Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-05-27
COMMENCEMENT OF CLARKsoNs
CAREER,
Shoieing Me extraordinary result ofa Prize Esst
in turning his rhoie energies in The
---r--e- dHfi- Sidrery field -----

1t was in 1885, that Dr. Packard was raised to
the -Chancellorship of the university of Cam
bridge. That benevolent and patriotic divine tool;
the first opportunity that presented itself of excit
ing the attention Of the public to the crimes he
had himself denounced from the pulpit. This he
effected through the instrumentality Of Univcrs.
ity Prize, offered to the young and ardent minds
of the undergraduates, for the best Latin dissera-
ton on the following subject :-"d9ne Hceat iriios
in serrihttem da,e9" as ii right 10 make slares
Of others against their irW?"
Thomas Clarkson was at this time senior.wrang-
Ter in the University. In the previous year, lac
had gained prize for the best Latin dissertation.
That he might retain his former reputation he felt
himself called upon again to prepare for the con-
ilict; and thus obtain for himself still higher
degree Of scholastic fame. In studying the subject
proposed, the young aspirant properly conceived
that the proposition, though couched in general
terms, pointed indirectly at the African slave trade
which had begun to occupy share Of public at
tention, but which he lumented his entire igno-
rance of, and that only few weeks were allowed
Tor lhU composition of the essay He commenced
however, with determination, and made the best
use of his time. lie gathered information from
every source he could think of, and armed himself
with authorities on the subject But man, he
pathetcally says, can imagine the severe trials
which the composition of his essay subjected him
to. lie had expected TO find much pleasure in
collecting his materials, in arranging and in con-
sluNtiHR MS OutcNtN 10 lieeuOln. lie anticipated
qualification from the invention of his proposed
arguments, from the arrangement of his facts
from the skill to be Displayed in the proper con-
nections from the proofs he should give by Undue
ton Of the unlawf1lness of making persons slaves
against their WILL and from the laudabe aspiration
so natural in youthful heart, of being engaged
in mn innocent contest for literary honours from
his alma mater.
But all these anticpatons Of delight were
damped by the narrowing and astounding facts
that presented themselves continually to his view.
1t was a continued succession of perpetual woe
and misery, and nought but gloomy scenes of
mental agony and bodily anguish was before him
from early morn to dusky night. BY day he was
wretched at night he could take but little rest
sometimes not closing his eyes for very grief
Chains, whips, fetters, branding-irons collars il
for wild beasts, blood, gashcs, sobs, commissions
shrieks, described in the terrific narratives he
had consulted appeared, like frghtful realities in
his dreams of the hight and metal visions of the
day.
At length it became less an object of ambition,
literary contest for academic honors, than the
production Of work that might bo Of use to the
suffering Africans, and call upon his country to
shake off 1.-THE accursed thing" which is twice
cursed cursing both the prosecutor and the perse-
cuted; for
" "Iieav'n, whose darling attribute we find,
Is boundless grace and mercy to mankind,
Abh0rs Me cruel" Dryden.
With this additional object perpetually in his
mind, he regularly, after having read the harrow
ing accounts in Benezets faithful pages, slept with
light in his chamber, that he might rise from his
couch and note down such thoughts as arose in
his mind during the still and solemn hours OF
night This practice arose from a fixed determi-
nation of putting forth his utmost strength, not
merely for University honours, but for the honour
of universal human nature; and that no auxiliary,
however small should be lost to the argumentative
portion Of his thesis.
Having, at length, finished his painful task, he
transmitted his dissertation TO the Vice-C Chancellor
and, shortly afterwards, found himself honoured
as in the previous year, by the award of the first
prize Thus was the first spark elected in Clark
sons mind, which kindled fire in the whole
Christian part OF the English nation and excited
the British Isles, in generous endeavovr 10 allie
yaie tho suerings and redress the wrongs Of theil
graduate of Cambridge instantaneously converted
as Bernard Barton records IT, from youthful as
prant for academic bays into