In a method to put this Trade toAfricaon a just and lawful footing. First, in order to this, it is my humble opinion, if I may be allowed to give it, that there be a number of men who may chuse to venture in this Trade, both inBritainand the Colonies, that shall be incorporated into separate bodies by the name ofEnglish, orBritish;American, orNew-England Africancompanies, or by the denomination of other Provinces inAmerica, or Plantations in theWest-Indies; and these companies shall equip and rig out as many vessels as they think proper, loading them withBritish America,EastandWest-Indiagoods, and bring back in return, the rich and plentiful produce ofAfrica. But before I go any further into this point it must be observed, there is one real hinderance in the way which must be removed, or else no man or company need ever think of penetrating into the heart of this country, but just content themselves with taking the skim of this Trade, leting the body stand, and that is, the Slave Trade; this must be entirely renounced and given up by theEuropeans, particularly byBritainand the Colonies; then we may with a good face and consciencetravel into the heart ofAfrica, and meet with a friendly and hearty reception from the natives, who will trade with us, and give in exchange their valuable productions for our goods which are generally exported thither.
When that great, that only chief obstacle, the Slave Trade is removed, thenBritainand the Colonies will flourish by so great and profitable a Commerce. Think what a great addition it will make to their traffick, the furnishing a hundred thousand people annually, more than are at present with cloathing, powder, shot, and warlike arms, and many more things needless here to enumerate out of England; rum, and sundry other articles out ofAmericaand theWest-Indies. It is supposed that the above extraordinary number of Blacks are taken out ofAfricayearly, and either murdered or made Slaves of, by the ships that go there out ofBoston,&c.and what advantages may arise to the inhabitants in peopling, and consequently of cultivating and manuring their ground, and of bringing their rich trade to the perfection it is capable of, withBritain,&c.is hard to say, when the innermost parts of that great and fruitful country is settled, and a free and happy trade carried into theheart of it: But thus far I will venture to say, as I have done already, that where twenty shillings worth of commodities is at present exported an hundred pound will be, when a friendly Commerce is carried on with the natives.
These companies may say, that if once this trade is set on foot, otherEuropeanpowers, who have Settlements inAfricawill invade them whenever they begin to thrive by not having sufficient funds for the keeping in good defence the forts, &c. on the Settlements. As to this I answer, that those companies have a sum of ten thousand pounds sterling annually, from the Crown ofBritain, for maintaining and upholding the forts and castles that are built upon theBritishColonies, which with the duties arising from the Trade will be sufficient to maintain, uphold, and defend them with strength superior to the strongest enemy.
Thus far I hope I have removed your fears of inability in supporting and continuing this Trade, and likewise have moved ways and means to put the same on a just and lawful footing. Now let me, patient Reader, conclude with a short Exhortationto the Ship-masters and Merchants concerned in this Trade, in part of which I have had recourse again to my good old Friend Mr.Benezet.
I beg you all would fly from the oppression and Bondage to which the poorAfricansare subjected, loose the bonds from off their necks, and thereby extricate yourselves from a custom which is pernicious to your welfare here and hereafter; and as you are sensible most men have objections to this base, unlawful Trade, you ought to vindicate yourselves to the world, upon principles of reason, honesty, and humanity, and then you will not attack the persons, or invade the rights of these people. I believe those who are concerned in this Trade will be at a loss to make this justification but upon motives so weak and unreasonable, that I do not think any of them which have been advanced for their defence worthy of notice; and if they are undeserving of that, they certainly are below regard; therefore I thinkyou should forever lay it aside. This is the best and shortest way; forthere should be no trade carried on, it being a national and provincial concern,but such as is justifiable both toGodand man, and this is in direct opposition toboth. But laying man’s resentment aside, which is of little moment in comparison with that of the Almighty’s, I counsel you once more to think of a future reckoning, consider what reasons you will be able to produce at the great and last day. You now accumulate riches and live in pleasure; but what will you do in the end, and that will be but short? What if you should be called hence and hurried out of this world under the vast load of blood guiltiness that is now lying on your souls? How many thousands have you beenthe instruments to, and primary cause of being killed in the wars and broils with theAfricanChiefs, wanting to obtain your number to enslave; and how many have you killed in the passage, when these poor Creatures were trying to retrieve their Liberty which they had in their own country, and which you unjustly take from them, or rather chusing to die than take food to nourish and preserve themselves for being mancipated with their children after them?
It is declared in the most express terms in Scripture, that thieves and murderers shall not inherit the kingdom ofGod. You who are in this Trade take warning bythat, and if you have any thoughts or Christian feeling you must certainly renounce it; for that you are thieves and murderers (I hope after what has been said) will not be disputed; and you should think that at the same time and by the same means you are treasuring up worldly riches, you are treasuring up fountains of wrath against the day of anger and vengeance that shall come upon the workers of iniquity, unless timely repented of.
What injustice is greater? What offence more heinous? Is there any carries in it more consummate guilt than that in which you now live? How can you lift your culpable eyes to Heaven? How can you pray for mercy, or hope for savour from him that made and formed you, while you go on thus boldly and publickly dishonouring him, in degrading and destroying the noblest workmanship of his hands in this sublunary world? Can you think thatGodwill hear your prayers, receive your supplications, or grant your desires, while you act thus grossly and openly against his divine revealed will and pleasure? And do you suppose that he who is the Parent of all nations, the Protector of all people, and the Father of all men, willnot revengethe mal-treatment ofhis offspring whom he once so loved as to give his only begotten Son,that whosoever believed in him should not perish, but have everlasting life? This love ofGodto man, which is disclosed in Scripture, adds double provocation to your crimes; for ifGodregards us with so much affection, we ought also to esteem one another.
Permit yourselves for a moment to reflect equitably and deliberately upon the nature of this horrid, detestable, vile, and abominable Man Trade, and your hearts must certainly relent, if you have not lost all sense of benevolence, all sympathy and compassion towards those of your Brethren who have the same capacities, understandings and souls, and who were born to inherit the same salvation with you; I say, if you are not callous to every Christian, humane, and manly sensibility, you certainly must feel compassion for those extremely oppressed people, when you think what miseries, what devastations and massacres among them you have been the author of, and all for filthy lucre’s sake. The thoughts of this accursed Trade touches my very heart, and finding if I continue any longer I shall get out of the bounds of decency,must therefore conclude. And if all you have read should have no weight uponyour hardened hearts, this remains for my consolation that I have done my duty; and I pray! Fervently pray! ThatGodwould have mercy on your sinful souls; and that he of his infinite goodness would grant that you may be made sensible of your guilt and repent of these your execrable and really detestable deeds.
FINIS.
☞The Author makes no doubt but the Publick, after reading this Pamphlet, will readily agree with him, that the words in the Dedication are verified, “That it was put together with more good intent than ability,” which he is very sensible of: But at the same time thinks all criticism and scrutinizing should be laid aside, when they reflect, that the will to do good is next in order to the action itself.
FOOTNOTES:[1]It is supposed eighty thousand Negroes, are upon the Island ofBarbadoes, and yet through the hard labour they exact of these poor creatures, and what of them are killed through their barbarous chastisements, a decrease is made of five thousand Slaves yearly, which they are resupplied with fromAfrica; and it may be reasonably expected, that the children eighty thousand Negroes would have, were they worked in the same manner with the white people, and did not so many of them die through hard labour, and from the treatment they suffer: I say, it may be expected, there would be an increase of ten thousand at a moderate computation yearly, instead of five thousand decreasing. One may form an idea from this, of what an additional supply most of theWest-IndiaIslands and Southern Provinces need, for there is not one of them but what import a considerable number of Slaves annually, to keep up their common stock.
[1]It is supposed eighty thousand Negroes, are upon the Island ofBarbadoes, and yet through the hard labour they exact of these poor creatures, and what of them are killed through their barbarous chastisements, a decrease is made of five thousand Slaves yearly, which they are resupplied with fromAfrica; and it may be reasonably expected, that the children eighty thousand Negroes would have, were they worked in the same manner with the white people, and did not so many of them die through hard labour, and from the treatment they suffer: I say, it may be expected, there would be an increase of ten thousand at a moderate computation yearly, instead of five thousand decreasing. One may form an idea from this, of what an additional supply most of theWest-IndiaIslands and Southern Provinces need, for there is not one of them but what import a considerable number of Slaves annually, to keep up their common stock.
[1]It is supposed eighty thousand Negroes, are upon the Island ofBarbadoes, and yet through the hard labour they exact of these poor creatures, and what of them are killed through their barbarous chastisements, a decrease is made of five thousand Slaves yearly, which they are resupplied with fromAfrica; and it may be reasonably expected, that the children eighty thousand Negroes would have, were they worked in the same manner with the white people, and did not so many of them die through hard labour, and from the treatment they suffer: I say, it may be expected, there would be an increase of ten thousand at a moderate computation yearly, instead of five thousand decreasing. One may form an idea from this, of what an additional supply most of theWest-IndiaIslands and Southern Provinces need, for there is not one of them but what import a considerable number of Slaves annually, to keep up their common stock.