(774) and the wretchednefs of the ancient inhabitants of Britain,if we fhudder to think of the mifery which would still have overwhelmed us, had Great Britain continued to the present times to be the mart for Slaves to the more civilized nations of the world, through fome cruel policy of theirs, GOD forbid that we should any longer fubject Africa to the fame dreadful fcourge, and preclude the light of knowledge, which has reached every other quarter of the globe, from having access to her coafts. I trust we shall no longer continue this commerce, to the destruction of every improvement on that wide Continent; and fhall not confider ourselves as conferring too great a boon, in reftoring its inhabitants to the rank of human beings. I truft we shall not think ourselves too liberal, if, by Abolishing the Slave Trade, we give them the fame common chance of civilization with other parts of the world, and that we shall now allow to Africa the opportunity-the hope-the profpect of attaining to the fame bleffings which we ourselves, through the favourable difpenfations of Divine Providence, have been permitted, at a much more early period, to enjoy. If we listen to the voice of reason and duty, and pursue this night, the line of conduct which they prefcribe, fome of us may live to fee a reverse of that picture, from which we now turn our eyes with fhame and regret. We may live to behold the Natives of Africa, engaged in the calm occupations of industry, in the purfuits of a juft and legitimate commerce. We may behold the beams of science and philofophy breaking in upon their land, which at fome happy period in ftill later times may blaze with full luftre; and joining their influence to that of pure religion, may illuminate and invigorate the most distant extremities of that immenfe continent. Then may we hope that even Africa (though last of all the quarters of the globe) fhall enjoy at length in the evening of her days, those blesfings which have defcended fo plentifully upon us in a much earlier period of the world. Then alfo will Europe, participating in her improvement and profperity, receive an ample recompenfe for the tardy kindness, (if kindness it can be called) (175) called) of no longer hindering that continent from extricating herself out of the darkness which, in other more fortunate regions, has been so much more speedily dispelled. -Nos primus equis oriens afflavit anhelis ; Illi fera rubens accendit lumina vefper. Then, Sir, may be applied to Africa, those words originally ufed indeed with a different view: His demum exactis Devenere locos lætos, et amœna vireta It is in this view, Sir,—it is an atonement for our long and cruel injuftice towards Africa, that the measure proposed by my Honourable Friend moft forcibly recommends itself to my mind. The great and happy change to be expected in the ftate of her inhabitants, is of all the various and important benefits of the Abolition, in my eftimation, incomparably the most extensive and important. I fhall vote, Sir, against the adjournment; and I fhall alfo oppose to the utmost every propofition, which in any way may tend either to prevent, or even to poftpone for an hour, the total Abolition of the Slave Trade: a measure which, on all the various grounds which I have stated, we are bound, by the most preffing and indifpenfible duty, to adopt. SIR WILLIAM DOLBEN, Chairman of the Committee, then said, that the Motion originally made, was, " That it is "the opinion of this Committee, that the Trade carried on by "British fubjects for the purpofe of obtaining Slaves on the "Coast of Africa, ought to be abolished:" fince which it had (176) had been moved, that the word, " gradually," fhould be inferted after the words, "ought to be," and before the word, "abolished;" and that fince moving the above amendment, a motion had been made for the Chairman now to leave the Chair. The question which he had to put therefore, was, "That the Chairman fhould now leave the Chair." On which the Committee having divided, The Ayes were Noes Majority against Mr. Jenkinson's Motion, that the Chairman fhould leave the Chair, 87 234 147 SIR WILLIAM DOLBEN then put the Question, that the word, "gradually," fhould be inferted in Mr. Wilberforce's Motion. The Committee having divided, The Noes, (against agreeing that the Abo- Majority in favour of gradual Abolition, rather 193 125 68 The CHAIRMAN then put the amended Queftion, viz. "That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the Trade "carried on by British Subjects for the purpose of obtaining "Slaves on the Coaft of Africa, ought to be gradually "abolished." The Committee having divided, The Ayes (for a gradual Abolition,) were Majority for agreeing to a gradual Abolition, 7 (177) The Houfe having on the 25th of April refolved itself into the fame Committee, SIR WILLIAM DOLBEN being in the Chair, the Right Honourable Mr. DUNDAS moved, "That it fhall not be lawful to import any African Ne ་་ groes into any British Colonies or Plantations, in Ships owned or navigated by British Subjects, at any time after "the First Day of January, 1800." Upon which LORD. MORNINGTON moved, as an Amendment, that the year 1793," be fubftituted in the place of " 1800." the year After a long debate, the Committee having divided, the Ayes in favour of Lord Mornington's amendment were, 109 On the 28th of April, the House having again refolved itself into the fame Committee, Mr. BEAUFOY being in the Chair, the Right Honourable Mr. DUNDAS again moved, "That it shall not be lawful to import any African Negroes "into any British Colonies or Plantations, in Ships owned "or navigated by British Subjects, at any time after the "First Day of January, 1800." Upon which Lord Mornington moved as an amendment, That the year "1795" be fubftituted in the place of the year 1800. .The Committee, after a long debate having divided, the Ayes, in favour of Lord Mornington's amendment, were 121 Noes, Majority against abolishing the Slave Trade 161 SIR EDWARD KNATCHBULL then moved, that the year 1796," should be fubftituted in the place of the year "1800." The Committee having divided, the j Ayes, in favour of Sir E. Knatchbull's amendment, were 151 Noes Majority in favour of Sir E. Knatchbull's amendment for abolishing the Slave Trade on the First of January, 1796, 132 19 TINIS. EN |