and lays prostrate some of its more ancient trunks, favours the young and hardy pine, by opening to its aspiring point and expanding base, a freer course, and more copious sunshine; so have those revolutionary tempests which have laid waste the ancient realms of Europe, given an accelerated growth to the United States of America, both in their strength and stature. Population, agriculture, commerce, maritime power, how rapidly have they all increased in that country, since the revolution of France! A new and vast domain also has been acquired, at the expense of the Spanish empire. With such prodigious rapidity has the navigation of the United States increased, that they promise soon to win from Europe, the trident at least, if not the sceptre, of the western world.

Now, let it be well observed, that the United States have alone, of all the nations of the earth, during the same period, done much to redeem themselves from those sins to which I chiefly ascribe the calamities of Europe. Indeed, their government and legislature, with whom the corporate responsibility in every country chiefly rests, have done all that was in their immediate power; while every state in the union but one, has long since finally delivered itself from the guilt of the African slave trade.

It is truly honourable to the president and the congress, to find by intelligence recently arrived, that the former has officially congratulated the latter, on the near approach of a period when they will possess the constitutional power of giving a final blow to that hated commerce. That the power will be exercised, immediately after it vests in the general legislature, has been long beyond a doubt; and though the first of January, 1808, is now at no great distance, the president suggests a mean of accelerating the effect of the intended law, by a previous notice, which may prevent the inchoation of voyages in the present year, to be terminated in the next.

I think my country has cause to complain of America; and am not sure that the amicable arrangements lately made, are of a kind to reconcile with her pretensions, our most essential belligerent rights. But while she acts, in relation to the most helpless and injured of the human race, upon such righteous and liberal principles, it is impossible to refuse her our esteem; or to grudge any sacrifice for the sake of her friendship that self-preservation may permit. I trust that a nation which thus honourably respects the sacred rights of humanity and justice, will not long persevere in a line of conduct which ministers to the pestilent ambition of France, and abridges the only remaining hope of liberty in Europe. Indeed, the late outrageous and preposterous measures of Napoleon, will probably su

persede all questions that have lately subsisted between this country and the neutral powers; by the new and undeniable rights which result to us from such conduct in the enemy. May the harmony be tween England and America be settled on the firmest foundations; and among the many sympathies which ought to bind us to each other, may we soon have to add a mutual abhorrence, and conventional renunciation of the slave trade!

But while America, has thus honourably distinguished herself from other commercial nations, and has been equally distinguished by her singular prosperity in the present disastrous times, there is one country, I confess, which hitherto but imperfectly confirms, on comparative view of her fortunes, the hypothesis I aim to establish.

That country, alas! is Great Britain.-We have suffered enough evince that we have incurred the disfavour of heaven; but other nations less guilty, in regard to the slave-trade at least, have been

sited more severely. We have in truth, exceeded in this respect all the united provocations. Our offences against the helpless Africans, have been far greater in amount; and against God, we bave sinned more deeply than others, by all the wide difference between our national blessings and theirs. Our share of the crime is

so pre-eminent, through that peculiar knowledge of its detestable nature, which we have lately acquired. I fear it may even be added, that the perseverance of other nations in their iniquity, is fairly imputable to England; as being a natural effect of our example, after our deliberate examination of the case.

But England, though severely chastised, is not yet, like some of her and if the dangers of llow sinners cast down or c

country had finally subsided, this I admit, would be some apparent drawback on the force of the reasons that have been offered for ascribing our public calamities to the slave-trade.

But here it is, that I find by far the most alarming view of this truly awful subject. Let the sad prospects opened in the first division of this work, be fairly contemplated; and then let it be remembered, that the very country whose fate would demonstrably, in the event of its subjugation by France, be the most terrible that ever awaited a nation, is the same which has most highly provoked the avenging justice of God.-Nor let us harden ourselves on account of any seemingly auspicious change in the course of events, of the prospect of new confederacies. "Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not pass unpunished."

At the present moment there is another consideration which fills me with the most painful anxiety; and which urges me here to con

clude this work imperfect though it is, that I may no longer withhold from my country a feeble but seasonable warning. In a few days, or weeks, parliament will have to decide, whether it shall redeem the solemn pledge which it has recently given, for the excision of this dreadful traffic, or whether by a new apostacy, worse by far than any former provocation of the same kind, it shall fill up the measure of our iniquities, and draw down, upon us, perhaps, a speedy and signal vengeance.

I have too high an opinion of the dignity, as well as the moral feelings of the British legislature, to regard so opprobrious a relapse as a very probable event. But when I advert to the long and sad experience which we have had of the fate of such questions in parliament; when I remember the assiduous opposition, and the still more fatal apathy, by which the fairest expectations of the friends of the oppressed Africans, have been repeatedly ruined; my hopes are mingled, I own, with much uneasiness and fear.

May God, in whose hands are the hearts of all men, incline those who, under his permission, are our lawgivers, to deliver us at length, without delay, from the guilt of innocent blood! -Then only shall

I hope that the wisest measures of defence will be truly efficacious; then only will solid peace and security put an end to the dangers of the country.