New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-03-27
Thomas CIarkson. the First Enc.
Is,3 OF slavery.

written, thirty years before, (when senior
bachelor in ST. Johns College, Cambridge
a successful essay on the question, us invol-
untary slavery iustiable ?" That essay de-
termined the entire course Of his life. lie
spent twenty years in gathering, arranging,
and disseminating the sickening mass of facts
that marked the character of the slave-trade.
He told me that, during the early portion
Of that period, there were many days during
which he collected evidence so replete with
horrors and atrocities that he returned home,
in the evening, with burning sensation in
his head which rendered sleep impossible,
until he had applied for hours .bandages
soaked in coolest water to forehead and tenn
pies, so as to allay the fever of the brain.
But what chiefly lives in my recollection is
the graphic account he gave me Of an inter-
view which, after several years thus spent,
he obtained, through the influence OfWilber-
force, with William Pitt, then Prime Min
lister.
With the direCtncss OF inaster-mind that
great man plunged into the subject at once.
81 know that yon have bestowed much study
on this matter, Mr.. Clarkson," he saidj "but
1 want details. Can you give Them"
Eyes, if YOU will allow your secretary to
bring in some books which | left in the ante
chamber"
Four or five ponderous lolios, labelled re-
spectively Day-Book, journal, and Ledger,
were produced. Pitt mentioned the name of
some well-known SLAYER, (the ship Brooks, |
think it was, } and asked: "Do You know any
thing about her:''
'Ies do you wish Ia see an account of
her last yoyagc?'
Pitt asscntng Clarksnn after referring to
the index of one of his journals labelled
"Slaye Voyages" handed the volume, open
at the narrative demanded, to the minister,
who read ii with the utmost attention then
asked, ado YOU know the names of the Off
GERS and sailors who were shipped for this
yoyage?''
'sIIere they are'-opcning one of the ledg-
ers at page headed 1.-The Ship Brooks"
"Ah! did You take the testimony Of any
of these salors?'
81 did, of this one"-pointing to his name /;
land here il is'-opening the ledger at an
other page, headed with the mans name.
Pitt read his testimony from the first word
to the last "Any other" he then asked.
Clarkson gave him three or four more TO
read, which he perused with the same care,
then added, ''The surgeon did You examine
him."
''IIere is his testimony
The minister ran it over, taking notes as
he did so. "An important witness that, Mr..
ClarksOn. Can YOU tell where he is to be
found?'
.'.Just at present he is at sea; but the
Brooks will be in during the summer, and
then his address will be" giving it.
''Can the sailor witnesses be procured if
they are wanted:'
Next summer they.can easily be found"
And Clarkson, having copied from a ledger
the names Of the b0arding-houses in Liver
pool which each respectively frcqucnted when
on shore, handed them to the minister.
"Any more vessels - asked Mr.. Pitt.
"Twenty or thirty more, if you have time
to examine the testimony regarding them"
~ shall male time. Ii is Il very important
inquiry"
This rapid cross-examination, Clarkson told
me- lasted three or four hours, during which,
he said, Mr.. Pitt must have looked over at
tentively not less than hundred pages of
manuscript. TO every question put, Clark
son had a satisfactory answer ready. When
the slave VOYAGES had occurred years before,
and some of the sailors could not be pro-
duccd, it was stated what had become of
them, whether by death, discharge, or descr-
ton. Pans had even been taken, in every
case, TO record the former abode 81 service of
each, together with the time of his entry,
copied from the books of the vessel.
The effect produced on the Prime Minister,
during this memorable interview, exceeded,
Clarkson said, his most sanguinc anticipa-
- ons.
When Pit, had glanced over the last page
submitted to him, he closed the book and
said: That will do. | doubted whether
the slaye-tradc was the uiquitous traffic
which many good men have represcnte 4 it TO
be- You have removed these doubts, Mr..
GARRISON and thank you for the wonderful
pains YOU have taken and the facts you have
brought before me. \ on NAV depend upon
whatever | can do, upon all the personal i'll
fuence can exert, TO further your wishes.
| may not be able"-he hcsitated n mo-
ment-"there are circumstances that are
likely to prevent this being made a Cabinet
question. But nothing shall prevent me from
expressing, so far as l can benefit the cause
by doing so, my individual opinion on this
subject. Come to me whenever you have
ANYTHING important to communicate, without
ceremony or previous appointment. | shall
give instructions that, unless ! am very spe-
cially engaged, You be admitted at once.
ANY papers you want / Will orders Perhaps
| may communicate with some Of our CONT
mental neighbors on the subject. Can / do
ANYTHING more for YOU"
Clarkson begged TO be allowed to lay be-
fore him some African productions and they
were brought from The next room. They
included native manufactures Of cotton,
leather, gold, and iron. Pitt examined them
with interest, and spoke with emotion: