Printed by G. PARAMORE, North Green, Worship-Street; and sold by _G. Whitfield_, at the Chapel, City-Road; and at the Methodist Preaching-Houses, in Town and Country. 1792.
[Price TWO-PENCE.]
I. 1. By _Slavery_ I mean Domestic Slavery, or that of a servant to a master. A late ingenious Writer well observes, “The variety of forms in which Slavery appears, makes it almost impossible to convey a just notion of it, by way of definition. There are however certain properties which have accompanied Slavery in most places, whereby it is easily distinguished from that mild domestic _service_ which obtains in our country.”[1]
[1] See Mr. _Hargrave’s_ Plea for _Somerset_ the Negro.
2. _Slavery_ imports an obligation of perpetual service, an obligation which only the consent of the master can dissolve. Neither in some countries can the master himself dissolve it, without the consent of judges appointed by the law. It generally gives the master an arbitrary power of any correction, not affecting life or limb. Sometimes even these are exposed to his will: or protected only by a fine, or some slight punishment, too inconsiderable to restrain a master of a harsh temper. It creates an incapacity of acquiring any thing, except for the master’s benefit. It allows the master to alienate the Slave, in the same manner as his cows and horses. Lastly it descends in its full extent from parent to child, even to the last generation.
3. The beginning of this may be dated from the remotest period, of which we have an account in history. It commenced in the barbarous State of Society, and in process of time spread into all nations. It prevailed particularly among the _Jews_, the _Greeks_, the _Romans_, and the ancient _Germans_: and was transmitted by them to the various kingdoms and states, which arose out of the _Roman_ empire. But after christianity prevailed, it gradually fell into decline in almost all parts of _Europe_. This great change began in _Spain_, about the end of the eighth century: and was become general in most other kingdoms of _Europe_, before the middle of the fourteenth.
4. From this time Slavery was nearly extinct, till the commencement of the sixteenth century, when the discovery of _America_, and of the Western and Eastern coasts of _Africa_, gave occasion to the revival of it. It took its rise from the _Portuguese_, who to supply the _Spaniards_ with men, to cultivate their new possessions in _America_, procured Negroes from _Africa_, whom they sold for Slaves to the _American_ Spaniards. This began in the year 1508, when they imported the first Negroes into _Hispaniola_. In 1540, _Charles_ the fifth, then King of _Spain_, determined to put an end to _Negro-Slavery_: giving positive orders, That all the Negro-Slaves in the _Spanish_ dominions should be set free. And this was accordingly done by _Lagasca_, whom he sent and impowered to free them all, on condition of continuing to labour for their masters. But soon after _Lagasca_ returned to _Spain_, Slavery returned and flourished as before. Afterwards other nations, as they acquired possessions in _America_, followed the examples of the _Spaniards_; and Slavery has taken deep root in most of our _American_ colonies.
II. Such is the nature of Slavery: such the beginning of Negro-Slavery in _America_. But some may desire to know, what country it is, from which the Negroes are brought? What sort of men, of what temper and behaviour are they in their own country? And in what manner they are generally procured, carried to, and treated in _America_?
1. And first, What kind of country is that from whence they are brought? Is it so remarkably horrid, dreary and barren, that it is a kindness to deliver them out of it? I believe many have apprehended so: but it is an entire mistake, if we may give credit to those who have lived many years therein, and could have no motive to misrepresent it.
2. That part of _Africa_ whence the Negroes are brought, commonly known by the name of _Guinea_, extends along the coast, in the whole, between three and four thousand miles. From the river _Senegal_, (seventeen degrees North of the line) to Cape _Sierra Leona_, it contains seven hundred miles. Thence it runs Eastward about fifteen hundred miles, including the _Grain-coast_, the _Ivory-coast_, the _Gold-coast_, and the _Slave-coast_, with the large kingdom of _Benin_. From thence it runs Southward, about twelve hundred miles, and contains the kingdoms of _Congo_ and _Angola_.