364 ST. DOMINGO. 



sent at these proceedings. This was the subject of 

 conversation at the dinner to which Clarkson was in- 

 vited ; and the next day the women of Paris marched 

 upon Versailles ; the king was taken to the Tuileries ; 

 and the National Assembly became supreme — under 

 favour of the mob. 



After several weeks Clarkson at last received a de- 

 finite reply. The Revolution, he was told, was of 

 more importance than the abolition of the slave-trade. 

 In Bordeaux, Marseilles, Rouen, Nantes, and Havre, 

 there were many persons in favour of that trade. It 

 would be said that abolition would be making a sacri- 

 fice to England. The British parliament had as yet 

 done nothing, and people doubted the sincerity of 

 Pitt. Mr Clarkson asked whether, if the question 

 were postponed to the next legislation, it would be 

 more difficult to carry it then than now. " The ques- 

 tion produced much conversation, but the answer was 

 unanimous — that people would daily more and more 

 admire their constitution, and that by the constitution 

 certain solid and fixed principles would be established, 

 which would inevitably lead to the abolition of the 

 slave-trade ; and if the constitution were once fairly 

 established, they would not regard the murmurs of 

 any town or province." 



Clarkson was not the only envoy who was defeated 

 by the planter interest on French soil. In the flourish- 

 ing colony of St Domiugo there were many mulatto 

 planters, free and wealthy men, but subject to de- 

 grading disabilities. When they heard of the Re- 

 volution, they sent Oge" to Paris with a large sum of 

 money as a present to the National Assembly, and a 

 petition for equal rights. The President received him 

 and his companions with cordiality : he bid them take 



