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diff --git a/old/68337-0.txt b/old/68337-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index da14950..0000000 --- a/old/68337-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1322 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of A caution to Great Britain and her -colonies, by Anthony Benezet - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: A caution to Great Britain and her colonies - -Author: Anthony Benezet - -Release Date: June 17, 2022 [eBook #68337] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Robert Tonsing and The Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CAUTION TO GREAT BRITAIN -AND HER COLONIES *** - - - - - - A - CAUTION - TO - _GREAT BRITAIN_ - AND - HER COLONIES, - IN A - SHORT REPRESENTATION - OF THE - CALAMITOUS STATE of the - ENSLAVED NEGROES - IN THE - BRITISH DOMINIONS. - - A NEW EDITION. - - BY ANT. BENEZET. - - PHILADELPHIA Printed: LONDON Reprinted - and Sold by JAMES PHILLIPS, in - GEORGE-YARD, LOMBARD-STREET. 1784. - - - - - A CAUTION, &c. - - -At a time when the general rights and liberties of mankind, and the -preservation of those valuable privileges transmitted to us from our -ancestors, are become so much the subjects of universal consideration; -can it be an inquiry indifferent to any, how many of those who -distinguish themselves as the Advocates of Liberty, remain insensible -and inattentive to the treatment of thousands and tens of thousands of -our fellow men, who, from motives of avarice, and the inexorable decree -of tyrant custom, are at this very time kept in the most deplorable -state of Slavery, in many parts of the _British_ Dominions? - -The intent of publishing the following sheets, is more fully to -make known the aggravated iniquity attending the practice of the -Slave-Trade; whereby many thousands of our fellow-creatures, as free -as ourselves by nature, and equally with us the subjects of Christ’s -redeeming Grace, are yearly brought into inextricable and barbarous -bondage; and many, very many, to miserable and untimely ends. - -The Truth of this lamentable Complaint is so obvious to persons of -candour, under whose notice it hath fallen, that several have lately -published their sentiments thereon, as a matter which calls for the -most serious consideration of all who are concerned for the civil or -religious welfare of their Country. How an evil of so deep a dye, hath -so long, not only passed uninterrupted by those in Power, but hath even -had their Countenance, is indeed surprising; and charity would suppose, -must in a great measure have arisen from this, that many persons in -government, both of the Clergy and Laity, in whose power it hath been -to put a stop to the Trade, have been unacquainted with the corrupt -motives which gives life to it, and with the groans, the dying groans, -which daily ascend to God, the common Father of mankind, from the -broken hearts of those his deeply oppressed creatures: otherwise the -powers of the earth would not, I think I may venture to say could not, -have so long authorized a practice so inconsistent with every idea of -liberty and justice, which, as the learned _James Foster_ says, _Bids -that God, which is the God and Father of the_ Gentiles, _unconverted -to_ Christianity, _most daring and bold defiance; and spurns at all -the principles both of natural and revealed Religion_. - -Much might justly be said of the temporal evils which attend this -practice, as it is destructive of the welfare of human society, and -of the peace and prosperity of every country, in proportion as it -prevails. It might be also shewn, that it destroys the bonds of natural -affection and interest, whereby mankind in general are united; that it -introduces idleness, discourages marriage, corrupts the youth, ruins -and debauches morals, excites continual apprehensions of dangers, and -frequent alarms, to which the Whites are necessarily exposed from so -great an increase of a People, that, by their Bondage and Oppressions, -become natural enemies, yet, at the same time, are filling the places -and eating the bread of those who would be the Support and Security -of the Country. But as these and many more reflections of the same -kind, may occur to a considerate mind, I shall only endeavour to -shew, from the nature of the Trade, the plenty which _Guinea_ affords -to its inhabitants, the barbarous Treatment of the Negroes, and the -Observations made thereon by Authors of note, that it is inconsistent -with the plainest Precepts of the Gospel, the dictates of reason, and -every common sentiment of humanity. - -In an Account of the _European_ Settlements in _America_, printed -in _London_, 1757, the Author, speaking on this Subject, says: ‘The -Negroes in our Colonies endure a Slavery more complete, and attended -with far worse circumstances than what any people in their condition -suffer in any other part of the world, or have suffered in any other -period of time: Proofs of this are not wanting. The prodigious waste -which we experience in this unhappy part of our Species, is a full -and melancholy Evidence of this Truth. The Island of _Barbadoes_ (the -Negroes upon which do not amount to eighty thousand) notwithstanding -all the means which they use to encrease them by Propagation, and that -the Climate is in every respect (except that of being more wholesome) -exactly resembling the Climate from whence they come; notwithstanding -all this, _Barbadoes_ lies under a necessity of an annual recruit -of five thousand slaves, to keep up the stock at the number I have -mentioned. This prodigious failure, which is at least in the same -proportion in all our Islands, shews demonstratively that some uncommon -and unsupportable Hardship lies upon the Negroes, which wears them -down in such a surprising manner; and this, I imagine, is principally -the excessive labour which they undergo.’ In an Account of part of -_North-America_, published by _Thomas Jeffery_, printed 1761, speaking -of the usage the Negroes receive in the _West-India_ Islands, he thus -expresses himself: ‘It is impossible for a human heart to reflect -upon the servitude of these dregs of mankind, without in some measure -feeling for their misery, which ends but with their lives.——Nothing -can be more wretched than the condition of this People. One would -imagine, they were framed to be the disgrace of the human species: -banished from their Country, and deprived of that blessing, Liberty, on -which all other nations set the greatest value, they are in a manner -reduced to the condition of beasts of burden. In general a few roots, -potatoes especially, are their food; and two rags, which neither screen -them from the heat of the day, nor the extraordinary coolness of the -night, all their covering; their sleep very short; their labour almost -continual; they receive no wages, but have twenty lashes for the -smallest fault.’ - -A considerate young person, who was lately in one of our _West-India_ -Islands, where he observed the miserable situation of the Negroes, -makes the following remarks: ‘I meet with daily exercise, to see the -treatment which these miserable wretches meet with from their masters, -with but few exceptions. They whip them most unmercifully, on small -occasions; they beat them with thick Clubs, and you will see their -Bodies all whaled and scarred: in short, they seem to set no other -value on their lives than as they cost them so much money; and are not -retrained from killing them, when angry, by a worthier consideration -than that they lose so much. They act as though they did not look upon -them as a race of human creatures, who have reason, and remembrance -of misfortunes; but as beasts, like oxen, who are stubborn, hardy and -senseless, fit for burdens, and designed to bear them. They will not -allow them to have any claim to human privileges, or scarce, indeed, -to be regarded as the work of God. Though it was consistent with the -justice of our Maker to pronounce the sentence on our common parent, -and through him on all succeeding generations, _That he and they -should eat their bread by the sweat of their brow_; yet does it not -stand recorded by the same Eternal Truth, _That the Labourer is worthy -of his Hire_? It cannot be allowed in natural justice, that there -should be a servitude without condition: A cruel endless servitude. It -cannot be reconcileable to natural justice, that whole nations, nay, -whole continents of men, should be devoted to do the drudgery of life -for others, be dragged away from their attachments of relations and -societies, and made to serve the appetites and pleasures of a race of -men, whose superiority has been obtained by an illegal force.’ - -A particular account of the treatment these unhappy _Africans_ receive -in the _West-Indies_ was lately published, which, even by those who, -blinded by interest, seek excuses for the Trade, and endeavour to -palliate the cruelty exercised upon them, is allowed to be a true, -though rather too favourable representation of the usage they receive, -which is as follows, _viz._ ‘The iniquity of the Slave-trade is greatly -aggravated by the inhumanity with which the Negroes are treated in the -Plantations, as well with respect to food and clothing, as from the -unreasonable labour which is commonly exacted from them. To which may -be added the cruel chastisements they frequently suffer, without any -other bounds than the will and wrath of their hard task-masters. In -_Barbadoes_, and some other of the Islands, six pints of _Indian_ corn -and three herrings are reckoned a full weeks allowance for a working -slave, and in the System of Geography it is said, _That in_ Jamaica -_the owners of the Negroe-slaves, set aside for each a parcel of -ground, and allow them_ Sundays _to manure it, the produce of which_, -with sometimes a few herrings, or other salt-fish, _is all that is -allowed for their support_. Their allowance for clothing in the Islands -is seldom more than six yards of osenbrigs each year: And in the more -northern Colonies, where the piercing westerly winds are long and -sensibly felt, these poor _Africans_ suffer much for want of sufficient -clothing, indeed some have none till they are able to pay for it by -their labour. The time that the Negroes work in the _West-Indies_, -is from day-break till noon; then again from two o’clock till dusk: -(during which time they are attended by overseers, who severely scourge -those who appear to them dilatory) and before they are suffered to -go to their quarters, they have still something to do, as collecting -of herbage for the horses, gathering fuel for the boilers, _etc._ so -that it is often half past twelve before they can get home, when they -have scarce time to grind and boil their _Indian_ corn; whereby it -often happens that they are called again to labour before they can -satisfy their Hunger. And here no delay or excuse will avail, for if -they are not in the Field immediately upon the usual notice, they must -expect to feel the Overseer’s Lash. In crop-time (which lasts many -months) they are obliged (by turns) to work most of the night in the -boiling-house. Thus their Owners, from a desire of making the greatest -gain by the labour of their slaves, lay heavy Burdens on them, and yet -feed and clothe them very sparingly, and some scarce feed or clothe -them at all, so that the poor creatures are obliged to shift for their -living in the best manner they can, which occasions their being often -killed in the neighbouring lands, stealing potatoes, or other food, to -satisfy their hunger. And if they take any thing from the plantation -they belong to, though under such pressing want, their owners will -correct them severely, for taking a little of what they have so hardly -laboured for, whilst they themselves riot in the greatest luxury and -excess.—It is a matter of astonishment, how a people, who, as a nation, -are looked upon as generous and humane, and so much value themselves -for their uncommon sense of the Benefit of Liberty, can live in the -practice of such extreme oppression and inhumanity, without seeing the -inconsistency of such conduct, and without feeling great Remorse: Nor -is it less amazing to hear these men calmly making calculations about -the strength and lives of their fellow-men; in _Jamaica_, if six in -ten, of the new imported Negroes survive the seasoning, it is looked -upon as a gaining purchase: And in most of the other plantations, -if the Negroes live eight or nine years, their labour is reckoned a -sufficient compensation for their cost.——If calculations of this sort -were made upon the strength and labour of beasts of burden, it would -not appear so strange; but even then a merciful man would certainly -use his beast with more mercy than is usually shewn to the poor -Negroes.—Will not the groans of this deeply afflicted and oppressed -people reach Heaven, and when the cup of iniquity is full, must not -the inevitable consequence be pouring forth of the judgments of God -upon their oppressors. But, alas! is it not too manifest that this -oppression has already long been the object of the divine displeasure; -for what heavier judgment, what greater calamity can befall any people, -than to become a prey to that hardness of heart, that forgetfulness of -God, and insensibility to every religious impression; as well as that -general depravation of manners, which so much prevails in the Colonies, -in proportion as they have more or less enriched themselves, at the -expence of the blood and bondage of the Negroes.’ - -The situation of the Negroes in our Southern provinces on the -Continent, is also feelingly set forth by _George Whitfield_, in a -Letter from _Georgia_, to the Inhabitants of _Maryland_, _Virginia_, -_North_ and _South-Carolina_, printed in the Year 1739, of which the -following is an extract: ‘As I lately passed through your provinces, -in my way hither, I was sensibly touched with a fellow-feeling of the -miseries of the poor Negroes. Whether it be lawful for _Christians_ -to buy slaves, and thereby encourage the Nations from whom they are -bought, to be at perpetual war with each other, I shall not take upon -me to determine; sure I am, it is sinful, when bought, to use them as -bad, nay worse than as though they were brutes; and whatever particular -exception there may be, (as I would charitably hope there are some) -I fear the generality of you, that own Negroes, are liable to such a -charge; for your slaves, I believe, work as hard, if not harder, than -the horses whereon you ride. These, after they have done their work, -are fed and taken proper care of; but many Negroes, when wearied with -labour, in your plantations, have been obliged to grind their own corn, -after they return home. Your dogs are caressed and fondled at your -table; but your slaves, who are frequently stiled dogs or beasts, have -not an equal privilege; they are scarce permitted to pick up the crumbs -which fall from their master’s table.—Not to mention what numbers have -been given up to the inhuman usage of cruel task-masters, who, by -their unrelenting scourges, have ploughed their backs, and made long -furrows, and at length brought them even to death. When passing along, -I have viewed your plantations cleared and cultivated, many spacious -houses built, and the owners of them faring sumptuously every day, my -blood has frequently almost run cold within me, to consider how many -of your slaves had neither convenient food to eat, or proper raiment -to put on, notwithstanding most of the comforts you enjoy were solely -owing to their indefatigable labours.—The Scripture says, _Thou shalt -not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn_. Does God take care -for oxen? and will he not take care of the Negroes also? undoubtedly -he will.—Go to now ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that -shall come upon you: Behold the provision of the poor Negroes, who -have reaped down your fields, which is by you denied them, crieth; and -the cries of them which reaped, are entered into the ears of the Lord -of Sabbath. We have a remarkable instance of God’s taking cognizance -of, and avenging the quarrel of poor slaves, 2 Sam. xxi. 1. _There was -a famine in the days of_ David _three years, year after year; and_ -David _enquired of the Lord: And the Lord answered, It is for_ Saul, -_and for his bloody house, because he slew the_ Gibeonites. Two things -are here very remarkable: First, These _Gibeonites_ were only hewers -of wood and drawers of water, or in other words, slaves like yours. -Secondly, That this plague was sent by God many years after the injury, -the cause of the plague, was committed. And for what end were this and -such like examples recorded in holy Scriptures? without doubt, for our -learning.—For God is the same to-day as he was yesterday, and will -continue the same for ever. He does not reject the prayer of the poor -and destitute; nor disregard the cry of the meanest Negro. The blood -of them spilt for these many years in your respective provinces will -ascend up to heaven against you.’ - -Some who have only seen Negroes in an abject state of slavery, -broken-spirited and dejected, knowing nothing of their situation -in their native country, may apprehend, that they are naturally -insensible of the benefits of Liberty, being destitute and miserable -in every respect, and that our suffering them to live amongst us (as -the _Gibeonites_ of old were permitted to live with the _Israelites_) -though even on more oppressive terms, is to them a favour; but these -are certainly erroneous opinions, with respect to far the greatest part -of them: Although it is highly probable that in a country which is more -than three thousand miles in extent from north to south, and as much -from east to west, there will be barren parts, and many inhabitants -more uncivilized and barbarous than others; as is the case in all other -countries: yet, from the most authentic accounts, the inhabitants of -_Guinea_ appear, generally speaking, to be an industrious, humane, -sociable people, whose capacities are naturally as enlarged, and as -open to improvement, as those of the _Europeans_; and that their -Country is fruitful, and in many places well improved, abounding in -cattle, grain and fruits. And as the earth yields all the year round -a fresh supply of food, and but little clothing is requisite, by -reason of the continual warmth of the climate; the necessaries of life -are much easier procured in most parts of _Africa_, than in our more -northern climes. This is confirmed by many authors of note, who have -resided there; among others, _M. Adanson_, in his account of _Goree_ -and _Senegal_, in the year 1754, says, ‘Which way soever I turned my -eyes on this pleasant spot, I beheld a perfect image of pure nature; -an agreeable solitude, bounded on every side by charming landscapes, -the rural situation of cottages in the midst of trees; the ease and -indolence of the Negroes reclined under the shade of their spreading -foliage; the simplicity of their dress and manners; the whole revived -in my mind the idea of our first parents, and I seemed to contemplate -the world in its primitive state: They are, generally speaking, very -good-natured, sociable and obliging. I was not a little pleased with -this my first reception; it convinced me, that there ought to be a -considerable abatement made in the accounts I had read and heard every -where of the savage character of the _Africans_. I observed, both in -Negroes and Moors, great humanity and sociableness, which gave me -strong hopes, that I should be very safe amongst them, and meet with -the success I desired, in my inquiries after the curiosities of the -country.’ - -_William Bosman_, a principal Factor for the _Dutch_, who resided -sixteen years in _Guinea_, speaking of the natives of that part where -he then was, says, ‘They are generally a good sort of people, honest -in their dealings;’ others he describes as ‘being generally friendly -to strangers, of a mild conversation, affable, and easy to be overcome -with reason.’ He adds, ‘That some Negroes, who have had an agreeable -education, have manifested a brightness of understanding equal to any -of us.’ Speaking of the fruitfulness of the country, he says, ‘It was -very populous, plentifully provided with corn, potatoes and fruit, -which grew close to each other; in some places a foot-path is the only -ground that is not covered with them; the Negroes leaving no place, -which is thought fertile, uncultivated; and immediately after they -have reaped, they are sure to sow again.’ Other parts he describes, -as ‘being full of towns and villages; the soil very rich, and so well -cultivated, as to look like an entire garden, abounding in rice, corn, -oxen, and poultry, and the inhabitants laborious.’ - -_William Smith_, who was sent by the _African_ Company to visit their -settlements on the coast of _Guinea_, in the year 1726, gives much -the same account of the country of _Delmina_ and _Cape Corse_, &c. for -beauty and goodness, and adds, ‘The more you come downward towards -that part, called _Slave-Coast_, the more delightful and rich the -soil appears.’ Speaking of their disposition, he says, ‘They were a -civil, good-natured people, industrious to the last degree. It is easy -to perceive what happy memories they are blessed with, and how great -progress they would make in the sciences, in case their genius was -cultivated with study.’ He adds, from the information he received of -one of the Factors, who had resided ten years in that country, ‘That -the discerning natives account it their greatest unhappiness, that they -were ever visited by the _Europeans_.—That the _Christians_ introduced -the traffick of Slaves; and that before our coming they lived in peace.’ - -_Andrew Brue_, a principal man in the _French_ Factory, in the account -he gives of the great river _Senegal_, which runs many hundred miles up -the country, tells his readers, ‘The farther you go from the Sea, the -country on the river seems more fruitful and well improved. It abounds -in _Guinea_ and _Indian_ corn, rice, pulse, tobacco, and indigo. Here -are vast meadows, which feed large herds of great and small cattle; -poultry are numerous, as well as wild fowl.’ The same Author, in his -travels to the south of the river _Gambia_, expresses his surprize, -‘to see the land so well cultivated; scarce a spot lay unimproved; the -low grounds, divided by small canals, were all sowed with rice; the -higher ground planted with _Indian_ corn, millet, and peas of different -sorts: beef and mutton very cheap, as well as all other necessaries -of life.’ The account this Author gives of the disposition of the -natives, is, ‘That they are generally good-natured and civil, and may -be brought to any thing by fair and soft means.’ _Artus_, speaking of -the same people, says, ‘They are a sincere, inoffensive people, and do -no injustice either to one another or strangers.’ - -From these Accounts, both of the good Disposition of the Natives, and -the Fruitfulness of most parts of _Guinea_, which are confirmed by -many other Authors, it may well be concluded, that their acquaintance -with the _Europeans_ would have been a happiness to them, had those -last not only borne the name, but indeed been influenced by the Spirit -of _Christianity_; but, alas! how hath the Conduct of the Whites -contradicted the Precepts and Example of Christ? Instead of promoting -the End of his Coming, by preaching the Gospel of Peace and Good-will -to Man, they have, by their practices, contributed to enflame every -noxious passion of corrupt nature in the Negroes; they have incited -them to make war one upon another, and for this purpose have furnished -them with prodigious quantities of ammunition and arms, whereby they -have been hurried into confusion, bloodshed, and all the extremities -of temporal misery, which must necessarily beget in their minds such a -general detestation and scorn of the _Christian_ name, as may deeply -affect, if not wholly preclude, their belief of the great Truths of -our holy Religion. Thus an insatiable desire of gain hath become -the principal and moving cause of the most abominable and dreadful -scene, that was perhaps ever acted upon the face of the earth; even -the power of their Kings hath been made subservient to answer this -wicked purpose, instead of being Protectors of their people, these -Rulers, allured by the tempting bait laid before them by the _European_ -Factors, _&c._ have invaded the Liberties of their unhappy subjects, -and are become their Oppressors. - -Divers accounts have already appeared in print, declarative of the -shocking wickedness with which this Trade is carried on; these may not -have fallen into the hands of some of my readers, I shall, therefore, -for their information, select a few of the most remarkable instances -that I have met with, shewing the method by which the Trade is commonly -managed all along the _African_ coast. - -_Francis Moor_, Factor to the _African_ Company, on the river _Gambia_, -relates, ‘That when the King of _Barsalli_ wants goods, _&c._ he sends -a messenger to the _English_ Governor at _James_’s Fort, to desire he -would send up a sloop with a cargo of goods; which (says the author) -the Governor never fails to do: Against the time the vessel arrives, -the King plunders some of his enemies towns, selling the people for -such goods as he wants.—If he is not at war with any neighbouring King, -he falls upon one of his own towns, and makes bold to sell his own -miserable subjects.’ - -_N. Brue_, in his account of the Trade, _&c._ writes, ‘That having -received a quantity of goods, he wrote to the King of the country, That -if he had a sufficient number of slaves, he was ready to trade with -him. This Prince (says that author) as well as other Negroe Monarchs, -has always a sure way of supplying his deficiencies by selling his -own subjects.—The King had recourse to this method, by seizing three -hundred of his own people, and sent word to _Brue_, that he had the -slaves ready to deliver for the goods.’ - -The Misery and Bloodshed, consequent to the Slave-trade, is amply -set forth by the following extracts of two voyages to the coast of -_Guinea_ for slaves. The first in a vessel from _Liverpool_, taken -_verbatim_ from the original manuscript of the Surgeon’s journal, _viz._ - -‘SESTRO, _December_ the 29th, 1724. No trade to-day, though many -Traders come on board; they inform us, that the people are gone to war -within land, and will bring prisoners enough in two or three days: in -hopes of which we stay. - -‘The 30th. No trade yet, but our Traders came on board to-day, and -informed us, the people had burnt four towns of their enemies, so -that to-morrow we expect slaves off. Another large ship is come in: -Yesterday came in a large _Londoner_. - -‘The 31st. Fair weather, but no trade yet: We see each night towns -burning; but we hear the _Sestro_ men are many of them killed by the -inland Negroes, so that we fear this war will be unsuccessful. - -‘The 2d _January_. Last night we saw a prodigious fire break out about -eleven o’clock, and this morning see the town of _Sestro_ burnt down -to the ground, (it contained some hundreds of houses) so that we find -their enemies are too hard for them at present, and consequently our -trade spoiled here; so that about seven o’clock we weighed anchor, as -did likewise the three other vessels, to proceed lower down.’ - -The second relation, also taken from the original manuscript journal of -a person of credit, who went Surgeon on the same account in a vessel -from _New-York_ to the coast of _Guinea_, about nineteen years past, is -as follows, _viz._ - -‘Being on the coast at a place called _Basalia_, the Commander of the -vessel, according to custom, sent a person on shore with a present -to the King, acquainting him with his arrival, and letting him know, -they wanted a cargo of slaves. The King promised to furnish them -with slaves; and in order to do it, set out to go to war against -his enemies, designing also to surprize some town, and take all the -people prisoners: Some time after, the King sent them word, he had -not yet met with the desired success, having been twice repulsed, in -attempting to break up two towns; but that he still hoped to procure -a number of slaves for them; and in this design he persisted till he -met his enemies in the field, where a battle was fought, which lasted -three days; during which time the engagement was so bloody, that four -thousand five hundred men were slain on the spot.’ The person, that -wrote the account, beheld the bodies as they lay on the field of -battle. ‘Think (says he in his journal) what a pitiable sight it was, -to see the widows weeping over their lost husbands, orphans deploring -the loss of their fathers, _&c._ _&c._’ - -Those who are acquainted with the Trade agree, that many Negroes -on the sea-coast, who have been corrupted by their intercourse and -converse with the _European_ Factors, have learnt to stick at no act -of cruelty for gain. These make it a practice to steal abundance of -little Blacks of both sexes, when found on the roads or in the fields, -where their parents keep them all day to watch the corn, _&c._ Some -authors say, the Negroe Factors go six or seven hundred miles up the -country with goods, bought from the _Europeans_, where markets of men -are kept in the same manner as those of beasts with us. When the poor -slaves, whether brought from far or near, come to the sea-shore, they -are stripped naked, and strictly examined by the _European_ Surgeons, -both men and women, without the least distinction or modesty; those -which are approved as good, are marked with a red-hot iron with the -ship’s mark; after which they are put on board the vessels, the men -being shackled with irons two and two together. Reader, bring the -matter home, and consider whether any situation in life can be more -completely miserable than that of those distressed captives. When we -reflect, that each individual of this number had some tender attachment -which was broken by this cruel separation; some parent or wife, who -had not an opportunity of mingling tears in a parting embrace; perhaps -some infant or aged parent whom his labour was to feed and vigilance -protect; themselves under the dreadful apprehension of an unknown -perpetual slavery; pent up within the narrow confines of a vessel, -sometimes six or seven hundred together, where they lie as close as -possible. Under these complicated distresses they are often reduced to -a state of desperation, wherein many have leaped into the sea, and have -kept themselves under water till they were drowned; others have starved -themselves to death, for the prevention whereof some masters of vessels -have cut off the legs and arms of a number of those poor desperate -creatures, to terrify the rest. Great numbers have also frequently been -killed, and some deliberately put to death under the greatest torture, -when they have attempted to rise, in order to free themselves from -their present misery, and the slavery designed them. An instance of -the last kind appears particularly in an account given by the master -of a vessel, who brought a cargo of slaves to _Barbadoes_; indeed -it appears so irreconcileable to the common dictates of humanity, -that one would doubt the truth of it, had it not been related by a -serious person of undoubted credit, who had it from the captain’s own -mouth. Upon an inquiry, What had been the success of his voyage? he -answered, ‘That he had found it a difficult matter to set the negroes -a fighting with each other, in order to procure the number he wanted; -but that when he had obtained this end, and had got his vessel filled -with slaves, a new difficulty arose from their refusal to take food; -those desperate creatures chusing rather to die with hunger, than to -be carried from their native country.’ Upon a farther inquiry, by what -means he had prevailed upon them to forego this desperate resolution? -he answered, ‘That he obliged all the negroes to come upon deck, where -they persisted in their resolution of not taking food, he caused his -sailors to lay hold upon one of the most obstinate, and chopt the poor -creature into small pieces, forcing some of the others to eat a part -of the mangled body; withal swearing to the survivors, that he would -use them all, one after the other, in the same manner, if they did not -consent to eat.’ This horrid execution he applauded as a good act, it -having had the desired effect, in bringing them to take food. - -A similar case is mentioned in _Astley_’s Collection of Voyages, by -_John Atkins_, Surgeon on board Admiral _Ogle_’s squadron, ‘Of one -_Harding_, mailer of a vessel, in which several of the men-slaves, -and a woman-slave, had attempted to rise, in order to recover their -liberty; some of whom the master, of his own authority, sentenced to -cruel death; making them first eat the heart and liver of one of those -he killed. The woman he hoisted by the thumbs; whipped and slashed with -knives before the other slaves, till she died.’ - -As detestable and shocking as this may appear to such, whose hearts -are not yet hardened by the practice of that cruelty, which the love -of wealth, by degrees, introduceth into the human mind; it will not -be strange to those who have been concerned or employed in the Trade. -Now here arises a necessary query to those who hold the balance and -sword of justice; and who must account to God for the use they have -made of it. _Since our English law is so truly valuable for its -justice, how can they overlook these barbarous deaths of the unhappy -Africans without trial, or due proof of their being guilty, of crimes -adequate to their punishment? Why are those masters of vessels, (who -are often not the most tender and considerate of men) thus suffered to -be the sovereign arbiters of the lives of the miserable Negroes, and -allowed, with impunity, thus to destroy, may I not say, murder their -fellow-creatures, and that by means so cruel as cannot be even related -but with shame and horror?_ - -When the vessels arrive at their destined port in the Colonies, the -poor Negroes are to be disposed of to the planters; and here they are -again exposed naked, without any distinction of sexes, to the brutal -examination of their purchasers; and this, it may well be judged is -to many of them another occasion of deep distress, especially to -the females. Add to this, that near connections must now again be -separated, to go with their several purchasers: In this melancholy -scene Mothers are seen hanging over their Daughters, be-dewing their -naked breasts with tears, and Daughters clinging to their Parents; not -knowing what new stage of distress must follow their separation, or if -ever they shall meet again: And here what sympathy, what commiseration -are they to expect? why indeed, if they will not separate as readily -as their owners think proper, the whipper is called for, and the lash -exercised upon their naked bodies, till obliged to part. - -Can any human heart, that retains a fellow-feeling for the Sufferings -of mankind, be unconcerned at relations of such grievous affliction, -to which this oppressed part of our Species are subjected: God gave to -man dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowls of the air, -and over the cattle, _&c._ but imposed no involuntary subjection of one -man to another. - -The Truth of this Position has of late been clearly set forth by -persons of reputation and ability, particularly _George Wallis_, in his -System of the Laws of _Scotland_, whose sentiments are so worthy the -notice of all considerate persons, that I shall here repeat a part of -what he has not long since published, concerning the _African_ Trade, -_viz._ ‘If this Trade admits of a moral or a rational justification, -every crime, even the most atrocious, may be justified: Government was -instituted for the good of mankind. Kings, Princes, Governors, are not -proprietors of those who are subjected to their authority, they have -not a right to make them miserable. On the contrary, their authority is -vested in them, that they may by the just exercise of it, promote the -Happiness of their people: Of course, they have not a right to dispose -of their Liberty, and to sell them for slaves: Besides, no man has a -right to acquire or to purchase them; men and their Liberty, are not -either saleable or purchaseable: One therefore has no body but himself -to blame, in case he shall find himself deprived of a man, whom he -thought he had, by buying for a price, made his own; for he dealt -in a Trade which was illicit, and was prohibited by the most obvious -dictates of humanity. For these reasons, every one of those unfortunate -men, who are pretended to be slaves, has a right to be declared free, -for he never lost his Liberty, he could not lose it; his Prince had no -power to dispose of him: of course the sale was void. This right he -carries about with him, and is entitled every where to get it declared. -As soon, therefore, as he comes into a country, in which the Judges are -not forgetful of their own humanity, it is their duty to remember that -he is a man, and to declare him to be free.—This is the Law of Nature, -which is obligatory on all men, at all times, and in all places.—Would -not any of us, who should be snatched by Pirates from his native land, -think himself cruelly abused, and at all times intitled to be free? -Have not these unfortunate _Africans_, who meet with the same cruel -fate, the same right? are not they men as well as we? and have they -not the same sensibility? Let us not, therefore, defend or support an -usage, which is contrary to all the Laws of Humanity.’ - -_Francis Hutchinson_, also in his System of Moral Philosophy, speaking -on the subject of Slavery, says, ‘He who detains another by force in -slavery, is always bound to prove his title. The Slave sold or carried -away into a distant country, must not be obliged to prove a negative, -that he never forfeited his Liberty. The violent possessor must, in -all cases, shew his title, especially where the old proprietor is well -known. In this case each man is the original proprietor of his own -Liberty: The proof of his losing it must be incumbent on those, who -deprived him of it by force. Strange, (says the same author) that in -any nation, where a sense of Liberty prevails, where the _Christian_ -religion is professed, custom and high prospect of gain can so stupify -the consciences of men, and all sense of natural justice, that they -can hear such computation made about the value of their fellow-men and -their Liberty, without abhorrence and indignation.’ - -The noted Baron _Montesquieu_ gives it, as his opinion, in his _Spirit -of Laws_, page 348, ‘That nothing more assimilates a man to a beast -than living amongst freemen, himself a slave; such people as these -are the natural enemies of society, and their number must always be -dangerous.’ - -The Author of a pamphlet, lately printed in _London_, entituled, _An -Essay in Vindication of the continental Colonies of_ America, writes, -‘That the bondage we have imposed on the _Africans_, is absolutely -repugnant to justice. That it is highly inconsistent with civil -policy: First, as it tends to suppress all improvements in arts and -sciences; without which it is morally impossible that any nation -should be happy or powerful. Secondly, as it may deprave the minds of -the freemen; steeling their hearts against the laudable feelings of -virtue and humanity. And, lastly, as it endangers the community by the -destructive effects of civil commotions: need I add to these (says that -author) what every heart, which is not callous to all tender feelings, -will readily suggest; that it is shocking to humanity, violative of -every generous sentiment, abhorrent utterly from the _Christian_ -Religion: for, as _Montesquieu_ very justly observes, _We must suppose -them not to be men, or a suspicion would follow that we ourselves are -not_ Christians.——There cannot be a more dangerous maxim, than that -necessity is a plea for injustice. For who shall fix the degree of this -necessity? What villain so atrocious, who may not urge this excuse? or, -as _Milton_ has happily expressed it, - - ‘————————————————————————_And with necessity, - The tyrant’s plea, excuse his dev’lish deed._ - -‘That our Colonies want people, is a very weak argument for so inhuman -a violation of justice.—Shall a civilized, a _Christian_ nation -encourage Slavery, because the barbarous, savage, lawless _African_ -hath done it? Monstrous thought! To what end do we profess a religion -whose dictates we so flagrantly violate? Wherefore have we that pattern -of goodness and humanity, if we refuse to follow it? How long shall we -continue a practice, which policy rejects, justice condemns, and piety -dissuades? Shall the _Americans_ persist in a conduct, which cannot -be justified; or persevere in oppression from which their hearts must -recoil? If the barbarous _Africans_ shall continue to enslave each -other, let the dæmon slavery remain among them, that their crime may -include its own punishment. Let not _Christians_, by administering to -their wickedness, confess their religion to be a useless refinement, -their profession vain, and themselves as inhuman as the savages they -detest.’ - -_James Foster_, in _his Discourses on Natural Religion and Social -Virtue_, also shews his just indignation at this wicked practice, which -he declares to be _a criminal and outrageous violation of the natural -right of mankind_. At page 156, 2d vol. he says, ‘Should we have read -concerning the _Greeks_ or _Romans_ of old, that they traded, with -view to make slaves of their own species, whom they certainly knew -that this would involve in schemes of blood and murder, of destroying -or enslaving each other, that they even fomented wars, and engaged -whole nations and tribes in open hostilities, for their own private -advantage; that they had no detestation of the violence and cruelty, -but only feared the ill success of their inhuman enterprises; that -they carried men like themselves, their brethren, and the offspring of -the same common parent, to be sold like beasts of prey, or beasts of -burden, and put them to the same reproachful trial of their soundness, -strength and capacity for greater bodily service; that quite forgetting -and renouncing the original dignity of human nature, communicated to -all, they treated them with more severity and ruder discipline, than -even the ox or the ass, who are void of understanding.—Should we not, -if this had been the case, have naturally been led to despise all their -pretended refinements of morality; and to have concluded, that as they -were not nations destitute of politeness, they must have been _entire -Strangers to Virtue and Benevolence_? - -‘But, notwithstanding this, we ourselves (who profess to be -_Christians_, and boast of the peculiar advantage we enjoy, by means -of an express revelation of our duty from Heaven) are in effect, these -very untaught and rude _Heathen_ countries. With all our superior -light, we instil into those, whom we call savage and barbarous, the -most despicable opinion of human nature. We, to the utmost of our -power, weaken and dissolve the universal tie, that binds and unites -mankind. We practise what we should exclaim against, as the utmost -excess of cruelty and tyranny, if nations of the world, differing in -colour and form of government from ourselves, were so possessed of -empire, as to be able to reduce us to a state of unmerited and brutish -servitude. Of consequence, we sacrifice our reason, our humanity, our -_Christianity_, to an unnatural sordid gain. We teach other nations -to despise and trample under foot, all the obligations of social -virtue. We take the most effectual method to prevent the propagation -of the Gospel, by representing it as a scheme of power and barbarous -oppression, and an enemy to the natural privileges and rights of men. - -‘Perhaps all that I have now offered, may be of very little weight to -restrain this enormity, this aggravated iniquity. However, I shall -still have the satisfaction, of having entered my private protest -against a practice which, in my opinion, _bids that God, who is the God -and Father of the_ Gentiles _unconverted to_ Christianity, _most daring -and bold defiance, and spurns at all the principles both of natural and -revealed Religion_.’ - -How the _British_ nation first came to be concerned in a practice, by -which the rights and liberties of mankind are so violently infringed, -and which is so opposite to the apprehensions _Englishmen_ have always -had of what natural justice requires, is indeed surprising. It was -about the year 1563, in the reign of Queen _Elizabeth_, that the -_English_ first engaged in the _Guinea_ Trade; when it appears, from -an account in _Hill_’s Naval History, page 293, That when Captain -_Hawkins_ returned from his first voyage to _Africa_, that generous -spirited Princess, attentive to the interest of her subjects, sent -for the Commander, to whom she expressed her concern lest any of the -_African_ Negroes should be carried off without their free consent, -_declaring it would be detestable, and call down the vengeance of -Heaven upon the undertakers_. Captain _Hawkins_ promised to comply with -the Queen’s injunction: nevertheless, we find in the account, given -in the same History, of _Hawkins_’s second voyage, the author using -these remarkable words, _Here began the horrid practice of forcing the_ -Africans _into slavery_. - -_Labat_, a _Roman_ Missionary, in his account of the Isles of -_America_, at page 114, of the 4th vol. mentions, that _Lewis_ the -13th, Father to the present _French_ King’s Grandfather, was extremely -uneasy at a Law by which all the Negroes of his Colonies were to be -made slaves; but it being strongly urged to him, as the readiest means -for their Conversion to _Christianity_, he acquiesced therewith. - -And although we have not many accounts of the impressions which this -piratical invasion of the rights of mankind gave to serious minded -people, when first engaged in; yet it did not escape the notice of -some, who might be esteemed in a peculiar manner as watchmen in their -day to the different societies of _Christians_ whereunto they belonged. -_Richard Baxter_, an eminent preacher amongst the _Nonconformists_, -in the last century, well known and particularly esteemed by most of -the serious _Presbyterians_ and _Independents_, in his _Christian_ -Directory, mostly wrote about an hundred Years ago, fully shews his -detestation of this practice in the following words: ‘Do you not mark -how God hath followed you with plagues? And may not conscience tell -you, that it is for your inhumanity to the souls and bodies of men?—To -go as pirates and catch up poor Negroes, or people of another land, -that never forfeited Life or Liberty, and to make them Slaves and sell -them, is one of the worst kind of Thievery in the world; and such -persons are to be taken for the common Enemies of mankind; and they -that buy them, and use them as beasts, for their meer commodity, and -betray, or destroy, or neglect their souls, are fitter to be called -devils than _Christians_. It is an heinous sin to buy them, unless it -be in charity to deliver them.——Undoubtedly they are presently bound -to deliver them; because by right the man is his own; therefore no man -else can have a just title to him.’ - -We also find _George Fox_, a man of exemplary piety, who was the -principal instrument in gathering the religious society of people -called _Quakers_, expressing his concern and fellow-feeling for the -bondage of the Negroes: In a discourse taken from his mouth, in -_Barbadoes_, in the Year 1671, says, ‘Consider with yourselves, if -you were in the same condition as the Blacks are,—who came strangers -to you, and were sold to you as slaves. I say, if this should be the -condition of you or yours, you would think it hard measure: Yea, and -very great bondage and cruelty. And, therefore, consider seriously of -this, and do you for and to them, as you would willingly have them, -or any other to do unto you, were you in the like slavish condition; -and bring them to know the Lord Christ.’ And in his journal, page 431, -speaking of the Advice he gave his friends at _Barbadoes_, he says, ‘I -desired also, that they would cause their Overseers to deal mildly and -gently with their Negroes, and not to use cruelty towards them, as the -manner of some had been; and that after certain years of servitude they -should make them free.’ - -In a book printed in _Leverpool_, called _The Leverpool -Memorandum-book_, which contains, among other things, an account of -the Trade of that port, there is an exact list of the vessels employed -in the _Guinea_ Trade, and of the number of Slaves imported in each -vessel, by which it appears, that in the year 1753, the number imported -to _America_, by vessels belonging to that port, amounted to upwards -of Thirty Thousand; and from the number of Vessels employed by the -_African_ Company in _London_ and _Bristol_, we may, with some degree -of certainty conclude, there is, at least, One Hundred Thousand Negroes -purchased and brought on board our ships yearly from the coast of -_Africa_, on their account. This is confirmed in _Anderson_’s History -of Trade and Commerce, printed in 1764, where it is said, at page 68 -of the Appendix, ‘That _England_ supplies her _American_ Colonies with -Negro-slaves, amounting in number to above One Hundred Thousand every -year.’ When the vessels are full freighted with slaves, they set out -for our plantations in _America_, and may be two or three months on the -voyage, during which time, from the filth and stench that is among -them, distempers frequently break out, which carry off a great many, -a fifth, a fourth, yea, sometimes a third of them; so that taking all -the slaves together that are brought on board our ships yearly, one -may reasonably suppose, that at least ten thousand of them die on the -voyage. And in a printed account of the State of the Negroes in our -plantations, it is supposed that a fourth part, more or less, die at -the different Islands, in what is called the seasoning. Hence it may -be presumed, that, at a moderate computation of the slaves, who are -purchased by our _African_ merchants in a year, near thirty thousand -die upon the voyage and in the seasoning. Add to this, the prodigious -number who are killed in the incursions and intestine wars, by which -the Negroes procure the number of slaves wanted to load the vessels. -How dreadful then is this Slave-Trade, whereby so many thousands of -our fellow-creatures, free by nature, endued with the same rational -faculties, and called to be heirs of the same salvation with us, lose -their lives, and are truly, and properly speaking, murdered every year! -For it is not necessary, in order to convict a man of murder, to make -it appear, that he had an intention to commit murder. Whoever does, by -unjust force or violence, deprive another of his Liberty; and, while -he has him in his power, reduces him, by cruel treatment, to such a -condition as evidently endangers his life, and the event occasions his -death, is actually guilty of murder. It is no less shocking to read the -accounts given by Sir _Hans Sloane_, and others, of the inhuman and -unmerciful treatment those Blacks meet with, who survive the seasoning -in the Islands, often for transgressions, to which the punishment they -receive bears no proportion. ‘And the horrid executions, which are -frequently made there upon discovery of the plots laid by the Blacks, -for the recovery of their liberty; of some they break the bones, whilst -alive, on a wheel; others they burn or rather roast to death; others -they starve to death, with a loaf hanging before their mouths.’ Thus -they are brought to expire, with frightful agonies, in the most horrid -tortures. For negligence only they are unmercifully whipped, till their -backs are raw, and then pepper and salt is scattered on the wounds to -heighten the pain, and prevent mortification. Is it not a cause of -much sorrow and lamentation, that so many poor creatures should be -thus racked with excruciating tortures, for crimes which often their -tormentors have occasioned? Must not even the common feelings of human -nature have suffered some grievous change in those men, to be capable -of such horrid cruelty towards their fellow-men? If they deserve death, -ought not their judges, in the death decreed them, always to remember -that these their hapless fellow-creatures are men, and themselves -professing _Christians_? The _Mosaic_ law teaches us our duty in -these cases, in the merciful provision it made in the punishment of -transgressors, _Deuter._ xxv. 2. _And it shall be, if the wicked man -be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, -and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain -number; Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed._ And the reason -rendered is out of respect to human nature, _viz. Lest if he should -exceed, and beat him above these, with many stripes, then thy Brother -should seem vile unto thee. Britons_ boast themselves to be a generous, -humane people, who have a true sense of the importance of Liberty; but -is this a true character, whilst that barbarous, savage Slave-Trade, -with all its attendant horrors, receives countenance and protection -from the Legislature, whereby so many Thousand lives are yearly -sacrificed? Do we indeed believe the truths declared in the Gospel? Are -we persuaded that the threatenings, as well as the promises therein -contained, will have their accomplishment? If indeed we do, must we not -tremble to think what a load of guilt lies upon our Nation generally, -and individually so far as we in any degree abet or countenance this -aggravated iniquity? - -We have a memorable Instance in history, which may be fruitful of -Instruction, if timely and properly applied; it is a quotation made by -Sir _John Temple_, in his history of the _Irish_ rebellion, being an -observation out of _Giraldus Cambrensis_, a noted author, who lived -about six hundred years ago, concerning the causes of the prosperity -of the _English_ undertakings in _Ireland_, when they conquered that -Island, he saith, ‘That a synod, or council of the Clergy, being then -assembled at _Armagh_, and that point fully debated, it was unanimously -agreed, that the sins of the people were the occasion of that heavy -judgment then falling upon their nation; and that especially their -buying of _Englishmen_ from merchants and pirates, and detaining them -under a most miserable hard bondage, had caused the Lord, by way of -just retaliation, to leave them to be reduced, by the _English_, to -the same state of slavery. Whereupon they made a publick act in that -council, that all the _English_ held in captivity throughout the whole -land, should be presently restored to their former Liberty.’ - -I shall now conclude with an extract from an address of a late author -to the merchants, and others, who are concerned in carrying on the -_Guinea_ Trade; which also, in a great measure, is applicable to -others, who, for the love of gain, are in any way concerned in -promoting or maintaining the captivity of the Negroes. - -‘As the business, you are publickly carrying on before the world, has -a bad aspect, and you are sensible most men make objection against -it, you ought to justify it to the world, upon principles of reason, -equity, and humanity; to make it appear, that it is no unjust invasion -of the persons, or encroachments on the rights of men; or for ever to -lay it aside.—But laying aside the resentment of men, which is but of -little or no moment, in comparison with that of the Almighty, think -of a future reckoning: consider how you shall come off in the great -and awful Day of account. You now heap up riches and live in pleasure; -but, oh! what will you do in the end thereof? and that is not far off: -what, if death should seize upon you, and hurry you out of this world, -under all that load of blood-guiltiness that now lies upon your fouls? -The gospel expresly declares, that thieves and murderers shall not -inherit the kingdom of God. Consider, that at the same time, and by -the same means, you now treasure up worldly riches, you are treasuring -up to yourselves wrath, against the day of wrath, and vengeance that -shall come upon the workers of iniquity, unless prevented by a timely -repentance. - -‘And what greater iniquity, what crime that is more heinous, that -carries in it more complicated guilt, can you name than that, in the -habitual, deliberate practice of which you now live? How can you lift -up your guilty eyes to heaven? How can you pray for mercy to him that -made you, or hope for any favour from him that formed you, while you go -on thus grosly and openly to dishonour him, in debasing and destroying -the noblest workmanship of his hands in this lower world? He is the -Father of men; and do you think he will not resent such treatment of -his offspring, whom he hath so loved, as to give his only begotten Son, -that whosoever believeth in him, might not perish, but have everlasting -life? This love of God to man, revealed in the gospel, is a great -aggravation of your guilt; for if God so loved us, we ought also to -love one another. _You remember the fate of the Servant, who took hold -of his fellow-servant, who was in his debt, by the throat, and cast him -into prison_: Think then, and tremble to think, what will be your fate, -who take your fellow-servants by the throat, that owe you not a penny, -and make them prisoners for life. - -‘Give yourselves leave to reflect impartially upon, and consider the -nature of, this Man-Trade, which, if you do, your hearts must needs -relent, if you have not lost all sense of humanity, all pity and -companion towards those of your own kind, to think what calamities, -what havock and destruction among them, you have been the authors of -for filthy lucre’s sake. God grant you may be sensible of your guilt, -and repent in time!’ - - FINIS. - - - BOOKS Printed and Sold by J. PHILLIPS, - George-Yard, Lombard-Street. - -ESSAY on the TREATMENT and CONVERSION of AFRICAN SLAVES in the BRITISH -Sugar Colonies. By J. RAMSAY, Vicar of Teston in Kent, who resided many -Years in the West-Indies. In One Volume, Octavo. Price 5s. bound, or -4s. in Boards. - -HISTORICAL ACCOUNT of GUINEA, its Situation, Produce, and the general -Disposition of its Inhabitants. With an Inquiry into the RISE and -PROGRESS of the SLAVE TRADE, its Nature and lamentable Effects. Also -a Republication of the Sentiments of several Authors of Note on this -interesting Subject: Particularly an Extract of a Treatise written by -GRANVILLE SHARPE. By ANTHONY BENEZET. In One Volume Octavo. Price 2s. -6d. stitched. - -THOUGHTS on the SLAVERY of the NEGROES. Price 4d. - - - Transcriber’s Notes: - - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - Blank pages have been removed. - - A few obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected, - otherwise archaic and inconsistent spellings have been left alone. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CAUTION TO GREAT BRITAIN AND -HER COLONIES *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. 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