156 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, xn 



The great debate described in the following letter, and 

 especially Brougham's speech, formed an epoch in the history 

 of the struggle for the abolition of slavery. Smith was a 

 missionary clergyman in the West Indies. The planters 

 accused him of having excited the discontent of the negroes 

 amongst whom he had worked, and of having incited them 

 to rise against the whites. After an outrageously unfair 

 trial he was convicted and sentenced to be hung; but his 

 execution was adjourned until the views of the home 

 Government could be known. Meanwhile he died from the 

 effects of confinement in an unhealthy dungeon. Brougham 

 denounced the trial as a " monstrous violation of justice in 

 form as well as substance," and moved a vote of censure on 

 the Demerara Government. 



Fanny Allen to her sister Mrs Josiah Wedgwood. 



9, KING STREET, SUNDAY [13 June, 1824]. 



. . . The House was in a great bustle as we got in, owing 

 to Gourley's attack on Brougham. 1 I was very much 

 alarmed at first, fearing our principal performer would be 

 prevented from appearing on the boards that night, but I 

 was relieved on seeing him in his place, and hearing him 

 get up and give an account of the assault. The debate on 

 Smith began almost immediately, and I certainly never had 

 such a treat in my life. Lushington's* speech was sensible, 

 but his manner was too theatrical and his voice pompous. 

 Tindal answered him. It was his debut, and his taste was 

 strange in chusing so odious a subject to begin his House of 

 Commons career. It did not appear to me a good speech, 

 though some said it was. Williams' speech was very good 

 indeed. Copley's, the best on his side of the House, I think. 

 Wilberforce's feeble, and no attention was given to him, 

 which was very bad, or as Mackintosh said brutal. Canning's 



1 He had been violently assaulted in the lobby of the House by a 

 lunatic named Gourley. 



2 Most of the speakers mentioned were leading lawyers. Lushing- 

 ton, Tindal, Denrnan and Scarlett (Lord Abinger), all became famous 

 Judges; Copley, then Attorney-General, was afterwards Lord Lynd- 

 hurst and Lord Chancellor. Peel was then Home Secretary, Canning 

 Foreign Secretary, in the Tory ministry. Wilberforce was in failing 

 health and gave up parliamentary life soon after this. 



