[Footnote 071:  In the Preface.]

[Footnote 072:  As to Mr. Hume’s assertions with respect to African capacity, we have passed them over in silence, as they have been so admirably refuted by the learned Dr. Beattie, in his Essay on Truth, to which we refer the reader.  The whole of this admirable refutation extends from p. 458. to 464.]

* * * * *

CHAP.  VIII.

The second argument, by which it is attempted to be proved, “that the Africans are an inferiour link of the chain of nature, and are designed for slavery,” is drawn from colour, and from those other marks, which distinguish them from the inhabitants of Europe.

To prove this with the greater facility, the receivers divide in opinion.  Some of them contend that the Africans, from these circumstances, are the descendants of Cain[073]:  others, that they are the posterity of Ham; and that as it was declared by divine inspiration, that these should be servants to the rest of the world, so they are designed for slavery; and that the reducing of them to such a situation is only the accomplishment of the will of heaven:  while the rest, considering them from the same circumstances as a totally distinct species of men, conclude them to be an inferiour link of the chain of nature, and deduce the inference described.

To answer these arguments in the clearest and fullest manner, we are under the necessity of making two suppositions, first, that the scriptures are true; secondly, that they are false.

If then the scriptures are true, it is evident that the posterity of Cain were extinguished in the flood.  Thus one of the arguments is no more.

With respect to the curse of Ham, it appears also that it was limited; that it did not extend to the posterity of all his sons, but only to the descendants of him who was called Canaan[074]:  by which it was foretold that the Canaanites, a part of the posterity of Ham, should serve the posterity of Shem and Japhet.  Now how does it appear that these wretched Africans are the descendants of Canaan?—­By those marks, it will be said, which distinguish them from the rest of the world.—­But where are these marks to be found in the divine writings?  In what page is it said, that the Canaanites were to be known by their colour, their features, their form, or the very hair of their heads, which is brought into the account?—­But alas! so far are the divine writings from giving any such account, that they shew the assertion to be false.  They shew that the descendants of Cush[075] were of the colour, to which the advocates for slavery allude; and of course, that there was no such limitation of colour to the posterity of Canaan, or the inheritors of the curse.

Suppose we should now shew, upon the most undeniable evidence[076], that those of the wretched Africans, who are singled out as inheriting the curse, are the descendants of Cush or Phut; and that we should shew farther, that but a single remnant of Canaan, which was afterwards ruined, was ever in Africa at all.—­Here all is consternation.—­