Lord Howick and Mr. Wilberforce. Lord Grenville, on receiving it, urged the utmost expedition in getting it printed and sanctioned by the lords; for it had yet one important stage through which to pass, that of receiving the royal assent; and as it was strongly rumoured that the existing ministry was about to be displaced, great apprehensions were entertained that, should that event take place before the signature was obtained, the cause might again be thrown into uncertainty and delay; as it was well known that among the constituents of the projected new ministry were several who had shown a hostile disposition towards the cause. Accordingly, the bill which had been brought from the commons on the 18th of March, was printed and ready for discussion, on its amendments by the lords on the 23d. Lord Grenville immediately brought it forward. It encountered some opposition, but was ably supported by the Duke of Norfolk and Bishop of Llandaff, the latter of whom said this great act of justice would be recorded in heaven. The amendments were severally adopted without a division; but an omission of three words was discovered, which, if not rectified, would defeat the object of the bill. An amendment was immediately proposed and carried for the insertion of these three words, viz. "country, territory, or place." On the 24th it was sent back to the commons for their assent to the addition of the three words, then back to the lords as approved of, on the same day. On the 25th the ministry was dissolved. At half-past eleven in the morning, the members of the ministry were summoned to deliver up their seals of office. It then appeared that a commission for the royal

assent to this bill, among others, had been obtained. The commission was instantly opened by the Lord Chancellor Erskine, and executed as the clock struck twelve. The ceremony being over, the seals of office were resigned. Thus the last act of the administration of Lord Grenville "was the establishment of a Magna Charta for Africa in Britain." And the virtuous and successful exertions of that ministry in behalf of the oppressed African race, will pass to posterity, and live in the love and gratitude of mankind.

SECT. XIX.

- MEASURES TOWARDS THE ABOLI

TION OF SLAVERY.

THE abolition of the slave-trade was a matter of cordial rejoicing to all the friends of humanity, and called forth expressions of devout gratitude to Him who had inspired their hearts with benevolent ardour, who had enabled them to persevere in spite of all opposition and discouragement, and who had ultimately crowned their efforts with success. The press teemed with sermons, addresses, and almost every variety of literary effort in congratulation and commemoration of this great and glorious event. Clarkson, the indefatigable labourer in the sacred cause, no sooner witnessed its triumph, than he produced a modest record of the arduous toils by which, under the blessing of Heaven, it was at length achieved. His work is entitled, "A History of the Abolition of the Slave-Trade," in two vols. 8vo. He who having been so instrumental in effecting the work, could contrive so much to keep himself out of sight, discovers such a union

of christian humility and magnanimity, as eminently qualifies him to enjoy an infinitely higher reward than the applause of mortals, in the success of his cause, the testimony of his conscience, and the approbation of his God; and when the greater is conscientiously pursued, the lesser follows unsought. Such names as those of Sharpe and Clarkson are not permitted to steal into oblivion, any more than the fragrance of the violet can be suppressed by the leaves under which it hides its modest beauties.

Another permanent record of the glorious event is preserved in an elegant publication by a late talented and spirited artist and publisher, R. Bowyer, Esq. Pall Mall. Desiring that the illustrious act of the British legislature should be popularly commemorated by a tribute of British genius, he engaged in his cause the allied arts of poetry and painting, and produced a splendid volume, which he dedicated to the Duke of Gloucester, and the society of which that illustrious prince was the patron. The work comprises three poems: the first, by James Montgomery, entitled "The West Indies;" the second, by James Grahame, entitled "Africa Delivered;" the third, by E. Benger, entitled "A Poem occasioned by the Abolition of the Slave-Trade." The embellishments are from paintings by R. Smirke; they comprise busts of Wilberforce, Sharpe, and Clarkson; a vignette of the fable of Prometheus delivered, to which there are explanatory lines by Montgomery; and nine other beautiful engravings, illustrative of the sentiments of the poems.

But though the slave trade and its horrors were done away, as far as the laws of Great Britain

could effect it, it could not be lost sight of by the friends of humanity, that their triumph was incomplete, while personal and hereditary slavery continued to exist in the colonies of the British empire. It was indeed fondly hoped, that the great measure of 1807,-accomplished after a twenty years' struggle, would have tended rapidly to the mitigation and gradual extinction of negro bondage in those colonies. But year after year elapsed, and a degree of supineness prevailed; people seemed to think that in obtaining the abolition of the slavetrade, they had done all that devolved upon them to do. If the subject was referred to, it was generally met by an expression of triumph and gratitude in that achievement, accompanied with too little disposition to farther inquiries which should disturb the repose of satisfaction. Some few, however, more enlightened and ardent spirits, or who had had peculiar opportunities of observing, or of ascertaining the real state of things, were continually stirred with a conviction that, after a lapse of sixteen years from the abolition of the slave-trade, slavery and all its ills existed almost with undiminished prevalence, notwithstanding occasional improvements in the colonial government, with a view to the advantage of the slave.

Of these improvements, one of the most important was the Registry Bill, in 1816, introduced by Mr. Wilberforce, and carried, through the greatest opposition from the colonists and their partisans. Its object was to prevent the illicit importation of slaves from Africa. The measure was ably defended by Mr. Stephen, in letters to Wilberforce. The local knowledge and high professional character of this gentleman qualified him to discuss

such a subject, and claimed for him a respectful attention on the part of the public.

Several other valuable publications tended to draw the public attention to the subject, especially Pinckard's Notes on the West Indies, 1815; Collins's Professional Planter, 1804; Dixon's Mitigation of Slavery, 1814; Watson's Defence of Methodist Missions, 1816; Cropper's Letters to Wilberforce, 1822; Wilberforce's Appeal to Religion, Justice, and Humanity, 1823; Negro Slavery in the United States and in the West Indies, especially in Jamaica, 1823; besides the Reports of the African Institution, and other kindred societies, and some pamphlets on the comparative expense of free and slave labour.

Under the conviction thus produced, in 1823 a society was formed "for the mitigation and gradual abolition of slavery throughout the British dominions." Will it be considered tedious and uninteresting to detail the names of those who formed this society? No: it will be interesting and gratifying to observe some names with which we have long been familiar, as fathers of the sacred cause, still animated in the evening of life with undiminished ardour for its prosecution and extension; and to observe others rising up to strengthen their hands, to pursue the arduous struggle, and finally to experience the joy of extended success.

PATRON AND PRESIDENT.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester.

VICE PRESIDENTS.

The Most Noble the Marquis | The Rt. Hon. the Earl of