wrong prejudices and practices, which had taken root in darker times:  after the irruption of the Northern nations, and the introduction of the feudal or military government, whereby the most extensive power was lodged in a few members of society, to the depression of the rest, the common people were little better than slaves, and many were indeed such; but as christianity gained ground, the gentle spirit of that religion, together with the doctrines it teaches, concerning the original equality of mankind, as well as the impartial eye with which the Almighty regards men of every condition, and admits them to a participation of his benefits; so far manifested the inconsistency of slavery with christianity, that to set their fellow christians at liberty was deemed an act of piety, highly meritorious and acceptable to God.[B] Accordingly a great part of the charters granted for the manumission or freedom of slaves about that time, are granted pro amore Dei, for the love of God, pro mercede animae, to obtain mercy to the soul.  Manumission was frequently granted on death-beds, or by latter wills.  As the minds of men are at that time awakened to sentiments of humanity and piety, these deeds proceeded from religious motives.  The same author remarks, That there are several forms of those manumissions still extant, all of them founded on religious considerations, and in order to procure the favour of God.  Since that time, the practice of keeping men in slavery gradually ceased amongst christians, till it was renewed in the case before us.  And as the prevalency of the spirit of christianity caused men to emerge from the darkness they then lay under, in this respect; so it is much to be feared that so great a deviation therefrom, by the encouragement given to the slavery of the Negroes in our colonies, if continued, will, by degrees, reduce those countries which support and encourage it but more immediately those parts of America which are in the practice of it, to the ignorance and barbarity of the darkest ages.

[Footnote A:  See Robertson’s history of Charles the 5th.]

[Footnote B:  In the years 1315 and 1318, Louis X. and his brother Philip, Kings of France, issued ordonnances, declaring, “That as all men were by nature free-born, and as their kingdom was called the kingdom of Franks, they determined that it should be so in reality, as well as in name; therefore they appointed that enfranchisements should be granted throughout the whole kingdom, upon just and reasonable conditions.”  “These edicts were carried into immediate execution within the royal domain.”—­“In England, as the spirit of liberty gained ground, the very name and idea of personal servitude, without any formal interposition of the legislature to prohibit it, was totally banished.”  “The effects of such a remarkable change in the condition of so great a part of the people, could not fail of being considerable and extensive.  The husbandman, master