work_id,theme,provenance,created_at,text,reviewed_on,id,comments,metaphor,dictionary,updated_at,context
6816,"",Reading,2011-03-23 03:55:55 UTC,"These instances, and a great many more which might be adduced, while they shew how the complexions of the same persons vary in different climates, it is hoped may tend also to remove the prejudice that some conceive against the natives of Africa on account of their colour. Surely the minds of the Spaniards did not change with their complexions! Are there not causes enough to which the apparent inferiority of an African may be ascribed, without limiting the goodness of God, and supposing he forbore to stamp understanding on certainly his own image, because ""carved in ebony."" Might it not naturally be ascribed to their situation? When they come among Europeans, they are ignorant of their language, religion, manners, and customs. Are any pains taken to teach them these? Are they treated as men? Does not slavery itself depress the mind, and extinguish all its fire and every noble sentiment? But, above all, what advantages do not a refined people possess over those who are rude and uncultivated. Let the polished and haughty European recollect that his ancestors were once, like the Africans, uncivilized, and even barbarous. Did Nature make them inferior to their sons? and should they too have been made slaves? Every rational mind answers, No. Let such reflections as these melt the pride of their superiority into sympathy for the wants and miseries of their sable brethren, and compel them to acknowledge, that understanding is not confined to feature or colour. If, when they look round the world, they feel exultation, let it be tempered with benevolence to others, and gratitude to God, ""who hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth; and whose wisdom is not our wisdom, neither are our ways his ways.""
(pp. 42-4)",,18248,"","""Does not slavery itself depress the mind, and extinguish all its fire and every noble sentiment?""",Fetters,2013-03-09 16:31:58 UTC,Chapter 1
7052,"",Reading,2011-07-29 18:21:53 UTC,"But, to return to my subject, I begin with the Cursory Remarker. This man stiles himself a friend to the West-India colonies and their inhabitants, like Demetrius, the silversmith, a man of some considerable abilities, seeing their craft in danger, a craft, however, not so innocent and justifiable as the making of shrines for Diana, though that was base and wicked enough to enslave the minds of men with superstition and idolatry; but this craft, and the gain of those craftsmen, consists in the enslaving both soul and body to the cruel idolatry, and most abominable service and slavery, to the idol of cursed avarice: And as he finds some discoveries of their wicked traffic held up in a light where truth and facts are so clearly seen, as none but the most desperate villain would dare to obstruct or oppose, he therefore sallies forth with all the desperation of an Utopian assailant, to tell lies by a virulent contradiction of facts, and with false aspersions endeavour to calumniate the worthy and judicious essayest of that discovery, a man, whose character is irreproachable. By thus artfully supposing, if he could bring the reputation of the author, who has discovered so much of their iniquitous traffic, into dispute, his work would fall and be less regarded. However, this virulent craftsman has done no great merit to his cause and the credit of that infamous craft; at the appearance of truth, his understanding has got the better of his avarice and infidelity, so far, as to draw the following concession: ""I shall not be so far misunderstood, by the candid and judicious part of mankind, as to be ranked among the advocates of slavery, as I must sincerely join Mr. Ramsay*, and every other man of sensibility, in hoping the blessings of freedom will, in due time, be equally diffused over the whole globe.""
*The worthy and judicious author of ""An Essay on the Treatment and Conversion of the African Slaves in the British Sugar Colonies.""
(p. 15)",,19058,"","""This man stiles himself a friend to the West-India colonies and their inhabitants, like Demetrius, the silversmith, a man of some considerable abilities, seeing their craft in danger, a craft, however, not so innocent and justifiable as the making of shrines for Diana, though that was base and wicked enough to enslave the minds of men with superstition and idolatry; but this craft, and the gain of those craftsmen, consists in the enslaving both soul and body to the cruel idolatry, and most abominable service and slavery, to the idol of cursed avarice.""",Fetters,2011-07-29 18:21:53 UTC,""
7541,"",Reading; text from DocSouth,2013-07-11 21:28:55 UTC,"THERE is something inexpressibly flattering in the notion of your being warmer--from the idea of your much obliged friend's caring for you;--in truth we could not help caring about you--our thoughts travelled with you over night from Bond Street to the Inn.--The next day at noon--""Well, now she's above half way--alas! no, she will not get home till Saturday night--I wonder what companions she has met with--there is a magnetism in good-nature which will ever attract its like--so if she meets with beings the least social--but that's as chance wills!""--Well, night arrives--and now our friend has reached the open arms of parental love--excess of delightful endearments gives place to tranquil enjoyments--and all are happy in the pleasure they give each other.--Were I a Saint or a Bishop, and was to pass by your door, I would stop, and say, Peace be upon this dwelling!--and what richer should I leave it?--for I trust where a good man dwells, there peace makes its sweet abode.--When you have read Boffuet, you will find at the end, that it was greatly wished the learned author had brought the work down lower--but I cannot help thinking he concluded his design as far as he originally meant.--Mrs. Sancho thank Heaven, is as well as you left her, and your godson thrives--he is the type of his father--fat--heavy--seepy--but as he is the heir of the noble family, and your godson, I ought not to disparage him.--The Dutchess of K---- is so unwell, that she has petitioned for a longer day--they say that her intellects are hurt;--tho' a bad woman, she is entitled to pity.--Conscience, the high chancellor of the human breast, whose small still voice speaks terror to the guilty--Conscience has pricked her--and, with all her wealth and titles, she is an object of pity.--Health attend you and yours!--Pleasure of course will follow.--Mrs. Sancho joins me in all I say, and the girls look their assent.--I remain--God forgive me! I was going to conclude, without ever once thanking you for your goodness in letting us hear from you so early--there is such a civil coldness in writing, a month perhaps after expectation has been snuffed out, that the very thought is enough to chill friendship--but you, like your sister Charity, as Thomson sweetly paints her (smiling thro' tears), delight in giving pleasure, and joy in doing good.--And now farewell--and believe us in truth, our dear Miss L----'s [...]
(I.xxxii, pp. 87-90; pp. 69-70 in Carretta)",,21676,"","""Conscience, the high chancellor of the human breast, whose small still voice speaks terror to the guilty--Conscience has pricked her--and, with all her wealth and titles, she is an object of pity.""",Court and Inhabitants,2013-07-11 21:29:08 UTC,"Vol. I, letter xxxii"
7541,"",Reading; text from Doc South,2013-07-11 21:53:44 UTC,"I AM truly sorry to address this letter to you at this season in the English channel--the time considered that you have left us, you ought in all good reason to have been a seasoned Creole of St. Kitt's;--but we must have patience--what cannot be cured--must be endured.--I dare believe you bear the cruel delay with resignation--and make the best and truest use of your time--by steady reflection and writing.--I would wish you to note down the occurrences of every day--to which add your own observation of men and things--the more you habituate yourself to minute investigation, the stronger you will make your mind--ever taking along with you in all your researches the word of God--and the operations of his divine providence.--Remember, young man--nothing happens by chance.--Let not the levity of frothy wit--nor the absurdity of fools break in upon your happier principles--your dependence upon the Deity--address the Almighty with fervor--with love and simplicity--carry his laws in your heart--and command both worlds;--but I meant mere fatherly advice, and I have wrote a sermon.--Dear boy, 'tis my love preaches; N--begged me to write a line for him, as he said you wanted news.--I have none but what you know as well as myself--such as the regard and best wishes of Mrs. Sancho--the girls and myself--such as wishing a happy end to your long-protracted voyage--and a joyful meeting with your worthy and respectable family;--and in order to leave room for friend N--, I here assure you I am your affectionate friend, [...]
(II.xxiii, pp. 56-7; pp. 158-9 in Carretta)",,21694,"","""Let not the levity of frothy wit--nor the absurdity of fools break in upon your happier principles--your dependence upon the Deity--address the Almighty with fervor--with love and simplicity--carry his laws in your heart--and command both worlds;--but I meant mere fatherly advice, and I have wrote a sermon.""","",2013-07-11 21:53:44 UTC,"Vol. II, letter xxiii"