GENERAL HISTORY. 



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moting. He observed, that there 

 never was a period more favoural)le 

 to such a motion than the present, 

 or ill which there existed such 

 powerful motives for endeavouring 

 to attain its purpose. All the great 

 powers of Europe were assembled 

 io congress to consider the very 

 elements of their political rights, 

 and what could be a more proper 

 moment for urging the consi- 

 deration of the wrongs of Africa ? 

 There was but one objection that 

 he had heard against the proceed- 

 ing he meant to recommend, which 

 was, that when he spoke of the 

 immediate accession of the con- 

 tinental powers to a proposal for 

 a general abolition of the Slave 

 Trade, it was replied, that as we 

 ourselves did not abolish it till 

 after 18 or 19 years of inquiry, 

 how could it be expected that they 

 would do it so precipitately ? The 

 fact however was, that it had been 

 on its trial during all that interval, 

 and that when its deformity was 

 fully disclosed, the general con- 

 viction pronouncedsentence agai nst 

 it. Experience had also shewn 

 that all the predictions of com- 

 ndercial and other evils to follow 

 its abolition were fallacious; 

 therefore, in urging other nations 

 to pursue the same course, we 

 called upon them to run no risk in 

 an untried scheme. Further, the 

 greater part of the European na- 

 tions had no direct interest in the 

 continuance of this trade. With 

 regard to France, it had been prac- 

 tically abolished for many years 

 past ; and though Mr. Fox had 

 been unable to convince Buona- 

 parte that our abolition rose from 

 any principle of justice, and he 

 was a friend to the trade, better 

 things might be expected from 



the religion and humanity of Lewis 

 XVIIl. From Spain also happier 

 results might be anticipated, as she 

 was now placed in a condition that 

 enabled her to act upon just and 

 honourable principles. Looking to 

 Portugal he could not but enter- 

 tain similar hopes, notwithstand- 

 ing a paper lately issued by that 

 government, the principle of which 

 was, that the Slave Trade should 

 be carried on by the ports of 

 Brazil, until the population of 

 that extensive country was become 

 proportioned to its magnitude. 

 The language of this paper shewed 

 an attention t© the calls of hu- 

 manity, which, though perverted, 

 might by proper argument be led 

 to a co-operation with this coun- 

 try. The acquiescence of Sweden 

 had been already obtained. Den- 

 mark had abolished the trade at 

 an early period ; as America had 

 also done. The hon. member 

 begged to guard himself against 

 the imputation of wishing by his 

 motion to remind his Majesty's 

 ministers of a duty which he was 

 persuaded they were ready spon- 

 taneously to perform. His object 

 was only to strengthen their hands 

 by a solemn declaration from par- 

 liament, that their former pro- 

 ceedings did not originate in a 

 transient fit of humanity, but in 

 a deliberate view of the subject in 

 all its relations. After an earnest 

 and eloquent appeal to the feel« 

 ings of the House, he concluded 

 with a motion of considerable 

 length, the substance of which 

 was. That an humble address 

 should be presented to the Prince 

 Regent, assuring his Royal High- 

 ness of their perfect reliance on 

 the former declarations to parlia- 

 ment that his majesty's govern j 

 [K2] 



