“Yet was I born as you are, no man’s slave, An heir to all that liberal nature gave; My mind can reason, and my limbs can move The same as yours; like yours my heart can love: Alike my body food and sleep sustain, And e’en, like yours, feels pleasure, want, and pain: One sun rolls o’er us, common skies surround, One globe contains us, and one grave must bound.” Intent upon the orders of his employers, and of the advantages he should obtain by the commission, Irving studied so much to ingratiate himself with his host, that he very soon readily obtained his promise of conducting him to his slave-rooms, the first opportunity he could spare from his close While Irving displayed the tempting assortment of spirits, trinkets, dresses, and fire-arms, to the eager African, he artfully affected indifference as to the purchase of slaves; being well acquainted with the mode of making a good bargain, even when his fellow men were the articles for which to negociate: so entirely does this infamous trade debase and corrupt every generous emotion of the heart, and blunt every honourable feeling. With the internal assurance, therefore, that the view he had granted of his commodities, would induce the chief, as soon as possible, to gratify his desire of possessing them, Irving waited patiently the summons to attend him to the children of misery he had by fraud and violence collected; and was fully prepared to accompany him, upon his invitation a few days subsequent to the conclusion of the coronation ceremonies. Irving was, however, astonished, when the negro pointed out to him several The transition from the elegance and luxuries of this African mansion, to the slave-buildings, was striking; and to a heart yet unperverted and unvitiated by the habitual view of uncontrouled power and oppression over the defenceless, would have been most mournful. But such was not the impression made upon either of the present visitants; the one intent upon immediate self-gratification, the While examining these miserable captives with all the technical minuteness of jockeys, or cattle-dealers, (during which the wretched exiles evinced the strongest and most varying emotions of reluctance, grief, and indignation,) the people of the chief brought in thirty-five more individuals, whom they had taken in a small town or village of the interior, Amongst this number, however, great as it was, there were no slaves which suited the purposes of Irving; and he proceeded with his conductor to several other enclosures, from which he selected a few of inferior value. The negro then told him, he would show him what he termed “prime and superb negroes.” In passing over to one of these enclosures, which were at some distance, Irving was arrested by a faint and low moan, as of distress, followed by an air of most exquisite plaintive melody, with which was intermingled, at intervals, the sound of an infantine voice, so lively as to speak the unconsciousness, of the innocent from whose lips it proceeded, of the mournful lot to which it was destined. “What sound is that?” he enquired of his host, as he stopped to listen from whence it proceeded; for even upon his deadened soul the song had vibrated. (Note H.) “I dare say it is the Senegal slave I had selected for my royal master,” replied the negro; “but she bewailed being parted from her boy so much, that, to save her life, I was obliged to suffer her to see him once or twice a day, during the ceremonies. I shall, however, soon make her submit, now I can attend to her: I shall sell her for a great price, if I can separate the child from her, without hazarding her life.” “Perhaps she will suit me,” said Irving; “the boy would be no objection to the purchase, if he is strong and healthy. Let me see them.” The negro hesitated; but at length observed, “They are worth a great deal,” as if he doubted that Irving would be disposed to give the price. “You remember that beautiful sabre, and the brandy-chest full of prime liquor, and those muskets you admired, and”——observed Irving carelessly, but was interrupted in his enumeration by “True, true, I scorn to deceive so good a friend,” rejoined the negro, half afraid that Irving would recede from his implied bargain: “You shall certainly see this refractory woman; that is, she is only obstinate when I remove the boy. I wish they had killed the young urchin at once, when they carried her off. She is very gentle when he is with her: she only chooses to sing those mournful songs about TumiÁh: I suppose he was her husband. However, at all events, the boy cannot go to the palace with her.” During this conversation, they had reached the hut in which the poor slave was confined alone, in the hope of making her yield to the will of the African, by consenting to be conveyed to the palace without her child. Irving followed the negro into the hut. The moment the latter got within it, the miserable The scene he now witnessed, struck powerfully on this chord of feeling. The distraction of the captive, her extreme youth, her beauty, the neglect of grief so apparent in her simple dress, her unornamented hair, her trembling limbs, her heaving bosom, her eloquent eye, her fevered lip, her attitude, and the energy with which she held her now alarmed child; altogether, combined a picture, which coming suddenly upon his previously somewhat softened feelings, had a powerful effect upon him, and, for a time, made him forget he was a slave-dealer, and caused the nobler feeling of the man to prevail. He determined, if possible, to save the wretched woman from the fate that awaited The negro’s anger began to rise, during this soliloquy of his hapless captive; and calling vehemently for attendants, he directed she should be conducted, with her child, to a place appointed, with care to be taken that she should not do herself any injury, until Irving had concluded his engagement, and could have her removed to WhidÁh. Irving declined viewing any more of the slaves on that day, and having determined to remain but a few days longer with the chief, he lost no time in making good his purchase of the female slave and her child. One impediment to his returning to WhidÁh, however, there was, which he might have anticipated; but in his eagerness to purchase the wretched Imihie, he had not considered that while the rum and brandy remained, the grandee and his companions “Where wast thou, then, sweet Charity, where then, Thou tutelary friend of helpless men? Perish the wretch, that slighted and withstood The tender argument of kindred blood. But tho’ some nobler minds a law respect, That none shall with impunity neglect, In baser souls unnumber’d evils meet, To thwart its influence, and its end defeat.” Shall a Briton, shall a man “honoured with a Christian name” encourage slavery, because the semi-barbarous, unenlightened, lawless African hath done it? “To what end (it is impressively asked) do we profess a religion whose dictates we so flagrantly violate? Wherefore have we that pattern of goodness and humanity, if we refuse to follow it? How long shall we continue a practice which policy rejects, justice condemns, and piety revolts at?” |