the rest.  Happening in the night to fall asleep, he dreamed that he was in his own country; high in honour and command; caressed by his family and friends; waited on by his domestics; and surrounded with all his former comforts in life.  But awaking suddenly, and finding where he was, he was heard to burst into the loudest groans and lamentations on the miserable contrast of his present state; mixed with the meanest of his subjects; and subjected to the insolence of wretches a thousand times lower than himself in every kind of endowment.  He appealed to the House, whether this was not as moving a picture of the miserable effects of the Slave-trade, as could be well imagined.  There was one way, by which they might judge of it.  Let them make the case their own.  This was the Christian rule of judging; and, having mentioned Christianity, he was sorry to find that any should suppose, that it had given countenance to such a system of oppression.  So far was this from being the case, that he thought it one of the most splendid triumphs of this religion, that it had caused slavery to be so generally abolished on its appearance in the world.  It had done this by teaching us, among other beautiful precepts, that, in the sight of their Maker, all mankind were equal.  Its influence appeared to have been more powerful in this respect than that of all the ancient systems of philosophy; though even in these, in point of theory, we might trace great liberality and consideration for human rights.  Where could be found finer sentiments of liberty than in Demosthenes and Cicero?  Where bolder assertions of the rights of mankind, than in Tacitus and Thucydides?  But, alas! these were the holders of slaves!  It was not so with those who had been converted to Christianity.  He knew, however, that what he had been ascribing to Christianity had been imputed by others to the advances which philosophy had made.  Each of the two parties took the merit to itself.  The philosopher gave it to philosophy, and the divine to religion.  He should not then dispute with either of them; but, as both coveted the praise, why should they not emulate each other by promoting this improvement in the condition of the human race?

He would now conclude by declaring, that the whole country, indeed the whole civilized world, must rejoice that such a bill as the present had been moved for, not merely as a matter of humanity, but as an act of justice; for he would put humanity out of the case.  Could it be called humanity to forbear from committing murder?  Exactly upon this ground did the present motion stand; being strictly a question of national justice.  He thanked Mr. Wilberforce for having pledged himself so strongly to pursue his object till it was accomplished; and, as for himself, he declared, that, in whatever situation he might ever be, he would use his warmest efforts for the promotion of this righteous cause.