tate to encourage domestic slavery; and, instead of regarding it as inconsistent with political liberty or injurious to national weal, they sanctioned it as one of the greatest securities and auxiliaries of both. It will be observed, in addition, that the institution of slavery has not only had the assent and sanction of all the patriots, philanthropists and sages of antiquity, but that the divine will has been distinctly and actively expressed in its favour. A comparison of the condition of ancient and modern slavery may, also, perhaps, enlighten the prejudices of some of those who affect to sympathize with the bondman, and lament over the fictitious recital of the sternness of the American master and the hardships of the American slave.-But on these points we will speak more at large hereafter.

CHAPTER III.

Origin, progress, and abolition of the African Slave Trade.

THE African slave trade was commenced by the Portuguese. In 1434 a Portuguese captain landed in Guinea; and having captured some negro lads, he bore them to the south of Spain, and sold them to great advantage. The opening thus made was soon crowded with adventurers. The Portuguese made descents upon the coast of Africa, seized the inhabitants, and carried them into slavery. These depredations at length became so frequent and formidable, that the blacks retreated into the interior. Thither, however, their persecutors followed them. The Portuguese entered their rivers, and penetrating into the country, continued and extended their spoliations.

The traffic soon became so important, as to render a more permanent and secure system necessary to furnish the traders with the requisite supply of slaves. The plan was changed. Recourse to force was abandoned, and a peaceful commerce was commenced with the natives. Settlements were made, forts built, and factories erected; and the trade soon became extended and mutual.

The Portuguese erected their first fort at D'Elmina, in 1481. Other European nations soon followed their example. Treaties were made with the African kings; they agreed to furnish slaves, and

the traders, in return, brought them the luxuries and ornaments of Europe.

The object of this trade, on the part of the Europeans, was to supply the necessities of their extensive western colonies. The newly discovered and settled portions of the western world, being generally in a latitude fatal to European constitutions, it was found necessary to subject the natives to labour. In most instances this proved unsuccessful; and recourse was, at length, had to the natives of Africa, whose constitutions were found to agree with the exposure and hardships required. In 1517, Las Casas, who had seen the poor Indians melting away like dew, proposed to the Emperor Charles V. to substitute negro labour; and a charter was accordingly granted for the importation of four thousand slaves annually into Hispaniola.

The slave trade, which at first consisted wholly in the transportation of those who had forfeited their liberty in their own country, as criminals or prisoners of war, was at length extended by the wants of the colonies, and the rapacity of the African chiefs. Those who were suspected of crime became slaves; and causeless wars were undertaken, for the sole purpose of making captives for the slave trade. The traffic continued to extend with the growth and wants of the colonies, up to the close of the eighteenth century.

Those who collect the slaves for the traders have been divided into several classes. The first consisted of a chain of black traders from the interior to the sea-board. They procured slaves, sometimes at a distance of twelve hundred miles in the country, and forwarded them on to the factories. The second class was composed of individuals who travelled inland, and collecting as many slaves as they could transport, brought them to the stations. The third class comprised those who ascended the rivers to a

great height, in large canoes, and thus collected numbers of slaves. The prices paid for slaves were generally trivial, but advanced as the trader approached the coast. The articles given in exchange consisted generally of liquor, muskets, powder, &c.

Large numbers of slaves were procured by the depredations of native princes, dignified with the name of wars. It appears that the native Africans, instead of being in the state of primeval innocence and undisturbed tranquillity, in which they have been frequently painted, may be regarded as the most savage of the barbarous races of mankind. They are in continual war with each other. Different tribes are constantly struggling to make prisoners of each other, in order to provide slaves for the Europeans; and when enemies cannot be thus obtained, the chiefs frequently assail their own villages, make their own people slaves, and sell them to the whites. Perhaps a more revolting picture of humanity has never been drawn than may be found in the description of Africa; and much as the evils of slavery are to be deplored, it is extremely doubtful whether the lot of the African is not absolutely improved, by being, even forcibly, placed under the protection of the laws of a civilized and Christian country.

Clarkson, the great champion of Africa, divides the slaves into seven classes. The first and largest class consists of those who are kidnapped. It seems that the inhabitants of Africa prey upon each other like wild beasts. Kidnapping prevails throughout the whole country. It is said to be the first principle of the natives never to go unarmed. This precaution is rendered necessary by the predatory habits of their countrymen. The second order of slaves is composed of those whose villages are depopulated in capturing them. The third class consists of those convicted of crime. The fourth class includes pri

soners of war. The fifth class comprehends those who are slaves by birth. The number of native slaves is said to be very large; and a humane writer alleges that many make a regular business of breeding slaves for commerce. The sixth and seventh classes are composed of gamblers and insolvents.

All writers agree in describing the habits of the native negro as extremely savage, and their conduct towards each other as treacherous, lawless, and to the last degree inhuman. Violence, rapine, and slaughter appear to prevail throughout that unhappy country. The native wars are described as merciless and wanton, having no motive but the capture of prisoners, and being regulated by no law human or divine. Mr. Ashmun, the agent at Liberia, gives the following account of the extermination of a tribe by one of the native chiefs. The incident took place in 1822.

"I wish to afford the board a full view of our situation, and of the African character. The following incident I relate, not for its singularity, for similar events take place perhaps every month in the year; but it has fallen under my own observation, and I can vouch for its authenticity. King Boatswain, our most powerful supporter and steady friend among the natives, (so he has uniformly shown himself,) received a quantity of goods in trade from a French slaver, for which he stipulated to pay young slaves. He makes it a point of honour to be punctual to his engagements. The time was at hand when he expected the return of the slaver. He had not the slaves. Looking round on the peaceable tribes about him for his victims, he singled out the Queahs, a small agricultural and trading people of most inoffensive character. His warriors were skilfully distributed to the different hamlets, and making a simultaneous assault on the sleeping inhabitants, in the dead of night, accomplished, without difficulty