Page:Substance of the speech of His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, in the House of Lords.djvu/8

 those Gentlemen who drew it.—When the Bill was first brought up to this House, my Lords, I own I did not conceive it possible for its supporters to defend the measure, but upon the general grounds of Abolition; and indeed, thanks to Mr. Plomer, he took care to defend it upon the principle of total and complete Abolition. I may, therefore, be permitted to enter with the same firmness into the general principles of the whole question.

To persons so well acquainted with the history of this country as your Lordships, it would be too great presumption on my part to engage your attention, by a detailed account of the African Trade carried on by the European nations; suffice it to say, that in the year 1442, the Portuguese began it. In 1471, the Portuguese built the first forts on the Gold Coast, and had thirty-seven vessels in the trade. In 1502, the Spaniards commenced the same trade; and in 1517,