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EXTRACT FROM WILKINSON'S APPEAL TO ENGLAND ON BEHALF OF THE ABUSED AFRICANS. --------------- ARE negroes savage? Britons once were so, And little knew beyond the dart and bow. Of Europe's kings the muse with ease could tell, How at their nod, the heads of subjects fell --- Ah, polish'd Europe! should we backward trace The early deeds of thy superior race, How should we find thy ruffian heroes then, Like Afric's now, profane the rights of men? Should find defenceless captives 'raign'd around, Pale, silent, trembling on the blushing ground, While slashing swords arose, and every blow With savage triumph brought a brother low. Now humaniz'd around, the battle o'er, The soldier from his falchion wipes the gore, Returns it to its sheath, and gently leads His captive homewards; comforts, clothes, and feeds, Till he by ransom or exchange regains The wish'd-for comfort of his native plains. But should he labour with domestic woe, To his own land, at once, he bids him go. Thus Europe from her barb'rous maxims past, And shall not Afric raise her views at last? But while for slaves you bribe her kings to war, On all reform you fix a stubborn bar. Is liberty a being quite unknown Beneath the fervours of the torrid zone? Well, be it so: but must she ne'er appear With angel-hand to scatter blessings there? Oh! Liberty, the tyrant's only dread, Proceeding, here, with slow and cautious tread: There, with more bold and rapid steps advance Thy glorious toils, as o'er the plains of France! Who would have thought of France, twelve months ago, When royal frowns did twenty millions awe, That she so soon would spurn despotic sway; Her subjects dictate, and her king obey?
Transcription Notes:
Line 9, changed "they" to "thy"