Page:Abstract of the evidence for the abolition of the slave-trade 1791.djvu/138

( 104 ) in the Bristol infirmary for twelve months, and that the greatest part of the diseased seamen there, in that time, were seamen who had belonged to the slave vessels, and though these generally went out of the infirmary better than when they came in, yet their health appeared to be so far destroyed as never to be able to be perfectly restored.

Grounds of presumption, that a Trade in the natural Productions of Africa would not be attended with such a Loss.

As to the question, whether the trade in the natural productions of Africa would be equally destructive to the seamen employed in it as the trade in slaves, there cannot, in the nature of things, be that sort of positive evidence as in the former case. There are, however, three species of presumption, from whence some conclusion may be drawn.

The first is the following. Captain Thompson, when on the coast of Africa, lay for several weeks near a vessel, which traded in wood, ivory, and gum, (which is a case in point) and he had the best accounts from his officers of the healthiness and good order of this ship. This, however, is the only vessel of the kind, which any of the evidences have seen.

A second species of presumption is to be entertained from the opinion of those, who have visited the coast of Africa. The same Capt. Thompson says, that he does not think a trade in the natural productions of Africa would be so detrimental to the health of the seamen as the slave trade, for they would not be liable to so much unpleasant and hard work, or such exposure to dews and weather. Mr. Newton asserts also that such a trade might be carried on without much exposure to weather and ill treatment, the natural attendants of the slave trade: and Sir George Young is of opinion, that a trade in the natural productions of Africa would not be attended with more inconvenience to the health of the