The first Edition of the following Considerations on the Negroe Cause was written with haste, and published in a hurry. The hope of seeing some much abler pen than mine engaged in the discussion of so important a question, and yet seemingly so little understood, withheld me from the undertaking; till disappointment made it the resolution of an hour, and want of time the effect of a few days attention only. It was evident that whatever was to have been suggested on the subject, ought to have been known antecedently to the legal decision of the Case: but led on by the expectation of the more useful endeavours of others, already was the Term, in which judgment was to be given, treading closely on my heels, without my having taken one single step in advance of the design. Thus circumstanced, such dispatch became necessary as could not fail to produce errors, imputable both to me and the printer. Whilst one part of the pamphlet was printing, the other was preparing for the press: but even this expedition had not its desired effect. The Judgment was beforehand with the Publication: whereby the Considerations themselves were deprived of their object, and I, in some measure, foiled in my purpose. Upon finding however that the very grounds of my argument (to wit, the opinions of the Lord Chancellors Hardwick and Talbot) were the subjects of _due attention_ to the Court, and that the determination rested on this particular Case _only_, from circumstances of insufficiency arising out of the return made to the writ of Habeas Corpus, I was induced to suffer this performance to make its appearance to the public eye, though, like Hamlet’s Ghost, with all its imperfections on its head. But being now called upon for a second Edition, I have carefully corrected the errors of the first, so far as they were perceiveable to me. I have considerably enlarged the work itself. I have inserted several notes, in some of which the principles of the late published argument of Mr. Hargrave, and the argument itself, as applied to the merits of this question, are _shortly_ examined, though (with what is offered in the text) it is to be presumed, _fully_ refuted. Supposing too, that the judgment of the Court of King’s Bench in this case might be no improper addition, I have, from the most authentic copy I was able to procure, inserted it here: taking the liberty at the same time of making some few occasional remarks upon it.