_Mr. Wilberforce_, ON The Abolition of the Slave Trade. A LETTER ON THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE; ADDRESSED TO THE FREEHOLDERS AND OTHER INHABITANTS OF YORKSHIRE. BY W. WILBERFORCE, ESQ. “There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but CHRIST is all, and in all. Put on therefore bowels of mercies, kindness,” &c.—COL. iii. 11. 12. “GOD hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth.”—ACTS xvii. 26. LONDON: _Printed by Luke Hansard & Sons_, FOR T. CADELL AND W. DAVIES, STRAND; _And_, J. HATCHARD, PICCADILLY. 1807. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS. Page INTRODUCTION 1 Sources of Information 11 Methods by which the Slaves are supplied in Africa 18 Slave Trade’s Effects in the Interior and on the Coast 30 Proof of Abolitionists’ Facts decisive, and contrary Allegations groundless 47 Pleas against Abolition, that Negroes are an inferior Race 53–4 Opponents’ description of Negro Character contrasted with other Accounts 57 Argument from Africa’s never having been civilized, considered 71 New Phœnomenon—Interior of Africa more civilized than Coast 86 Plea of Opponents, that Slaves State in Africa extremely miserable 89 Plea from Cruelty of African Despots 92 Ditto, that refused Slaves would be massacred in case of Abolition 95 Middle Passage 96 Opponents’ grand Objection—that Stock of Slaves cannot be kept up in West Indies without Importations 103 Presumptive Arguments against the above Allegation, from universal Experience 104 Positive Proof that the Stock of Slaves might be kept up without Importations—Argument stated 109 I.—Abuses sufficient to account for great Decrease.