John Ranby, Esq.

That the evils of the Slave Trade should, like the evils incident to
other departments of civil subordination, be humanely remedied as much as
may be, every good man is convinced; and accordingly we find that great
advances have been gradually made in that respect, as may be seen in
various publications, particularly the evidence taken before the
Privy-Council. It must be admitted, that in the course of the present
imprudent and dangerous attempt to bring about a total abolition, one
essential advantage has been obtained, namely, a better mode of carrying
the slaves from Africa to the West-Indies; but surely this might have
been had in a less violent manner.

{6} Diogenes being discovered in the street in fond intercourse with one
of those pretty misses whom Sir William Dolben dislikes, steadily said,
"{Greek: Phyteno Andras}--I plant men."

{7} Manchester Petition.

{8} Some of the Scottish Presbyteries petitioned.

{9} _Risum teneatis amici._ HORAT.

{10} When I forget HIM, may GOD forget me!

{11} _Mira cano, Sol occubuit, nox nulla sequuta._ See CAMDEN'S REMAINS.

{12} The state of slavery is acknowledged both in the Old Testament and
the New.

{13} The great Dr. Bentley was Mr. Cumberland's grandfather.

{14} Mr. Cumberland is a descendant of Bishop Cumberland, who wrote _De
legibus Naturae_.

{15} Messieurs Carpmeal, Macmanus, Jealous, and Townshend, gentlemen of
the Publick Office, in Bow-Street.

{16} Sir William Young has a series of pictures, in which the negroes in
our plantations are justly and pleasingly exhibited in various scenes.

{17} The Angola blacks are the most ferocious. The author does not boast,
like Abyssinian _Yakoob_, "of no ungracious figure": nor does he, like
another _beau garcon_, Mr. Gibbon, prefix his pleasing countenance to
captivate the ladies.

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES:

All original spellings and punctuation have been retained, except as noted.

Title page: "By James Boswell, Esq." is handwritten below "P O E M."

Erratum: the change of "mighty" to "magick" has been made.

Line 9: "Thurlow" is handwritten above "T----".

Line 12, footnote 2: "Sedet eternumqre sedebit" corrected to "Sedet
eternumque sedebit".

Line 27: There is no footnote marker in the original text for footnote 5.

Line 35: "Brown" is handwritten above "B----".

Line 100: The line numbering is inconsistent.

Line 109: "magick" substituted for "mighty" as specified in th