154 L 'O N 
p. commiffion For the royal affent to this bill, among ethers, 
had been obtained. This commiffion was inftantly opened 
by the lord chancellor (Erfkine), who was accompanied by 
the lords Holland and Auckland ; “and, as the clock ftruck 
twelve, (fays Mr. Clarkfon,) juft when the fun was in its me¬ 
ridian fplendonrto witnefsthis auguft ait, thiseftablifhment 
of a magna c’harta for Africa in Britain, and to fanftion it 
by its mod vivid and glorious beams, it was completed. 
The ceremony being over, the feals of the refpeftive offices 
were delivered up ; fo that the execution of this commillion 
was the laftaft of the adminiftration of lord Grenville, an 
adminiftration, which, on account of its various exertions in 
behalf of the opprefled African race, will pafs to polterity, 
living through fucceffiive generations, in the love and gra¬ 
titude of the mod virtuous of mankind. Thus ended one 
of the moil glorious contefts, after a continuance for 
twenty years, of any ever carried on in any age or coun¬ 
try. A eonteft, not of brutal violence, but of reafon. A 
conteft between thole, who felt deeply for the happinefs 
and the honour of their fellow-creatures, and thole, who, 
through vicious cuftom and the impulfe of avarice, had 
trampled under-foot the facred rights of their nature, and 
had even attempted to efface all title to the divine image 
from their minds.” Clarhfon's lliflory of the Abolition of the 
Slave trade. 
To a difpaffionate reader, if he perufe with attention 
the different arguments and reafonings of the abolitionifts 
and of their antagonifts, it will appear plain that the lat¬ 
ter generally united in their minds the emancipation of 
the Haves as they now exift in opr Weft-Indian colonies, 
with an entire ceffation of the flave-trade. The former 
( plan would have been molt egregioufly deprecated by any 
man of fenfe, whereas the other could not fail obtaining 
an abettor in every feeling heart. The abolition of the 
flave-trade was founded upon jufiice. The emancipation 
of the flaves already bought, belides many other reafons 
again ft it, would have been an ivjufiice committed againft 
the proprietors who were bona fide purchafers. This feel¬ 
ing was evident by the fate of lord Percy’s motion, on 
the 23d of March, for leave to bring in a bill for the gra¬ 
dual abolition of Jlavcry in his majefty’s colonies in the Weft- 
Indies.—.Lord H. Petty deprecated any difeuflion of this 
fubjeft at the prefent moment. ’ He entreated molt re- 
fpeftfully, but mod ftrongly, his noble friend either to 
withdraw his motion, or to concur in the previous ques¬ 
tion, which he ftiould feel it his duty to move.—Sir C. 
Pole alfo deprecated the difeuflion 5 but was glad the mo¬ 
tion had been made, as it would open the eyes of all who 
were interefted in the Weft-India iflands, to the dangers 
which threatened them.—Mr. Wilberforce declared that 
both he, and they who afted with him, were fatisfied with 
having gained an objeft which was to be obtained witli 
fafety. The foie point they had in view was, the aboli¬ 
tion of the flave-trade, and not the emancipation of the 
flaves. The enemies of the abolition had always con¬ 
founded thefe two objefts ; the friends of the abolition 
had always diftinguifhed them.-—Mr. Hibbert laid, if there 
remained a ray of hope that the colonies might be faved, 
it rnuft be decidedly fhown, and clearly underftood, that 
the houfe would not for a moment liften to any propofal 
for emancipation.—But Mr. Sheridan, who, on the pre¬ 
ceding night, had conlidered the bill then paffed as only 
a prelude to the ultimate meafure of emancipation, ex- 
preffied his hope that the young nobleman, who had done 
liis feelings fo much credit by the propofition which he 
had that evening made, would (land to his ground. If 
lie perfevered in the purfuit of his objeft with the fame 
zeal as his right honourable friend Mr. W. had done, he 
had r.o doubt but be would meet with the fame fuccefs. 
He trufted that the planters might be induced to lead the 
way to emancipation ; and, were they thernfelves always re- 
fident on their eltates, he thould have good hopes. But the 
negro-drivers would not loon forget their fixed habits of 
brutality, or learn to treat the unhappy wretches in their 
charge with clfimeney and couipaffion. Slavery would not 
D O N. 
wear itfelf out. It would become more rigid, unlefs fHt> 
legiflature fliould become more vigilant, and remind the 
planters of the new duty that had fallen upon them, of 
rearing the young flaves in fuch a manner as that they 
may be worthy of freedom.—After a converfation be¬ 
tween Mr. Wilberforce and foirse other members, the 
houfe, which had become very thin, was counted, and, 
there being only 35 members in it, it was immediately 
adjourned, and the queftion was dropped. 
The abolition of the flave-trade was indeed an ail of 
leg-illation fufficiently bold of itfelf, without its being 
followed immediately by another for even a gradual eman¬ 
cipation. It was fuiiicient that we at length put an end 
to a traffic which had long difgraced mankind, and had 
caufed thofe inteftine wars, the principal objeft of which, 
among the African princes, was to get flaves for the pur- 
pofe of felling them. A modern author exprefles himfelf 
in the following manner in regard to the benefit which the 
African nations will reap from the aft : 
--- On Niger’s fedgy banks, 
Or where, from rock to rock, rude Senegal, 
Athwart the burning fands, unfurls and rolls. 
In thund’ring majefty, his awful waves; 
When firft he heard the ten-times welcome news. 
The negro knelt, and blefs’d fuch pow’r unknown 
As bids him ftay unfold, and now fecure, 
Where freedom, hardly check’d by nature’s laws. 
Smiled, and play’d, and ftrung his infant limbs 
To chafe the wild goat, or the gazell courfe 
A'ong the defert fhcres, but not to lend 
His manly vigour to the pamper’d Ions 
Of avarice.-- : -— 
This meafure has ftamped with immortal honour th%» 
fhort adminiftration of the Foxitcs; and will be long re¬ 
membered in all countries of the world. Nor does it ap¬ 
pear that our commerce, or theprofperity of our Weft-India 
iflands, has been eventually afrefted by the abolition of this, 
horrid traffic ; but, even if it had been injured in force 
degree, kill let us endeavour to imprefs ^he nobler truth, 
that national greatnefs depends more on virtue than o» 
commerce : 
Is commerce all ? {hall her omnific word 
Impart its valour to the hero’s fword t 
Has fire a gale as pure as honour’s breath. 
Through life unfullied, and ferene in death ? 
Know, virtue only can the ftrength create 
That clothes in native majefty a Jfate ; 
Virtue alone that facred fpirit pours 
With which the hero fprings, the patriot foars 3 
Virtue, thou breath of life untam’d by time. 
Thine is the impulfe and the power fublime ; 
Tlie firm unconquerable will is thine. 
Force paffing ftrength, the energy divine. 
Know, Commerce follows Nature’s focial laws 
As peace or charity her bleffing draws. 
Still ffiall IJie bear from Arric’s genial plains 
Their native wealth, though man untouch’d remains. 
Let Britain’s foils the fruitful coalt explore, 
And kindly ble.fs the race they wrong’d before ; 
With gentle promifes invite to toil, 
With precious gifts endow the docile foil; 
Till Afric’s race in grateful reverence bend. 
And hail the teacher where they find the friend. 
Mifis Benger's Poems . 
The hiftory of a great nation does not always conftrt 
the relation of the wars, which fhe wages againft the ene¬ 
mies of her honour, fecurity, or intereft. The character 
and morals of the people in civil, political, and religious, 
concerns, conftitute alio an integral part which the writer 
ought not to neglect. The following raft will give the 
reader an opportunity of eftimating to what a pirch the 
religious zeal for preaching was brought at this time— 
At the MuWlsfex feijions^ on the 17th of January, three 
i jne% 
