The Sun.
London, England, 1840-06-01 00:00:00

preference to any of the great political names to whom
the leadership might have been handed—it was the
settled resolution, the undoubted conviction of my honoured
father.—( Here the speaker was interrupted with a burst
of applause, the best description of which is, that it was
worthy of the name of Wilberforce)—that he could most
safely and certainly consign it. He knew well with
whom he had to do ; he knew well the single,
settled, generous, and devoted purpose with which
that Honourable Gentleman disdained for a
a moment to make this cause the medium of personal ad-
vancement, and that he would pursue through evil re-
port and through good report, the cause he had under-
! taken ; and I take up a remark which fell from Mr. Bux-
ton—namely, that the extinction of the slave.trade de-
pended on promoting the civilization of Africa—because I
think, without continually reminding ourselves and others
that in the civilization of men we make greater advances
in proportion as the foundation is Christianity, and I dare
to avow it, and I believe this meeting will concur with
, me in the belief, that any other civilization than that
based upon and carrying out Christianity, is the merest
futility which ever disappointed the expectatiosns of men.
—( Loud cheers.) I know, and many in this meeting will
remember, what civilization did of old in that city which
had reached the highest point of earthly civilization,
when the hand of God rained on Athens, and
and the pestilence was mowing down its ranks. We re-
member, then, that city, in spite of its civilization, exhi-
bited the most fierce, the most inhuman, and the most
deadly hatred in man to man—that then every band which
binds the links of life together was severed at once, and
man only saw in his fellow man one in whom be could recog-
nize a prey; and thus it ever is with those who
trust in human instrumentality to do that which nothing
but the presence of God can effcet.—( Cheers.) But
thee, Sir, your Royal Highness will excuse me if I think
a few words necessary on another branch of the subject,
which, if I may be allowed to say it, has not yet been
sufficiently touched on. There may spacer to
some to be a sort of contradiction to what I
have said in declaring we look to this pro-
hibitory system, and the colonization of Africa, as in-
struments in suppressing this trade; but there is no con-
tradiction in this proposition. Although we trust altogether
to Christianity to do the work, no one has looked at the
history of the spread of Christianity, but must have seen
that God has used secondary instruments as the
means of introducing Christianity. I believe the
very cause and origin of the commercial plan
was for this single purpose. I believe the cause why
England does not produce the fruits and spices of the
East, and the East does not bring forth the produce of
England, is simply this—that as the Great Father of all
grudges not his gifts, there was no stint on the prodigality
of his giving—but this is the source of the necessity which
leads nation to trade with nation, who thus have an oppor-
tunity and power which other than commercial
nations do not possess, of carrying the embargo
of civilization into every part of the earth: that
every ship laden with commerce may also bear the-inesti-
mable boon of everlasting life-4 Loud cheers)—that
from no part of the earth should we receive only, without
giving fir the gold of the West, and the spices of the
East, the more precious wealth—the more blessed
frankincense of Christ cur Mastcr.—(Loud cheering.)
But n3t only does this general proposition establish the
duty of commerce with Africa, it is a proposition every
one will admit—that in every article of commerce the de-
mand necessarily increases the supply, and how awfully
have we abused the power God has thus given us in Africa,
by refusing to exchange our manufactures for their gums
and spices, but saying to them that if they will put forth
their hands against their brother, and look upon him with
the eye of cupidity—then, and then only, they shall become
rich in the riches that England could give them.—( Cheers.)
(To be continued in our SECOND EDITION.)

The following were the resolutions passed at the
meeting :
I. That notwithstanding all the measures hitherto adopted
for the suppression of the foreign trade in slaves, the traffic has
increased, and continues to increase, under circumstances of
aggravated horror, and prevails to an extent which impera-
tive 4 calls for the strenuous and combined exertion of the
whole Christian community to effect its extinction.
2. That the utter failure of every attempt by treaty, by re-
monstrance, or by naval armaments to arrest the progress of
the trade, and the exposure recently made by the publication
of Mr. Buxton of the deep interest which the Afriean Chiefs
have in its continuance, as the means of. obtaining European
goods and manufactures, prove the necessity of resortirg to a
preventive policy, founded on different and higher principles.
3. That this policy is to be found in the civilization of Arlica
by the introduction of Christianity, by the promotion of legi.
timate commerce, and by encouraging the cultivation of the soil
on a system of free labour.
4. That in the opinion of this meeting Great' Britain is
required both by every consideration of sound commercial
policy, and by the higher motives of Christian obligation, to
exert all her influence and all her power for the effectual sup_
/mission of the Slave Trade, and that the means proposed by
this Society in accordance with the principles recognised in its
prospectus, and in the preceding resolutions, appear eminently
calculated to conduce to the attainment of that great result,
and are therefore entitled to cordial approbation and support.
5. That this meeting earnestly and solemnly appeals to the
whole Christian community to further the operations of the
Society by pecuniary contributions, by private and public in-
fluence, and by all other means that are legitimate in the pro-
secution of a purpose, dictated by humanity, approved by sound
policy, anxiously desired by the country, and undertaken in the
humble hope that the blessing of Almighty God will be vouch-
safed to its labours.

6. That in order to promote the interests of this Institution
throughout the Kingdom, :t is expedient to establish Societies
auxiliary to it, and in regular correspondence and connection
ith it, as extensively as possible,—this Meeting therefore
pledges itself to strenuous efforts for that purpose, and earnestly
invites the friends of Africa, of every religious persuasion and
political opinion, to adopt such means in their respective neigh-
bourhoods, as may contribute under the Divine blessing to its
prosperity and success.