An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species: Particularly the African. Translated from a Latin Dissertation, which was Honoured with the First Prize in the University of Cambridge, for the Year 1785, with AdditionsThis 1786 publication is a translation of a prizewinning Latin essay written by Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846) at Cambridge the previous year. Clarkson's deep research into the Atlantic slave trade instilled in him a sense of duty, inspiring him to devote his life to abolitionism. The publication of the essay introduced Clarkson to like-minded campaigners, notably William Wilberforce (1759-1833) and Granville Sharpe (1735-1813), with whom he helped to establish in 1787 the pioneering Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade. |
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Page xiii
... mentioned regulations as neceffary , is to refute himself more clear- ly , than I confess myself to be able to do it : and I have only to request , that the regulations propofed by this writer , in the defence of flavery , may be ...
... mentioned regulations as neceffary , is to refute himself more clear- ly , than I confess myself to be able to do it : and I have only to request , that the regulations propofed by this writer , in the defence of flavery , may be ...
Page xiv
... all Ben Ramfay African which is very ex troverfy Curfory mention the cont in any light . I published the Roya of whom standing in behalf I have will mak not only oned , bi iflands . The facts therefore which I have related ,
... all Ben Ramfay African which is very ex troverfy Curfory mention the cont in any light . I published the Roya of whom standing in behalf I have will mak not only oned , bi iflands . The facts therefore which I have related ,
Page xv
... mentioned in the original copy of my own work , before the controversy began , and which had never appeared in any work upon the fubject , have been brought to light . Nor has it received lefs fupport from a letter , published only laft ...
... mentioned in the original copy of my own work , before the controversy began , and which had never appeared in any work upon the fubject , have been brought to light . Nor has it received lefs fupport from a letter , published only laft ...
Page xviii
... mentioned . - The number which they annually contain . A defcription of an African battle - Additi- onal remarks on prifoners of war . - On convicts . - Chap . IX . The right of the purchasers examined . Conclu- fion . PART IIÍ . The ...
... mentioned . - The number which they annually contain . A defcription of an African battle - Additi- onal remarks on prifoners of war . - On convicts . - Chap . IX . The right of the purchasers examined . Conclu- fion . PART IIÍ . The ...
Page 22
... mentioned , that their fituation was in many inftances fimilar to that of our own fervants . * Genefis , Ch . 47. Leviticus xxv . 39. 40 . mer . $ 6 The Thetes appear very early in the Grecian Hiftory . Od . Ho- Δ . 642 . The meion of ...
... mentioned , that their fituation was in many inftances fimilar to that of our own fervants . * Genefis , Ch . 47. Leviticus xxv . 39. 40 . mer . $ 6 The Thetes appear very early in the Grecian Hiftory . Od . Ho- Δ . 642 . The meion of ...
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Common terms and phrases
Abbé Raynal affert againſt alfo almoſt alſo anſwer appearance argument arifes becauſe cafe Canaan caufe cauſe circumftance cloſe coaft Colchis colonies colour confequence confiderable confidered confifts confpicuous crimes cuſtom cuticle defcendants defcribed Effay eſtabliſhed Europeans exifted exiſtence faid falfe fame fcenes fecond feems fentenced fervice fervitude feveral fhall fhew fhewn fhips fhort fhould fince firft firſt fituation flavery flaves fociety fome fons foon former ftate fubftance fubject fuch fuffer fufficient fuppofe fupport fyftem hiftory honour human fpecies inferiour inftances inhabitants intereft itſelf John Wheatley juft juftice juftly juſt labour laws lefs liberty mafter manner meaſure ment mentioned moft moſt muft muſt nature neceffary neceffity negroes neral obferve occafion ourſelves paffed perfon pleaſure poffible prefent prifoners principles publick puniſhment purchaſed purpoſe reafon receivers refift refpect reft ſhall SLAVERY AND COMMERCE ſtate thefe themſelves theſe thofe thoſe tion treatment unfortunate Africans univerfally uſed whofe wretched Africans
Popular passages
Page iv - And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth That sinews bought and sold have ever earn'd. No: dear as freedom is, and in my heart's Just estimation priz'd above all price, I had much rather be myself the slave, And wear the bonds, than fasten them on him.
Page 112 - God, We on thy pinions can surpass the wind, And leave the rolling universe behind : From star to star the mental optics rove, Measure the skies, and range the realms above. There in one view we grasp the mighty whole, Or with new worlds amaze th
Page 142 - ... happiness. And then see whether they do not place it in the return to their own country, rather than in the contemplation of your grandeur, of which their misery makes so large a part. A return...
Page 107 - Such then is the nature of this servitude, that we can hardly expect to find in those, who undergo it, even the glimpse of genius. For if their minds are in a continual state of depression, and if they have no expectations in life to awaken their abilities, and make them eminent, we cannot be surprised if a sullen gloomy stupidity should be the leading mark in their character; or if they should appear inferior to those, who do not only enjoy the invaluable blessings of freedom, but have every prospect...
Page 123 - It is confpicuous in every blufti; for no one can imagine, that the cuticle becomes red, as often as this happens: nor is it lefs difcoverable in the veins, which are fo eafy to be difcerned ; for no one can fuppofe, that the blue ftreaks, which he conftantly fees in the taireft complexions, are painted, as it were, on the furface of the upper Ikin.
Page 128 - America under the torrid zone *' for any time, are become as dark coloured as our na" live Indians of Virginia, of which, Imyfelf have been ** aivitnefs; and were they not to intermarry with the " Europeans, but lead the fame rude and barbarous lives ** with the Indians, it is very probable that, in a fuccef" fion of many generations, they would become as dark ** in complexion.
Page 119 - That all mankind did spring from one original, and that there are no different species among men. For God who made the world, hath made of one blood all the nations of men that dwell on all the face of the earth.
Page 127 - Guinea, is, that this colour changes when the inhabitants are removed into other countries. The children they procreate in America are not fo black as their parents were. After each generation, the difference becomes more palpable. It is poffible, that after a numerous fucceffion of generations, the men come from Africa would not be diftinguifhed from thofe of the country into which they may have been tranfplanted.
Page 122 - ... adhered fo firmly to the Cuticle as, in all former anatomical preparations, to have come off with it, and, from this circumftance, to have led the ancient anatomifts to believe, that there were but two lamina, or divifible portions in the human fkin.
Page 124 - Л fia are found to have their rete mucofum black : thofe of Africa, fituated near the line, of the fame colour ; thofe of the maritime parts of the fame continent, of a dufky brown, nearly approaching to it ; and the colour becomes lighter or darker in proportion as the diftance from the equator is either greater or lefs. The Europeans are the faired inhabitants of the world.