not
practise, others would commit. But suppose, for the sake of argument, that
they were to take it up. What good would it do them? What advantages, for
instance, would they derive from this pestilential commerce to their
marine? Should not we, on the other hand, be benefited by this change?
Would they not be obliged to come to us, in consequence of the cheapness of
our manufactures, for what they wanted for the African market? But he would
not calumniate the French nation so much as to suppose that they would
carry on the trade if we were to relinquish it. He believed, on the other
hand, that they would abolish it also. Mr. Necker, the present minister of
France, was a man of religious principle; and, in his work upon the
administration of the finances, had recorded his abhorrence of this trade.
He was happy also to relate an anecdote of the present King of France,
which proved that he was a friend to the abolition; for, being petitioned
to dissolve a society, formed at Paris, for the annihilation of the
Slave-trade, his majesty answered, that he would not, and was happy to hear
that so humane an association was formed in his dominions. And here, having
mentioned the society in Paris, he could not help paying a due compliment
to that established in London for the same purpose, which had laboured with
the greatest assiduity to make this important subject understood, and which
had conducted itself with so much judgment and moderation as to have
interested men of all religions, and to have united them in their cause.

There was another topic which he would submit to the notice of the house
before he concluded. They were perhaps not aware, that a fair and
honourable trade might be substituted in the natural productions of Africa,
so that our connection with that continent in the way of commercial
advantage need not be lost. The natives had already made some advances in
it; and if they had not appeared so forward in raising and collecting their
own produce for sale as in some other countries, it was to be imputed to
the Slave-trade: but remove the cause, and Africa would soon emerge from
her present ignorant and indolent state. Civilization would go on with her
as well as with other nations. Europe three or four centuries ago was in
many parts as barbarous as Africa at present, and chargeable with as bad
practices. For, what would be said, if, so late as the middle of the
thirteenth century, he could find a parallel there for