Anti-slavery Monthly Reporter

The "ANTI-SLAVERY MONTHly Reporter" will be ready for delivery on the
last day of every month. Copies will be forwarded at the request of any Anti-
Slavery Society, at the rate of four shillings per hundred, when not exceeding
half a sheet, and in proportion, when it exceeds that quantity. All persons
wishing to receive a regular supply are requested to make application to the
Secretary, at the Society's office, No. 18, Aldermanbury, and mention the con-
veyance by which they may be most conveniently sent. Single Copies may be
had of all booksellers and newsmen, at the rate of 1d. per half-sheet of eight
pages, or 2d. per sheet of sixteen pages.

No. 1.

ANTI-SLAVERY

MONTHLY REPORTER.

ADDRESS TO ANTI-SLAVERY ASSOCIATIONS.

THE Committee of the "London Society for the Mitigation and gradual Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Dominions," have felt, in common with their friends in all parts of the kingdom, the want of a regular medium of communication concerning the progress of the work in which they are engaged. To this want, probably, are to be attributed the misconceptions which have occasionally been formed respecting the design and objects of the Society, but more frequently respecting the means which are deemed by the Committee most desirable to be employed.

With a view to supply this deficiency, the Committee propose to publish Monthly a sheet of the size of the present, which shall contain extracts from their correspondence, and such other intelligence relating to the purposes of their institution, as their acquaintance with the subject may enable them to furnish. The publi cation to be named the "ANTI-SLAVERY MONTHLY REPORTER," will be ready for delivery on the last day of every month. Copies will be forwarded, at the request of any Anti-Slavery Society, at the rate of four shillings per hundred, provided the order for them be received within the month immediately following the date of each Number. It is requested that all persons wishing to receive a regular supply, will make application to the Secretary, at the Society's office, No. 18, Aldermanbury, and mention the conveyance by which they may be most conveniently sent. They might in many cases be sent at very little expense, enclosed in booksellers' parcels, or along with the Monthly Publications of the various religious or charitable Societies; permission to that effect being obtained from the country booksellers or others to whom the parcels are addressed.

It is further earnestly recommended by the Committee to all the friends of Negro improvement, to promote the circulation of the intelligence contained in the "Anti-Slavery Reporter," by lending their own copies, or encouraging others to purchase at the Depôts of the several Societies.

The Committee anticipate much benefit from the proposed publication, provided it be encouraged, as they trust it will be, by their friends throughout the country. In particular they calculate upon a large accession of strength to their cause from numerous and influential classes of the community, not yet sufficiently informed respecting the objects and proceedings of the Society, but who need only to be fully assured that any undertaking which challenges their support, is on the side of justice and humanity, and unexceptionably prosecuted, in order cordially and effectually to espouse it. Such an undertaking the Committee believe theirs to be; and they confidently submit it, together with all their measures, to be canvassed by their countrymen of the United Kingdom. The present measure is adopted at the request of several of their correspondents, and with their own full concurrence in its expediency. They commend it to the blessing of God, and to the favourable acceptance of all who wish to deliver their country from the guilt of supporting that system of oppression and wrong, which is the disgrace and curse of so many of the colonial dependencies of Great Britain.

THE SECOND GENERAL MEETING

OF THE

ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY,

ON SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 1825.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER IN THE CHAIR.

THE Report having been read,

Lord CALTHORPE moved its adoption. He was aware that many imputations had been thrown out against them of indulging in exaggerated statements, and putting forth rather the suggestions of a heated imagination than the naked details of authenticated fact. For this reason, he felt great pleasure in recommending for their adoption the Report just laid before them, for it was not open to this cavil; it was made up of the statements, the admissions, the confessions of the very individuals themselves, who were engaged in administering the dreadful system of Negro Slavery-a system so little like what they were accustomed to in this part of the world-so opposed to all their previous conceptions, that unreflecting people at once rejected the too faithful accounts of it, as altogether unworthy of credit. The Report had detailed much that was highly interesting; and not the least important portion of it was that which referred to the views entertained in the colonies respecting the measures of Government on the subject of Slavery. In a fierce and uncompromising spirit the planters had censured and denounced those measures, though they had certainly proceeded in the mildest spirit of innovation. He conceived that the confessions of the West Indians contained in the Report were of much more value than any thing that could be urged by the warmest advocates of emancipation; and if any part of their language was more particularly deserving of attention than another, it was that in which they spoke of the use of the whip, as an instrument proper and necessary to be used in procuring human labour. The whip was spoken of by them as a thing quite essential to the existence of the colonies, just in the same way as we speak of a free press, or the trial by jury, as institutions essential to the existence of a free Government. But, however frightful the application of such an instrument of torture might be in reference to the Slaves themselves, it was not in that light perhaps that it was to be viewed as most hateful and debasing. It was not merely the agony and degradation which the Negro himself suffered; but it was the corrupting and brutalizing effect produced on the master also. One motive for doing away with this hateful system, was to be found in the immense sum paid by this country for its support and protection. If the same amount were applied to the alleviation and extinction of the evil, and to the encouragement of industry by other and better means, it would be productive of a double benefit. It was a most just observation, and one in which he entirely concurred, that the people of England were the real supporters of the Slave system,-and this not merely because they paid for its support, but because it was in their power to put an end to it. No one acquainted with the vast results which public opinion could produce in this country, could doubt that if the people of England did but will it to be so, Slavery would cease. When we reflected upon the vast influence which those called the middle class exercised in this country, it was not possible to hesitate in believing, that if they were once to say this must not be, there would be an end to Slavery: it would be in vain for parliamentary interest or political connexion to attempt to uphold it for another year. He cordially concurred with that part of the Report which gave utterance to the feelings of the Society on the occasion of the retirement from public life of one of its brightest ornaments, Mr. Wilberforce. If any man had reason to be cheered and consoled in the evening of his days, it was Mr. Wilberforce-an evening of more brightness than generally belongs to the morning or the meridian of other men's lives. Though not with them personally, it was not too great a stretch of ima

gination to say, that he was there to be seen in his works: he was then visible to them in the fruits of his mind. One additional motive for the unabated continuance of their labours was, that Mr. Wilberforce still survived to be the witness of their success- -still lived, and he hoped would continue to live, until the great object of his life had been attained. They owed it to him to strain every nerve, that within the period he had yet to live he might witness the total abolition of that odious system which, through evil and good report, he had never ceased to assail; and to use their utmost endeavours to free their native land from the opprobrious imputation of being the abettor of Slavery; and they must agree with him, that the grand means of accomplishing that object were to be found in the course which that eminent man had pursued. He could not have accomplished his great work of abolishing the Slave Trade had he not been backed by the people of England. He trusted the Meeting would remember that fact, and would in consequence spare no exertion to carry with them the weight and influence of public opinion. To effect this, nothing remained to be done but to bring the light of English reason to bear on the subject.

Lord MILTON expressed his warm admiration of the objects of this Society, and of the Report which had been read. If the great leaders in the cause of abolition thought they had obtained their object merely by abolishing the Slave Trade without the abolition of Slavery itself, they little calculated upon the real duty which they owed both to society and to their Creator. In glancing at the great efforts which had been made to enlighten the public mind upon the horrors of the Slave system, next to Mr. Wilberforce, he could not overlook the powerful labours of Mr. Stephen (the Master in Chancery), who sat near him, and who had, by his writings, exposed, in its naked deformity, all its odious evils. Indeed, the West-Indian mind deluded itself upon this question; and he believed that many very well-meaning proprietors of West India property, who resided away from their estates, were the unconscious instruments of disseminating false intelligence as to the real state of things upon their plantations.-He, however, knew many of these gentlemen who were themselves the advocates of free labour, in preference to Slave cultivation. Even for the sake of their own interests, they wished to see the system changed, and he entirely concurred in the good policy and sagacity of their views. The noble Lord eloquently argued upon the degrading effects of Slavery, and the appalling influence which it exercised upon the human mind: so that at one time ingenious writers had declared that the Blacks were naturally an inferior order of beings to the Whites, and were not entitled, therefore, to be treated with the same humanity--a notion now happily exploded. For the sake of humanity and justice, for the sake of the character of the country, for the sake of the West Indies themselves, he trusted that an end would soon be put, and for ever, to so odious and unwise a system.

On rising to move the thanks of the Society to Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. W. SMITH said, that though, in common with all present, he lamented as a public misfortune that retirement of his revered friend from public life, (which, as a just precaution, might be styled necessary,) he yet could not but feel a satisfaction in the opportunity afforded him of expressing his own feelings respecting the character and exertions of an individual whom he had so long and so highly honoured and esteemed. For one, however, who recollected the commencement, and had marked the progress of this labour of justice and charity, it was almost impossible, and would be highly unjust, to omit the mention of those ardent and disinterested friends of mankind who at different periods had given it their zealous support; -of Granville Sharp, the precursor, rather than the leader of the band, who, liberal alike of expense and of toil, had first established the claim of Africans to liberty on British soil, in the case of the Negro Somerset ;-of Thomas Clarkson, who, following his steps, had first called to this subject the attention of that university which he adorned, and had since devoted himself, body and soul, to the promotion of the cause ;-of Mr. Pitt, who in its early stages had yielded it the most cordial and valuable assistance;-of Fox, whose resistless eloquence had never fulmined over the land with more force and effect than when poured forth in the defence of this sacred cause; and of multitudes of other names, including almost all remarkable for talent and eloquence which, for the last forty years, the country could boast; and amongst whom he rejoiced to see enrolled that of the noble lord who had just sat down; one who, to a thousand other claims on their attention, added that of having succeeded in the representation of the great county of York, to Mr. Wilberforce himself, and to that eminent and disinterested patriot, Sir George Saville, one of the earliest of the Abolitionists,-an anecdote respecting whom he recollected, so much to the present point that he would venture to relate it. Being invited to visit a slave ship which was on the point of sailing

from Liverpool for Africa, while the merchant was exultingly displaying the various contrivances of the ship, and the uses to which they were adapted, Sir George appeared so much affected that his companion inquired if he was ill. "No," he said, "I am not ill; but while you are contemplating unmoved the profits of this voyage, I am wishing the ship may never reach its destination." But whatever may have been the exertions of the orators and statesmen alluded to, between them and their distinguished leader there existed a difference of the most important nature. Their services, however brilliant, however valuable, have been, comparatively, occasional and transitory; often, indeed, splendid, and contributing in a high degree to the success already attained, but still inferior in effect and utility to the labours of their chief, which, equally brilliant with those of his most powerful coadjutors, possessed the vast superiority of having been constant and unintermitted. His influence, and his alone, may be said to resemble the universal influence of the sun, enlightening, connecting, and invigorating the whole system. For such services no acknowledgments could be too grateful, no eulogium overstrained. He knew how imperfectly he had expressed them; but he had also the satisfaction of knowing, that, however feebly he might touch the string, there was in every heart present a responsive chord which would not only catch but swell the note.

Mr. F. BUXTON said, that his Hon. Friend had gone through the list of their ablest advocates, save one, which one was himself; for often had he heard Mr. Wilberforce declare, that during forty years of hard and laborious counsel and action, he bad always found Mr. Smith by his side, his able, cordial, and unflinching supporter. The Hon. Gentleman then eulogized the powerful services of Mr. Wilberforce in labouring to rescue the honour and reputation of his native country from the guilt and odium of the Slave Trade, and took a retrospect of the public services of that distinguished individual, whose private as well as public principles and conduct were, be observed, so well calculated to shed a lustre upon any man's fame, Engaged as he had been in many public conflicts, it was the singular happiness of that individual never to have made one personal enemy, while he had always enjoyed a large and devoted circle of affectionate friends.At this advanced period of their labours in the cause of African freedom they could hardly estimate the obstacles which Mr. Wilberforce had, in his early efforts, to encounter, not only from parliamentary and commercial influence, but from popu. lar clamour. But what a contrast was the present with the past state of the question! There could not now be found one man in the community to avow himself a friend of the Slave Trade. The best results must follow a zealous prosecution of those labours which had already been the means of accomplishing so much good. Mr. W. WILBERFORCE, in rising to request the indulgence of his Royal Highness and the Meeting for a very few moments, could not but say, that he felt more than the ordinary degree of difficulty experienced by all who were, for the first time, placed in the situation in which he then stood, from the peculiar nature of those very circumstances which, at the same time, imperatively demanded his ap pearance. To thank his Royal Highness and the Meeting for the kind expression of their feelings towards one so dear to himself, would be comparatively an easy task; but here it happened, as naturally must be the case, from the nearness of the relationship, that those services which their partiality had that day so highly characterized, were in his view magnified to a still greater degree, and those ardent expressions of mingled admiration and regret, in which they recorded their sense of his father's labours, and had, as it were, embalmed his memory, all fell far short of the stronger feelings of filial affection.-It was the strength of these feelings which indeed rendered him almost incapable of addressing the Meeting. Doubtless it must excite in him, whose absence they that day so kindly regretted, some feelings of disappointment to know that the last battle was not yet fought, the last victory not yet achieved; but it would be no little consolation to him, during the hours of retirement, to reflect, that those old and valued friends by whose side he had fought for above forty years, while they lamented his absence, still themselves remained, strengthened and supported by an embattled phalanx of more recently acquired allies, to fight the battle, and to share the triumph.

Mr. BROUGHAM, in rising to propose a resolution, said, it gave him great satisfaction to have an opportunity of addressing his brethren of this Society upon the present occasion, because he was formerly unable to meet them as he intended, and because he had the gratification, in meeting them now, of congratulating them upon the prosperous aspect of that question in which they were all so deeply interested. For although it was true, as an Hon. Gentleman had observed, that nothing, absolutely nothing, had been done on either side the Atlantic to retrieve the pledges which had been given last year-although the only occurrence which

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Anti-slavery Monthly Reporter, Volume 1