414 
THE SLAVE QUESTION. 
participation which this country had in the iniqui- 
tous traffic. The result was, first, the modification 
of that trade,— then its total abolition, — finally the 
emancipation of slaves on the part of Great Britain ; 
with an endeavour to induce other nations to enter 
at once into the views which we had taken many years 
to mature. Great exertions by successive Governments, 
and pecuniary sacrifices by the people of these realms 
have been made to attain this end; hut neither 
treaties, agreed to in some instances through fear, nor 
the vigilance of our numerous cruisers, commanded by 
officers of humanity, as well as talent and experience, 
aided by those of France and the United States of 
America, have been able to put a stop to this inhuman 
trade. On the contrary, it is proved that although it 
may have been checked in some points, it breaks out 
in others, the moment the supposed suppression has 
withdrawn vigilance to other quarters. While, at the 
same time, the risk of capture and loss has only ren- 
dered the mode of packing! in small, fast-sailing vessels, 
and the treatment of the poor wretches on the middle 
passage, more dreadM and more destructive of life. 
But England acquired this conviction gradually ; — 
in 1788 the first check was put to the Slave Trade, by 
the Bill of Sir William Dolben, which enacted mea- 
sures for the amelioration of the condition of the vic- 
tims during their long voyage,— limiting the number 
of slaves to the tonnage, with the humane object 
of securing at all events a sufficient space, instead of 
