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Show 164 ON TIIE SLAVERY AND CoMMERCE C H A P. VII. We come now to that other fyil:em of reafoning, which is always applied, when the former is confuted; " that the Africans are an inferiour link of the chain of nature, and are made for flavery." This alfertion is proved by two arguments; the firil: of which was advanced alfo by the ancients, and is drawn from the inferiority of tbeir capacities. Let us allow then for a moment, that they appear to have no parts, that they appear to be void of underfianding. And is thi~ wonderful, when you receivers deprefs the1r fenfes by hunger? Is this wonderful when by inceff.1nt labour, the continual ap~ plication of the lalh, and the moll inhuman treatment that imagination can devife, you overwhelm their genius, and hinder it from breaking forth ?-No,-You confound their abilities by the feverity of their fervitude: for as a fpark of fire, if crulhed by too great a weight of incumbent fuel, cannot be blown into a flame, bt:t fuddenly expires, fo the human mind, if depreifed by rigo-rous OF T!IE HuMAN SPECIES. rous fervitude, cannot be excited to a difplay of thofe faculties, which might otherwife have f11one with the brightefl: lufire. Neither is it wonderful in another point of view. For what is it that awakens the abilities of men, and difiinguif11es them from the common herd? ls it not often the amiable hope of becoming ferviceable to individuals, or the fl:ate ? Is it not often the hope of riches, or of power? Is it not frequent] y the hope of tern porary honours, or a Jafl:ing fame ? Thefe principles have all a wonderful effeB: upon the mind. They call upon it to exert its faculties, and bring thofe talents to the publick view, which had otherwife been concealed. But the unfortunate Africans have no fuch incitements as thefe, that they lhould fl1ew their genius. They have no hope of riches, power, honours, fame. They have no hope but this, that their miferies will be foon terminated by death. And here we cannot but cenfure and expofe the murmurings of the unthinking and the gay; who, going on in a continual round of pleafure and profperity, repine at the will of Providence, as exhibited in the fuortne(s L l of |
