There are madmen in all parts of the world, who, as such, act diametrically opposite to their interest. Such there are in America: but your Lordship sees, that the observation is founded on reason; and I can assure your Lordship, that it is the effect of general experience. But, my Lord, I cannot quit this subject without making all due allowance for the learned counsel’s zeal for his client, and for the warmth of his youth, which probably might have hurried him into this ill-grounded and uncalled-for reproach. It was ill-grounded, as, I hope, I have proved: it was uncalled-for, because not necessary to the question; and could no otherwise have been applied or received, than as mere _argumenta ad passiones_: which, however admissable to the ears of a jury, to the distinguishing eye of a court, never fail to carry with them their own impropriety. But in justice to the gentleman, in other respects, I am called upon to say, that it was with infinite pleasure I perceived those rays of genius and abilities in him, which promise to shine forth so conspicuously, to the ornament of this country, and to the honour of Barbadoes, his native island, in America[8]. I come now, my Lord, to say, that I hope it will not be imputed to me as vanity, that I have ventured to suggest what might in part have led the ideas of those great and wise men, the Lord Chancellours Talbot and Hardwick, to the conclusion which they have drawn, namely, that Negroes in this country do not become free. I was encouraged in the undertaking, by the greatness of their authority. I was enlightened in the pursuit, by the evidence of their opinion. I thought myself justified in resting their chief reasons and motives on the principles of property; and I will produce the opinion itself, as the warrant of my justification: “We are of opinion, That a slave, by coming from the West Indies, either with or without his master, to Great Britain or Ireland, doth not become free; and that his master’s _property_ or _right_ in him is not thereby determined or varied; and baptism doth not bestow freedom on him, nor make any alteration in his temporal condition in these kingdoms: We are also of opinion, that the master may _legally_ compel him to return to the plantations[9]. “P. YORK. “C. TALBOT.” Jan. 24, 1729. Upon this opinion, my Lord, I shall make no other remark, than that right and property seem to be the obvious ground and foundation of it, or the hinges whereupon the whole is made to hang and to turn.