administration of the finances, had recorded his abhorrence of this trade.  He was happy also to relate an anecdote of the present King of France, which proved that he was a friend to the abolition; for, being petitioned to dissolve a society, formed at Paris, for the annihilation of the Slave-trade, his majesty answered, that he would not, and was happy to hear that so humane an association was formed in his dominions.  And here, having mentioned the society in Paris, he could not help paying a due compliment to that established in London for the same purpose, which had laboured with the greatest assiduity to make this important subject understood, and which had conducted itself with so much judgment and moderation as to have interested men of all religions, and to have united them in their cause.

There was another topic which he would submit to the notice of the house before he concluded.  They were perhaps not aware, that a fair and honourable trade might be substituted in the natural productions of Africa, so that our connection with that continent in the way of commercial advantage need not be lost.  The natives had already made some advances in it; and if they had not appeared so forward in raising and collecting their own produce for sale as in some other countries, it was to be imputed to the Slave-trade:  but remove the cause, and Africa would soon emerge from her present ignorant and indolent state.  Civilization would go on with her as well as with other nations.  Europe three or four centuries ago was in many parts as barbarous as Africa at present, and chargeable with as bad practices.  For, what would be said, if, so late as the middle of the thirteenth century, he could find a parallel there for the Slave-trade?—­Yes.  This parallel was to be found even in England.  The people of Bristol, in the reign of Henry the Seventh, had a regular market for children, which were bought by the Irish:  but the latter having experienced a general calamity, which they imputed as a judgment from Heaven on account of this wicked traffic, abolished it.  The only thing, therefore, which he had to solicit of the house, was to show that they were now as enlightened as the Irish were four centuries back, by refusing to buy the children of other nations.  He hoped they would do it.  He hoped, too, they would do it in an unqualified manner.  Nothing less than a total abolition of the trade would do away the evils complained of.  The legislature of Jamaica, indeed, had thought that regulations might answer the purpose.  Their report had recommended, that no person should be kidnapped, or permitted to be made a slave, contrary to the customs of Africa.  But might he not be reduced to this state very unjustly, and yet by no means contrary to the African laws?  Besides, how could we distinguish between those who were justly or unjustly reduced to it?  Could we discover them by their physiognomy?—­But if we could, Who would believe that the British captains