He hoped that the House, for the sake of its own character, would explode these doctrines with all the marks of odium they deserved; and that all parties would join in giving a death-blow to this execrable trade.  The royal family would, he expected, from their known benevolence, patronize the measure.  Both Houses of Parliament were now engaged in the prosecution of a gentleman accused of cruelty and oppression in the East.  But what were these cruelties, even if they could be brought home to him, when compared in number and degree to those which were every day and every hour committed in the abominable traffic which was now under their discussion!  He considered, therefore, both Houses of Parliament as pledged upon this occasion.  Of the support of the bishops he could have no doubt; because they were to render Christianity amiable, both by their doctrine and their example.  Some of the inferior clergy had already manifested a laudable zeal in behalf of the injured Africans.  The University of Cambridge had presented a petition to that House worthy of itself.  The sister-university had, by one of her representatives, given sanction to the measure.  Dissenters of various denominations, but particularly the Quakers, (who, to their immortal honour, had taken the lead in it,) had vied with those of the Established Church in this amiable contest.  The first counties, and some of the largest trading towns, in the kingdom had espoused the cause.  In short, there had never been more unanimity in the country, than in this righteous attempt.

With such support, and with so good a cause, it would be impossible to fail.  Let but every man stand forth who had at any time boasted of himself as an Englishman, and success would follow.  But if he were to be unhappily mistaken as to the result, we must give up the name of Englishmen.  Indeed, if we retained it, we should be the greatest hypocrites in the world; for we boasted of nothing more than of our own liberty; we manifested the warmest indignation at the smallest personal insult; we professed liberal sentiments towards other nations:  but to do these things, and to continue such a traffic, would be to deserve the hateful character before mentioned.  While we could hardly bear the sight of anything resembling slavery, even as a punishment, among ourselves, how could we consistently entail an eternal slavery upon others?

It had been frequently, but most disgracefully, said, that “we should not be too eager in setting the example:  let the French begin it.”  Such a sentiment was a direct libel upon the ancient, noble, and generous character of this nation.  We ought, on the other hand, under the blessings we enjoyed, and under the high sense we entertained of our own dignity as a people, to be proudly fearful, lest other nations should anticipate our design, and obtain the palm before us.  It became us to lead.  And if others should not follow us, it would belong to them to glory in the shame of trampling under foot the laws of reason, humanity, and religion.