BOOK III. CHAP. II. 391; 



equally refpeding each government ; for how many examples have 

 we continually, of innocent perfons condemned to death or banifli- 

 ment in England, upon falfe evidence? and if this occurs, as it 

 frequently does, in a country that bo.ifts of its righteous laws, and 

 equitable forms of juftice ; we ought not to be furprized, that the 

 fame events happen in Africa, where juftice is fo ill adminiftered 

 through the natural barbarity of the people. Exclufive therefore of 

 this argument, the African ftates having the power of difpenfing 

 life or death j they are likewife empowered to regulate the conditioiv 

 upon which life is granted, where it has been adjudged by their forms 

 of proceeding to be forfeited to their laws, or cuftomary ufages. It 

 may juftly then be queftioned, whether this baniniment is to be 

 termed involuntary ; fmce the parties, knowing what muft be the in- 

 evitable penalty of their doing Co or fo, miglit have avoided falling 

 under it ; but by committing offences to which the penalty is annex- 

 ed, they wilfully fubjedt themfelves to the confequential puniihment^ 

 which is no other than flavery, perpetual or temporary, at the 

 pleafure of their purchafers; to whofe difcretion the fellers have 

 left it. But although it is well known that ninety-nine out of one 

 hundred of the ilaves fhipped from Africa, are now convi6led felons,, 

 whole lives were forfeited, and whofe punllhment has been com- 

 muted for flavery to the Europeans ; this ta6t is denied, upon a fup- 

 pofition, " that Africa could not have fo many felons yearly as there 

 " are flaves thus fold." To elucidate this, let us only confider, 

 that Great Britain has above two thoufind con.vicled felons yearly ; 

 Africa does not fell any thing near two hundred thoufand flaves 

 yearly; yet that would be only in the proportion of one hundred to 

 one ; and Africa is not only one hundred, but perhaps one thoufand' 

 times larger and more populous than Great Britain. It would not 

 be wonderful then, if from thence were to be fliipped every year 

 two hundred thoufand convi6ls ; thefe in fact would be juft fo many 

 lives faved, and rendered ufeful to the community ; which advantages 

 would be wholly loft, were the flave trade univerfally given up ; for 

 as the Africatis are naturally thieves and villains,, though flavery is 

 the certain punifhment now on their conviction, the breaking up of 

 the flave trade might indeed alter the punilhment to that of death,, 

 but would not reform them ; and that this would be the fuie conle- 



quence^ 



