Antislavery In England

In 1774, the Britistl cabinet refu'sed ts assenttotho imposilion by thé colonial Legislatures of dutios on tlió importation of slaves. " Wo cffnnot," said ihe secretai'y, Lord Darlmouth "aliov the colonies to check or discourage in any degrce a traífic so beneficial to the nation." This shows whêrê public sentimenl was at tliat time ; but it could have Deen, I no more adverse to theabolition of the slave trade, than public sentiment n this country ten years ago was against the abolition of slavery ; so that the starting points may be considered equal. Ca the 7tb of July, 1783, six Qunkers met in London, "to consider wliat sle])s they should take for the relief and liberation of the negro slaves in the West Indies, and for the discouragement of the stare trade on the coast of África." The individuéis commenced operatior.3 systematically. - Their first object was to enlighien and purifv the pubüc mind; they commenced publishing anieles respecting the slave trade, and circulating books and pamphlets on the subject. Oa the third year they engnged the celobrated Clarkson ö lectureonthe subject, who gave a erful impulse to the work at once. On ibe fifth yenr, Mny 9tl), 1789, the House of Commons voted that they ttould fakfc into cönsiderntion the complaints ngainst the African slave trade, at tlieir next ses-: sion. Theh cáme the tuig of war on the aubject. Dcfeat attended every measure, but slill they persevered, - they doubted not the wisdom of their course, flor for a momont despaired of ultímate success. And though faiüng in carrying specific points, their cause was onward. Soon Mr. WilbeiTorco enüsted in the work, and used his suroassing eloqusnce, and mightv infiueftce in the House Commons, ngainsl the inhuman frafflc. Ten times at different sessions, did he endeavor to carry a bilí to suppress this traffic, and ten times wds hè doomed to de feta Í ! ! And still de persevered ! And faith and persevprence were ullimately wel! fewarded. Bnt not till much time hnd élnpsed. On tlie 25tli March, 1807, teniy-four years afler ihe lormalion of the Quaker Commiltee, the slave irade was abolishéd by net of Parliament. A hard battle for liberly ha) now been fought and the victory won j but still tliere must be another campaigtij or ralher campaigns, and many hard fought battles before all that ihe commitlee set out to nccomplish should be done. Slaverv stil! esisted in the West Indics. The struggle to gain this end continned tliirty-one yenrs after the nccompüshment of the former, - ffly-fice years f rom the commencemen! of the noble enterprize. Now when we think wliat it was they had lo do, - chango the public sentiment of a greut naton, entrely reverse it - we cannot but feel that their sueeess was very great. And if their success was greal, what is ours. - Who can doubt but that the work proceeds with far greater rapidity here than