EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. Ixi 



far as the Azores, which Renneforfs fquadron was leaving, 

 when he fell in with them. Oftend is about 51 degrees 

 North ; and the Azores about 40, and far to the Weft. 



The 



the depopulation of moft of the maritime co\nitries of Africa, reduced 

 to a delcrt, by the emigration of their inhabitants, who have been 

 fweeped away into flavery ; the mortality of a very confiderable propor- 

 tion of thefe wretches, who perifh on their paflîige to America and the 

 Weft-Indies, by imwholefome food and the fcurvy, exceflive labour, 

 fcantinefs of provifions, the mercilefs whippings, and other punirtmients 

 which they are doomed to endure in our Colonies, and which deftroy the 

 greateft part, with mifery, mortification and defpair. 



Here, undoubtedly, is a fad detail of tears and blocdflied, on the 

 African fide of the account. But it is balanced, at leaft, by an equal 

 train of evils on that of Europe : if you ftate on this fide, the very navi- 

 gation of the coaft of Africa, the corrupted air of which carries off the 

 lèamen of our trading veffels by whole crews at once, as well as the gar- 

 rlfons of our fettiements on the coaft, and up the country, by the dy- 

 fentery, the fcurvy, putrid fevers, and efpecially by a fever peculiar to 

 the coaft of Guinea, which brings the ftouteft man to his grave in three 

 days. To thefe phyfical evils may be added, the moral maladies of 

 Slaver^', which deftroy, in our American Colonies, the very firft feelings 

 of humanity; becauii?, wherever there are flaves, tyrants fpring up, 

 together with the influence of this moral depravation upon Emope. Add 

 to the evils of this quarter of the World, the refources, in the field- 

 employments of America, from which our own commonalty and peafantry 

 are excluded, multitudes of whom are languiihing at home, in wietch • 

 ednefs, for want of employment, and the means of fubfiftcnce ; the wars 

 which the Slave-trade kindles among the maritime Powers of Europe, 

 their fettiements taken, and retaken ; their naval engagements, which 

 fweep away nine thoufand men at a ftroke, without reckoning thofe 

 who are maimed for life ; their wars which, like a ptftilence, are com- 

 municated to the interior of Europe, by their alliances, and to the reft of 

 tlie World by tlieir commerce ^ whju ail thefe are taken into the ftate- 

 ment, it muft be allowed that the amount of European evils is a com- 

 plete balance to thol'e of Africa. 



Aa 



