ition. But let not a mistaken humanity, in these enlightened times,
furnish a colourable pretext for any injurious attack on property or
character.

These things being considered, he should certainly oppose the measure in
contemplation. It would annihilate a trade, whose exports amounted to eight
hundred thousand pounds annually, and which employed a hundred and sixty
vessels and more than five thousand seamen. It would destroy also the West
India trade, which was of the annual value of six millions; and which
employed one hundred and sixty thousand tons of shipping, and seamen in
proportion. These were objects of too much importance to the country to be
hazarded on an unnecessary speculation.

Mr. Grosvenor then rose. He complimented the humanity of Mr. Wilberforce,
though he differed from him on the subject of his motion. He himself had
read only the privy council report; and he wished for no other evidence.
The question had then been delayed two years. Had the abolition been so
clear a point as it was said to be, it could not have needed either so much
evidence or time.

He had heard a good deal about kidnapping and other barbarous practices. He
was sorry for them. But these were the natural consequences of the laws of
Africa; and it became us as wise men to turn them to our own advantage. The
Slave-trade was certainly not an amiable trade. Neither was that of a
butcher; but yet it was a very necessary one.

There was great reason to doubt the propriety of the present motion. He had
twenty reasons for disapproving it. The first was, that the thing was
impossible. He needed not therefore to give the rest. Parliament, indeed,
might relinquish the trade. But to whom? To foreigners, who would continue
it, and without the humane regulations, which were applied to it by his
country-men.

He would give advice to the house on this subject in the words, which the
late Alderman Beckford used on a different occasion: "Meddle not with
troubled waters: they will be found to be bitter waters, and the waters of
affliction." He again admitted, that the Slave-trade was not an amiable
trade; but he would not gratify his humanity at the expense of the
interests of his country; and he thought we should not too curiously
inquire into the unpleasant circumstances, which attended it.

Mr. James Martin succeeded Mr. Grosvenor. He said, he had been long aware,
how much self-interest could pervert the judgment; but he was not apprized
o