But, to return.  Though AEgypt was the first market recorded for this species of traffick; and though AEgypt, and Cyprus afterwards, were particularly distinguished for it, in the times of the Trojan war; yet they were not the only places, even at that period, where men were bought and sold.  The Odyssey of Homer shews that it was then practised in many of the islands of the AEgean sea; and the Iliad, that it had taken place among those Grecians on the continent of Europe, who had embarked from thence on the Trojan expedition.  This appears particularly at the end of the seventh book.  A fleet is described there, as having just arrived from Lemnos, with a supply of wine for the Grecian camp.  The merchants are described also, as immediately exposing it to sale, and as receiving in exchange, among other articles of barter, “a number of slaves.”

It will now be sufficient to observe, that, as other states arose, and as circumstances contributed to make them known, this custom is discovered to have existed among them; that it travelled over all Asia; that it spread through the Grecian and Roman world; was in use among the barbarous nations, which overturned the Roman empire; and was practised therefore, at the same period, throughout all Europe.

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FOOTNOTES

[Footnote 025:  me tacha pikren Aigypton kai Kypron idnai.  Hom.  Odyss.  L. 17. 448.]

[Footnote 026:  L. 26.]

[Footnote 027:  Exodus.  Ch. 1.]

[Footnote 028:  Vide note 1st. (Here shown as footnote 025).]

[Footnote 029:  This strikes us the more forcibly, as it is stiled eurreiten and perikallea, “beautiful and well watered,” in all other passages where it is mentioned, but this.]

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CHAP.  VII.

This slavery and commerce, which had continued for so long a time, and which was thus practised in Europe at so late a period as that, which succeeded the grand revolutions in the western world, began, as the northern nations were settled in their conquests, to decline, and, on their full establishment, were abolished.  A difference of opinion has arisen respecting the cause of their abolition; some having asserted, that they were the necessary consequences of the feudal system; while others, superiour both in number and in argument, have maintained that they were the natural effects of Christianity.  The mode of argument, which the former adopt on this occasion, is as follows.  “The multitude of little states, which sprang up from one great one at this AEra, occasioned infinite bickerings and matter for contention.  There was not a state or seignory, which did not want all the hands they could muster, either to defend their own right, or to dispute that of their neighbours.  Thus every man was taken into the service:  whom they armed they must trust:  and there could be no trust but in free men.  Thus the barrier between the two natures was thrown down, and slavery was no more heard of, in the west.”