The first branch under this head is, _He that stealeth and selleth a man, shall be put to death_. This is one of the most express laws of _Moses_, as you may see in _Exod._ xxi. 16, two first, and last clauses of the verse, there mentioned in the most peremptory words; _And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, shall surely be put to death._ It certainly can be looked upon in no other light in the Merchants and Ship-masters who are in this Trade to _Africa_, than stealing of men, being accessary to, and aiding in inciting them to war one with another, and for this purpose, supplying them with prodigious quantities of arms and ammunition, whereby they are hurried into confusion, bloodshed, and all the extremities of temporal misery, which must consequently beget in their minds such a general detestation and scorn of the Christian name, as may deeply affect, if not wholly preclude, their belief of the great truths of our holy religion. Thus an insatiable desire of gain prevails with their Kings, who, instead of being protectors of their people, for this alluring bait laid before them, by the _European_ and _American_ Factors, or Ship-masters, invade the Liberties of these unhappy people, and occasion their oppression. These Kings, whenever they want goods send to the Ship-masters, acquainting them they have Negroes, and sometimes the Factors and Ship-masters send to acquaint them, that they have a quantity of goods, and want Slaves for the same. These Chiefs, whether they have Slaves then or not, agree, and immediately go to war with their neighbours, and in procuring three or four hundred prisoners, burn five or six towns, as appears by the following extract from a Surgeon’s Journal in a _Liverpool_ vessel. _Sestro, December 29, 1724._ “No trade to-day, though many Traders came on board; they inform us, that the people are gone to war within land, and will bring prisoners enough in two or three days; in hopes of which we stay. “30th. No trade yet; but our Traders came on board to-day and informed us the people had burnt four towns, so that to-morrow we expect Slaves off. “31st. Fair weather, but no trade yet; we see each night towns burning, but we hear the _Sestro_ men are many of them killed by the inland Negroes, so that we fear this war will be unsuccessful. “The 2d of _January_. Last night we saw a prodigious fire break out about eleven o’clock, and this morning saw the town of _Sestro_ burnt down to the ground, (it contained some hundred houses) so that we find their enemies are too hard for them at present; consequently our trade spoiled here, so that about seven o’clock we weighed anchor, as did also the three other vessels, to proceed lower down.”