An address to the inhabitants in general of great Britain and Ireland by

1. An address to the inhabitants in general of great Britain and Ireland by Michael Renwick Sergent (1788) No foreign nation ought to deprive the Africans of their natural privileges without their consent, that it is fair and just for these people to dispose of their slaves, prisoners of war and felons according to their own established laws and customs; that it is lawful for any foreign nation to purchase slaves for the consideration agreed on by each party provided that their nation is not restrained from so doing…this right is founded on the great and general law of nations. Observations on the project for abolishing the slave trade, and on the reasonableness of attempting some practicable mode of relieving the Negroes (anonymous) Although we have no right to determine or choose for the Negroes, in respect to their removal from Africa to the West Indies, yet there seems little doubt that their situation is in general changed much for the better. They are slaves in Africa and their lives as much at the mercy of their uncivilised owners as those of their cattle. They are slaves still, but to civilised masters. They are protected, and their servitude protected by law. It has already been observed, that British laws alone cannot abolish the slave trade, but that they may, in the attempt, discourage British shipping, and turn over the African trade entirely to foreigners. Engraving showing ‘a Negro festival on the island of St Vincent’

2. Robert Norris, captain of a slave ship, describes conditions on the slave ships (1788) [The slaves] had sufficient room, sufficient air, and sufficient provisions. When upon deck, they made merry and amused themselves with dancing . . . In short, the voyage from Africa to the West Indies was one of the happiest periods of a Negro’s life. Colonel Tarleton, On the 18th of April, 1791, on a Motion made by Mr. Wilberforce, for the Abolition of The Slave Trade I believe I can state with the greatest accuracy and truth that the number of deaths in every hundred slaves transported by Liverpool merchants since the last regulation took place has not reached the average of four and one half in every hundred. The House will please observe that the exports from Liverpool, consisting of the manufactures of Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield and other neighbouring towns, which amount to a very considerable sum annually, are not noticed, and other material circumstances. Cursory remarks on the emancipation of slaves (1824) It would be as vain to enforce a code of laws on the inhabitants of the moon as to civilise Africans, and render them sensible of the blessings which Europeans enjoy from their industry, and superior civil and religious institutions; the climate they inhabit is wholly opposed to it. The correspondence between John Gladstone Esq. M.P. and James Cropper Esq. on the present state of slavery in the British West Indies Mr Cropper boldly states that were the Negroes free, they would be both more willing and better labourers than they are in their present situation. Everyone who has been to the West Indies…assures me that the fact is quite contrary…in general, the manumitted Negroes are idle, indolent and slothful…though they possessed good characters while they were slaves. From a manual for plantation owners How pleasing, how gratifying it is to see a swarm of healthy, active, cheerful, obedient boys and girls going to and returning from their puerile [childish and silly] work in the field

3. Why did some people support the slave trade?