78 Voice of the Country Abolition of Slavery. 



mutual loves. This interesting group paraded round the room, as a 

 proof of the happy result of that union of colours and races, which all 

 true philanthropists are so anxious to promote. 



When the Africans and Asiatics introduced themselves from behind 

 the screen, which at first separated them from the company, a medley 

 of blacks and mulattoes appeared, MANY OP THEM MENDICANTS, whose 

 faces were recognised, as constantly plying at their respective stands in 

 the public streets; and in the true spirit of equality and fraternity, wine 

 was handed about to them to drink with their benefactors.* We appeal 

 to our readers whether any thing can be more disgusting to every sincere 

 friend of humanity than such trumpery exhibitions as these ; yet, by 

 such pharisaical proceedings, it has been, and it is still attempted to in- 

 fluence " the voice of the country." 



Had such exhibitions been discontinued, we might not at present have 

 found it necessary to bring the name of Mr. Wilberforce again before the 

 public ; but when we perceive that the actions of societies calling them- 

 selves " for the abolition of Slavery" are still marked by the most acri- 

 monious hatred against the colonists ; that they persist in forcing upon 

 the attention of the public measures which, if carried into execution, 

 would ruin our colonies, and every one of our countrymen connected 

 with them; and which would counteract all that has already been 

 done, or is now doing, for the improvement of our colonial labourers ; 

 that these labourers, who are gradually acquiring feelings, habits, and 

 property, to enable them to fulfil hereafter the duties of industrious 

 freemen, would, by the accomplishment of such plans be, as in Haiti 

 and Mexico, thrown back into a state of barbarism ; and that since 

 Mr. Wilberforce has again allowed himself, in his feeble old age, to be 

 dragged from his easy chair to preside at a public meeting, called in 

 support of the pernicious views of the anti-colonists, he and his injudici- 

 ous advisers must not expect their proceedings to pass without scrutiny 

 and exposure. 



The malignant spirit by which the anti- colonists are evidently actu- 

 ated, is too clearly evinced in their public writings, to require any ela- 

 borate exposition on our part. When we see it asserted in pamphlets, 

 published and given away by the hundred, under their express sanction, 

 that the colonists are ' ' daily and hourly proceeding in a series of crimes, 

 any one of which, if perpetrated in this country, would call for the gib- 

 bet and the executioner to do their duty on the felons and murderers," 

 when we see the mild system of religious instruction and improvement 

 now going forward in the West Indies, under the safe superintendence 

 and guidance of our established church, stigmatised as " a bloody and 

 atrocious system," " a mass of abomination ;" and when we see it asserted 

 that " the many excellent men who compose the governors of the Chris- 

 tian societies for converting the negro slaves, and for propagating the 

 gospel in foreign parts," are " ranged on the side of falsehood, impos- 

 ture, irreligion, and impiety" what opinion can we form of the inten- 

 tions and designs of the anti-colonial society ? When we further see 

 lauded to the skies such incendious writings as the following, viz. : 

 "Have we forgotten how long a few Maroons defended the central moun- 

 tains of the island (Jamaica) against all the effort of disciplined valour ?" 

 that " a similar contest, on a larger scale, might be protracted for 



* More Thoughts, &c. by Jos. Marryat, csq. M.P Printed for Ridgway. 



