But here the case was far otherwise.  It was the prerogative of this detested traffic to separate from evil its concomitant good, and to reconcile discordant mischiefs.  It robbed war of its generosity; it deprived peace of its security:  we saw in it the vices of polished society, without its knowledge or its comforts; and the evils of barbarism without its simplicity.  No age, no sex, no rank, no condition was exempt from the fatal influence of this wide-wasting calamity.  Thus it attained to the fullest measure of pure, unmixed, unsophisticated wickedness; and, scorning all competition and comparison, it stood without a rival in the secure, undisputed, possession of its detestable preeminence.

But, after all this, wonderful to relate, this execrable traffic had been defended on the ground of benevolence!  It had been said, that the slaves were captives and convicts, who, if we were not to carry them away, would be sacrificed, and many of them at the funerals of people of rank, according to the savage custom of Africa.  He had shown, however, that our supplies of slaves were obtained from other quarters than these.  But he would wave this consideration for the present.  Had it not been acknowledged by his opponents, that the custom of ransoming slaves prevailed in Africa?  With respect to human sacrifices, he did not deny, that there might have been some instances of these; but they had not been proved to be more frequent than amongst other barbarous nations; and, where they existed, being acts of religion, they would not be dispensed with for the sake of commercial gain.  In fact, they had nothing to do with the Slave-trade; only perhaps, if it were abolished, they might, by means of the civilization which would follow, be done away.

But, exclusively of these sacrifices, it had been asserted, that it was kindness to the inhabitants to take them away from their own country.  But what said the historians of Africa, long before the question of the abolition was started?  “Axim,” says Bosman, “is cultivated, and abounds with numerous large and beautiful villages:  its inhabitants are industriously employed in trade, fishing, or agriculture.”—­“The inhabitants of Adom always expose large quantities of corn to sale, besides what they want for their own use.”—­“The people of Acron husband their grounds and time so well, that every year produces a plentiful harvest.”  Speaking of the Fetu country, he says, “Frequently, when walking through it, I have seen it abound with fine well built and populous towns, agreeably enriched with vast quantities of corn and cattle, palm-wine and oil.  The inhabitants all apply themselves without distinction to agriculture; some sow corn; others press oil, and draw wine from the palm-trees.”

Smith, who was sent out by the royal African company in 1726, assures us, “that the discerning natives account it their greatest unhappiness, that they were ever visited by the Europeans.  They say that we Christians introduced the traffic of slaves; and that before our coming they lived in peace.  But, say they, it is observable, wherever Christianity comes, there come swords and guns and powder and ball with it.”