e water to be made hot to abate
the swelling. But even his tender mercies were cruel; for the cook, on
putting his hand into the water, said it was too hot. Upon this the captain
swore at him, and ordered the feet to be put in. This was done. The nails
and skin came off. Oiled cloths were then put round them. The child was at
length tied to a heavy log. Two or three days afterwards, the captain
caught it up again; and repeated that he would make it eat, or kill it. He
immediately flogged it again, and in a quarter of an hour it died. But,
after the child was dead, whom should the barbarian select to throw it
overboard, but the wretched mother? In vain she started from the office. He
beat her, till he made her take up the child and carry it to the side of
the vessel. She then dropped it into the sea, turning her head the other
way that she might not see it. Now it would naturally be asked, Was not
this captain also gibbered alive? Alas! although the execrable, barbarity
of the European exceeded that of the Africans before mentioned, almost as
much as his opportunities of instruction had been greater than theirs, no
notice whatsoever was taken of this horrible action; and a thousand similar
cruelties had been committed in this abominable trade with equal impunity:
but he would say no more. He should vote for the abolition, not only as it
would do away all the evils complained of in Africa and the Middle Passage;
but as it would be the most effectual means of ameliorating the condition
of those unhappy persons, who were still to continue slaves in the British
colonies.

Mr. Courtenay rose. He said, he could not but consider the assertion of Sir
William Yonge as a mistake, that the Slave-trade, if abandoned by us, would
fall into the hands of France. It ought to be recollected, with what
approbation the motion for abolishing it, made by the late Mirabeau, had
been received; although the situation of the French colonies might then
have presented obstacles to carrying the measure into immediate execution.
He had no doubt, if parliament were to begin, so wise and enlightened a
body as the National Assembly would follow the example. But even if France
were not to relinquish the trade, how could we, if justice required its
abolition, hesitate as to our part of it?

The trade, it had been said, was conducted upon the principles of humanity.
Yes: we rescued the Africans from what we were pleased to call their
wretched situation in