under the arm of civil power, which, beside the advantage of having for one of its express objects the dissuading from tumult and violence, is by its very nature an appeal to men of study and reflection. It is to be tried whether an attempt shall be made to suppress the activity of mind, and put an end to the disquisitions of science. Respecting the event in a personal view, the author has formed his resolution. Whatever conduct his countrymen may pursue, they will not be able to shake his tranquillity. The duty he conceives himself most bound to discharge is the assisting the progress of truth, and if he suffer in any respect for such a proceeding, there is certainly no vicissitude that can befall him, that can ever bring along with it a more satisfactory consolation. But, exclusive of this precarious and unimportant consideration, it is the fortune of the present work to appear before a public that is panic struck, and impressed with the most dreadful apprehensions respecting such doctrines as are here delivered. All the prejudices of the human mind are in arms against it. This circumstance may appear to be more essential than the other. But it is the property of truth to be fearless and to prove victorious over every enemy. It requires no great degree of fortitude to look with indifference upon the false fire of the moment, and to foresee the calm period of reason which will succeed." VII. He advances: content with his own reflections, conscious of the approbation of the wise and good, and careless of the censure of those by whom he is misunderstood. Thomas Clarkson, in his History of the Slave Trade, says, "In the year 1785, the subject given to the Senior Bachelors of Arts for the Latin dissertation was, ' Anne liceat invitos in servitutem dare.' No person can tell the severe trial which the writing for the prize proved to me; it became not so much a trial for academical reputation as for the production of a work that might be useful to injured Africa. I was honoured with the prize. On returning to London, the subject wholly engrossed my thoughts. I stopped my horse occasionally and dismounted and walked. Coming in sight of Wade's Mill in Hertfordshire, I sat down disconsolate on the turf on the road side and held my horse. Here a thought came into my mind, that if the contents of my essay were true, it was time that some person should see these calamities to their end. Agitated in this manner, I reached home. This was in the summer of the year 1785."-Africa is free. When an application was made to General Washington to accept the command of the American army, he said, "Though I am truly sen sible of the high honour done me in this appointment, yet I feel great distress from a consciousness that my abilities and military experience may not be equal to the extensive and important trust however, as the Congress desire it, I will enter into the momentous duty, and exert every power I possess in their service and for support of the glorious cause. As to pay, I beg leave to assure the Congress, that as no pecuniary consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous employment, at the expense of my domestic ease and happiness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep an exact account of my expenses. These, I doubt not, they will discharge, and that is all I desire."America is free. At the commencement of Sir Samuel Romilly's exertions to abolish the punishment of death, he said in the House of Commons, "It is a common mode of proceeding, to prevent the progress of improvement, by endeavouring to excite the odium with which all attempts to reform are attended. Upon such expedients it is scarcely necessary for me to say that I have calculated. If I had consulted only my own immediate interests, my time might have been more profitably employed in the profession in which I am engaged. If I had listened to the dictates of prudence, if I had been alarmed by such prejudices, I could easily have discovered that the hope to amend law is not the disposition most favourable for preferment. I am not unacquainted with the best road to attorney-generalships and chancellorships, but in that path which my sense of duty dictates to be right, I shall proceed; and from this no misunderstanding, no misrepresentation shall deter me."-Sanguinary punishment is abolished. He considers what obstacles exist to the exercise of his power, and varies his attack according to the enemy to be encountered. -- If it is the opposition of intelligence or custom, he addresses himself to the opinions of his opponents. He knows the power of the press, the true temple of liberty, and to the extent of his ability he publishes. In England the press is free. Before and about the year 1810, there were monthly executions in London of young men and young women, for crimes without violence. In the year 1818, a society was formed for the abolition of these massacres. They commenced their labours by publishing the opinions of all their predecessors, of Sir Thomas More, of Lord Bacon, of Sir Edward Coke, of Montesquieu, of Dr. Johnson. They continued their exertions by every species of publication. They did not content themselves. with publishing the opinions of their friends, but, that the bane and antidote might circulate toge ther, they published the opinions of their opponents. The intelligence and good feeling of the nation were awakened. On the 6th of December, 1820, six young men and women were executed; on the 11th of the same month, eight more were executed. Obedient as the English are to the law, they could no longer submit to these errors. Upon the appearance on the scaffold of Sarah Price, and John Malden, aged twenty-seven, for having uttered a forged one pound note, the spectators could not restrain their feelings: there was great confusion amongst the immense assemblage and shouts of disapprobation. When Sarah Price appeared, there were cries of" Murder! down with the Bank !"-There has not been an execution in London for the last two years. Upon the opponents from belief, knowledge is immediately efficacious; upon those who resist from custom it soon prevails; but, upon those who resist from worldly interest, the hope of success is more distant although not less certain. He therefore continues his exertions, never hurrying and never pausing. He exposes the cause to the public, and tenders compensation to the individual. He diffuses knowledge openly, if the prejudice is not too strong: covertly if open attack is imprudent, as Boccaccio, who, seeing the frauds of the priests, wrote his novels; or Le * See postea, 97. |