following is the breathing of his upright soul: "Having been required by the committee of the society in London, instituted for effecting the abolition of the slave trade, to sign officially and singly with my name their late resolutions, in answer to the charges of ——— ——— Esq.; I think it right to declare, with respect to myself individually, that though I have carefully maintained the principles and orders of the society, in every transaction, wherein I have been concerned as a member of it, ever since it was formed in 1787, and have always strictly limited my official endeavors to the single declared object of the institution, 'the abolition of the slave trade.' Yet I am bound in reason and common justice to mankind, further to declare, that many years (at least twenty) before the society was formed, I thought, and ever shall think it my duty to expose the monstrous impiety and cruelty (impious and cruel, being the due epithets fixed by an allowed maxim of the law on such iniquity) not only of the slave trade, but also, of slavery itself, in whatever form it is favored; and likewise to assert, that no authority on earth can ever render such enormous iniquities legal; but that the Divine retribution (the 'measure for measure,' so clearly denounced in the holy scriptures) will inevitably pursue every government or legislature, that shall presume to establish, or even to tolerate, such abominable injustice. I should forfeit all title to true loyalty as an Englisman, did I not continue the same fixed detestation of slavery, which I have publicly avowed for about thirty years past. But my declarations on that head, were always intended as friendly warnings against the obvious and ordinary consequences of that unchristian oppression, slavery! but surely, not to excite those fatal consequences—for that would be superfluous, as they are in themselves but too sure and inevitable, unless timely amendment should avert them."
But Granville Sharp's attention was not confined to the sacred objects which we have been considering. They indeed occupied his chief attention, for they most needed it. Fashion, honor, religious profession advocated them not. They were amongst the poor and the despised things of this
