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Show 126 ON THE SLAI'ERY AND CoMMERCE " [courge them amidfl: their groans, and even fi11ile, while they are torturing them to death. Happy, happy Heathenifm! which can detefi the vices of Chrifiiani ty, and feel for the difirelfes of mankind." "But" we reply, "You are totally millaken : Chrijlia11ity is the mofi perfect and lovely of moral fyllems. It blelfes even the hand of perfecution itfelf, and returns good for evil. But the people againll whom you [o jullly declaim, are not Cbrijlialls. They are i11)idels. They are monjlers. They are out of the common courfe of nature. Their countrymen at home are generous and brave. They fttpport the lick, the lame, and the blind. They fly to the fuccour of the difirelfed. They have noble and fiately buildings for the [ole purpofe of benevolence. They are in lhort, of all nations, the moll: remarkable for humanity and j ullice." " But why then," replies the honefi African, " do they fulfer this? Why is Africa " a fcene of blood and defolation? Why " are oF THE HuMAN SPECIES. are her children wrefled from her, to adminifier to the luxuries and greatnefs of thofe whom they never offended ? And why are thefe difmal cries in vain ?" " Alas!" we reply again, " can the cries and groans, with which the air now trembles, be heard acrofs this extenfive continent? Can the fou thern winds convey them to the ear of Britain ? If they " could reach the generous Englilhman at home, they would pierce his heart, as they have already pierced your own. He would fympathize with you in your diftrefs. He would be enraged at the conduct of his countrymen, and refifi their tyranny."- But here a lhriek unufually loud, accompanied with a dreadful rattling of chains, interrupted the difcourfe. The wretched Africans were jufi about to embark : they had turned their face to their country, as if to take a lafi adieu, and, with arms uplifted to the lky, were making the very atmofphere refound with their prayers and imprecations. CHAP. |