*

remains of Rochester Castle from the proprietors for that purpose. A letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, requesting his advice "for the more effectually promoting the intended charity," discloses these particulars.

Nor was the great repute of Mr. Sharp's philanthropy productive of applications merely of a private nature. Integrity of character exerts a resistless influence, which is extensive in proportion as time and opportunity render its possessor an object of notoriety. In the tumultuary movements which had begun to agitate France, he was addressed by several of the most virtuous members of the National Assembly; and he held a continued correspondence with Brissot, La Fayette, Roland, and others, among the principal abbettors of the first revolution, on the most important concerns, expressing his opinions with his usual sincerity and benevolence, and taking a deep interest in their success.

In his admonitions to the new reformers, the most solemn and emphatical warnings respecting West Indian slavery, were not omitted; and their effects were seen in the declarations of the French Republicans on that subject.

The advance of the great work, of which he had long before laboured to lay the foundation in his own country (as important to the general interests of humanity as to the character of England), now demanded his attention.

Lady Ducie, Mr. Dent, &c. the representatives of Mr. Child's house.

CHAP. II.

THE mischiefs which had befallen, and the danger of entire destruction which had more than once menaced, the infant colony of Freedom in Africa, were, in great part, to be ascribed to the unshaken vigour in which the detestable Slave Trade still continued to flourish. A free settlement, supported by industry and national commerce, seemed likely gradually to undermine and eventually destroy the sordid traffic, by opening the eyes of the African chiefs to their own superior interests, and showing them that the produce of social labour was a far greater source of wealth to their revenues, than the captivity and sale of their subjects. What wonder, then, if the slave-traders set every engine to work, to irritate the natives of Africa against the new colonists, to undermine them in their turn, and to pervert the ends of benevolence?

But Providence, in its mercy, was now about to cut the thread of long-suffered iniquity, and to comfort and strengthen those whom it had chosen to be advocates on earth for their fellow-creatures.

After numerous and unwearied endeavours on the part of the Quakers in America, and of the zealous Clarkson and Granville Sharp in England, in behalf of the wretched, and till of late unpitied, victims of men who degraded humanity; the time had arrived, when it appeared to be within the bounds of hope, that an association of benevolent persons, protected by a congenial movement in the British Parliament, might lead to a retrieval of the human character from the ignominy of the Slave Trade.

Endeavours were therefore used to collect, and unite in one body, the various parties who had severally, and almost independently of

one another, begun to make exertions of a similar nature; and in the spring of 1787 especial meetings were convened of a few men of eminent character, all of whom were friendly to the cause. One of their meetings was held almost in the same month in which the little fleet set sail, which carried the first banner of English liberty to the coast of Africa; and it was at this meeting that an event took place, which gave preponderance to the scale of African freedom. Wilberforce was there solicited to take the lead in a parliamentary effort for the abolition of the cruel traffic in our species; and, in that communion of benevolent minds, the corresponding impulse of his heart prompted him to yield a ready assent to an engagement of no common magnitude *.

Mr.

The first important point being happily secured, the next step was to arrange measures for prosecuting the scheme in such a manner as should be most conducive to the great end in view. Many days did not elapse before the design was carried into execution. On the 22d of May, a Committee was chosen, consisting of twelve members, whose declared duty and purpose it was to promote, by every means in their power, an abolition of the traffick in the human race. Granville Sharp was included in the Committee.

* The meeting was at the house of Bennet Langton, Esq.; the persons present were, Sir Charles Middleton, Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Hawkins Brown, Mr. Windham, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Mr. Boswell. Mr. Clarkson remarks, that Sir J. Reynolds and Mr. H. Brown gave their unqualified approbation of the abolition of the trade. Mr. Windham and Mr. Boswell spokę on the same side, though they afterwards became inimical to the cause.

The following are among the reasons given by Mr. Clarkson for considering Mr. Wilberforce as the most proper parliamentary leader in the cause of the Abolition.—

"His habits 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 it progress: for this did not originate in views of selfishness, or party, or 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, 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."

History of the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

The incipient labours of the Association were cheered by an important coincidence, which occurred at this time. The efforts of the humane Anthony Benezet, and other American Quakers, had, by gradual advances, at length effected a general manumission of slaves among the whole body of men of their persuasion; and the year 1787, in which the Committee was appointed in England for promoting the abolition of the trade, was the first year distinguished in America by the gratifying circumstance of there not remaining a single slave in the possession of an acknowledged Quaker. The superstition of ancient times would have hailed this coincidence as an auspicious omen; the sensibility of modern ones perceived its influence.

66

Eleven years had now elapsed since the criminality of the Slave Trade was first adverted to in the House of Commons. It was in 1776, that a motion was made by Mr. David Hartley, (a son of the celebrated physician and metaphysician, and) member for Hull, the purport of which was, That the Slave Trade was contrary to the laws of God and to the rights of men." The motion was seconded by Sir George Saville. But the proposition failed entirely of support, and its very memory had nearly vanished. It was now resumed with a happier prospect. The trials which had occurred with regard to Negroes in this country, had awakened a very general attention to the subject of African slavery; and although prejudice to a great degree, and interest to a much greater, still guarded the ground" with Gorgonian terrors" against the attempts of the philanthropists, considerable access to liberal minds had been gained by the assiduous and affecting eloquence of these new pleaders in the cause of humanity. They could not, indeed, address themselves so long in vain to the naturally reflective disposition of

our nation*.

• "Mens' minds," says Mr. Clarkson, "began to be impressed with the moral necessity of the abolition of the Slave Trade; an impression which had been gradually brought on by the public labours of Mr. Sharp; and several had become inclined to unite for the extirpation of this gigantic evil." History of the Abolition.

The progress of this humane, and finally powerful association, is so well known from Mr. Clarkson's faithful and interesting history, that it will merely be requisite, in this place, to give such a summary notice of its actions, as may serve to connect the thread of Mr. Sharp's Memoirs during his participation in its labours. The rapid progress of public sentiment is deserving of our attention.

The Committee for effecting an abolition of the Slave Trade assumed its denomination in June 1787, and immediately dispersed circular letters, giving an account of the Institution. These letters soon procured the friendly notice of the Quakers at large; and a deputation also from the General Baptists informed the Committee of their wish and intentions to labour with them in the cause of human freedom. A correspondence was likewise quickly opened with the Societies established at New York and Philadelphia for the Manumission of Slaves and Abolition of Slavery.

In order to diffuse a more general knowledge of the subject, the Committee deemed it right to adopt the publication of a work which Mr. Clarkson had presented to them, entitled, "A summary View of the Slave Trade, and of the probable Consequences of its Abolition." Numerous copies of this useful tract were dispersed, and the curiosity of the public became every day more excited by the authentic information thus unexpectedly laid before them.

The new class of moral revolutionists in France warmly espoused the cause of the abolition. Brissot, and Claviere (his friend and afterwards his fellow-sufferer under Robespierre's tyranny), requested to be admitted members of the Association.

The well-known John Wesley and Dr. Price next appeared as correspondents, with expressions in the highest degree friendly; and a letter from the Rev. Robert Boucher Nicholls, dean of Middleham in Yorkshire, was ordered by the Committee to be printed, and five thousand copies to be dispersed.

Dr. Watson, the bishop of Landaff, also added his support.

In October, the Society adopted their present seal, which