on the motion of Lord Henry Petty, the question +was put, that the bill be read a third time. Mr. Hibbert, Captain +Herbert, Mr. T.W. Plomer, Mr. Windham, and Lord Castlereagh, spoke +against the motion. Sir P. Francis, Mr. Lyttleton, Mr. H. Thornton, and +Messrs. Barham, Sheridan, and Wilberforce supported it. After this the +bill was passed without a division[A]. + +[Footnote A: S. Lushington, Esq., M.P. for Yarmouth, gave his voluntary +attendance and assistance to the committee, during all these motions, +and J. Bowdler, Esq., was elected a member of it.] + +On Wednesday, the 18th, Lord Howick, accompanied by Mr. Wilberforce and +others, carried the bill to the Lords. Lord Grenville, on receiving it, +moved that it should be printed, and that, if this process could be +finished by Monday, it should be taken into consideration on that day. +The reason of this extraordinary haste was, that His Majesty, displeased +with the introduction of the Roman Catholic officers' bill into the +Commons, had signified his intention to the members of the existing +administration, that they were to be displaced. + +This uneasiness, which, a few days before, had sprung up among the +friends of the abolition, on the report that this event was probable, +began now to show itself throughout the kingdom. Letters were written +from various parts, manifesting the greatest fear and anxiety on account +of the state of the bill, and desiring answers of consolation. Nor was +this state of the mind otherwise than what might have been expected upon +such an occasion; for the bill was yet to be printed. Being an amended +one, it was to be argued again in the Lords. It was then to receive the +royal assent. All these operations implied time; and it was reported +that the new ministry[A] was formed; among whom were several who had +shown a hostile disposition to the cause. + +[Footnote A: The only circumstance, which afforded comfort at this time, +was, that the Hon. Spencer Perceval and Mr. Canning were included in it, +who were warm patrons of this great measure.] + +On Monday, the 23rd, the House of Lords met. Such extraordinary +diligence had been used in printing the bill, that it was then ready. +Lord Grenville immediately brought it forward. The Earl of Westmoreland +and the Marquis of Sligo opposed it. The Duke of Norfolk and the Bishop +of Llandaff (Dr. Watson) supported it. The latter said, that this great +act of justice would be recorded in heaven. The amendments were +severally adopted without a division. But here an omission of three +words was discovered, namely, "country, territory, or place," which, if +not rectified, might defeat the purposes of the bill. An amendment was +immediately proposed and carried. Thus the bill received the last +sanction of the Peers. Lord Grenville then congratulated the House on +the completion, on its part, of the most glorious measure that had ever +been adopted by any legislative body in the world. + +The amendment now mentioned occasioned the bill to be sent back to the +Commons. On the 24th, on the motion of Lord Howick, it was immediately +taken into consideration there, and agreed to; and it was carried back +to the Lords, as approved of, on the same day. + +But though the bill had now passed both houses, there was an awful fear +throughout the kingdom lest it should not receive the royal assent +before the ministry was dissolved. This event took place the next day; +for on Wednesday, the 25th, at half past eleven in the morning, His +Majesty's message was delivered to the different members of it, that +they were then to wait upon him to deliver up the seals of their +offices. It then appeared that a commission for the royal assent to this +bill, among others, had been obtained. This commission was instantly +opened by the Lord Chancellor (Erskine), who was accompanied by the +Lords Holland and Auckland; and as the clock struck twelve, just when +the sun was in its meridian splendour to witness this august act, this +establishment of a Magna Charta for Africa in Britain, and to sanction +it by its most vivid and glorious beams, it was completed. The ceremony +being over, the seals of the respective offices were delivered up; so +that the execution of this commission was the last act of the +administration of Lord Grenville; an administration, which, on account +of its virtuous exertions in behalf of the oppressed African race, will +pass to posterity, living through successive generations in the love and +gratitude of the most virtuous of mankind. + +Thus ended one of the most glorious contests, after a continuance for +twenty years, of any ever carried on in any age or country. A contest, +not of brutal violence, but of reason. A contest between those who felt +deeply for the happiness and the honour of their fellow-creatures, and +those, who, through vicious custom and the impulse of avarice, had +trampled under foot the sacred rights of their nature, and had even +attempted to efface all title to the divine image from their minds. + +Of the immense advantages of this contest I know not how to speak; +indeed, the very agitation of the question which it involved has been +highly important. Never was the heart of man so expanded; never were its +generous sympathies so generally and so perseveringly excited. These +sympathies, thus called into existence, have been useful in the +preservation of a national virtue. For anything we know, they may have +contributed greatly to form a counteracting balance against the +malignant spirit, generated by our almost incessant wars during this +period, so as to have preserved us from barbarism. + +It has been useful also in the discrimination of moral character; in +private life it has enabled us to distinguish the virtuous from the more +vicious part of the community[A]. It has shown the general +philanthropist; it has unmasked the vicious in spite of his pretension +to virtue. It has afforded us the same knowledge in public life; it has +separated the moral statesman from the wicked politician. It has shown +us who, in the legislative and executive offices of our country, are fit +to save, and who to destroy, a nation. + +[Footnote A: I have had occasion to know many thousand persons in the +course of my travels on this subject, and I can truly say, that the part +which these took on this great question was always a true criterion of +their moral character. Some indeed opposed the abolition, who seemed to +be so respectable, that it was difficult to account for their conduct; +but it invariably turned out, in the course of time, either that they +had been influenced by interested motives, or that they were not men of +steady moral principle. In the year 1792, when the national enthusiasm +was so great, the good were as distinguishable from the bad, according +to their disposition to this great cause, as if the divine Being had +marked them, or, as a friend of mine the other day observed, as we may +suppose the sheep to be from the goats on the day of judgment.] + +It has furnished us also with important lessons. It has proved what a +creature man is! how devoted he is to his own interest! to what a length +of atrocity he can go, unless fortified by religious principle! But as +if this part of the prospect would be too afflicting, it has proved to +us, on the other hand, what a glorious instrument he may become in the +hands of his Maker; and that a little virtue, when properly leavened, is +made capable of counteracting the effects of a mass of vice! + +With respect to the end obtained by this contest, or the great measure +of the abolition of the Slave Trade as it has now passed, I know not how +to appreciate its importance; to our own country, indeed, it is +invaluable. We have lived, in consequence of it, to see the day, when it +has been recorded as a principle in our legislation, that commerce +itself shall have its moral boundaries. We have lived to see the day +when we are likely to be delivered from the contagion of the most +barbarous opinions. They who supported this wicked traffic, virtually +denied that man was a moral being; they substituted the law of force for +the law of reason: but the great act now under our consideration has +banished the impious doctrine, and restored the rational creature to his +moral rights. Nor is it a matter of less pleasing consideration, that, +at this awful crisis, when the constitutions of kingdoms are on the +point of dissolution, the stain of the blood of Africa is no longer upon +us, or that we have been freed (alas, if it be not too late!) from a +load of guilt, which has long hung like a mill-stone about our necks, +ready to sink us to perdition. + +In tracing the measure still further, or as it will affect other lands, +we become only the more sensible of its importance; for can we pass over +to Africa; can we pass over to the numerous islands, the receptacles of +miserable beings from thence; and can we call to mind the scenes of +misery which have been passing in each of these regions of the earth, +without acknowledging that one of the greatest sources of suffering to +the human race has, as far as our own power extends, been done way? Can +we pass over to these regions again, and contemplate the multitude of +crimes which the agency necessary for keeping up the barbarous system +produced, without acknowledging that a source of the most monstrous and +extensive wickedness has been removed also? But here, indeed, it becomes +us peculiarly to rejoice; for though nature shrinks from pain, and +compassion is engendered in us when we see it become the portion of +others, yet what is physical suffering compared with moral guilt? The +misery of the oppressed is, in the first place, not contagious like the +crime of the oppressor; nor is the mischief which it generates either so +frightful or so pernicious. The body, though under affliction, may +retain its shape; and, if it even perish, what is the loss of it but of +worthless dust? But when the moral springs of the mind are poisoned, we +lose the most excellent part of the constitution of our nature, and the +divine image is no longer perceptible in us; nor are the two evils of +similar duration. By a decree of Providence, for which we cannot be too +thankful, we are made mortal. Hence the torments of the oppressor are +but temporary; whereas the immortal part of us, when once corrupted, may +carry its pollutions with it into another world. + +But, independently of the quantity of physical suffering, and the +innumerable avenues to vice, in more than a quarter of the globe, which +this great measure will cut off, there are yet blessings, which we have +reason to consider as likely to flow from it. Among these we cannot +overlook the great probability that Africa, now freed from the vicious +and barbarous effects of this traffic, may be in a better state to +comprehend and receive the sublime truths of the Christian religion. Nor +can we overlook the probability that, a new system of treatment +necessarily springing up in our islands, the same bright sun of +consolation may visit her children there. But here a new hope rises to +our view. Who knows but that emancipation, like a beautiful plant, may, +in its due season, rise out of the ashes of the abolition of the Slave +Trade, and that, when its own intrinsic value shall be known, the seed +of it may be planted in other lands? And looking at the subject in this +point of view, we cannot but be struck with the wonderful concurrence of +events as previously necessary for this purpose, namely, that two +nations, England and America, the mother and the child, should, in the +same month of the same year, have abolished this impious traffic; +nations, which at this moment have more than a million of subjects +within their jurisdiction to partake of the blessing; and one of which, +on account of her local situation and increasing power, is likely in +time to give, if not law, at least a tone to the manners and customs of +the great continent on which she is situated. + +Reader! Thou art now acquainted with the history of this contest! +Rejoice in the manner of its termination! And, if thou feelest grateful +for the event, retire within thy closet, and pour out thy thanksgivings +to the Almighty for this his unspeakable act of mercy to thy oppressed +fellow-creatures. + +THE END. + + * * * * * + + + + +LONDON: JOHN W. PARKER, ST. MARTIN'S LANE + +A SELECT LIST OF BOOKS + +PUBLISHED BY + +JOHN W. PARKER, WEST STRAND, + +LONDON. + + * * * * * + +THE SLAVE-TRADE and SLAVERY.--HISTORY of the RISE, PROGRESS, and +ACCOMPLISHMENT, of the ABOLITION of the AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADE by the +British Parliament. By THOMAS CLARKSON, M.A. A NEW EDITION, with +Prefatory Remarks on the subsequent ABOLITION of SLAVERY, and a Portrait +from a highly-approved Picture, recently painted by HENRY ROOM. +_Published under the Direction of the_ CENTRAL NEGRO-EMANCIPATION +COMMITTEE. One large Volume. Octavo. + +THE SCRIPTURAL CHARACTER of the ENGLISH CHURCH CONSIDERED, in a SERIES +of SERMONS, with Notes and Illustrations. By the Rev. DERWENT COLERIDGE, +M.A. + +The series of Sermons, bearing the above title, were written exclusively +for perusal, and are arranged as a connected whole. The author has +adopted this form to avail himself of the devotional frame of mind, +presupposed on the part of the reader, in this species of composition; +but he has not deemed it as necessary to preserve with strictness the +conventional style of the pulpit, for which these discourses were never +intended: they may, consequently, be taken as a series of Essays, or as +the successive chapters of a general work. + +THE CATHOLIC CHARACTER of CHRISTIANITY; in a SERIES of LETTERS to a +FRIEND. By the Rev. FREDERICK NOLAN, LL.D., F.B.S., Vicar of +Prittlewell, and Author of _The Evangelical Character of Christianity_, +&c. + +The Profits arising from the First Edition of this Work, will be given +to the Fund for erecting a Memorial to the Martyred Bishops at Oxford. + +A MANUAL of CHRISTIAN ANTIQUITIES; or an Account of the Constitution, +Ministers, Worship, Discipline, and Customs of the Early Church; with an +Introduction, containing a Complete and Chronological Analysis of the +Works of the Antenicene Fathers. Compiled from the Works of Augusti, and +other sources. By the Rev. J. E. RIDDLE, M.A., Author of an +_English-Latin_ and _Latin-English Dictionary_, _Luther and his Times_, +&c. _In the Press_. + +It has been the object of the writer, to construct a History of +Christian Antiquities sufficiently copious and accurate for the use of +the student in divinity, and at the same time instructive and acceptable +to the general reader: a work popular in point of structure and style, +but containing the substance of the more scholastic and expensive +volumes of Bingham, and embodying information collected by modern +divines, who have investigated the history and usages of the early +church. Such a compendium was a desideratum in our theological +literature. Our language has hitherto possessed no book fit to occupy +the same place, in relation to the history of the church, as that which +has long been maintained by the Antiquities of Potter and Adam, in +connexion with the histories of Greece and Rome. And the author of the +present volume hopes he may be permitted to say, that, in the absence of +more able labourers in this department, he has endeavoured, by means +especially of foreign aid, to remove the want which he has described. + +THE WORKS OF DOCTOR DONNE, Dean of Saint Paul's in 1619-1631; with a +Memoir of his Life, and Critical Notices of his Writings. By HENRY +ALFORD, M.A., Vicar of Wymeswold, and late Fellow of Trinity College, +Cambridge. With a fine Portrait from an Original Picture by VANDYKE. Six +Volumes Octavo. + +A HISTORY of the INDUCTIVE SCIENCES, from the Earliest Times to the +Present. By the Rev. WILLIAM WHEWELL, B.D., F.R.S.; Pres. Geol. Society, +and Professor of Casuistry in the University of Cambridge. Three +Volumes, Octavo. + +THE NEW CRATYLUS; or, CONTRIBUTIONS towards a more ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE of +the GREEK LANGUAGE. By JOHN WILLIAM DONALDSON, M.A., Fellow of Trinity +College, Cambridge. + +A NEW SYSTEM OF LOGIC, and Developement of the Principles of Truth and +Reasoning; in which a System of Logic, applicable to Moral and Practical +Subjects, is for the first time proposed. By SAMUEL RICHARD BOSANQUET, +A.M., of the Inner Temple. + +The RISE and PROGRESS of the ENGLISH CONSTITUTION; with an HISTORICAL +and LEGAL INTRODUCTION and NOTES. By ARCHIBALD JOHN STEPHENS, M.A., +F.R.S., &c. Two Volumes, 30s. + +The Introduction is embodied in the first volume, and extends from the +earliest period of authentic history up to the termination of the reign +of William III.; and the Saxon institutions, tenure of lands, domesday, +the royal prerogative, origin and progress of the legislative +assemblies, privileges of Lords and Commons, pecuniary exactions, +administration of justice, gradual improvements in the laws, judicial +powers of the Peers, borough institutions, infamy of the Long +Parliament, national dissensions, and the principles under which the +executive power was intrusted to the Prince of Orange, have experienced +every illustration. + +The doctrinal changes in the Anglican Church which were effected under +the Tudors, are justified by a reference to the records and practice of +the primitive Church, and the doctrinal schismatic points of Roman +Catholic faith relating to the canons of Scripture, seven sacraments, +sacrifice of the mass, private and solitary mass, communion in one kind, +transubstantiation, image worship, purgatory, indulgences, confession +and penance, absolution, &c., are clearly established as being in direct +opposition to the opinions of the early fathers, and the fundamental +doctrines of Christianity. + +The text of De Lolme is incorporated in the second volume, and the notes +affixed extend to great length, and embody very valuable and diversified +information relative to the rights, qualifications, and +disqualifications of members of Parliament and their constituents; the +unions of Scotland and Ireland with England; the origin, rise, and +progress of the civil law under nine periods of the Roman history; civil +process in the English courts of law; history of the courts of equity, +and the principles under which they act; trial by jury, and an analysis +of criminal offences, and the statutes under which they are punishable, +with an analysis of crimes that were committed in 1837, and of the +sentences passed. There are likewise tables of the public income and +expenditure in the year ended January 5, 1837; of the church revenues, +in which will be found information relative to the number of benefices +in each diocese; total amount of incomes, gross and net, of the +incumbents in each diocese, also the averages of each respectively; +number of curates in each diocese; total amount of their stipends, and +average thereof; also four scales of the incomes of the beneficed +clergy; and genealogical tables from the Saxon and Danish kings, to +Queen Victoria. + +FROM THE PRESS OF JOHN W. PARKER. + +MEMOIRS of the LIFE, CHARACTER, and WRITINGS, of BISHOP BUTLER, Author +of _The Analogy_. By THOMAS BARTLETT, M.A., One of the Six Preachers of +Canterbury Cathedral, and Rector of Kingstone, Kent. Dedicated, by +Permission, to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. Octavo, with an +original Portrait. + + * * * * * + +ELIZABETHAN RELIGIOUS HISTORY. By HENRY SOAMES, M.A., Author of _The +History of the Reformation; The Anglo-Saxon Church_, &c. + +This Work is intended to fill a long-acknowledged chasm in English +literature, and especially in that which peculiarly concerns the Church +of England. Both Romanists and Protestant Dissenters have been attentive +to the important reign of Elizabeth, and by saying very little of each +other, have given an invidious colouring to both the Church and the +Government. The present work is meant to give every leading fact in +sufficient detail, but to avoid unnecessary particulars. It reaches from +the establishment of the Thirty-nine Articles, in 1563, to the +Hampton-Court Conference, in 1604. + + * * * * * + +THE ANGLO-SAXON CHURCH; its HISTORY, REVENUES, and General Character. By +the Rev. HENRY SOAMES, M.A., Author of the _Elizabethan Religious +History_. A NEW EDITION. + + * * * * * + +HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH; from the Ascension of Jesus Christ to +the Conversion of Constantine. By the late EDWARD BURTON, D.D. + + * * * * * + +HISTORY of the CHURCH of ENGLAND, to the REVOLUTION in 1688; embracing +Copious Histories of the Thirty-Nine Articles, the Translation of the +Bible, and the Compilation of the Book of Common Prayer. By THOMAS +VOWLER SHORT, D.D. NEW EDITION, in One large Volume. + + * * * * * + +The EARLY CHRISTIANS; their MANNERS and CUSTOMS, TRIALS and SUFFERINGS. +By the Rev. WILLIAM PRIDDEN, M.A. Second Edition. + + * * * * * + +HISTORY OF POPERY; the Origin, Growth, and Progress of the Papal Power; +its Political Influence in the European States-System, and its Effects +on the Progress of Civilization; an Examination of the Present State of +the Romish Church in Ireland; a History of the Inquisition; and +Specimens of Monkish Legends. + +LUTHER and HIS TIMES; History of the Rise and Progress of the German +Reformation. By the Rev. J. E. RIDDLE, M.A., Author of _First Sundays at +Church._ + + * * * * * + +POPULAR HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION, in Germany, Switzerland, and Great +Britain; and of its chief Promoters, Opposers, and Victims. By THOMAS +FOX. + + * * * * * + +* HISTORY OF MOHAMMEDANISM, and the PRINCIPAL MOHAMMEDAN SECTS. By W.C. +TAYLOR, LL.D. + + * * * * * + +* The CRUSADERS; SCENES, EVENTS, and CHARACTERS, from the Times of the +Crusades. By THOMAS KEIGHTLEY. Two Vols. + + * * * * * + +* READINGS IN BIOGRAPHY; a Selection of the Lives of Eminent Men of all +Nations. + +The design of this work is to give an account of the lives of the +Leaders in the most important revolutions which history records, from +the age of Sesostris to that of Napoleon. Care has been taken to select +those personages concerning whom information is most required by the +historical student. + + * * * * * + +LIFE OF SIR WILLIAM JONES, by the late LORD TEIGNMOUTH. With Notes, +Selections from his Works, and a Memoir of his Noble Biographer, by the +Rev. SAMUEL CHARLES WILKS, M.A. 2 Vols., 10_s_. 6_d_. + +SIR WILLIAM JONES was not only the most eminent linguist, but in many +respects one of the most remarkable men, of the last century; and LORD +TEIGNMOUTH'S Memoir of him has been justly accounted one of the most +interesting, instructive, and entertaining pieces of modern biography. + + * * * * * + +* LIVES OF BRITISH SACRED POETS. By R. A. WILLMOTT, Esq., Trin. Coll. +Camb. Now complete, in Two Volumes, at 4_s_. 6_d_. each. + +The FIRST SERIES contains an Historical Sketch of Sacred Poetry, and the +Lives of the English Sacred Poets preceding MILTON. + +The SECOND SERIES commences with MILTON, and brings down the Lives to +that of BISHOP HEBER inclusive. + + * * * * * + +* LIVES OF EMINENT CHRISTIANS. By RICHARD B. HONE, M.A., Vicar of Hales +Owen. Three Volumes, 4_s_. 6_d_. each. + +Vol. I. ARCHBISHOP USHER, DOCTOR HAMMOND, JOHN EVELYN, BISHOP WILSON. + +Vol. II. + +BERNARD GILPIN, PHILIP DE MORNAY, BISHOP BEDELL, DOCTOR HORNECK. + +Vol. III. + +BISHOP RIDLEY, BISHOP HALL, The HONORABLE ROBERT BOYLE. + +BIBLE BIOGRAPHY; HISTORIES OF THE LIVES AND CONDUCT OF THE PRINCIPAL +CHARACTERS OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT. By E. FARR, _Author of a New +Version of the Book of Psalms_. 4_s._ 6_d._ + +BIBLE NARRATIVE chronologically arranged, in the words of the authorized +Version; continued by an Historical Account of the Jewish Nation: and +forming a Consecutive History from the Creation of the World to the +Termination of the Jewish Polity. _Dedicated by permission to the Lord +Bishop of Winchester_. 7_s._ + +THE EVIDENCE OF PROFANE HISTORY TO THE TRUTH OF REVELATION. DEDICATED, +BY SPECIAL PERMISSION, TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN. 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Thus the philosophy of history is +made to illustrate the narrative without interrupting it. + +STUDENT'S MANUAL OF MODERN HISTORY; THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE +PRINCIPAL EUROPEAN NATIONS, THEIR POLITICAL HISTORY, AND THE CHANGES IN +THEIR SOCIAL CONDITION; WITH A HISTORY OF THE COLONIES FOUNDED BY +EUROPEANS, AND GENERAL PROGRESS OF CIVILIZATION. By the same Author. +10_s._ 6_d._ + +*FAMILY HISTORY OF ENGLAND. By the Rev. G.R. GLEIG, M.A. With PICTORIAL +ILLUSTRATIONS. 3 Vols., 6_s._ 6_d._ each. + +The main purpose of the FAMILY HISTORY OF ENGLAND has been to unite +objects which in such undertakings are not always found to coincide; +namely, to render the study of English History not merely instructive, +but interesting and amusing. For this purpose, the greatest care has +been taken to seize upon all those striking features in the detail of +events, which not only convey to the mind of the reader a vivid picture +of scenes past, but induce him to argue from effects to their causes. +While the philosophy of history, therefore, is sedulously taught, it is +taught in a manner calculated to gratify both young and old, by +affording to the one class ample scope to reflection; to the other, +matter that stirs and excites, while it conveys sound moral instruction. + +A HISTORY OF LONDON; THE PROGRESS OF ITS INSTITUTIONS; THE MANNERS AND +CUSTOMS OF ITS PEOPLE. By CHARLES MACKAY. 7_s._ + +Of the Histories of London which have hitherto appeared, some have been +too voluminous and costly for the general reader, and others too +exclusively addressed to the citizen, the antiquarian, or the traveller. +The object of the present Volume is to furnish in a tangible form, and +at a small price, a general and popular view of the progress of +civilization, and of the origin and progress of those events which have +raised London to its present importance. The work, however, is not +confined to a history of events, but contains graphic pictures of the +manners and customs of the people, their sports and pastimes, at +different periods, and the characteristic incidents of their domestic +history. + +GERMANY, BOHEMIA, AND HUNGARY, VISITED IN 1837. By the Rev. G.R. GLEIG, +M.A., Chaplain to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. 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