Three nations, Juvan, Tubal, and Meshech, are mentioned in Scripture[16] as having their principal trade at Tyre in the _selling of men_. This circumstance has been appealed to in vindication of the African Slave-Trade:--but mark the sequel. In the following chapter, verse 18, the Prophet addresses the Prince of Tyre thus:--“Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic: _therefore_ will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth.” A prophecy which has been remarkably fulfilled. The great leader in the Debates of the House of Commons on this momentous subject has declared--“That interested as he may be supposed to be in the final event of the question, he was comparatively indifferent as to the then decision of the House. Whatever they might do, the people of Great Britain, he was confident, would abolish the slave-trade, when, as would now soon happen, its injustice and cruelty should be fairly laid before them. It was (said he) a nest of serpents, which would never have endured so long, but for the darkness in which they lay hid. The light of day would now be let in upon them, and they would vanish from the sight.” _W. B. C._ FOOTNOTES: [1] Speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons. [2] Fox’s ditto. [3] Printed by J. Phillips, George-Yard, Lombard Street. [4] Wilberforce’s Speech in the House of Commons. [5] Speech by W. Smith in the House of Commons. [6] See Stanley’s Speech in the House of Commons. [7] In some estates it is usual to dig a hole in the ground, which they put the bellies of pregnant women, while they whip them, that they may not excuse punishment, nor yet endanger the life of the woman or child. [8] General Tottenham saw a youth, about nineteen, walking in the streets, in a most deplorable situation, entirely naked, and with an iron collar about his neck, with five long projecting spikes. His body, before and behind, his breech, belly and thighs, were almost cut to pieces, and with running soars all over them, and you might put your finger in some of the wheals. He could not sit down, owing to his breech being in a state of mortification, and it was impossible for him to lie down, from the projection of the prongs. The boy came to the general to ask relief. He was shocked at his appearance, and asked him what he had done to suffer such a punishment, and who inflicted it. He said it was his master, who lived about two miles from town, and that as he could not work, he would give him nothing to eat. [9] Jamaica. [10] Speech of W. Wilberforce, in the House of Commons. [11] Speech of C. J. Fox in the House of Commons. Reported by Woodfall. [12] Speech of W. Wilberforce, Esq. in the House of Commons.