our author in this transaction extended to his numerous other publications; only two, out of more than fifty, having been printed by himself for sale. He generally distributed his writings gratuitously, when he considered it desirable to circulate them; and devoted a considerable part of his smail income to this object, after supplying his own wants, which were few, and relieving the necessities of others, which he did to the utmost, often beyond the measure of prudence. This spirit appears from his confidential letters to his friends. To his brother William, for example, he says "I have finished my warning to the quakers, a copy of which is inclosed in this parcel for you; but you must not part with it to any other person, because I am under promise to the quakers not to give it to any persons but members of their society, except occasionally to a Roman-catholic or a Swedenborgian." specting the Roman-catholics themselves, against whose principles he evinced an extraordinary zeal, a similar remark occurs; while to the individuals he behaved with the utmost kindness and urbanity. The two exceptions to his general rule of publication were, on account of their public nature and importance, the two following "The Injustice of tolerating Slavery in Great Britain," and "The Greek Article," which, in one of his private manuscripts, was

Re

xii

postponed, he says, "from 1778 to 1798, and would not even then have been published if my very worthy and learned friend, Dr. Burgess, now Bishop of St. David's, had not undertaken to be the editor of it. Two different editions of it were printed, and the bitter objections of some scurrilous Socinians spurred me up at last to answer them in a third edition."

About this period Mr. Sharp's attention was first directed to that great subject, the amelioration, and, if possible, ultimate abolition of slavery. His name stands the foremost in the list of champions for freedom, and will be handed down to posterity with eulogies by men of every sect and party. His exertion in this glorious cause will for ever establish for him an imperishable fame.

Our author was the personal abolitionist of African slavery in England, and the first and chief agent in effecting the total extinction of that abominable traffic. Never were exertions more ably and perseveringly made than by this excellent man, in the case of Mr. Somerset, a slave landed in England, and by that act freed from his bonds. This important case had been selected, as it is said, at the desire both of Lord Mansfield and our author, to settle the question as to the right of the British soil to embrace in its constitutional freedom all who touch upon its

shores, of whatever clime or nation. Lord Mansfield declared, at the commencement of this trial, that, "If it should come fairly to the general question, whatever the opinion of the court might be, even if they were all agreed on one side or the other, the subject was of so general and extensive concern, that, from the nature of the question, he should certainly take the opinion of all the judges upon it." On the trial it came out, that Somerset's master was backed, and the expense paid by the West India merchants; but, happily for our author's cause, his exertions had awakened so great a sympathy for the unfortunate object of his protection, that he received the most generous offers of professional assistance, and none of the five eminent counsel who pleaded his cause (Sergeants Davy and Glynn, and Messrs. Mansfield, Hargreaves, and Alleyne,) would receive any remuneration for their exertions. Lord Mansfield, after repeated postponements, at length stated, that though he had at first thought to put the case in a more solemn way of argument, yet, as all the judges present were unanimous, it would be injustice not to give a decision. That was in favour of liberty, and ought to excite our respect for that eminent judge, in patiently hearing and acknowledging himself to be convinced by arguments which, in truth, controverted his former

assertions and proceedings. "If the merchants," said his lordship, "think the question of great consequence to trade and commerce, and the public should think so too, they had better think of an application to those who will make a law. We must find the law; we cannot make it." This most important cause was decided 22nd June, 1772.

To enable the reader to form a judgment of the value of Mr. Sharp's exertions in this sacred cause, the following example, among many others, is quoted, to shew the cool contempt then shewn to human life and freedom. In the Gazette of April 18, 1769, among the sales-" At the Bull and Gate, Holborn, a chesnut gelding, a tun of whiskey, and a well-made, good-tempered black boy." Rewards were frequently offered for securing fugitives in some specified ships in the river, with a proviso evincing some degree of respect for public opinion, that "the utmost secrecy may be depended on." In the New York Journal of October 22, 1767, it appears that our American brethren went still further in outraging the feelings of mankind :-" To be sold," says this journal, "a healthy negro wench, of about twenty-one years old; is a tolerable cook, and capable of doing all sorts of house work; can be well recommended for her honesty and obriety; she has a female child of nigh three

years old, which will be sold with the wench if required." So also the following from the Williamberg Gazette in Virginia :-"Run away from the subscriber, a lusty, strong, bony, negro fellow, named Bob, of a brownish complexion, &c. The said fellow is outlawed, and I will give ten pounds reward for his head severed from his body, or forty shillings if brought alive."

It is somewhat singular and very satisfactory to find, that in the pursuit of the one great object of his care and solicitude, in the restoration of a slave to his civil rights, our author was induced to investigate our laws in so minute a way, as to lead ultimately to the first essay in the book now given again to the public in its modified shape.

Thus the solid principles of our civil liberty are happily blended in such a manner with individual protection as to prove their perfection, and, as has been said, constant adaptation to every change of circumstance and every advance

in civilization.

So strong, however, was the law supposed to be against him, that in an action he had to defend for robbing a Mr. Lisle of his slave, as he alleged, in procuring his discharge at the Mansion House, that he says-" Forsaken by my professional defenders, I was compelled to make a hopeless attempt at self-defence, though I was