IT is a Truth, as ſorrowful as obvious, that Mankind too generally are actuated by falſe Motives, and ſubſtitute an imaginary Intereſt in the Room of that which is real and permanent: And it muſt be acknowledged by every Man, who is ſincerely deſirous of becoming acquainted with himſelf, and impartially inſpects his own Heart, that Weakneſs and inbred Corruption attends human Nature; which cannot be reſtored to its original Purity, but through the Efficacy of the Blood of JESUS CHRIST, our bleſſed Saviour. So that notwithſtanding the imagined moral Rectitude pleaded for, and the boaſted Pretences of the preſent Age to refined Conceptions of Things beyond our Forefathers, all this Divine Help is embraced, the bent of the Heart of Man will remain corrupt, and its Power of diſtinguiſhing between Good and Evil liable to be obſcured by Prejudice, Paſſion and Intereſt. Covetouſneſs and Pride have introduced many iniquitous Practices into Civil Society, ſome of which being eſtabliſhed by Cuſtom, and adapted to flatter our Favourite Paſſions, tho' odious in themſelves, and moſt pernicious in their Conſequences, yet, through the Influence of Example and Uſe, become familiar to us, and our depraved Reaſon has Recourſe to plauſible Excuſes, to cover and palliate the moſt atrocious Crimes; ſo that by Degrees we ſilence the Dictates of Conſcience, and reconcile ourſelves in the Perpetration of ſuch Things which, when firſt propoſed to our unprejudiced Minds, would ſtrike us with Amazement and Horror.

A lamentable and ſhocking Inſtance of the Influence which the Love of Gain has upon the Minds of thoſe who yield to its Allurements, even when contrary to the Dictates of Reaſon, and the common Feelings of Humanity, appears in the Proſecution of the Negroe Trade, in which the Engliſh Nation has long been deeply concerned, and ſome in this Province have alſo lately engaged. An Evil of ſo deep a Dye, and attended with ſuch dreadful Conſequences to all that are concerned in it, that no well-diſpoſed Perſon, anxious for the Welfare of himſelf, his Country, or Poſterity, who knows the Tyranny, Oppreſſion and Cruelty with which this iniquitous Trade is carried on, can be a ſilent and innocent Spectator. How many Thouſands of our harmleſs Fellow Creatures have, for a long Courſe of Years, fallen a Sacrifice to that ſelfiſh Avarice, which gives Life to this complicated Wickedneſs. The Iniquity of being ſo deeply engaged in a Trade, by which ſo great a Number of innocent People are yearly deſtroyed, in ſo untimely and miſerable a Manner, is greatly aggravated from the Conſideration that we, as a Nation, have been peculiarly favoured with the bright Beams of the Goſpel; that Revelation of Divine Love, which the Angels introduced to the World, by a Declaration of Peace on Earth, and Good Will to Men—of every Nation, Kindred, Tongue and People. How miſerable then muſt be our Condition, if, for filthy Lucre, we ſhould continue to act ſo contrary to the Nature of this Divine Call, the Purpoſe of which is to introduce an univerſal and affectionate Brotherhood in the whole human Species; by removing from the Heart of every Individual, who ſubmits to its Operation, the Darkneſs and Corruption of Nature, and transforming the ſelfiſh, wrathful, proud Spirit, into Meekneſs, Purity and Love: For this End the Son of GOD became Man, ſuffered, and died; and the whole Tenor of the Goſpel declares, that for thoſe who refuſe, or neglect, the Offers of this great Salvation, the Son of GOD has ſuffered in vain.

The End propoſed by this Eſſay, is to lay before the candid Reader the Depth of Evil which attends this iniquitous Practice, in the Proſecution of which, our Duty to GOD, the common Father of the Family of the whole Earth, and our Duty of Love to our Fellow Creatures, is totally diſregarded; all ſocial Connection and tender Ties of Nature being broken, and Deſolation and Bloodſhed continually fomented in thoſe unhappy People's Country. It is alſo intended to invalidate ſome falſe Arguments, which are frequently advanced, for the Palliation thereof, in Hopes it may be ſome Inducement to thoſe who are not defiled with this Trade, to keep themſelves clear; and to lay before ſuch as have unwarily engaged in it, the Danger they are in of totally loſing that tender Senſibility to the Sufferings of their Fellow Creatures, the Want whereof ſets Men beneath the Brute Creation, which muſt unavoidably be the State of every one that continues to partake of the Profits ariſing from this wicked Traffick: A Trade by which ſo many Thouſands of innocent People are brought under the greateſt Anxiety and Suffering, being violently rent from their Native Country, in the moſt cruel Manner, and brought to our Colonies, to be employed in hard Labour, either in Northern Climates, unſuited to their Nature, or in a State of the moſt tyrannick and barbarous Slavery, ſubject to the Humours and inhuman Laſh of ſome of the moſt hard hearted and inconſiderate of Mankind, without any Hopes of ever returning to their Native Land, or ſeeing an End to their Miſery: Nor muſt we omit, in this diſmal Account, the Weight of Blood which lies on the Promoters of this Trade, from the great Numbers that are yearly butchered in the Incurſions and Battles which happen between the Negroes, in order to procure the Number delivered to the Europeans; and the many of theſe poor Creatures whoſe Hearts are broken, and who periſh, through Miſery and Grief, on the Paſſage. Heaven preſerve the Inhabitants of Pennſylvania from being further defiled by a Trade, which is entered upon from ſuch ſenſual Motives, and carried on by ſuch deviliſh Means. And although theſe Scenes of Horror are acted in Places far remote, and out of the Sight of thoſe who are the moſt enriched thereby; whoſe Senſes being uſually exerciſed only by preſent Objects, are little affected with the diſtant Sufferings of their Fellow Creatures; yet every Mind, which is not ſo hardened with the Love of Wealth as to be void of feeling, muſt, upon ſerious Conſideration of this inhuman Practice, be impreſſed with Surprize and Terror, from a Senſe that there is a righteous GOD, and a State of Retribution, which muſt laſt for ever. It is frequently alledged, in Excuſe for this Trade, that the Negroes ſold in our Plantations, are moſtly Perſons who have been taken Priſoners in thoſe Wars which ariſe amongſt themſelves, from their mutual Animoſities; and that theſe Priſoners would be ſacrificed, to the Reſentment of thoſe who have taken them Captives. If they were not purchaſed and brought away by the Europeans. It is alſo repreſented, that the Negroes are generally a ſtupid ſavage People, whoſe Situation in their own Country is neceſſitous and unhappy, which has induced many to believe, that the bringing the Africans from their Native Land is to them rather a Kindneſs than an Injury.

To confute theſe falſe Repreſentations, the following Extracts are propoſed to the candid Reader's Conſideration; they are taken from the Writings of the principal Officers, not only in the Engliſh, but alſo in the French and Dutch Factories or Settlements in Guiney, ſome of whom have lived many Years in thoſe Countries, and have been Eye Witneſſes to thoſe Tranſactions, and whoſe Station in the Factories will not admit of any Doubt of the Truth of what they relate; by which it will appear, that the Negroes are generally ſenſible, humane and ſociable, and that their Capacity is as good, and as capable of Improvement, as that of the White People: That their Country, though unfriendly to the Europeans, yet appears peculiarly agreeable, and well adapted to the Nature of the Blacks, and ſo fruitful, as to furniſh its Inhabitants plentifully with the Neceſſaries of Life, with much leſs Labour than is neceſſary in our more Northern Countries. And as to the common Argument, alledged in Defence of the Trade, viz. That the Slaves ſold to the Europeans are Captives taken in War, who would be deſtroyed by their Conquerors, if not thus purchaſed, it is without Foundation, it being made clearly to appear, from the forementioned Teſtimonies, that the Wars and Incurſions made by the Negroes, one upon another, are moſtly at the Solicitation of the Europeans, who inſtigate them by every Method, even the moſt iniquitous and cruel, to procure Slaves to load their Veſſels, which they freely purchaſe, without any Regard to the Precepts of the Goſpel, the feelings of Humanity, or the common Dictates of Reaſon and Equity. For though it is ſcare to be doubted, but that there were Wars amongſt ſome of the Negroes, before the Europeans began to trade with them, yet certain it is, that theſe Calamities are not only ſince that Time prodigiouſly encreaſed, and the Europeans, by encouraging them thereto, and gladly purchaſing the Captives they take, are become come not only Parties with them therein, but the ſole Cauſe of that Encreaſe. This is plainly inferred from the Account given by N. Brue, Director of the French Factory at Senegal, who lived Twenty-ſeven Years in that Country, who ſays, That the Europeans are far from deſiring to act as Peace Makers amongſt the Negroes, which would be acting contrary to their Intereſt, ſince the greater the Wars, the more Slaves are procured.

William Boſman, Factor for the Dutch, at Delmina, where he reſided ſixteen Years, relates, That one of the former Commanders hired an Army of the Negroes, of Jafferia and Cabeſteria, for a large Sum of Money, to fight the Negroes of Commany, which occaſioned a Battle, which was more bloody than the Wars of the Negroes uſually are: And that another Commander gave, at one time, Five Hundrea Pounds, and at another time Eight Hundred Pounds, to two other Negroe Nations, to induce them to take up Arms againſt their Country People. This is confirmed by Barbot, Agent General of the French African Company, who ſays; The Hollanders, a People very zealous for their Commerce at the Coaſt, were very ſtudious to have the War carried on amongſt the Blacks, to diſtract, as long as poſſible, the Trade of the other Europeans; and to that Effect were very ready to aſſiſt upon all Occaſions the Blacks, their Allies, that they might beat their Enemies, and ſo the Commerce fall into their Hands. But nothing ſhews more plainly, that the Europeans are the chief Inſtruments in inciting the Negroes to the Perpetration of thoſe unnatural Wars, by which they are kept in continual Alarms, their Country laid waſte, and ſuch great Numbers carried into Captivity, than the Account given by William Smith, who was ſent by the African Company to viſit their Settlements in the Year 1726, from the Information he received of one of the Factors, who had reſided ten Years in that Country, viz. That the diſcerning Natives account it their greateſt Unhappineſs that they were ever viſited by the Europeans:—That we Chriſtians introduced the Traffick of Slaves, and that before our coming they lived in Peace; but, ſay they, it is obſervable, that wherever Chriſtianity comes, there comes with it a Sword, a Gun, Powder and Ball.

As to the Account of the natural Diſpoſition of many of the Negroes, and of the Fruitfulneſs of their Country, the forementioned Authors, as well as many others, have wrote largely upon it. M. Adanſon, in his Account of the Country and Natives of Goree, where he was ſo lately as the Year 1754, after giving an Account of the delightful Aſpect of the Country, ſays; The Simplicity of the Natives, their Dreſs and Manners, revived in my Mind the Idea of our firſt Parents; and I ſeemed to contemplate the World in its primitive State;—they (the Negroes) are generally ſpeaking, very good natured, ſociable and obliging. I was not a little pleaſed (ſays he) with this my firſt Reception; —it convinced me, that there ought to be a conſiderable Abatement made in the Accounts I had read and heard every where of the ſavage Character of the Africans.—I obſerved, both in Negroes and Moors, great Humanity and Sociableneſs, which gave me ſtrong Hopes that I ſhould be very ſafe amongſt them, and meet with the Succeſs I deſired in my Enquiries after the Curioſities of the Country.

Boſman, ſpeaking of the Negroes of that Part Guiney where he then was, ſays; They are generally a good Sort of People, honeſt in their Dealings; others he deſcribes as being generally friendly to Strangers, of a mild Converſation, courteous, affable, and eaſy to be overcome with Reaſon; in Converſation they diſcover a great Quickneſs of Parts and Underſtanding. He adds, That ſome Negroes, who have had an agreeable Education, have manifeſted a Brightneſs of Underſtanding equal to any of us.

William Smith's Account of the Natives is, That he found them a civil good natured People, induſtrious to the laſt Degree, and their Country exceeding Fertile.—It is eaſy (ſays he) to perceive what happy Memories they are bleſſed with, and how great Progreſs they would make in the Sciences, in caſe their Genius was cultivated with Study: They explain themſelves in choice Terms, their Expreſſions noble, and Manners polite;—this (he adds) is to be underſtood of the People of Diſtinction, as Officers, Merchantmen, and the like; for Peaſants, Workmen and Shepherds, are as ignorant in theſe Parts as elſewhere.

Barbot ſays, The Inhabitants of Oedo are, for the Generality, very civil, good natured People, eaſy to be dealt with, condeſcending to what the Europeans require of them, in a civil Way; but if treated with Haughtineſs and rudely, they are ſtiff and high, and will not yield on any Account.

Some Writers have repreſented the Natives of Cape Meſurado as faithleſs and cruel; but it is very likely this Repreſentation of their Diſpoſition was occaſioned by the Reſentment they had ſhewn for the ill Uſage received from the Europeans; for Captain Philips declared them to be civil and courteous. And Snoek ſays, He found them a civil good-natur'd People; but that the late Injury they had received from the Engliſh, who had carried off ſome of their People, had ſo exaſperated them, that it was to be feared ſome Engliſh People they had in their Power, would fall a Sacrifice to their Reſentment.

Although the extream Heat in many Parts of Guiney, is ſuch as is neither agreeable nor healthy to the Europeans, yet it is well ſuited to the Conſtitution of the Negroes: And it is to theſe Heats that they are indebted for the fertility of their Land, which in moſt Places is ſo great, that with little Labour Grain and Fruit will grow in the greateſt Plenty.

Brue, in his Account of the Fertility of the Country, and Induſtry of the Natives, ſays; He was ſurprized to ſee the Land ſo well cultivated, as he obſerved it to be, in one of his Journies; ſcarce a Spot lay unimproved; the low Grounds, divided by ſmall Canals, were all ſowed with Rice; the higher Grounds planted with Indian Corn and Millet, and Peaſe of different Sorts, Beef and Mutton very cheap, as well as all other Neceſſaries of Life.

Boſman ſays, The Indian and Guiney Corn is here ſown and reaped twice every Year; the firſt Harveſt is in Auguſt, and the other the latter End of the Year, though but ſmall, Corn grows with little Trouble, very ſpeedily taking Root, ſo that one or two Men can manure and plow as much Land as one Plow can turn up in Holland. Indian Corn grows in the upper Lands, in prodigious Quantities, and where Corn won't grow, there Rice encreaſes in Abundance, and Yamms and Potatoes are in the greateſt Plenty.

Speaking of the Kingdom of Fida, he ſays, The Country was very populous, many large Villages, beſides innumerable ſmall Ones, through the whole Country, plentifully provided with Corn, Potatoes and Fruit, which grew cloſe to each other; in ſome Places a Foot Path is the only Ground that is not covered with them, the Negroes leaving no Place, which is thought fertile, uncultivated, even within the Hedges which incloſe their Villages: And the very next Day after they have reaped they are ſure to ſow again. This ſine Country is now very much depopulated, which it is likely, was owing to the Incurſions made upon them by their Neighbours, in order to get Slaves to ſell to the Europeans. For the ſame Boſman, ſpeaking of the neighbouring Nation of Pope, ſays; They depend on Plunder and the Slave Trade, in which they exceed ſome of their Neighbours.

Other Parts of the Country he deſcribes, as being full of Towns and Villages; the Soil very rich, and ſo well cultivated, as to look like and entire Garden, abounding in Rice, Corn, Oxen, Goats and Poultry; and the Negroes to be laborious.

W. Smith gives much the ſame Account of the Country of Delmina, and Cape Corſe, &c. for Beauty and Goodneſs; and adds, The more you come downward towards that Part called the Slave Coaſt (I ſuppoſe becauſe the moſt Slaves are brought from thence) the more delightful and rich the Sol appears.

Barbot ſays, The Inland People employ themſelves in Tillage and Trade, and ſupply the Markets with Corn, Fruit and Palm Wine; the Country producing ſuch vaſt Plenty of Indian Wheat, that Abundance is daily exported, as well by Europeans as Blacks, reſorting thither from other Parts. He adds, That the Country of Delmina, which was formerly very powerful and populous, though now ſo much drained of its Inhabitants, by the inteſtine Wars fomented amongſt the Negroes by the Dutch, that there does not remain enough Inhabitants to till the Country; abounded with fine well-built and populous Towns, enriched with vaſt Fields of Corn, Cattle, Palm Wine and Oil. The Inhabitants all applying themſelves, without Diſtinction, to Agriculture, ſowing Corn, preſſing Oil, and drawing Wine from Palm Trees, with both of which it is plentifully ſtored others to fiſhing, and boiling Salt, and other Trades, on their own Account, or as Brokers for the Inland Blacks.

Many more Accounts could be given of the good Diſpoſition of the Generality of the Negroes, and of the Plenty their Coutry affords, in which it, perhaps, exceeds moſt Countries in the World; but this is ſufficient to ſhew that they might have lived happily, more eſpecially if the Europeans had not only bore the Name, but had acted the Part of Chriſtians, in uſing their Endeavour, by Example as well as Precept, to make the Negroes acquainted with the glad Tidings of the Goſpel, and with that Change of Heart, and Redemption from Sin, which Chriſtianity prorpoſes; this, if attended to, would have neceſſarily been productive of the peaceable Fruits of Righteouſneſs; Innocency and Love would have prevailed, and nothing would have been wanting to compleat theſe poor Africans Happineſs. But the Reverſe has happened; the Europeans, forgetful of their Profeſſion and Duty as Men and Chriſtians, have conducted in ſo iniquitous a Manner, as muſt neceſſarily raiſe in the Minds of the thoughtful and well-diſpoſed Negroes the utmoſt Scorn and Deteſtation of the very Name of Chriſtians. They have made all other Conſiderations give Way to an inſatiable Deſire of Gain, and are become the principal and moving Cauſe of the moſt iniquitous and dreadful Scene that was, perhaps, ever acted upon this Globe: Inſtead of making uſe of their ſuperior Knowledge to ſtir up the Principle of Peace and Good-will in the Breaſts of the ſimple unwary Negroes, they have acted as Agents for the great Enemy of the Happineſs of Mankind, and have ſtirred up and ſtrengthened the earthly Principle of Craft and Covetouſneſs in the poor Africans, who have thereby been induced to captivate and ſell their unhappy Countrymen; every Thing, even the Power of their Kings, has been made ſubſervient to anſwer this wicked Purpoſe; inſtead of being Protectors of their Subjects, theſe Rulers, allured by the tempting Baits laid before them by the Factors, &c. have invaded the Liberties of their unhappy Subjects, and are become their Oppreſſors; as is fully evidenced by the following Account, viz.

Francis Moore, Factor to the african Company in 1730, tells his Reader, That when the King of Barſalli wants Goods or Brandy, he ſends a Meſſenger to the Engliſh Governor at James's Fort, to deſire he would ſend up a Sloop with a Cargoe of Goods, which, ſays the Author, the Governor never fails to do: Againſt the Time the Veſſel arrives, the King plunders ſome of his Enemies Towns, ſelling the People for ſuch Goods as he wants, which commonly is Brandy or Rum, Gunpowder, Ball, Fire-arms, Piſtols and Cutlaſſes for his Soldiers, &c. and Coral and Silver for his Wives and Miſtreſſes.—If he is at War with no neighbouring King, he falls upon one of his own Towns, and makes bold to ſell his own miſerable Subjects. He often goes with ſome of his Troops by a Town in the Day-time, and returns in the Night, and ſets Fire to three Parts of it, placing Guards at the Fourth, to ſeize the People that run out of the Fire, then ties their Arms behind them, and marches them to Joar or Rohone, where he ſells them.

Brue, the French Factor befóre-mentioned, ſays, That having received Goods, he wrote to the King, that if he had a ſufficient Number of Slaves, he was ready to trade with him, this Prince, ſays that Author, as well as the other Negroe Monarchs, have always a ſure Way of ſupplying his Deficiencies, by ſelling their own Subjects, for which they ſeldom want Pretenſions of ſome Kind or other, to juſtify their Rapine. Theſe Negroe Kings, thus ſeeking Pretences to cover their Crimes, ſhews they are not quite void of Shame, and inſenſible that Covetouſneſs induces them to act a Part ſo inconſiſtent with their Duty; but here they may plead the Example and Solicitation of the more knowing Europeans. The King had Recourſe to this Method, by ſeizing Three Hundred of his own People, and ſent Word to Brue, that he had the Slaves ready to deliver for the Goods. The ſame Author further adds, That ſome of the Natives are, on all Occaſions, endeavouring to ſurprize and carry off their Country People; they land (ſays he) without Noiſe, and if they find any lone Cottage, without Defence, they ſurround it, and carry off all the People and Effects to their Boat: The Slaves are ſold to the Europeans, unleſs they be Perſons of ſome Rank, whoſe Friends can redeem them, by paying two Slaves, or five or ſix Oxen.

John Barbot ſays, The Slaves ſold by the Negroes are for the moſt Part Priſoners of War, or taken in the Incurſions they make into their Enemies Territories; others are ſtolen away by their own Countrymen. Abundance of little Blacks, of both Sexes, are ſtolen away by their Neighbours, when found abroad, on the Roads, or in the Woods, or elſe in the Corn Fields, at the Time of the Year when their Parents keep them there all Day, to ſcare away the devouring ſmall Birds.

Francis Moore, the Engliſh Factor, ſays, That captivating the People is, by Cuſtom, become ſo familiar, that when the King of Kayor wants to make a Preſent to the Factor, for what he has received of him, he ſends to have two or three Slaves taken up at the neareſt Village. Unhappy (ſays that Author) are they, who at that Time fall into the Hands of his Guards, for they ſtay to make no Choice. And he further ſays, That in Battle they ſpare the Enemies as much as poſſible, but it is only that they may have the more Slaves; from which even Perſons of Quality, taken Priſoners, are not exempted: That the Merchants bring down ſome Years, to that Factory, to the Amount of Two Thouſand Slaves; which, they ſay, are taken Priſoners in War: Theſe they buy from the different Princes who take them; many of them come from a great Way In-land. Their Way of bringing them, is tying them by the Neck with Leather Thongs, at about a Yard Diſtance from each other, having generally a Bundle of Corn, or Elephants Teeth, on each of their Heads, Thirty or Forty in a String. The Author judges, That the Number of Merchants who followed this Trade were about an Hundred. Some Authors ſay, They go Six or Seven Hundred Miles up the Country, with Goods bought from the Engliſh, with which they purchaſe theſe Slaves, and Ivory: Beſides thoſe Slaves, there are many bought along the River; theſe are either taken in War, as the former, or Men condemned for Crimes, or Perſons ſtolen, which is very frequently. Since the Slave Trade has been introduced, all Puniſhments are commuted in this; and they ſtrain hard for Crimes, in order to have the Benefit of ſelling the Criminal; ſo that not only great Crimes but even trifling ones, are at preſent puniſhed with Slavery.

Boſman ſays, That being in the Kingdom of Pope, who depend on Plunder and the Slaves Trade, in which they exceed ſome of their Neighbours, becauſe, being endued with a much larger Share of Courage, they rob more ſucceſsfully, they aſſured him, that if he would have Patience for three Days, they would be able to deliver him One or Two Hundred Slaves, and that their Incurſions ſucceeded ſo well, they returned with about Two Hundred Slaves. That the Inhabitants of Arda were ſo diligent in the Slave Trade, that they were able to deliver a Thouſand Slaves every Month; and that if there happened to be no Stock of Slaves when the Veſſels arrived, they would ſometimes ſend their Commodities Two Hundred Miles deep in the Country (a later Author ſays, they have now carried the Trade Five Hundred Miles farther, going now Seven Hundred Miles back into the Country) where Markets of Men were kept in the ſame Manner as thoſe of Beaſts with us. Moſt of the Slaves are Priſoners of War, which are ſold by the Victors as their Booty. When theſe Slaves come to Fida, they are put in Priſon altogether; and when (ſays he) we treat concerning baying them, they are all brought out together in a large Plain, where, by our Surgeons, they are thoroughly examined, and that naked too, both Men and Women, without the leaſt Diſtinction or Modeſty. Thoſe which are approved as good, are ſet on one Side; in the mean while a burning Iron, with the Arms or Name of the Companies, lies in the Fire, with which ours are marked on the Breaſt. When we have agreed with the Owners of the Slaves, they are returned to their Priſons, where, from that Time forward, they are kept at our Charge, coſt us Two-pence a Day a Slave, which ſerves to ſubſiſt them like our Criminals on Bread and Water; ſo that, to ſave Charges, we ſend them on board our Ships with the very firſt Opportunity; before which, their Maſters ſtrip the • of all they have on their Backs, ſo that they come on board ſtark naked, as well Women as Men: In which Condition they are obliged to continue, if the Maſter of the Ship is not ſo charitable (which he commonly is) as to beſtow ſomething on them to cover their Nakedneſs.—Six or Seven Hundred are ſometimes put on board a Veſſel, where they lie as cloſe together as poſſible for them to be crouded.—I doubt not, ſays the ſame Author, but this Trade ſeems very barbarous to you, but, ſince it is followed by meer Neceſſity, it muſt go on. What Neceſſity does the Author mean, no other Neceſſity appears but that ariſing from the Deſire of amaſſing Riches; a Neceſſity laid on worldly Men by their hard Taſk-maſter the Devil? Many more Examples might be given to ſhew the arbitrary and tyrannick Oppreſſion with which this Trade is carried on, and the Devaſtation and Bloodſhed it occaſions in thoſe unhappy People's Country; but I truſt this is ſufficient to convince the candid, conſiderate Reader of the Unlawfulneſs and Iniquity of the Trade. And indeed what Diſtreſs can we conceive equal to the Alarms, the Anxiety and Wrath, which muſt ſucceed one another in the Breaſts of the tender Parents, or affectionate Children, in continual Danger of being torn one from another, and dragged into a State of cruel Bondage; Reader, if the Impreſſions of Grace, or even the common Feelings of Humanity, are not ſuppreſſed in thy Heart by the Love of Gain, compare what thou haſt read with the Equity, the Sympathy, the Tenderneſs and affectionate Love which is the Life of Chriſtianity, and then ſay, what Concord or Affinity can theſe Fruits have one with the other. May not this Trade be truly ſaid to be the moſt iniquitous and crueleſt Act of Violence and Rapine, when conſidered in all its Circumſtances, that, to our Knowledge, is perpetrated in any Part of the World, and that therefore it behoves every one who is deſirous to maintain the Teſtimony of a good Conſcience, and enjoy Reſt and Peace in Time and Eternity, to avoid being, in any Reſpect, defiled by the Gain reſulting therefrom. And Thanks be to the Great Father of the Family of the whole Earth, that it is not alone in America that ſome are raiſed to bear their Teſtimony againſt this mighty Evil, but that a noble Indignation is alſo raiſed in the Breaſts of ſome in our Mother Country, zealouſly to declare againſt ſo unparalelled Invaſion upon the Rights and Liberties of Mankind, particularly George Wallis, a Gentleman of the Law, in a Book wrote by him, intituled, A Syſtem of the Principles of the Law of Scotland; in which, ſpeaking of the Slavery of the Negroes in our Colonies, he ſays; "We all know that they (the Negroes) are purchaſed from their Princes, who pretend to have a Right to diſpoſe of them, and that they are, like other Commodities, tranſported by the Merchants, who have bought them, into America, in order to be expoſed to Sale. If this Trade admits of a moral or a rational Juſtification, every Crime, even the moſt atrocious, may be juſtified. Government was inſtituted for the Good of Mankind; Kings, Princes, Governors, are not Proprietors of thoſe who are ſubject to their Authority; they have not a Right to make them miſerable. On the contrary, their Authority is veſted in them, that they may, by the juſt Exerciſe of it, promote the Happineſs of their People. Of Courſe, they they have not a Right to diſpoſe of their Liberty, and to ſell them for Slaves. Beſides, no Man has a Right to acquire or to purchaſe them; Men and their Liberty are not (in Commercio) they are not either ſaleable or purchaſeable. One, therefore, has no body but himſelf to blame, in caſe he ſhall find himſelf deprived of a Man, whom he thought he had, by buying for a Price, made his own; for he dealt in a Trade which was illicit, and was prohibited by the moſt obvious Dictates of Humanity. For theſe Reaſons every one of thoſe unfortunate Men, who are pretended to be Slaves, has a Right to be declared to be free, for he never loſt his Liberty; he could not loſe it; his Prince had no Power to diſpoſe of him. Of Courſe the Sale was ipſo Jure void. This Right he carries about with him, and is entitled every where to get it declared. As ſoon, therefore, as he comes into a Country in which the Judges are not forgetful of their own Humanity, it is their Duty to remember that he is a Man, and to declare him to be free. I know it has been ſaid, that Queſtions concerning the State of Perſons ought to be determined by the Law of the Country to which they belong; and that, therefore, one who would be declared to be a Slave in America, ought, in caſe he ſhould happen to be imported into Britain, to be adjudged according to the Law of America to be a Slave; a Doctrine than which nothing can be more barbarous. Ought the Judges of any Country, out of Reſpect to the Law of another, to ſhew no Reſpect to their Kind, and to Humanity. Out of Reſpect to a Law, which is in no Sort obligatory upon them, ought they to diſregard the Law of Nature, which is obligatory on all Men at all Times, and in all Places: Are any Laws ſo binding as the eternal Laws of Juſtice? Is it doubtful, whether a Judge ought to pay greater Regard to them, than to thoſe arbitrary and inhuman Uſages which prevail in a diſtant Land? Aye, but our Colonies would be ruined, if Slavery was aboliſhed. Be it ſo; would it not from thence follow, that the Bulk of Mankind ought to be abuſed, that our Pockets may be filled with Money, or our Mouths with Delicacies? The Purſes of Highwaymen would be empty in caſe Robberies were totally aboliſhed; but have Men a Right to acquire Money by going out to the Highway? Have Men a Right to acquire it by rendering their Fellow Creatures miſerable? Is it lawful to abuſe Mankind, that the Avarice, the Vanity, or the Paſſions of a few may be gratified? No! there is ſuch a Thing as Juſtice, to which the moſt ſacred Regard is due. It ought to be inviolably obſerved. Have not theſe unhappy Men a better Right to their Liberty, and to their Happineſs, than our American Merchants have to the Profits which they make by torturing their Kind? Let therefore our Colonies be ruined, but let us not render ſo many Men miſerable. Would not any of us, who ſhould—be ſnatched by Pyrates from his native Land, think himſelf cruelly abuſed, and at all Times intitled to be free. Have not theſe unfortunate Africans, who meet with the ſame cruel Fate, the ſame Right? Are not they Men as well as we, and have they not the ſame Senſibility? Let us not, therefore, defend or ſupport a Uſage which is contrary to all the Laws of Humanity.

But it is falſe, that either we or our Colonies would be ruined by the Abolition of Slavery. It might occaſion a Stagnation of Buſineſs for a ſhort Time. Every great Alteration produces that Effect; becauſe Mankind cannot, on a ſudden, find Ways of diſpoſing of themſelves, and of their Affairs: But it would produce many happy Effects. It is the Slavery which is permitted in America that has hindered it from becoming ſo ſoon populous, as it would otherwiſe have done. Let the Negroes free, and, in a few Generations, this vaſt and fertile Continent would be crowded with Inhabitants; Learning, Arts, and every Thing would flouriſh amongſt them; inſtead of being inhabited by wild Beaſts, and by Savages, it would be peopled by Philoſophers, and by Men."— Thus far this honeſt and noble ſpirited Briton.

And now Reader, if from the Example of others, and without a ſufficient Knowledge of the deplorable Conſequences attendant on this Trade, thou haſt inadvertently engaged therein, let me beſeech thee, by the Mercies of CHRIST JESUS our LORD (thoſe Mercies which, perhaps, e'er long, thou and I ſhall deſire to fly to as our only Refuge) that thou wouldſt refrain a Practice ſo inconſiſtent with thy Duty, both as a Chriſtian and a Man. Remember, the firſt and chief Commandment is, Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart. And that the Second like unto it is, Thou ſhalt love thy Neighbour as thyſelf. That our bleſſed Redeemer has enjoined us to do unto others as we would they ſhould do unto us; and that it will be thoſe who have been righteous and merciful to their Fellow Creatures, that will be intitled to the Mercy of the Great Judge of Heaven and Earth, before whom we muſt all appear, to give an Account of the Deeds done in the Body.

And as for thoſe who confeſs themſelves now, convinced of the Iniquity of this Trade, and the Injuſtice of buying and ſelling their Fellow Creatures, and yet continue to keep thoſe Negroes they are poſſeſſed of in Bondage, for the Sake of the Profit ariſing from their Labour, it behoves them ſeriouſly to conſider their Motives for ſuch a Conduct; whether the Diſtinction they make between buying a Negroe, and keeping the ſame Negroe, or his Offspring, in perpetual Bondage, is not a Plea founded more in Words than ſupported by Truth; for it muſt be obvious to every Perſon, who is not blinded by the Deſire of Gain, that the Right by which theſe Men hold the Negroes in Bondage, is no other than what is derived from thoſe who ſtole them, or received them from the Thief, who having no other Title, but that which Robbers have over their Prey, could not convey any better to the Purchaſer; and that therefore to continue to hold them in Bondage, for worldly Advantage, by no other Right than that which thoſe guilty Men gave them, is conſenting to, and partaking of their Guilt. Inſtances may fall out, where Men of Candour may be concerned in the Purchaſe of Negroes, purely from a Principle of Charity; and there are alſo many of the Blacks, amongſt us, whoſe Diſpoſtions, Infirmities or Age, render them unfit for Freedom; but in the Caſe beforementioned, where Perſons declare themſelves convinced of the Injuſtice and Iniquity of this Trade, and are poſſeſſed of Negroes who are capable of managing for themſelves, and have ſufficiently paid, by their Labour, for their Purchaſe or bringing up, beſides the Profit ſome Families have reaped, during a long Courſe of Years, from the Labour of their Progenitors; it is the undoubted Duty of their Poſſeſſors to reſtore to them that Liberty, of which they, or their Parents, have been unjuſtly deprived; and they ought alſo to uſe all reaſonable Endeavours, to enable them to procure a comfortable Living, not only as an Act of Juſtice to the Individuals, but as a Debt due to them, on Account of the Oppreſſion and Injuſtice perpetrated on them, or their Anceſtors; and as the beſt Means in their Power, to avert the Judgments of GOD, which it is to be feared will fall on Families and Countries, in Proportion as they have, more or leſs, defiled themſelves with this iniquitous Traffick.

AS Doubts may ariſe in the Minds of ſome, whether the foregoing Accounts, relating to the 〈…〉 and good Diſpoſition of many 〈…〉 of Guiney, and of the violent 〈…〉 they appear to be torn from their 〈…〉 ſufficiently founded on Truth, 〈…〉 who are brought to us are ſeld •• 〈…〉 complain, and do not manifeſt that Docility and Quickneſs of Parts which might be expected from this Account; Perſons who may make theſe Objections, are deſired impartially to conſider whether the Reaſon of theſe Objections are not owing to the many Diſcouragements theſe poor Africans labour under, though in an enlightened Chriſtian Country, and the little Opportunity they have of exerting and improving their natural Talents. They are conſtantly employed in ſervile Labour, and the abject Condition in which we ſee them, from our Childhood, has a natural Tendency to create in us an Idea of a Superiority over them, which induces moſt People to look upon them as an ignorant and contemptible Part of Mankind; add to this, that they have but little Opportunity of freely converſing with ſuch of the Whites as might impart Inſtruction to them, the endeavouring of which would, indeed, by moſt, be accounted Preſumption. A Fondneſs for Wealth, or for gaining Eſteem and Honour, is what prompts moſt Men in the Deſire of excelling others, but theſe Motives for the Exertion and Improvement of their Faculties can have but little or no Influence upon the Minds of the Negroes, ſew of there having Hopes of attaining to any Con •••••• 〈…〉 that of Slavery; ſo that tho' the 〈…〉 of many of them was ever ſo go ••• 〈…〉 have no Inducement or Opportunity 〈…〉 it to any Advantage, which na •••• 〈…〉 ••• preſs their Minds, and ſink their 〈…〉 its of Idleneſs and Sloth, which they wo ••• , in 〈◊〉 Likelihood, have been free from, had they ſtood upon an equal Footing with the white People: Nevertheleſs it may, with Truth, be ſaid, that amongſt thoſe who have obtained their Freedom, as well as thoſe who remain in Servitude, ſome have manifeſted as much Sagacity and Uprightneſs of Heart as could have been expected from the Whites, under the like Circumſtances; and if all the free Negroes have not done the ſame, is it a Matter of Surprize? Have we not Reaſon to make the ſame Complaint with Reſpect to many of our white Servants, when from under our Care, tho' moſt of them have had much greater. Advantages than the Blacks; who, even when free, ſtill labour under the Difficulties before-mentioned, having but little Acceſs to, and Intercourſe with, the white People; whereby it happens, that, tho' free, they yet remained confined within the former Limits of Converſation with thoſe of their own Colour, and conſequently have but little more Opportunity of Knowledge and Improvement than when in Slavery.

And if they ſeldom complain of the unjuſt and cruel Uſage they have received, in being forced from their native Country 〈…〉 is not to be wondered at; 〈…〉 Time after their Arrival amongre 〈…〉 can ſpeak our Language, 〈…〉 are able to expreſs the • 〈…〉 but obſerve, from the Behaviour 〈…〉 at little or no Notice would 〈…〉 plaints; yet let any Perſon 〈…〉 who had attained the Age of 〈…〉 were brought from their nati •• 〈◊〉 and the ſhall hear ſuch Relations as, if not •• ſt to the common Feelings of Humanity, will ſenſibly affect his Heart. The Caſe of a poor Neg ••• , not long ſince brought from Guiney, is a recent Inſtance of this Kind. From his firſt Arrival he appeared thoughtful and dejected, the Cauſe of which was not known till he was able to ſpeak Engliſh, when the Account he gave of himſelf was, that he had a Wife and Children in his own Country, that ſome of them being ſick and thirſty, he went, in the Night-time, to fetch Water for them at a Spring, where he was violently ſeized, and carried away by ſome Perſons who lay in Wait to catch Men, whence he was tranſported to America; the Remembrance of his Family, Friends, and other Connections left behind, which he never expected to ſee any more, were the principal Cauſes of his Dejection and Grief. Can any compaſſionate Heart hear this Relation without being affected with Sympathy and Sorrow? And doubtleſs the Caſe of many of theſe unhappy people would, upon Enquiry, appear attended with Circumſtances equally tragical and 〈…〉 you that have ſtudied 〈…〉 and thoſe that are le ••• 〈…〉 you ſay to this dep •••• 〈…〉 has this Man forfei •• 〈…〉 Juſtice loudly call 〈…〉 him? Has he not the ſam • 〈…〉 us any of us ſhould have 〈…〉 •••• tly natched by Pyrates from 〈…〉 Where Inſtances of this Kind from 〈◊〉 occur, and are neither enquired into norredreſſed by thoſe whoſe Duty it is to ſeek Judgment, and relieve the Oppreſſed, what can be expected, but that the Groans and Cries of theſe Sufferers will reach Heaven; and what ſhall ye do when GOD riſeth up, and when he viſiteth, what ſhall ye anſwer him? Did not he that made them make us, and did not one faſhion us in the Womb?

To conclude; I earneſtly entreat that thoſe who deſire to maintain a Conſcience void of Offence towards GOD and towards Man, do keep themſelves clear from touching or handling this enormous Evil; which every ſerious Perſon, who candidly conſiders the Matter, muſt acknowledge is marked with the cleareſt Signature of the Divine Diſpleaſure, as well from its own Nature, as from its woful Effects in every Country where it prevails: In its Nature, as it is a high Infringement of both the Divine and moral Laws; and in its Effects, in ſeveral Reſpects, particularly from the deſtructive Conſequences enſuing to Tradeſmen and labonring People, whoſe Situation calls for the particular Cate and Concern of every well-governed Country 〈…〉 Slavekeeping prevails, the 〈…〉 being ſupplied by the 〈…〉 themſelves ſlighted and diſ ••• 〈…〉 robbed of the nature 〈…〉 common in other Country 〈…〉 Families are often 〈…〉 and Want; beſides the 〈…〉 given to many poor People, 〈…〉 Brend in our Mother Country; 〈…〉 prevented, on Account of the great Number of •• egroes, would be likely to come over into the • Colonies, where they might, with Ea •• proceed to themſelves a more comfortable Living than at Home. And ther direful Effect ariſes from the fearful Apprehenſions and Terrors which often ſeize the Minds of the People; for the Suppreſſion of which, the moſt cruel Methods are purſued, ſuch as are indeed a Reproach to Chriſtianity, and will neceſſarily harden the Hearts of thoſe who are active therein into ſuch an Obduracy, as muſt, by Degrees, deprive them of that Tenderneſs and ſympathetick Love which make the Happineſs, and is the Glory of intelligent Beings: And as for the Poſſeſſors of the Negroes themſelves, though the Sumptuouſneſs and Eaſe in which they live, and the Attendance and Obſequiouſneſs of their Slaves, may raiſe in their Minds an imagined Apprehenſion of their being Perſons more happy, and of greate Importance than others, who do not live in the like Affluence and State; yet it would be Matter of Joy to ſuch as wiſh well to Mankind, if theſe People could ſee how greatly they are miſtaken, and 〈◊〉 ſeriouſly conſider the Caſe of poor La •••• 〈…〉 • igh Men, mentioned by our Sation • 〈…〉 plainly perceive, that they 〈…〉 • ouſe of their Power and 〈…〉 they have father Occaſion 〈…〉 Children, and their 〈…〉 Effect of their Situation 〈…〉 rapeatedly obſerved to fill Men with Hought •• eſs, Tyranny, Luxury and Barharity, co • upting the Minds; and debaſing the Mo •••• of their Children, to the unſpeakable Pre •••• of Religion and Virtue, and the Excluſion of that holy Spirit of univerſal Love, Meekneſs and Charity, which is the unchangeable Nature and Glory of true Chriſtianity.