FUTURE OF THE NEGRO. 385 



to trace out in detail the influence of the negro in the 

 Human Progress. It will be sufficient to observe, that 

 the grandeur of West Indian commerce in the last 

 generation, and of the cotton manufacture at the pre- 

 sent time, could not have been obtained without the 

 assistance of the negro : and that the agitation on his 

 behalf, which was commenced by Granville Sharp, has 

 assisted much to expand the sympathies, and to edu- 

 cate the heart of the Anglo-Saxon people, who are 

 somewhat inclined to pride of colour and prejudice of 

 race. Respecting the prospects of the negro, it is 

 difficult for me to form an opinion ; but what I have 

 seen of the Africans in their native and semi-civilised 

 condition, inclines me to take a hopeful view. The 

 negroes are imitative in an extraordinary degree, and 

 imitation is the first principle of progress. They are 

 vain and ostentatious, ardent for praise, keenly sensi- 

 tive of blame. Their natural wants, indeed, are few ; 

 they inherit the sober appetites of their fathers who 

 lived on a few handfuls of rice a day : but it will, I 

 believe, be found that when they enjoy the same in- 

 ducements to work as other men, when they can hope 

 to distinguish themselves in the Parliament, the pul- 

 pit, or in social life, they will become as we are, the 

 slaves of an idea, and will work day and night 

 to obtain something which they desire, but do not 

 positively need. Whether the negroes are equal in 

 average capacity to the white man, whether they will 

 ever produce a man of genius, is an idle and unim- 

 portant question ; they can at least gain their liveli- 

 hood as labourers and artisans ; they are therefore of 

 service to their country ; let them have fair play, and 

 they will find their right place whatever it may be. 

 As regards the social question, they will no doubt, like 

 2b 



