merset, an African slave, was brought to England by his master in 1769; some time afterwards he left his master, who took an opportunity of seizing him, and conveyed him on board a ship to be taken to Jamaica as a slave. In order to give time and opportunity fully to ascertain the law of the case, it was argued at three different sittings, in January, February, and May, 1772, and the opinion of the judges was taken upon the pleadings. The great and glorious result of the trial was That as soon as any slave set his foot upon English territory he became free."[1] What a triumph for the benevolent Sharp and other friends, who began to rally round the standard of humanity! The counsellors who pleaded this cause were Davy, Glynn, Hargrave, Mansfield, and Alleyne; and they deserve to be enrolled in the list of benefactors to the great cause, for by their arguments and eloquence, multitudes were enlightened and interested; but by the labours of Sharp they were instructed and benefited, and he must be regarded as the chief instrument in achieving this noble triumph. He too was but an instrument. Divine Providence was the agent; and Sharp was among the first to say,
- ↑ This decision is alluded to in those beautiful lines of
Cowper, in the Task.
"Slaves cannot breathe in England: if their lungs
Imbibe our air, that moment they are free.
They touch our country, and their shackles fall.
That's noble, and bespeaks a nation proud
And jealous of the blessing. Spread it then,
And let it circulate through every vein
Of all your empire. That where Britain's power
Is felt, mankind may feel her mercy too."Happily, this apostrophe is now realized.
