Mr. Clarkson, who left no effort untried which might in any manner promote the interests of the cause, regarded as one important means to this end the diffusion of knowledge concerning that unknown and mysterious region.  He had therefore procured from Africa specimens of some of the actual products of the country, to which he called the attention of the Premier.  The specimens of ivory and gold, of ebony and mahogany, of valuable gums and cotton cloth, awoke a new vein of thought in the mind of the statesman.  The resources of such a country should be brought into use for her own benefit and for the promotion of commerce.  When his turn came to address the House, he presented this view, pursuing it at some length, and attacking on this ground the trade in slaves.  That exuberant imagination which he was accustomed to rein in, yet which well knew how to sport itself in its own airy realm, was here suffered to take wing.  He pictured to his enraptured audience the civilization and glory of Africa, when, in coming years, delivered from the curse of the Slave-Trade, she should take her place among the nations.

Wilberforce, in writing to one of his friends concerning this speech, after mentioning the admiration expressed by one who was no friend to Pitt, adds,—­“For the last twenty minutes he seemed really inspired.”

A bill was introduced at this time for putting an end to the whole business in a certain number of years.  The year 1800 was named as the extreme limit of the continuance of the traffic, that department of it by which British vessels supplied foreign nations being abandoned at once.

The bill for gradual abolition displeased those who were most deeply interested in the matter.  The clear-headed sagacity of Pitt, the patriotism of Fox, and the moral sense of Wilberforce led them to the expression of the same view.  There could be no compromise between right and wrong; that which required redress some years hence required it now.  It was, moreover, they were certain, in some minds only a pretext for delay, as the event proved.

If the advocates of the discontinuance of the Slave-Trade had in the beginning anticipated an easy victory, they had before this become convinced of their mistake.  The prospect, which had looked bright and hopeful, pointing to a happy consummation, after a period of encouragement again grew dark and doubtful.  Instead of a speedy adjustment, they found themselves involved in a long contest.  Opponents increased in strength and activity.  Wars and convulsions, rending the nations of Europe, engrossed the thoughts of public men.  As years passed on, the Abolition Bill became a sort of fixture.  It grew into a saying, that “only the eloquence of Pitt and Wilberforce” made the House willing to endure its mention at all.  The amount of documentary evidence became formidable in quantity and tedious in detail.  For collecting this evidence Mr. Clarkson had now the most ample