THE HISTORY OF THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE-TRADE, BY THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT BY THOMAS CLARKSON, M.A. 1839 [Illustration: Thomas Clarkson] * * * * * TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM, LORD GRENVILLE, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES, EARL GREY, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE FRANCIS, EARL MOIRA, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GEORGE JOHN, EARL SPENCER, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE HENRY RICHARD, LORD HOLLAND, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THOMAS, LORD ERSKINE, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EDWARD, LORD ELLENBOROUGH, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD HENRY PETTY, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THOMAS GRENVILLE, * * * * * NINE OUT OF TWELVE OF HIS MAJESTY'S LATE CABINET MINISTERS, TO WHOSE WISE AND VIRTUOUS ADMINISTRATION BELONGS THE UNPARALLELED AND ETERNAL GLORY OF THE ANNIHILATION, AS FAR AS THEIR POWER EXTENDED, OF ONE OF THE GREATEST SOURCES OF CRIMES AND SUFFERINGS, EVER RECORDED IN THE ANNALS OF MANKIND; AND TO THE MEMORIES OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILLIAM PITT, AND OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES JAMES FOX, UNDER WHOSE FOSTERING INFLUENCE THE GREAT WORK WAS BEGUN AND PROMOTED; THIS HISTORY OF THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE, IS RESPECTFULLY AND GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED. * * * * * CONTENTS PREFATORY REMARKS ON THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY CHAPTER I Introduction.--Estimate of the evil of the Slave Trade; and of the blessing of the Abolition of it.--Usefulness of the contemplation of this subject CHAPTER II Those, who favoured the cause of the Africans previously to 1787, were so many necessary forerunners in it.--Cardinal Ximenes; and others CHAPTER III Forerunners continued to 1787; divided now into four classes.--First consists of persons in England of various descriptions, Godwyn, Baxter, and others CHAPTER IV Second, of the Quakers in England, George Fox, and his religious descendants CHAPTER V Third, of the Quakers in America.--Union of these with individuals of other religious denominations in the same cause CHAPTER VI Facility of junction between the members of these three different classes CHAPTER VII Fourth, consists of Dr. Peckard; then of the Author.--Author wishes to embark in the cause; falls in with several of the members of these classes CHAPTER VIII Fourth class continued; Langton, Baker, and others.--Author now embarks in the cause as a business of his life CHAPTER IX Fourth class continued; Sheldon, Mackworth, and others.--Author seeks for further information on the subject; and visits Members of Parliament CHAPTER X Fourth class continued.--Author enlarges his knowledge.--Meeting at Mr. Wilberforce's.--Remarkable junction of all the four classes, and a Committee formed out of them, in May, 1787, for the Abolition of the Slave Trade.