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by the ſea, would ſtartle the ignorant, and ſurprize the calculator. One misfortune, like that of the Halſewell (and that there are numbers with equal concomitants of horror can hardly be doubted) will add more pangs to feeling, than the ſafety of many voyages will give happineſs to wealth.
We will now ſuppoſe, that it ſhall be thought more political to puſh our diſtant poſſeſſions, than to ſtrengthen our domeſtic means; but how can this be effected, if our powers are not equal to our objects, and the aſſiſtance of foreign purchaſe be diſcouraged, or forbidden? If we could form a body of laws, by a ſtrict adherence to which the negroes who ſhall be removed from a worſe ſlavery than they will experience in our colonies, or from that death, which in Africa would be probable, if not certain, to our iſlands, where they would not have that death to fear, the more will it enlarge the ſcale of benevolence; and found a ſyſtem beſides of policicy upon that of humanity.[1]
- ↑ I am aware that this idea has too often occured, but as I wiſh, for the ſake of humanity, that it ſhould be particularly enforced, I hope the intention may be an excuſe for the repetition.
