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diff --git a/old/69166-0.txt b/old/69166-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 201697c..0000000 --- a/old/69166-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1255 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of A short sketch of the evidence for the -abolition of the slave trade, delivered before a committee of the House -of Commons, by William Bell Crafton - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: A short sketch of the evidence for the abolition of the slave - trade, delivered before a committee of the House of Commons - -Author: William Bell Crafton - -Release Date: October 16, 2022 [eBook #69166] - -Language: English - -Produced by: John Campbell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SHORT SKETCH OF THE -EVIDENCE FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE, DELIVERED BEFORE A -COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS *** - - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE - - Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. - - The original text used the character ſ (long-form s); these have been - replaced by the normal s in this etext. - - Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have been - placed at the end of the book. - - Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book. - - - - - A - - SHORT SKETCH - - OF - - THE EVIDENCE - - FOR THE - - ABOLITION - - OF THE - - SLAVE TRADE, - - _Delivered before a Committee of the House of Commons_ - - TO WHICH IS ADDED, A - - Recommendation of the Subject - - TO THE - - SERIOUS ATTENTION - - OF - - PEOPLE IN GENERAL. - - [Illustration: (decorative separator)] - - “ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER YE WOULD THAT - MEN SHOULD DO TO YOU, DO YE EVEN SO TO - THEM,” Matt. chap. vii. ver. 12. - - [Illustration: (decorative separator)] - - - LONDON, PRINTED; PHILADELPHIA: - RE-PRINTED BY DANIEL LAWRENCE. - M.DCC.XCII. - - - - -ADVERTISEMENT. - - - _The Design of the following_ SHORT SKETCH _is not to supersede, in - any Degree_, MORE IMPORTANT PUBLICATIONS, _but, on the Contrary, to - extend their Circulation, and promote their Influence_. - - - - -A - -SHORT SKETCH, _&c._ - - -Virtue, say moralists, is so transcendently beautiful, that she need -but be _seen_, to be universally admired: and is not VICE so hateful, -that the more its features are _viewed_, the more it will be avoided? -The traffic in the human species, particularly as carried on by the -Europeans on the coast of Africa, has so horrible an aspect, that -nothing, one should think, but the MASK, under which it has been -concealed, could have prevented all the civilized nations in the -world uniting to drive the detested Monster from the face of the -earth. This MASK is, however, at length taken away, and the traffic -stands exposed in all its real, unalterable deformity. The PEOPLE -are now called upon to behold, to feel, and judge for themselves. -The representations of former writers on this subject were roundly -denied; the facts they stated were not only contradicted, but deemed -impossible, and the authors themselves were accused of slander. -Now we have a body of EVIDENCE to which to appeal; of evidence, -possessing every essential of _credibility_. The witnesses have -declared before the Select Committee of the House of Commons, what -they themselves saw: they had the best opportunities of observation, -and they are disinterested. And now it appears, that one half of the -tale of human misery hath not been told: and that every principle, -that can bind a man of honour and conscience,[1] loudly calls for -the prohibition of the iniquitous traffic. Hard indeed must those -hearts be, and inaccessible those understandings,[2] which such -evidence cannot reach! - -The Evidence delivered before the Select Committee of the House of -Commons is very voluminous, occupying two thousand pages in folio. -But a judicious Abstract and Arrangement of the Evidence, on the Part -of the Petitioners for the Abolition of the Slave Trade,[3] has been -published, and in a short compass, contains the evidence of well -informed persons on that subject. - -In the PREFACE to this important volume of evidence we read of -rewards offered for taking run-away negroes _alive or dead_--of -laws being required to be made to prevent the practice of _cutting -off ears, noses, and tongues_--of _breaking limbs_ and _putting out -eyes_--to prevent _distempered, maimed, and worn out negroes_ from -infesting towns--to prevent _aged_ and _infirm_ negroes being driven -from the plantations _to starve_. We meet also with such kind of -PREAMBLES to acts as the following, viz. - -‘Whereas the extreme cruelty and inhumanity of the managers, -overseers, and book-keepers of estates, have frequently driven slaves -into the woods, and occasioned rebellions, internal insurrections, -&c. And whereas also it frequently happens, that slaves come -to their deaths by hasty and severe blows and other improper -treatment of overseers and book-keepers, in the heat of passion; -and when such accidents do happen, the victims are entered in the -plantation-books, as having died of convulsions, fits, or other -causes not to be accounted for; and to conceal the real truth of -the cause of the death of such slave or slaves, he or they is or -are immediately put under ground, &c. Other preambles of a similar -complexion, respecting the lodging, food, and clothes of negroes, -are here to be met with. We also find that run-away negroes, when -advertised, are described by the various brands upon their shoulders, -breasts, cheeks, and foreheads. A woman is described with a wooden -leg; a man as having both his ears cropt, and another by his nose -and ears being cut off.’ Cornwall Chronicle, Nov. 7, 1789. Other -instances occur within the year 1791. - -The FIRST CHAPTER contains an account of the Enormities committed -by the Natives of Africa on the persons of one another, to procure -slaves for the Europeans, proved by the testimony of such as have -visited that continent--and confirmed by accounts from the slaves -themselves, after their arrival in the West-Indies. - -Under this head, we learn that Kidnapping, or as the natives call it, -Panyaring, is very common, that war is made on purpose to procure -slaves. The king’s soldiers set fire to villages in the night, -and seize the wretched inhabitants as they attempt to escape from -the flames, and many perish, either by the fire or sword, in the -execution of this horrid purpose. A Boy, who was carried away in the -night from his father’s house, says, he believes both his parents -were killed, he is sure that one was, and that many others were -killed and some taken. Various instances are mentioned of consummate -treachery employed in making captives. Kidnapping is professionally -followed; large parties go up the country three hundred miles to -drive down captives--they go a wood-ranging, and pick up every one -they meet, and strip them naked. The purchasers generally say, they -do not care how the sellers come by their slaves. Many are sold for -crimes falsely imputed; the Judges participate in the profits of the -sale, and are therefore strongly induced to condemn the innocent. -Crimes are invented and multiplied for the purpose of traffic. The -great men dress up and employ women, to entice young men to be -connected with them, that they may be convicted of adultery and -sold. The slaves are separated without the least regard to ties of -consanguinity, or the pathetic expostulations and remonstrances of -nature. When slave-ships are on the Coast the natives go armed, but -are no where safe. The man, invited to drink with his neighbour, on -rising to go, is seized by two of them and a large dog: and this mode -of seizure is common. - -By the Second Chapter it appears that the Europeans, by means of the -trade in slaves, are the occasion of the before-mentioned enormities; -that they sometimes use additional means to excite the natives to -practise them, often attempt themselves to steal the natives, and -succeed, force trade as they please, and are guilty of injustice in -their dealings. In proof of this charge, we learn from the evidence -that Africans receive European goods in exchange for slaves--that -they declare when ships cease to come (as in times of war) slaves -cease to be taken. African dealers make the Princes drunk, in order -to overcome their aversion to unprovoked war: they furnish the -natives with arms and ammunition and excite them to pillage. - -The term war, in Africa, is used in general to signify pillage; and -when many towns are seen blazing in the night, the natives say war -is carrying on. - -The Traders advance goods to Chiefs to induce them to seize their -subjects or neighbours. Capt. Patterson set two villages at variance, -and brought prisoners from both sides. It is not uncommon to make -the natives drunk, and then buy them. General Rooke says, that it -was proposed to him by three English captains of ships, to kidnap -a hundred, or a hundred and fifty men, women, and children, king -Damel’s subjects, who had come to Goree in consequence of the -friendly intercourse between him and Damel: He refused and was much -shocked by the proposition. They said such things had been done by -a former governor. Two men, black traders, were invited on board, -intoxicated, and captured when asleep. The Gregson’s people, in -running down the coast, kidnapped thirty-two of the natives. The -Dobson’s boat of Liverpool had stolen a man and woman; the captain -on the remonstrance of Capt. Briggs, who told him, there would be no -more trade if he did not deliver up his two captives, restored them; -upon which the natives loaded a boat with yams, goats, fowls, honey, -and palm wine, and would take nothing for them,--a striking instance -of forgiveness of injuries, and of unmerited kindness! - -We then meet with as opposite an exhibition of character as can -possibly be conceived: three or four hundred Africans cruelly -massacreed or carried off, by means of the treacherous contrivance -of six English captains in Old Calabar River. But let us “turn our -eyes for relief to some ordinary wickedness”[4]: Some consider frauds -as a necessary part of the traffic; they put false heads into powder -casks, cut off two or three yards from the middle of a piece of -cloth, adulterate spirits, and steal back articles given. Besides -these, there are others who pay in bottles, which hold but half the -contents of the samples shewn; use false steel-yards and weights, and -sell such guns as burst on firing; so that many of the natives of the -windward coast, are without their fingers and thumbs on this account, -and it has become a saying that these guns kill more out of the butt -than the muzzle. - -The Third Chapter contains an account of the transactions of the -enslaved Africans, and of the method of confining, airing, feeding, -and exercising them; incidents on the passage, and the manner of -selling them when arrived at their destined ports; the deplorable -situation of the refuse or sickly slaves; separation of relations and -friends; mortality on the passage, and frequently after sale; and the -causes of this mortality. - -On being brought on board, says Dr. Trotter, they shew signs of -extreme distress and despair, from a feeling of their situation, -and regret at being torn from their friends and connexions. They -sometimes dream of being in their own country, and when they awake -shew their despair by howling and shrieking in a most dreadful -manner. The women go into fits. In the course of the voyage, the -slaves are chained to the deck every day from eight in the morning to -four o’clock in the afternoon. They are fed twice a day with rice, -yams, and horse-beans, and now and then a little beef and bread: -after each of these two meals they are allowed half a pint of water: -and are forced to jump in their irons, which, by the slave dealers, -is called making them dance. This exercise frequently occasions the -fetters to excoriate their limbs; and, when it is very painful to -move at all, they are compelled to dance by a cat-of-nine-tails. -The captains order them to sing, and they sing songs of sorrow, the -subject of which are their wretched situation, and the idea of never -returning home: the witness remembers the very words upon these -occasions. - -The slaves are so crouded below, that it is impossible to walk among -them without treading upon them. Dr. Trotter has seen the slaves -drawing their breath with all those laborious and anxious efforts for -life, which are observed in expiring animals, subjected by experiment -to foul air, or in the exhausted receiver of an air pump: they cry -out--‘we are dying,’ and many are irrecoverably lost by suffocation, -having had no previous signs of indisposition. They are closely -wedged together, and have not so much room as a man in his coffin, -either in length or breadth. They sometimes go down well at night, -and are found dead in the morning. Alexander Falconbridge was never -among them for ten minutes together below, but his shirt was as -wet as if dipped in water. Sometimes the dead and living are found -shackled together. They lie on the bare blanks, and the prominent -parts of their bones, about the shoulder-blade and knees, have -frequently been seen bare. No situation can be conceived so dreadful -and disgusting as that of slaves when ill of the flux. In the -Alexander (A. Falconbridge says) the deck was covered with blood and -mucus, and resembled a slaughter-house; the stench and foul air were -intolerable. The slaves, shackled together, frequently quarrel, and -make a great disturbance. Some refuse food and medicine, and declare -they want to die. In such cases compulsion is used. The ships are so -fitted up as to prevent, by net-work, the slaves jumping overboard; -notwithstanding which they often attempt it, and sometimes succeed, -shewing signs of exultation in the very jaws of death. Some employ -other means to destroy themselves, and others go mad: Some resolve -to starve, and means are ineffectually used to wrench open their -teeth: they persist in their resolution, and effect their purpose, -in spite of the utmost pains to prevent it. When severely chastised -for not taking their food they have looked up with a smile and said, -“presently we shall be no more.” The thumbscrew is an instrument of -torture, the application of it sometimes occasions mortifications, -of which the negroes die. An instance occurs of the cruelty of a -captain to an infant only nine months old, which one would suppose -too shocking to be true, were it not corroborated by other specimens -of as great cruelty in various parts of the evidence. After a series -of tortures the infant expired, and its savage murderer, not yet -satiated, would suffer none of the people on deck to throw the body -overboard, but called the Mother, the wretched Mother, to perform -this last sad office to her murdered child. Unwilling as it might -naturally be supposed she was, to comply, “he beat her,” regardless -of the indignant murmurs of her fettered countrymen, whom in the -barbarous plenitude of secure tyranny, he permitted to be spectators -of this horrible scene--“he beat her, until he made her take up the -child and carry it to the side of the vessel, and then she dropped it -into the sea, turning her head another way, that she might not see -it!”[5] Another instance occurs in this chapter, not perhaps of more -cruelty, though of greater magnitude. - -A ship from Africa, with about four hundred slaves on board, struck -upon some shoals, called the Morant Keys, distant eleven leagues, S. -S. E. off the east end of Jamaica. The officers and seamen of the -ship landed in their boats, carrying with them arms and provisions. -The slaves were left on board in their irons and shackles. This -happened in the night time. When morning came, it was discovered that -the negroes had got out of their irons, and were busy making rafts, -upon which they placed the women and children; the men, who were -capable of swimming, attended upon the rafts, whilst they drifted -before the wind towards the island where the seamen had landed. -From an apprehension that the negroes would consume the water and -provisions which the seamen had landed, they came to the resolution -of destroying them, by means of their fire-arms and other weapons. -As the poor wretches approached the shore they actually destroyed -between three and four hundred of them. Out of the whole cargo only -thirty three or thirty four were saved and brought to Kingston, where -they were sold at public vendue. - -When the ships arrive at their destined ports, the cargo of slaves -is sold, either by scramble or vendue. The sale by scramble is -described:--“A great number of people come on board with tallies in -their hands (the ship being first darkened with sails and covered -round; the men slaves placed on the main deck, and the women on the -quarter deck), and rush through the barricado door with the ferocity -of brutes. Some have three or four handkerchiefs tied together, to -encircle as many as they think fit for their purpose.” This is a very -general mode of sale, and so terrifies the poor negroes, that forty -or fifty at a time have leaped into the sea; these, however, the -witness believes, have been taken up again: the women have got away -and run about the town as if they were mad. The slaves sold by public -auction or vendue, are generally the refuse, or sickly slaves. These -are in such a state of health, that they sell greatly under price. -They have been known to be sold for five dollars, a guinea, and even -a single dollar each. Some that are deemed not worth buying are left -to expire in the place of sale, for nobody gives them any thing to -eat or drink, and some of them live three days in that situation! In -the sale no care is taken to prevent the reparation of relations; -they are separated (says the evidence) like sheep and lambs by -the butcher. Making the slaves walk the plank, is a term used for -throwing them overboard when provisions are scarce. Sometimes the -ships lose more than half their cargoes by the small-pox; at others -they bury a quarter or one-third on the passage, owing to various -other causes of mortality: and it is confessed by the planters,[6] -that half the slaves die in the seasoning, after arrival in the -West-Indies. Surgeon Wilson says, that of the death of two thirds of -those who died in his ship, the primary cause was melancholy. The -disorders which carry off the slaves in such numbers, are ascribed -by Falconbridge to a diseased mind, sudden transitions from heat to -cold, a putrid atmosphere, wallowing in their own excrements, and -being shackled together. - -The captains, surgeons, &c. who have quitted the African slave-trade, -uniformly declare the reason to have been, that they could not -conscientiously continue in it: they say, that it is an unnatural, -iniquitous, and villainous trade, founded on injustice and treachery; -manifestly carried on by oppression and cruelty, and not unfrequently -terminating in murder. Capt. Hall says, he quitted it (in opposition -to lucrative offers) from a conviction that it was perfectly illegal, -and founded in blood. - -The Fourth Chapter gives an account of the general estimation and -treatment of the slaves in the West-Indies. Dr. Jackson says, that -the negroes are generally esteemed a species of inferior beings, whom -the right of purchase gives the owner a power of using at his will. -T. Woolrich says, he never knew the best master in the West-Indies -use his slaves so well, as the worst master his servants in England: -that their state is inconceivable--that a sight of a gang would -convince more than all words. - -Slaves are either Field Slaves, or in or out Door Slaves. - -The field-slaves begin their work at break of day. They work in -rows, without exception under the whip of drivers, and the weak are -made to keep up with the strong. They continue their labour (with -two intermissions, half an hour during the morning, and two hours at -noon) till sun set. In the intervals they are made to pick grass for -the cattle. Cook has known pregnant women worked and flogged a few -days before their delivery. Some, however, are a little indulged when -in that state. After the month they work with the children on their -backs. In the crop-season the labour is of much longer duration[7]. -The slaves sometimes work so long that they cannot help sleeping, -and then it not unfrequently happens, that their arms are caught in -the mill and torn off. They are said to be allowed one day in seven -for rest, but this time is necessarily employed in raising food for -the other days, and gathering grass for their master’s cattle. The -best allowance of food is at Barbadoes, which is a pint of grain -for twenty four hours, and half a rotten herring when to be had. -When the herrings are unfit for the whites, they are bought up -by planters for the slaves. Some allow nine pints of corn a week, -and about one pound of salt fish, which is the greatest allowance -mentioned in the whole course of the evidence. Some have no provision -but what they raise themselves, and they are frequently so fatigued -by the labour of the rest of the week, as scarcely to be able to -work for their own support on the Sunday. And the land allotted them -for this purpose is often at the distance of three miles from their -houses; it would, however, be quite ample for their support, were -they allowed time sufficient for its cultivation. Sometimes when they -have been at the pains of clearing their land, their masters take -it for canes, and give them wood land instead of it. This hardship -some have so taken to heart as to die. Putrid carcases are burnt; if -they were buried, the slaves would dig them up and eat them, which -would breed distempers among them. They are sometimes driven by -extreme hunger to steal at the hazard of their lives. They are badly -clothed; one half of them go almost naked. The slaves in general have -no bed or bedding at all. Their houses are built with four poles and -thatched. They have little or no property. All the evidence (to whom -the question has been proposed) agree in answering, that they never -knew or heard of a field-slave ever amassing such a sum, as enabled -him to purchase his own freedom. The artificers, such as house -carpenters, coopers, masons, the drivers and head slaves, are better -off. The owners of women let them out for prostitution, and flog -them, if they do not bring home full wages. - -The negroes, when whipped, are suspended by the arms, with weights -at their feet. They are first whipped with a whip made of cow-skin -(which cuts out the flesh, whereas the military whips cut only the -skin) and afterwards with ebony bushes (which are more prickly than -thorn bushes in this country) in order to let out the congealed -blood. Dr. Harrison thinks the whipping too severe to be inflicted -on any human being: he could lay two or three fingers into the -wounds of a man whipped for not coming when he was called. Many -receive from one hundred and fifty to two hundred lashes at a time; -and in two or three days this is repeated: they wash the raw parts -with pickle; this appears from the convulsions it occasions, more -cruel than whipping; but it is done to prevent mortification. After -severe whipping, they are worked all day without food, except what -their friends may give them out of their own poor pittance. They are -returned to their stocks at night, and worked next day as before. -This cruel treatment his made many commit suicide. Cook has known -fourteen slaves, who, in consequence thereof, ran into the woods and -cut their throats together. These severe punishments are frequent. -The scars made by whipping last to old age. T. Woolrich has seen -their backs one undistinguished mass of lumps, holes, and furrows. -They sometimes die of mortification of the wounds. A planter flogged -his driver to death, and boasted of having so done. - -Under the head of Extraordinary Punishments, (for those already named -are reckoned only ordinary), mention is made of iron collars with -hooks[8], heavy cattle chains, and a half hundred weight fastened to -them, which the negroes are forced to drag after them, when working -in the field, suspending by the hands ’till the fingers mortify; -flogging with ebony bushes ’till they are forced to go on all fours, -unable to get up, being tied up to the branch of a tree, with a heavy -weight round the neck, exposed to the noon-day sun--thumb-screws; a -man was put on the picket, so long as to occasion a mortification -of his foot and hand, on suspicion of robbing his master, a public -officer, of a sum of money, which it afterwards appeared, the master -had taken himself. Yet the master was privy to the punishment, and -the slave had no compensation. He was punished by order of the -master, who did not then chuse to make it known that he himself -had made use of the money. A girl’s ears were nailed to a post, -afterwards torn away, and clipt off close to her head, with a pair of -large scissors; besides this, she was unmercifully flogged, and all -for--BREAKING A PLATE, OR SPILLING A CUP OF TEA! A negro, impelled by -hunger, had stolen part of a turkey, his master caused him to be held -down, and, with his own hands, took a hammer and punch and knocked -out four of his teeth. The hand is cut off if lifted up against a -white man, and the leg for running away. A planter sent for a surgeon -to cut off the leg of a negro who had run away. On the surgeon’s -refusing to do it, the planter took an iron bar, and broke the leg in -pieces, and then the surgeon took it off. This planter did many such -acts of cruelty, and all with impunity. The practice of dropping hot -lead upon the negroes, is here mentioned. H. Ross saw a young female -suspended by her wrists to a tree, swinging to and fro, while her -master applied a lighted torch to the different parts of her writhing -body. It was notorious that Ruthie tortured so many of his negroes -to death, that he was obliged to sell his estate. Another planter, -in the same Island[9], destroyed forty slaves out of sixty (in three -years) by severity. The rest of the conduct of this infamous wretch -was cancelled by the Committee of the House of Commons, as containing -circumstances too horrible to be given to the world. We, however, -go on to read of knocking on the head and stabbing, of a hot iron -forced between the teeth, of a slave thrown into the boiling juice, -and killed, of a negro shot and his head cut off. And it appears, -that the women, deemed of respectability and rank, not only order -and superintend, but sometimes actually inflict with their own hands -severe punishments on their slaves. - -The offences for which the before-mentioned punishments are inflicted -are, not coming into the field in time, not picking a sufficient -quantity of grass, not appearing willing to work, when in fact sick -and not able; for staying too long on an errand, for not coming -immediately when called, for not bringing home (the women) the full -weekly sum enjoined by their owners; for running away, and for theft, -to which they are often driven by hunger. - -Under the head of “Extraordinary Punishments,” some appear to have -suffered for running away, or for lifting up a hand against a white -man, or for breaking a plate, or spilling a cup of tea, or to extort -confession. Others again, in the moments of sudden resentment, and -one on a diabolical pretext, which the master held out to the world -to conceal his own villainy, and which he _knew_ to be _false_. - -The slaves have little or no redress against ill-usage of any sort; -the laws to restrict punishment are a mere farce, and universally -disregarded, or when pretended to be observed they are in divers ways -effectually evaded: besides, the evidence of a Black is in no case -whatever admitted against a White Man; which circumstance alone is -enough to deprive the negroes of all legal protection whatever, were -the laws, in other respects, ever so just and salutary. Lieutenant -Davidson was so hurt at the severe and frequent whippings of one of -the women, that he complained to a magistrate, who said, “he had -nothing to do with it.” - -The particular instances mentioned in the evidence, of slaves dying -in consequence of severe and cruel treatment from their masters, were -not punished, though generally known; nor do the perpetrators of -these barbarities appear to have suffered any disgrace! - -If you speak to a negro of future punishments, he says,----“Why -should a poor negro be punished? he does no wrong? fiery cauldrons, -and such things, are reserved for white people, as punishments for -the oppression of slaves.” - -In the Fifth Chapter, it is proved, by such as have seen them in -their own country, that the natives of Africa are equal to the -Europeans in their natural capacities, feelings, affections, and -moral character. They manufacture gold and iron, in some respects, -equal to the European Artists--also cloth and leather with uncommon -neatness; the former they die blue, yellow, brown and orange. They -are skilled in making indigo and soap, and pottery wares, and prepare -salt for their own use from the sea water. They also make ropes with -aloes. With respect to their moral character, they are very honest -and hospitable: grateful and affectionate, harmless and innocent; -punctual in their dealings, and as capable of virtue as the Whites. -They are susceptible of all the social virtues: generosity, fidelity, -and gratitude, are allowed them by Dr. Stuart. These virtues Dr. -Jackson enumerates, and adds charity to all in distress, and a strong -attachment on the part of parents to their children. T. Woolrich -says, he never knew of an African, who could express himself, that -did not believe in the existence of a supreme Being. - -In the Sixth and Seventh Chapters it appears that the natives possess -industry and a spirit of commerce, sufficient for carrying on a new -trade; that their country abounds with, and might easily be made -still more productive of, many and various articles of commerce; but -that the traffic in slaves is an insuperable impediment to opening a -new trade. - -In the Eighth Chapter it is inquired, whether the slave trade be not -a grave (instead of a nursery) of the seamen employed in it. - -It appears by the muster-rolls of Liverpool and Bristol, that in 350 -vessels, 12,263 men were employed, out of whom 2643 were lost, that -is to say, more than a fifth of the whole number employed, or more -than seven in every single voyage, besides nearly one half of those -who go out with the ships are constantly left behind. - -Capt. Hall (of the merchant’s service) says that the crews of the -African ships, when they arrive in the West-Indies, are the most -miserable objects he ever met with in any country in his life: he -does not know a single instance to the contrary. He has frequently -seen them with their toes rotted off, their legs swelled to the size -of their thighs, and in an ulcerated state all over &c. &c. This -account is confirmed by Capt. Hall of the navy. Sir W. Young is of -opinion, that a trade to Africa in the natural productions of the -country, would not be attended with more inconvenience to the health -of the seamen employed in it, than the present West-India Trade. - -In the Ninth Chapter we find that the seamen employed in the slave -trade are in general barbarously used. They are worse fed both in -quantity and quality of food than the seamen in other trades. They -have little or no shelter night or day from the inclemency of the -weather during the whole of the middle passage. They are inhumanly -treated when ill, and subjected to the fury of the impassioned -officers for very trifles. A boy, to avoid the cruel treatment of -his officer, jump’d overboard, and was drowned. A man was killed -with a hand spike for being very ill and unable to work. Six men -were chained together by their necks, legs, and hands, for making -their escape from the vessel; they were allowed only a plantain a -day; they all died in their chains; one of them (Thomas Jones a very -good seaman) raving mad! The evidence proves that instances of wanton -cruelty, and inhuman treatment in general, are numerous, various -and frequent. One man, with both his legs in irons and his neck in -an iron collar, was chained to the boat for three months, and very -often most inhumanly beaten for complaining of his situation, both by -the captain and other officers. His allowance of provisions was so -small that (after his release from the boat, on account of extreme -weakness) he begged something to eat, saying that if it were not -given him he should die:--the captain reproached him, beat him, and -bid him die and be damned. The man died in the night. This was in the -Ship Sally, on board of which ill-treatment was common. Another man -was deliberately, by a series of shocking barbarities, murdered. - -Sir Geo. Young remarks that a ship of the line might be presently -manned by the sailors who wish to escape from the miseries of African -ships. One poor young man, when dying in consequence of the ill -treatment he had received from the captain, said (which were the last -words A. Falconbridge heard him speak) “I cannot punish him (meaning -the captain) but God will.” The sailors when sick are beaten for -being lazy, till they die under the blows! - -“If this be the real situation of things, how happens it (the reader -may perhaps ask) that the objects of such tyranny and oppression -should not obtain redress, and that our courts of law should not have -to decide upon more cases of this kind, than they have at present?” -It is answered, “these objects are generally without friends and -money, without which the injured will seek for justice but in vain; -and because the peculiarity of their situation is an impediment to -their endeavours for redress.” Whoever wishes for a more particular -answer to this question, may meet with it in “Clarkson’s Essay on -the Impolicy of the African Slave-Trade,” (page 52) from which the -question and the above general reply are quoted. - -If it should still be asked, “how it happens that seamen enter -for slave vessels, when such general ill usage on board of them -can hardly fail of being known?” the reply must be taken from the -evidence, “that whereas some of them enter voluntarily, the greater -part of them are trepanned; for that it is the business of certain -landlords to make them intoxicated, and get them into debt, after -which _their only alternative is a Guineaman or a Gaol_.” - -In the Tenth Chapter it is proved not to be true, what some say, -that the natives of Africa are happier in the European colonies -than in their own country. They love their own country, but destroy -themselves in the colonies, &c. &c. But any comparison between the -two situations is as (H. Ross says, tho’ on another occasion) “_an -insult to common sense_.” - -The Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Chapters are on the subjects -of negro population in the colonies, and plainly shew that the -importation of fresh Africans might immediately be superceded, by -the introduction of general good treatment, and of certain salutary -regulations therein suggested. - -The Fourteenth Chapter is employed to demonstrate, from the evidence -before the committee, that the colonists would be able to carry on -the necessary cultivation of their lands, without a fresh importation -of slaves while the generation immediately succeeding the regulations -proposed, were growing up to supply the vacancies occasioned by the -natural deaths of the slaves of all ages, now in their possession. - -The Fifteenth Chapter inquires, whether there be not a prevailing -opinion in the colonies, that it is cheaper to buy or import -slaves than thus to increase them by population. And whether the -very reverse of this opinion be not true: namely, that it is more -profitable to breed than to import. The result of this inquiry is -clearly in favour of the _immediate_ Abolition of the African Slave -Trade. The same may be said of the sixteenth _and last_ chapter, in -which it is considered. Whether it be more political to extend the -cultivation of the colonies by the continuance of the slave-trade, or -wait till the rising generation shall be capable of performing it. - -Having thus taken a general view of the most striking features of -the evidence for the abolition of the traffic in the human species, -as carried on by the English on the coast of Africa, it might not -be improper to close it with the declaration of a virtuous and wise -Senator, whose indefatigable labours on behalf of the oppressed -Africans, cannot fail to insure him the unfeigned respect of every -lover of freedom and humanity: - -“THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE (_says he_) IS INDISPENSIBLY -REQUIRED OF US, NOT ONLY BY RELIGION AND MORALITY, BUT BY EVERY -PRINCIPLE OF SOUND POLICY[10].” - -The noble exordium of another able advocate of the same righteous -cause, must not however be omitted in this place: The House of -Commons being now apprized of the nature of this trade, having -received evidence, having had the facts undeniably established, -knowing, in short, _what the Slave-Trade was_, he declared, that -if they did not, by the vote of that night, mark to all mankind -their abhorrence of a practice so enormous, so savage, so repugnant -to all laws, human and divine, it would be more scandalous, and -more defaming, in the eyes of the country, and of the world, than -any vote which any House of Commons had ever given. He desired -them seriously to reflect, before they gave their votes, what they -were about to do that evening. If they voted that the Slave Trade -should not be abolished, they would, by their vote that night, give -a _Parliamentary sanction_ to RAPINE, ROBBERY and MURDER; for a -system of rapine, robbery, and murder, the Slave Trade had now _most -clearly_ been proved to be[11]. - -It remains now to recommend, as earnestly and as strongly as -possible, to the inhabitants of this Land of Freedom individually, -a particular and serious attention to THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY, ON -EVERY CONSIDERATION OF MORALITY AND JUSTICE, OF PUTTING AN END TO A -PRACTICE SO PREGNANT WITH CIRCUMSTANCES OF TERROR AND ALARM TO THIS -COUNTRY. - -Much has been lately done, by the united friends of equitable -freedom, in circulating throughout the kingdom important information -on this interesting subject: but much remains yet to be done. The -minds of many have been informed, and their indignation justly -kindled by the history of a commerce “_written throughout in -characters of blood_[12].” But the understandings it is to be -fear’d, of a great majority of the people of England, are still -unenlightened. Should the foregoing Short Sketch of the Evidence, -awaken the feelings, or quicken the attention, of any, in favour of -their greatly injured fellow-creatures, the oppressed Africans, it -is much to be wished, that they will not hastily dismiss the subject -from their recollection, or suffer its painful impressions to be -made in vain: but seek a further acquaintance with the evidence, -which the more they examine, the stronger will be their inducements -to exert every power and faculty they possess, for the purpose of -procuring the Abolition of the Slave-Trade. Let no one say, “my -situation of privacy and obscurity, precludes all possibility of -serving the cause”--for the greatest numbers consist of units, and -the most mighty exertions of states and empires are but aggregates of -individual ability. Next to Members of Parliament, all who have any -just influence in the election of them, are particularly concerned -to consider, how far the attainment of the great end we have in -view may depend upon their conduct. We may certainly conclude, that -whoever is not a friend to the liberty of the meanest subject, is -not fit to be entrusted with that of the state: and even those who -have no vote, are nevertheless comprehended in our idea of the public -mind,--nor is any man of sense and virtue, let his situation in a -free country be what it may, to be deemed of _no account_. Upon his -judgment, his voice (if not his vote,) his example, much may depend. -The discovery of truth, the communication of useful knowledge, and -the exemplary recommendation of virtuous conduct, may dignify a -plebeian, as well as add lustre to a crown. Even a negro slave, -amidst the horrors of a middle passage, and debased by every external -circumstance of degradation and misery that the imagination can -conceive, shall divide his meagre morsel[13] with the inhuman monster -in distress, who stole him from his native country, and his nearest -connexions, thereby returning all the GOOD in his power, for all the -EVIL his merciless enemy could inflict, and giving an example of true -benevolence of heart and real greatness of mind, unsurpassed in the -history of civilized nations, and worthy of the best and purest of -all religions:--“_if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give -him drink_[14].” Let no one, therefore, think too meanly of himself -when called upon to assist in a good cause, seeing, that from the -most abject state of human wretchedness a lesson may sometimes be -learnt, and an influence imparted which the proudest philosophy need -not blush to own. The abolition of the slave trade is an object of -such high importance, and so nearly concerns every one who has a -mind to comprehend, and a heart to feel, that no communication or -assistance is too _small_, nor any too _great_, to be exerted upon -this occasion. - -Some people seem inclined to lend an ear to tales of human woe, and -feel a certain gratification in beholding the exhibitions of tragedy, -or in the perusal of pathetic poetry, and the like. Even the case of -the oppressed Africans, when represented by their favourite bards, -or appearing in the form of the “_Dying Slave_,” or the “_Negro’s -Complaint_,” seem to possess, if not charms to please, at least -powers forcibly to attract their willing attention, and to win their -sympathetic regard. Yet the evidence delivered before the House of -Commons, containing a true and faithful account of the miseries and -wickedness attendant upon the traffic in their fellow-creatures, -unembellished by flourishes of rhetoric, undecorated with the -splendid habiliments of poetry, is almost in vain recommended to -their notice. Should they be prevailed upon to cast their eye over -a few pages of the shocking history, they presently shut up the -book--it makes them shudder--they have read enough--such horrid -barbarities, such complicated sufferings, are not to be endured even -in imagination! But let such remember--“that humanity consists not in -a squeamish ear--it consists not in a starting or shrinking at such -tales as these, but in a disposition of heart to relieve misery, and -to prevent the repetition of cruelty:--Humanity appertains rather to -the mind than to the nerves, and prompts men to real, disinterested -endeavours to give happiness to their fellow-creatures[15].” It is -therefore to be wished that no affection of extreme sensibility, or -real effeminacy of manners, may disincline, or disqualify, for the -service of humanity. That extreme DELICACY which deprives us, if not -of the disposition, yet of the ability to encounter suffering for -the sake of, and in order to help our brethren in affliction, and -under the severest oppression, is detrimental to its possessor, and -injurious to the community; it renders compassion a painful, useless -thing, and makes beneficence fruitless. - -To the busy and the gay “_a great book is a great evil_.” TWO -THOUSAND PAGES IN FOLIO, written (like Ezekiel’s roll) within and -without,--lamentations, mourning and woe, stand but little chance of -obtaining _their_ notice--even THE ABSTRACT OF THE EVIDENCE, would -detain some of them too long from their eager pursuits of business, -or their favourite schemes of pleasure. This HASTY SKETCH will not, -however, it may be presumed, encroach too much upon their time; -and well rewarded will the compiler of it be, if it should prove a -stimulus to further investigation of the Evidence. No one knows what -opportunities he may have, or how far his influence may extend, to -assist the endeavours now using for the abolition of a trade, the -continued carrying on of which, after being so fully apprized of its -dreadful enormity, may be expected (without the smallest tincture of -superstitious fear) to expose this nation to the just punishment of -PROVIDENCE. - -Three nations, Juvan, Tubal, and Meshech, are mentioned in -Scripture[16] as having their principal trade at Tyre in the _selling -of men_. This circumstance has been appealed to in vindication of the -African Slave-Trade:--but mark the sequel. In the following chapter, -verse 18, the Prophet addresses the Prince of Tyre thus:--“Thou hast -defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the -iniquity of thy traffic: _therefore_ will I bring forth a fire from -the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to -ashes upon the earth.” A prophecy which has been remarkably fulfilled. - -The great leader in the Debates of the House of Commons on this -momentous subject has declared--“That interested as he may -be supposed to be in the final event of the question, he was -comparatively indifferent as to the then decision of the House. -Whatever they might do, the people of Great Britain, he was -confident, would abolish the slave-trade, when, as would now soon -happen, its injustice and cruelty should be fairly laid before them. -It was (said he) a nest of serpents, which would never have endured -so long, but for the darkness in which they lay hid. The light of day -would now be let in upon them, and they would vanish from the sight.” - - _W. B. C._ - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] Speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons. - -[2] Fox’s ditto. - -[3] Printed by J. Phillips, George-Yard, Lombard Street. - -[4] Wilberforce’s Speech in the House of Commons. - -[5] Speech by W. Smith in the House of Commons. - -[6] See Stanley’s Speech in the House of Commons. - -[7] In some estates it is usual to dig a hole in the ground, which -they put the bellies of pregnant women, while they whip them, that -they may not excuse punishment, nor yet endanger the life of the -woman or child. - -[8] General Tottenham saw a youth, about nineteen, walking in the -streets, in a most deplorable situation, entirely naked, and with -an iron collar about his neck, with five long projecting spikes. -His body, before and behind, his breech, belly and thighs, were -almost cut to pieces, and with running soars all over them, and -you might put your finger in some of the wheals. He could not sit -down, owing to his breech being in a state of mortification, and -it was impossible for him to lie down, from the projection of the -prongs. The boy came to the general to ask relief. He was shocked -at his appearance, and asked him what he had done to suffer such a -punishment, and who inflicted it. He said it was his master, who -lived about two miles from town, and that as he could not work, he -would give him nothing to eat. - -[9] Jamaica. - -[10] Speech of W. Wilberforce, in the House of Commons. - -[11] Speech of C. J. Fox in the House of Commons. Reported by -Woodfall. - -[12] Speech of W. Wilberforce, Esq. in the House of Commons. - -[13] In one of the ships we find the slaves privately and voluntarily -feeding the hungry sailors with a part of their own scanty allowance. - -[14] Rom. xii. chap. 20 ver. - -[15] Fox’s Speech in the House of Commons. - -[16] Ezek. xxvii. 13. - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE - - Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been - corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within - the text and consultation of external sources. - - Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text, - and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained. - - Pg 2: ‘important Puplications’ replaced by ‘important Publications’. - Pg 3: ‘SHOTR SKETCH’ replaced by ‘SHORT SKETCH’. - Pg 6: ‘participate the profits’ replaced by - ‘participate in the profits’. - Pg 10: ‘The thumscrew is’ replaced by ‘The thumbscrew is’. - Pg 11: ‘capable of swiming’ replaced by ‘capable of swimming’. - Pg 11: ‘with the ferociety’ replaced by ‘with the ferocity’. - Pg 15: ‘They are retured’ replaced by ‘They are returned’. - Pg 16: ‘large scissars’ replaced by ‘large scissors’. - Pg 16: ‘took a hammar’ replaced by ‘took a hammer’. - Pg 17: ‘his own villany’ replaced by ‘his own villainy’. - Pg 18: ‘these barbaraties’ replaced by ‘these barbarities’. - Pg 21: ‘or a Goal’ replaced by ‘or a Gaol’. - Pg 27: ‘real effiminacy’ replaced by ‘real effeminacy’. - Pg 27: ‘severest oppession’ replaced by ‘severest oppression’. - Pg 27: ‘superstious fear’ replaced by ‘superstitious fear’. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SHORT SKETCH OF THE EVIDENCE -FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE, DELIVERED BEFORE A COMMITTEE OF -THE HOUSE OF COMMONS *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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