Thoughts Upon The African Slave Trade By John Newton Rector Of St Mary Woolnoth

Thoughts upon the African Slave Trade is an autobiography by John Newton, the slave merchant skipper who lived a redeemed life as a pastor after having taken an active role in the slave trade of the day. A work with valuable insight concerning early slavery.

This 18th century essay on the evils of slavery and human trafficking, by a member of the British clergy, remains as powerful today as when it was first published. It begins: The nature and effects of that unhappy and disgraceful branch of commerce, which has long been maintained on the Coast of Africa, with the sole, and professed design of purchasing our fellow-creatures, in order to supply our West-India islands and the American colonies, when they were ours, with Slaves; is now generally understood. So much light has been thrown upon the subject, by many able pens; and so many respectable persons have already engaged to use their utmost influence, for the suppression of a traffic, which contradicts the feelings of humanity; that it is hoped, this stain of our National character will soon be wiped out.