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Aide of wilbenforse Vol--3 90a, “herrea soapppranin! 0" OSE ahievods effnoty ofthe Slave; Trede.i' Rramapieniiet kely, ‘conceives, as J mpsatf thought bators, Lda gens into the business, that the condition of thetaved in the colonies ix the grand soncern, (ws it wayof theit sooiety, called Amis des Noiry,).amé not the: deten- tion of Africa in barberiam aud misery. = “Twill only add.a fow words for myself, Itde-not (to friend I may make the evowsl) without-entction that I relinquish the idea of being myself the active and chief agent in terminating this greatest. of all hunnan evila; but you will resdily believe me then I say, that any wuplessant sensations on this heed vanieh at once before the prospect of effecting the desired object far ‘more radically and completely than by any springs I could set in motion, 1 hope E con truly ausuro you oleo, that it helps to reconcile me to my lose on this occasion, that it would-be your gain; and I should look on with joy, if the Disposer of all hnman events, who has already rendered you the instrament of good to mankind in the termination of one of the most bloody ware that has raged in moilern times, should further honour you, by making you His agent in dispensing to the world thie grentest and most extended of all earthly benefite. ‘Ho your aexious consideration I submit these reflection: . Tt hiss been my object, not to state the chief arguments ou which rests the propriety of the meauure I recom- mend, but merely to lead your mind to the aubject. ‘You will to yournslé, better then I could do it.fonyou, stggest, spply, Gud enfotoe, an may be nesta, Let 03 a LIFR OF WILBERFORCE, 1802. me only subjoin, that if the magnitnde of the present object did not supersede all personal considerations, it would he, to me, no slight zelicf (here I feel but too sensibly) to get rid of almost the only question of importance on which we have differed; much more, to get rid of it hy your even exceoiling tho utmost amount of good I had ventured to indulge the hopes of obtaining. “ Lhave left altogether untouched one line of argu- ment, that I mean which reat on the critical state of the West Indies in the presont moment, increased as I believe a thonsand-foll by La tempts in Guadalupe, with the awe of them, and by Buonaparte’s expedition. But E am sure your ‘own mind :nust be well exercised on thia topic, As Charles the Firsi’s last word was, ‘ Remember,” so sse"s late af- mine, and the sum ofall T have heen saying, is, Con- sider. Tam ever, my dear Addington, affectionately yours, W. Wirnerronee, “Palace Yard, Jaa, 2, 16:2 “ P, S, Tho matter seems to me to press, of there are some parts of this letter Emight wish to alter. Do not call it long—when the slave coast extends 3500 miles on the shore of Africa; and this, though a long letter, would be decmed a vliirt speech.” “lf Mr. Pitt had been minister when this peace was negociated, the question would have come into 1802, ABOLITION PLANS DEFEATED. 35 discussion ;”* but Lord Hawkesbury and Mr, Ad- dington could not be persuaded. “I think our government favours the French expedition, under the idea of ite being to restore the West Indies to order. Thave been trying, in vain, to iuduce Addington and Lord Hawkeshary to negociate for a general Aboli- tion of the Slave Trade. At last I wrote te both of them very serious letters, telling them I go did to eave it with them solemnly.” Yet, though unsuccessful, he was not disheartened. Within a fortnight he was again in correspondence with Mr, Addington. Ever sine, our occupation of ‘Frinidad and the Carib lands in the island of St, Vincent, speculation had been elamorous for their cultivation, Twice already he had defeated these at- tempts; and greatly was he now alarmed at hearing that the commission for their sale was making out. During the preceding year he records “a long discussion with Pitt and Addington about Trinideda;"* and he now writes to the latter *—“ I do not recollect touching upon the question of St. Vineont’s when we conversed concerning Trinidada. But it falls under the operation of the same general principles, and I conjuxe you seriously to consider before you are Arawn into any concessions which you aright here- after disapprove. You perhaps may not know that for several years past Pitt has boen assailed by sap and by storm, in all directions and from all quarters, © Leiter fram W. Wilherfvrce Hag. to 11. R, H, dhe Duke of Gloaere- tor, Jewe 9, TH5, * Dory, Jay, 21. th, Noy, 2 1801, % Jan. 7,