Page:Copley 1844 A History of Slavery and its Abolition 2nd Ed.djvu/346

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MEASURES TOWARDS

manifested itself among the unhappy slaves, from an idea that something had been done for their benefit in England, of which they were not permitted to reap the fruits. The consequent turbulence was serious, though greatly magnified by the maligners of the negro, as well as excited by their cruel oppression. They, however, of course made it a handle to work against the advocates of humanity and the teachers of religion. This will be more particularly noticed hereafter; it is enough to say here, that instead of discouraging their efforts, it only served to prove more fully than ever the need of increased energy and untiring perseverance.

In the Second Report of the Abolition Society, published 1825, they deeply lament that so little progress had been made in bettering the condition of the slave; they urge the necessity of a direct and authoritative interference of parliament, and express a strong desire for an abolition of the monopoly or protecting duty on West Indian produce, by which the consumption of this country was almost confined to that produced by slave-labour, when articles equally good might be obtained by free labour, but for the interference of this monopoly. This subject is ably argued out in the Report, which closes with an announcement that Mr. Wilberforce had retired from public life. A just tribute of gratitude was paid to the retiring patriot, and an ardent wish expressed, which has been happily realized, that before the day should arrive when his country would appoint his place among the tombs of her departed statesmen and heroes, and when he himself should be put in pos-