"تجارة الرقيق في شرق أفريقيا" [‎١‎٠] (١٠٨/١٩)

10
whom he had concerted his first measure, avowing his opinion
that it was wiser to await more tranquil times before the trade
could be abolished. Again and again did Mr. Wilberforce
return to the attack. His perseverance was at length rewarded,
and the House of Commons for the first time passed a Bill, in
1794, for the immediate abolition of the trade. This Bill was
lost in the House of Lords; and in succeeding sessions Mr.
Wilberforce laboured zealously, though ineffectually, to induce
the House of Commons to resume the ground they had already
occupied. Defeat followed defeat, and the contest, which had
lasted for twelve years, seemed for a while to leave the advo
cates of slavery the masters of the field. In 1802, however,
Mr. Wilberforce resumed his attempt, though under most dis
couraging circumstances. A second time did the Bill pass the
Commons, only to be hung up in the Lords, and the question
was adjourned to the following Session. The next effort was
foiled; the House of Commons, in 1805, rejecting the Bill,
inflicting upon Mr. Wilberforce distress and pain beyond that
suffered on any previous defeat. But the impending change in
the position of parties gave promise of hope. The Ministry
of Mr. Fox had scarcely succeeded Mr. Pitt's Cabinet, when
Bills were introduced into the Lords, and a Eesolution
carried in the Commons, condemnatory of the trade; and
finally, in 1807, was passed the Slave Trade Abolition Bill.
Twenty-six years afterwards, the abolition of slavery in all
British Dominions took place, and the example and influence
of England soon secured from all European powers treaty-
engagements by which trade in African slaves was declared to
be piracy, and punishable as such. Under these treaties the
African squadron was maintained, and mixed courts instituted
at various ports around the African coast, for adjudging all
cases of capture or seizure of vessels engaged in the trade,
and England guaranteed the freedom of the slaves who
should fall into her hands by capture. The watch maintained
by the cruisers of the African squadron, and the other ener
getic efforts maintained by this country, have been crowned
with success. So far as the West Coast of Africa is concerned^
the African Slave Trade is a thing of the past.