Clarkson's The History of the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade
12022-04-23T12:48:31+00:00Christopher Ohge67a4fbaba4797c94aa865988788fca89b5c3761632Note on The History of the Abolition of the African Slave-Tradeplain2022-04-23T12:54:16+00:00Christopher Ohge67a4fbaba4797c94aa865988788fca89b5c37616Thomas Clarkson's The History of the Abolition of the African Slave-Trade is a two-volume history of the first wave of efforts to abolish the slave trade in Great Britain. Full texts can be accessed at the Liberty Fund text archive.
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12022-01-10T21:56:18+00:00Christopher Ohge67a4fbaba4797c94aa865988788fca89b5c37616Clarkson, ThomasChristopher Ohge1Pieces that allude to Thomas Clarksonplain2022-01-10T21:56:18+00:00Christopher Ohge67a4fbaba4797c94aa865988788fca89b5c37616
"Coming in sight of Wades-Mill, in Hertfordshire, I sat down disconsolate on the turf by the road-side, and held my horse. Here a thought came into my mind, that if the contents of the Essay were true, it was time some person should see these calamities to their end. Agitated in this manner, I reached home. This was in the summer of 1785."
Clarkson's History of Abolition, Vol. I. p. 210.
A wanderer by the road-way side, Where leafy tall trees grow, Casting their branching shadows wide, Sits on the turf below.
Though rich the landscape, hill, and plain, Before him there out-spread ; One hand holds fast his bridle-rein, One props his thoughtful head.
The flush of youth is on his brow, Its fire is in his eye; And yet the first is pensive now, The latter nought can spy.
Does proud Ambition's fitful gleam Light up his soul within? Or fond Affection's gentler dream Prompt him Love's bliss to win?
These are forgotten, or unknown : For, o'er the Atlantic main, His ear has caught the captive's groan, Has heard his clanking chain.
Nor less from Afric's land afar, Borne by the billowy waves, The hideous din of sordid War, The shrieks of kidnapped slaves.
The iron of that galling yoke Has entered in his soul! How shall Power's tyrant spell be broke? The sick at heart made whole?
Who, e'en on Albion's far-famed Isle, Where Freedom gives her laws, Nobly forgetting self the while, Shall live but for her cause?
Who, the Apostle of her Creed, Shall journey to and fro, Her universal rights to plead, And Slavery overthrow?
"Thou art the man!" the Prophet cried; The awe-struck Monarch heard; And, while his heart with anguish sighed, Compunction's depths were stirred.
As clear, as vivid the appeal To Freedom's Champion given: And God himself hath set his seal, The message was from Heaven!