LON 
to allow the noffibility of a cafe in which the public ought 
to make compenfation to an individual for any Ioffes that 
might arife from the abolition of fueh iniquitous practices. 
—Mr. R. Thornton thought that few cafes would be found 
entitled to compenfation. Tbofe engaged in commercial 
concerns were neceffarily expofed to riiks ; and fufficierit 
warning had long been given to thofe who were engaged 
in this abominable traffic. 
Lord Hawick moved the commitment of the bill ; and 
the debate on that motion was adjourned till Monday, Fe¬ 
bruary 2 3.—Lord Howick then rofe, and faid, that, though 
the queffion had been fo often agitated, that every ho¬ 
nourable member mull be acquainted with its details, yet 
he could not reconcile it to hitrifelf to bring forward a 
meafure of fuch va(t importance in that new parliament, 
without (fating thofe faffs and that evidence on which 
alone this queltion ought to reft. His lordffiip then en¬ 
tered-into a copious recapitulation of thofe faffs; and con¬ 
tended, from a review of the whole of thefe, and of the 
various topics infilled on in the difculfions of the queltion, 
that the abolition of the flave-trade was founded not only 
in juftice, but on the true principles of found and liberal 
policy.—Lord Howick was followed on the fame fide of 
the queffion by Mr. Rofcoe, Mr. Luffiington, Mr. Fawkes, 
lord Mahon, lord Milton, the-Solicitor-general, fir John 
Doyle, Mr. Manning, and lord Percy. On the other fide, 
there appeared general Gafcoyne and Mr. Hibbert.—Mr. 
Bathurft and Mr. H. Addington, though they approved 
of a gradual, were not prepared to go to the length of an 
immediate, abolition; but recommended a tax on the im¬ 
portation of frefh negroes, which would ultimately lead 
to a total abolition.—Mr. Wilberforce replied to the prin¬ 
cipal arguments that had been urged againlt the bill, and 
referred to Mr. Park’s book to fhow the evils that the 
flave-trade created in Africa. He adverted alfo to another 
recent publication that had drawn confiderable attention, 
namely, Mr. Malthus’s Efi'ay on Population. It had been 
contended that in that efi'ay Mr. Majthus had favoured 
the flave-trade. But Mr. Malthus had called upon him 
that day, and expreffed his furprife to have learned, that 
in fome of the publications of the day he was regarded 
«s a favourer of the llave-trade. He declared that his 
meaning had been mifunderftood, and that he had jult 
prepared a Ihort appendix to his work in order to explain 
his ideas on the fubjeifl. Mr. Wilberforce concluded with 
an elegant eulogitun on the difplay of both moral lenti- 
ments and talents which the houfe had that night wit- 
neffcd on the fide of humanity and juftice, particularly on 
the part cf the younger members ; whofe lofty and libe¬ 
ral fentiments, recommended and enforced by the eleva¬ 
tion of their rank and purity of their form, mult tend to 
produce the happUft eirefts on all claffe.s of the commu¬ 
nity. Such an indication of mind and feeling would 
fhow to the people, that their legillators, and efpeciaily 
the highest orders of their youth, were forward to affert 
the rights of the weak againft the ftrong; to vindicate 
the caufeof the oppreft'ed 5 and that, where a pra£tice was 
found to prevail Jnconfiftent with humanity and juftice, 
no confideration of profit could reconcile them to its con¬ 
tinuance. 
Mr. Wilberforce bimfelf, every one acknowledged and 
felt, was, above all others, entitled to the higheft degree 
of praife for his unwearied exertions, and the ability and 
prudence he had difplayed in bringing the great meafure 
before the lioufe to a fuccefsfui iffue ; for it was now 
evident that it would not meet with any effectual oppo¬ 
sition. He was.complimented on the occaiion by different 
i'peakers, particularly by the Solicitor-general. When lie 
looked at the man now at the head of the Fredch mo¬ 
narchy, furroundedvas he v. as with ail the pomp of power, 
and all the pride of victory, diftributing kingdoms to his 
family, and principalities to his followers, Teeming, when 
he fat upon his.throne, to have reached the pinnacle of 
earthly happinefsj and when he followed that man into 
his clofet, or to his bed, and confidered the pangs with 
. Toi„. XIII. No. S36 
DON. 155 
which his folitude mult be tortured, and his repofe ba- 
niffied, by the recollection of the blood lie had fpilied ; 
and when he compared with thofe pangs of remorfe, the 
feelings that mult accompany his honourable friend (Mr, 
W.) to his home, after the vote of the night ffiould have 
confirmed the object of his humane and unceafing labours; 
when he ffiould retire into the bofom of his happy and 
delighted family ; when he ffiiould lay himfelf down 011 
his bed, reflecting on the innumerable voices that would 
be raifed in every quarter of the world to blefs him : how- 
much more pure and perfeCt felicity muft he enjoy in the 
confcioufnefs of having preferved fo many nations of his 
fellow creatures, than the man with whom he had com¬ 
pared him, on the throne to which he had waded through 
oppreffion and flaughter! 
The queffion being loudly called foiythe houfe divided : 
Ayes 283, noes 16. The houfe then refolved itfelf into a 
committee pro forma, and at half-pall four adjourned to 
Friday, 27th February; when, after feveral obfervations 
from the principal leaders on both ffdes of the queffion, 
the bill was committed, and, with fome amendments, 
paffed on the 16th of March, without a divifion.—On 
Wednefday, the 18th, lord Howick, accompanied by Mr. 
Wilberforce and others, carried the bill to the lords. Lord 
Grenville, on receiving it, moved that it fhould be prin.tr 
eu; and that, if this procefs could be finifhed by Monday, 
it fhould be taken into confideration on that- day. The 
reafon of this extraordinary hafte was, that his majelty, 
difpleafed with the introduction of the Roman-catholic- 
officers’ bill into the commons, had fignified his intention 
to the members of the exifting auminiftration, that they 
were to be difplaced. The uneafinefs, which, a few days 
before, had l'prung up among the friends of the abolition, 
on the report that this event was probable, began now to 
fhow itfelf throughout the kingdom. Letters were Writ¬ 
ten from various parts, wanifefting the greatell fear and 
anxiety on account of the (late of the bill, and defiring 
anfwers of confolation. Nor was this Hate of the mind 
otherwife than what might have been expected upon luck 
an occafion ; for the bill was yet to be printed—being an 
amended one, it was to be argued again in the lords—it 
was then to receive the royal afl'ent—All thefe operations 
implied time ; and it was reported that the neiv miniftry 
was formed; among whom were feveral who had fhown 
a hoitile difpofition to the caufe. 
On Monday, the 23d, the houfe of lords met. Such 
extraordinary diligence had been ufed in printing the 
bill, that it was then ready. Lord Grenville immedi¬ 
ately brought it forward. The earl of Weltmoreland 
and the marquis of Sligo oppofed it. The duke of Nor¬ 
folk and the bixhop of Llandaff (Dr. Watfon) fupported 
it. The latter faid, that this great aCt of juftice would 
be recorded in heaven. The amendments were leve- 
rally adopted without a div'ifion. But here an omiilion 
cf three words was difcovered, namely, “ country, terri¬ 
tory, or place,” which, if not rectified, might defeat the 
purpofes of the bill. An amendment was immediately 
propofed and carried. Thus the bill received the laft func¬ 
tion of the peers. Lord Grenville then congratulated 
the houfe on the completion, on its part, of the-moft glo¬ 
rious meafure that had ever been adopted by any legifla- 
tive body in the world. The amendment, now mentioned, 
occafioncd the bill to be lent back to the commons. On 
the 24th, on the motion of lord Howick, it was immedi¬ 
ately taken into confideration there, and agreed to; and 
it was carried back to the lords, as approved of, on the 
fame day. 
But, though the bill had now paffed both houfes, 
there was an awful fear throughout the kingdom, left it 
fhould not receive the royal afl’ent before the miniftry was 
diffolved. This event took place the next day; for 
on Wednefday the 25th, at half paft eleven in the morn¬ 
ing, his majelty’s raeffage was delivered to the different 
members of it, that they were then to wait upon him to 
deliver up the feals of their offices. It then appeared that 
Hr - a comtniffios 
