true; and so, many might have persuaded themselves that these dreadful stories were exaggerated; that they were misrepresented, or too highly coloured; or that such things occurred only occasionally, and were by no means general or frequent they did not take the trouble to find out whether it was so or not; and thus they passed the matter by altogether.-See how much suffering continues to exist just for want of proper investigation.-And there were other people more heartless still. Some would even say that such cruelties were necessary, and actually attempt to justify them on that account. There must be slaves, they supposed, to work in the plantations of the West Indies; and then black men were so obstinate and perverse; they had not the acute feelings which white men have; they could not be managed like them; and therefore they must be treated like animals, not as reasoning and human beings. And so, what with the thoughtlessness, and apathy, and selfishness of people at home, and the love of gain in those abroad, slavery went on, as I said, year after year, with all its horrors, and all its barbarities.

But the time was approaching when, in the good providence of God, this dreadful evil was to be abolished; and Britain was to have the happiness of not only being free herself, but of making others free also. It often happens,

as we have seen, that good is brought out of evil. So it was now. About the time of which we have been speaking, some heartless Englishmen, not content with exercising their power of oppression abroad, had even ventured to exercise it at home; and they contended that they had a right to do so, and to treat their slaves as they pleased, even in the free country of Britain. Now it so happened, that the case of one of these poor oppressed negroes, suffering from the cruelty of his master in England, attracted the notice of an excellent and benevolent man in London, whose name will be always loved and revered for his noble exertions on behalf of the poor slaves, - Mr. Granville Sharp. I shall have to tell you of others also who laboured in the same good cause; but he has the honour of being the first,—the pioneer in this enterprize of christian benevolence.

Mr. Sharp was very different from those persons of whom I was speaking just now. When a case of distress came before him, he did not put it aside; it was thoroughly investigated by him, and then he did all in his power to relieve it. I need not, I cannot tell you all he did; but I will tell you of some of the results of his exertions.

Through his persevering efforts, it was ascertained to be the law of the land, that as soon as ever a slave sets foot upon British ground

he becomes free. This was a grand point gained, as regarded the treatment of slaves here in England; but it was only the beginning of what was to be effected afterwards; for it did not stop slavery abroad, nor attack the evils of the system generally. But happily, the matter did not end here. The good work once begun, was carried forward, patiently and laboriously, until, as we shall see, it was really and fully accomplished. Attention was now roused to the subject. The minds of good and benevolent men were drawn towards the poor Africans as they had never been before; and soon a committee was formed, and a Society established for the purpose of enquiring into the whole system of the Slave Trade, and of endeavouring to suppress it.

And here I must mention the names of two other good men who were actively engaged in this business. One was Mr. Clarkson. The other is a name which will be more familiar to you, that of Wilberforce. It is indeed to him especially that we owe the extinction of the Slave Trade, as far as this country is concerned. His long and busy life was spent in doing good of all kinds, and to all classes of individuals; but his great, his chief work, was that of abolishing this dreadful system which had so long been the disgrace of our land. He was for many years an active member of

the House of Commons, and all the influence. which this gave him was directed to the furtherance of the noble object to which he had devoted the powers of his mind, and the affections of his heart.

But you must not imagine that the happy event of the abolition of slavery was brought about without much labour and difficulty: nor that it was accomplished all at once, and in a very short time. No; there was a great deal of opposition to be encountered and overcome, and many a long year of discouragement to be passed through, before the work was completed. And that work was effected not suddenly, but by degrees, as most really great works are. First one point was gained, and then another; and these beginnings of success served to cheer the benevolent friends of Africa, and to encourage them to go on; assured that in due time, with God's blessing, England would abolish the Slave Trade altogether, and that so the wish of their hearts would be accomplished. Such hopes as these were necessary indeed to bear them up in their difficulties; and to enable them to persevere, even amidst scorn and opposition.

Thy country, Wilberforce, with just disdain,
Hears thee by cruel men and impious call'd
Fanatic, for thy zeal to loose th' enthrall'd

From exile, public sale, and slavery's chain.

Friend of the poor, the wrong'd, the fetter gall'd,
Fear not lest labour such as thine be vain.
Thou hast achieved a part; hath gain'd the ear
Of Britain's senate to thy glorious cause;
Hope smiles, joy springs, and though cold caution pause,
And weave delay, the better hour is near,
That shall remunerate thy toils severe,

By peace for Afric, fenc'd with British laws.
Enjoy what thou hast won,-esteem and love
From all the just on earth, and all the blest above.

COWPER.

The happy day came at last. It was in March 1807, twenty years after the commencement of the struggle against slavery, that a bill actually passed both houses of Parliament, enacting that no vessel should clear out for slaves from any port within the British dominions, after the 1st of May 1807, and that no slave should be landed in the colonies after the 1st of March 1808. That bill had met with much opposition in its progress; and many a long debate had it called forth, and many an eloquent and touching speech had been made in its support. Wilberforce, as you may suppose, was not silent then; and happily he had many friends to support him, and to join in pleading the cause of the poor slaves. Among them was one of the great and noble of the land,--the Duke of Gloucester, nephew of George III. You will like, I am sure, to know how a member of the royal family could speak and feel on such a