A Letter from A Letter from CharlestonCharlestonWilliam tells Sophie about the William tells Sophie about the new country: Americanew country: America

Dearest Sophie,Dearest Sophie,

I write to you from new shores, in a new I write to you from new shores, in a new country, at the dawn of a new age.country, at the dawn of a new age.

Greatly interested by what you told me of Greatly interested by what you told me of Mr Wilberforce in your last letter, I took Mr Wilberforce in your last letter, I took the liberty of writing to him, to tell him the liberty of writing to him, to tell him something of my travels and fortunes. something of my travels and fortunes.

He has asked me to set down my story, He has asked me to set down my story, and to send it to him.and to send it to him.

So now I am in AmericaSo now I am in America

Though I did not wish to Though I did not wish to remain in the Island, I was remain in the Island, I was prevailed upon by friends to prevailed upon by friends to come to work in Kingston, come to work in Kingston, the chief Town of the Island, the chief Town of the Island, where I found new where I found new employment in the counting-employment in the counting-house of an American, Mr. house of an American, Mr. Thomas, who is an importer Thomas, who is an importer of Books and Musical of Books and Musical Instruments: articles which Instruments: articles which help to make like more help to make like more civilised, and which are civilised, and which are blessedly free of the taint of blessedly free of the taint of slavery, tho’ those who slavery, tho’ those who purchase them are all too purchase them are all too often exploiters of Human often exploiters of Human Misery. Misery.

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By this connection,By this connection,

I was able to secure a I was able to secure a Move to his American Move to his American Counting House: so here I Counting House: so here I am, My Dear Sophie – a am, My Dear Sophie – a citizen of the New Country citizen of the New Country of America! My being from of America! My being from Britain has occasioned Britain has occasioned some sport at my some sport at my expense, tho’ I have expense, tho’ I have begged my companions to begged my companions to remember that I am a remember that I am a native of Wales, not of native of Wales, not of England, with all the England, with all the distance which that distance which that implies. implies.

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Indeed this is a vigorous new Indeed this is a vigorous new country: and despite their country: and despite their desire to be free of the desire to be free of the shackles of the English shackles of the English crown, they are indeed our crown, they are indeed our cousins. cousins.

Sadly, dissent is rife here, too.Sadly, dissent is rife here, too.

In Jamaica, the Agitation In Jamaica, the Agitation for the Abolition of for the Abolition of Slavery threatens the Slavery threatens the livelihood of all, rich and livelihood of all, rich and poor. Jamaican needs to poor. Jamaican needs to continue to import slaves continue to import slaves because of the terrible because of the terrible death-rate among them: death-rate among them: punitively worked in a punitively worked in a harsh environment, and harsh environment, and worn out by growing worn out by growing sugar, too few have sugar, too few have children to maintain their children to maintain their numbers. So the vile trade numbers. So the vile trade goes on.goes on.

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In America the matter threatens to divide Brother In America the matter threatens to divide Brother from Brother.from Brother.

In America, a In America, a seemingly more seemingly more enlightened enlightened attitude means attitude means that families are that families are likely to remain likely to remain together more together more often, and some often, and some owners have owners have begun to begun to encourage their encourage their charges to form charges to form small slave small slave communities. communities. Christian Christian Evangelists have Evangelists have done much work done much work among the slaves, among the slaves, and Churches have and Churches have been built. been built.

‘‘If a slave is not to be a Beast, how can he then be If a slave is not to be a Beast, how can he then be denied the rights of a Man?’denied the rights of a Man?’

However, I cannot see that such ‘Liberal’ notions However, I cannot see that such ‘Liberal’ notions can continue long without the Slaves can continue long without the Slaves themselves questioning their lot. So there you themselves questioning their lot. So there you have the paradox – how can one be an have the paradox – how can one be an Enlightened slave-owner? Or to put it more Enlightened slave-owner? Or to put it more bluntly – if a slave is not to be a Beast, how can bluntly – if a slave is not to be a Beast, how can he then be denied the rights of a Man? As one he then be denied the rights of a Man? As one good man – though a slave-owner – said to me good man – though a slave-owner – said to me the other day: ‘Teach a Slave the Gospel, and the other day: ‘Teach a Slave the Gospel, and he will want to learn to read. Teach him to read, he will want to learn to read. Teach him to read, and he is no longer a slave.’ How true! and he is no longer a slave.’ How true!

I foretell that this new country will be pulled I foretell that this new country will be pulled apart by this matter:apart by this matter:

indeed the indeed the President, Mr President, Mr Jefferson, a man Jefferson, a man for whom I have for whom I have a warm regard – a warm regard – is himself from is himself from a family of a family of planters, and planters, and owns slaves.owns slaves.

If slavery is to endIf slavery is to end

As indeed it must, I predict that it will be As indeed it must, I predict that it will be by the efforts and example of men such by the efforts and example of men such as Mr Wilberforce that the end will come.as Mr Wilberforce that the end will come.

What the British began, they must also What the British began, they must also end.end.

And I will do all in my power to help.And I will do all in my power to help.

Already the movement is Already the movement is growinggrowing

And men and women of goodwill are And men and women of goodwill are raising their voices here.raising their voices here.

Slaves are being helped to freedom, and Slaves are being helped to freedom, and moving North to more enlightened states.moving North to more enlightened states.

I will myself move to Boston, where one I will myself move to Boston, where one is able to do more, and to speak freely.is able to do more, and to speak freely.

Dearest Sophie,Dearest Sophie,

I hope to be able to travel home across I hope to be able to travel home across the sea to Wales for the Celebration of the sea to Wales for the Celebration of your marriage in the New Year.your marriage in the New Year.

Until then, I remain Until then, I remain

Your devoted BrotherYour devoted Brother

WilliamWilliam