PREFACE: WHAT I ventured abroad many years fince, under the title of SYMPATHY-a Poem, which, on account of the interests created in the heart, by the fubject itself, was received by the Public with fo much generous warmthwas INTENDED to serve as a preliminary to what I had farther to obferve on SOCIETY, or a profpect of the HUMAN RACE, under the combined influence of CLIME and GOVERNMENT, RELIGIONS, LAWS, and LIBERTIES.From these, the tranfition to TYRANNY was na tural, and strongly in connection; and from TYRANNY, I felt myself called upon by all the awakened emotions of HUMANITY, to confider SLAVERY; but not only that species of it, which confifts in buying and felling our Fellow-Crea VOL. III. tures tures in Africa-BUT EVERY OTHER KIND, in EVERY OTHER PLACE. Views, therefore, of FREEDOM and BONDAGE, throughout the different parts of the globe, have been taken, as well from experience, as the beft hiftorical evidence. How far the entire Abolition, fo warmly contended for by the fupporters of this measure, may be confiftent with human policy, it is not my purpofe particularly to enquire. It is not the name of Slave in itself which produces the great mischief. An hired servant in Europe may be as little at his own command, and deftined to as hard labour as a purchased Negro in Africa; but the effential difference confifts in the one being guarded by the laws of the land, which fpread before his perfon and his property a fhield that defends him from every abuse of power; while the other is left naked and defencelefs to the "infolence of office." HUMANITY requires that the RIGHTS OF NATURE fhould be enjoyed by every Human Being. It is therefore against the fhocking bar barity, barity*, the unquestionable cruelty, and the too well attefted horror, growing out of thefe, that I ftill contend.-An abolition of thefe enormities is abfolutely neceffary. For the rest, whether the commerce flourishes or falls, is a matter of no moment to the Philanthropist: without engaging in the heats of political controversy; without, attending to the pleas of interest on the one fide, or the fallies of enthusiastic zeal, though generous in its exceffes, on the other, it is fufficient to Him that the happiness of the fpecies in general, is made independent on the tyranny of particular individuals,-that the • I am glad, however, to have it in my power to observe, that we have not suffered the HUMANITY of the French and other nations to furpass our own, at least in one of our islands, as the following authentic extract from the Jamaica Councils will atteft, dated November 29th, 1787. "This day the Houfe of Affembly went into a Committee on the Confolidated Slave Bill, and continued fitting upwards of three hours. We understand, that by this Bill, the whole system of the law respecting Negroes, is entirely changed, a Council of Protection is established in each parish, and many humane provifions are introduced for rendering their condition eafy and happy. It is also made felony, without benefit of clergy, to murder a Slave; a clause, which, to the great honour of the House, passed without a single dissenting voice.” laws of fubordination, in the different claffes of SOCIETY, fhould not violate the laws of Humanity, and that so much of liberty fhould be al lowed to every man, as to feel a consciousness of his being a link in the great chain of the community; and that till by fome act of his own it is ne eeffary, for the good of the whole, that he fhould be confidered as an outcaft of fociety, he is, by the Rights of Nature and of Reafon, entitled to protection from insult, mifery, and death. So far as the wealth can be reconciled to the happiness of na tions, and the Establishments of Civil Society to the Rights of Nature, every lover of his country muft subscribe: at the fame time, as the wealth of worlds cannot justify the leaft wanton infraction of the laws of Humanity, whoever vainly attempts to fup port an argument for the one, at the expence of the other, erects a building which hath its foundation in the fands, and which must tumble into ruins at the flightest touch of Reason and of Truth. HUMANITY. HUMANITY. BOOK I. FROM vernal blooms, and many a fragrant bow'r, The redd'ning bloffom and unfolding flow'r, x 3 ; |