hatred was best secured by redeem- away from him all merit of doing ing them from danger and disho- right, and by making it impossible

nour.

112. Speech of Mr. CURRAN, `on the bill to limit the amount of Pen

sions. 1786.

for men to run into slavery, you enslave them most effectually. But if instead of the three different parts of our constitution drawing forcibly in right lines, at opposite directions, they were to unite their power, and draw all one way, in one right line, I object to adjourning this bill to how great would be the effect of their the first of August, because I per-force, how happy the direction of this ceive in the present disposition of the union. The present system is not house, that a proper decision will be only contrary to mathematical rectiinade upon it this night. We have tude, but to public harmony; but if set out upon our inquiry in a manner instead of privilege setting up his so honourable, and so consistent, that we have reason to expect the happiest to saddle his back and invite preroback to oppose prerogative, he was success, which I would not wish to gative to ride, how comfortably might see baffled by delay. We began with giving the full affir- they both jog along; and therefore it delights me to hear the advocates for mative of this house, that no griev- the royal bounty flowing freely, and spontaneously, and abundantly, as simple matter of fact, and adjourn- Holywell in Wales. If the crown ed our opinion, or rather we gave sentence on the conclusion, after grants double the amount of the rehaving adjourned the premises. But venue in pensions, they approve of their royal master, for he is the breath I do begin to see a great deal of arof their nostrils. gument in what the learned baronet has said, and I beg gentlemen will acquit me of apostasy, if I offer some reasons why the bill should not be crown and its true servants, is not confined at home, it extends its influadmitted to a second reading.

ance exists at all; we considered a

*

But we will find that this complaisance, this gentleness between the

chants have been insulted in Portugal, our commerce interdicted; what did the British lion do? Did he whet his tusks? Did he bristle up and shake his mane? Did he roar? No; no such thing-the gentle creature

I am surprised that gentlemen have ence to foreign powers. Our mertaken up such a foolish opinion, as that our constitution is maintained by its different component parts, mutually checking and controlling each other they seem to think with Hobbes, that a state of nature is a state of warfare, and that, like Ma- wagged his tail for six years at the homet's coffin, the constitution is suspended between the attraction of different powers. My friends seem to think that the crown should be restrained from doing wrong by a physical necessity, forgetting that if you take away from a man all power to do wrong, you at the same time take

court of Lisbon, and now we hear from the Delphic oracle on the treasury bench, that he is wagging his tail in London to chevalier Pinto, who he hopes soon to be able to tell us will allow his lady to entertain him as a lap-dog; and when she does, no doubt the British factory will furnish some of their softest woollens to make *Sir Boyle Roche, who opposed the bill, said, a cushion for him to lie upon. But he would not stop the fountain of royal favour, though the gentle beast has continubut let it flow freely, spontaneously, and abun-ed so long fawning and crouching, I dantly, as Holywell in Wales, that turns so many believe his vengeance will be great

mills.

as it is slow, and that posterity, whose will by so doing have this security ancestors are yet unborn, will be sur- for their independence, that while prised at the vengeance he will take. any man in the kingdom has a shilThis polyglot of wealth, this mu-ling they will not want one. seum of curiosities, the pension list, Suppose at any future period of time embraces every link in the human the boroughs of Ireland should decline chain, every description of men, wo- from their present flourishing and men, and children, from the ex- prosperous state-suppose they should alted excellence of a Hawke or a fall into the hands of men who would Rodney, to the debased situation of wish to drive a profitable commerce, the lady who humbleth herself that by having members of parliament to she may be exalted. But the lessons hire or let; in such a case a secreit inculcates form its greatest per-tary would find great difficulty, if the fection :-it teacheth, that sloth and proprietors of members should enter vice may eat that bread which virtue into a combination to form a monoand honesty may starve for after they poly; to prevent which in time, the had earned it. It teaches the idle wisest way is to purchase up the raw and dissolute to look up for that sup-material, young members of parliaport which they are too proud to stoop ment, just rough from the grass, and and earn. It directs the minds of when they are a little bitted, and he men to an entire reliance on the rul- has got a pretty stud perhaps of seing power of the state, who feeds the venty, he may laugh at the slave merravens of the royal aviary, that cry chant: some of them he may teach continually for food. It teaches to sound through the nose like a barthem to imitate those saints on the rel organ; some, in the course of a pension list that are like the lilies of few months, might be taught to cry, the field-they toil not, neither do hear! hear! some, chair! chair! upthey spin, and yet are arrayed like on occasion, though, those latter Solomon in his glory. In fine, it might create a little confusion, if they teaches a lesson which indeed they were to forget whether they were callmight have learned from Epictetus-ing inside or outside of these doors. that it is sometimes good not to be Again, he might have some so trainover virtuous: it shows that in pro-ed that he need only pull a string, portion as our distresses increase, the and up gets a repeating member; munificence of the crown increases and if they were so dull that they also-in proportion as our clothes are could neither speak nor make orarent, the royal mantle is extended tions, (for they are different things,) he might have them taught to dance, But, notwithstanding the pension pedibus ire in sententia-This imlist, like charity, covers a multitude provement might be extended; he of sins, give me leave to consider it might have them dressed in coats and as coming home to the members of shirts all of one colour, and of a Sunthis house-give me leave to say, that day he might march them to church the crown, in extending its charity, two and two, to the great edification its liberality, its profusion, is laying of the people and the honour of the a foundation for the independence of Christian religion; afterwards, like parliament; for hereafter, instead of the ancient Spartans, or the fraterniorators or patriots accounting for ty at Kilmainham, they might dine their conduct to such mean and un- all together in a large hall. Good worthy persons as freeholders, they heaven! what a sight to see them will learn to despise them, and look feeding in public upon public viands, to the first man in the state, and they and talking of public subjects for the

over us.

benefit of the public. It is a pity and that a slave trade carried on they are not immortal; but I hope round her coasts must extend viothey will flourish as a corporation, lence and desolation to her very cenand that pensioners will beget pen- tre? Such were precisely the cirsioners to the end of the chapter.

113. Speech of Mr. WILBERFORCE, on the Slave Trade.

cumstances proved by the evidence before the privy council, particularly by those who had been most conversant with the subject, Mr. Wadstrom, captain Hill, and Doctor Sparrman. From them it appeared, that the kings He began with observing, that he of Africa were never induced to endid not mean to appeal to the passions gage in war by public principles, by of the house, but to their cool and national glory, and, least of all, by the impartial reason. He did not mean love of their people. They had conto accuse any one, but to take shame versed with these princes, and had to himself, in common indeed with learned from their own mouths, that the whole parliament of Great Bri- to procure slaves was the object of tain, for having suffered so odious a their hostilities. Indeed, there was trade to be carried on under their scarcely a single person examined authority. He deprecated every kind before the privy council, who did not of reflection against the various de- prove that the slave trade was the scriptions of persons who were most source of the tragedies continually immediately involved in this wretch- acted upon that extensive continent. ed transaction. It was necessary for Some had endeavoured to palliate him to state in the outset, that he this circumstance; but there was not did not conceive the witnesses, who one that did not more or less admit it were examined, and particularly in- to be true. By one it was called the terested witnesses, to be judges of concurrent cause, by the majority it the argument. In the matters of fact was acknowledged to be the princithat were related by them he admit- pal motive of the African wars. ted their competency; but confident Mr. Wilberforce proceeded to deassertions, not of facts, but of sup- scribe the mode in which the slaves posed consequences of facts, went for were transported from Africa to the nothing in his estimation. Mr. Wil- West Indies. This he confessed was berforce divided his subject into three the most wretched part of the whole parts; the nature of the trade as it subject. So much misery condensaffected Africa itself, the appearance ed in so little room, was more than it assumed in the transportation of the human imagination had ever bethe slaves, and the considerations that fore conceived. He would not accuse were suggested by their actual state the Liverpool traders; he verily bein the West Indies. With respect to lieved, that if the wretchedness of the first, it was found by experience any one of the many hundred neto be just such as every man who groes stowed in each ship could be used his reason would infallibly have brought before the view, and remain concluded it to be. What must be in the sight of the African merchants, the natural consequence of a slave there was not one among them whose trade with Africa, with a country vast heart would be strong enough to bear in its extent, not utterly barbarous, it. He called upon his hearers to but civilized in a very small degree? imagine six or seven hundred of these Was it not plain that she must suffer victims chained two and two, surfrom it; that her savage manners rounded with every object that was must be rendered still more ferocious, nauseous and disgusting, diseased,

and struggling with all the varieties of parliament. Mr. Norris talked of wretchedness. How could they bear frankincense and lime-juice, while to think of such a scene as this? the surgeons described the slaves as Meanwhile he would beg leave to so closely stowed, that there was not quote the evidence of Mr. Norris, de- room to tread among them; and livered in a manner that fully demon- while it was proved in evidence by strated that interest could draw a film Sir George Yonge, that, even in a over the eyes, so thick, that total ship that wanted two hundred of her blindness could do no more. 'Their complement, the stench was intoleraapartments,' said this evidence, are ble. The song and the dance, said fitted up as much for their advan- Mr. Norris, are promoted. It would tage as circumstances will admit. have been more fair perhaps if he had They have several meals a day, some explained the word promoted. The of their own country provisions, with truth was, that for the sake of exerthe best sauces of African cookery, cise these miserable wretches, loaded and by way of variety, another meal with chains and oppressed with disof pulse, &c. according to European ease, were forced to dance by the taste. After breakfast they have wa- terror of the lash, and sometimes by ter to wash themselves, while their the actual use of it. 'I,' said one of apartments are perfumed with frank- the evidences, 'was employed to dance incense and lime-juice. Before din- the men, while another person dancner they are amused after the man-ed the women.' Such was the meanner of their country; the song and ing of the word promoted; and it the dance are promoted, and games might also be observed, with respect of chance are furnished. The men to food, that instruments were someplay and sing, while the women and times carried out in order to force girls make fanciful ornaments with them to eat; which was the same beads, with which they are plentiful- sort of proof how much they enjoyly supplied.' Such was the sort of ed themselves in this instance also. strain in which the Liverpool dele- With respect to their singing, it congates gave their evidence before the sisted of songs of lamentation on their privy council. What would the house departure, which while they sung think, when by the concurring testi- they were always in tears; so that mony of other witnesses the true his- one of the captains, more humane tory was laid open? The slaves, who probably than the rest, threatened a were sometimes described as rejoic- woman with a flogging, because the ing in their captivity, were so wrung mournfulness of her song was too with misery, at leaving their country, painful for his feelings. That he that it was the constant practice to might not trust, however, too much set sail in the night, lest they should to any sort of description, Mr. Wilbe sensible of their departure. Their berforce called the attention of the accommodations it seemed were con-house to one species of evidence venient. The right ancle of one, which was infallible. Death was a indeed, was connected with the left witness that could not deceive them, ancle of another by a small iron fet- and the proportion of deaths would ter, and if they were turbulent, by not only confirm, but, if possible, another on the wrists. The pulse even aggravate our suspicion of the which Mr. Norris mentioned were misery of the transit. It would be horse beans, and the legislature of found, upon an average of all the Jamaica had stated the scantiness ships upon which evidence had been both of water and provision as a sub-given, that, exclusively of such as ject that called for the interference of perished before they sailed, not less

than twelve and a half per cent. died firmed by increasing information, and in the passage. Besides these, the the evidence he had now to offer upon Jamaica report stated, that four and this point was decisive and complete. a half per cent. expired upon shore The principle upon which he foundbefore the day of sale, which was on- ed the necessity of the abolition was ly a week or two from the time of not policy, but justice; but, though their landing; one third more died justice were the principle of the in the seasoning, and this in a cli-measure, yet he trusted he should dismate exactly similar to their own, and tinctly prove it to be reconcileable where, as some of the witnesses pre- with our truest political interest. tended, they were healthy and happy. In the first place he asserted, that The diseases however that they con- the number of negroes in the West tracted on ship-board, the astringents Indies might be kept up without the and washes that were employed to introduction of recruits from Africa; hide their wounds, and make them and to prove this, he enumerated the up for sale, were a principal cause of various sources of the present morthis mortality. The negroes, it tality. The first was the disproporshould be remembered, were not pur- tion of the sexes, an evil which, when chased at first except in perfect the slave trade was abolished, must health, and the sum of the different in the course of nature cure itself. casualties taken together, produced a The second was the disorders conmortality of above fifty per cent. tracted in the transportation, and the Mr. Wilberforce added, that as consequences of the washes and mersoon as he had advanced thus far in curial ointments by which they were his investigation, he felt the wicked- made up for sale. A third was exness of the slave trade to be so enor- cessive labour, joined with improper mous, so dreadful, and so irremedia- food; and a fourth, the extreme disble, that he could stop at no al-soluteness of their manners. These ternative short of its abolition. A would both of them be counteracted trade founded in iniquity, and car- by the impossibility of procuring furried on with such circumstances of ther supplies. It was the interest, horror, must be abolished, let the po- they were told, of the masters, to treat licy be what it might; and he had their slaves with kindness and humafrom this time determined, whatever nity; but it was immediate and were the consequences, that he would present, not future and distant internever rest till he had effected that abo-est, that was the great spring of aclition. His mind had indeed been tion in the affairs of mankind. Why harassed with the objections of the did we make laws to punish men? West Indian planters, who had assert- It was their interest to be upright and ed that the ruin of their property virtuous. But there was a present

must be the consequence of this re- impulse continually breaking in upgulation. He could not however help on their better judgment, an impulse distrusting their arguments. He which was known to be contrary to could not believe that the Almighty their permanent advantage. It was Being, who forbad the practice of ra- ridiculous to say that men would be pine and bloodshed, had made rapine bound by their interest, when preand bloodshed necessary to any part sent gain or ardent passion urged of his universe. He felt a confidence them. It might as well be asserted, in this persuasion, and took the reso- that a stone could not be thrown into lution to act upon it. Light indeed the air, or a body move from place soon broke in upon him; the suspi- to place, because the principle of gracion of his mind was every day con-vitation bound them to the surface of