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On slavery and the slave trade [To sovereigns and those in authority in the nations of Europe]

Over slavernij en slavenhandel (London: [s.n.], 1849). Dutch. De l'esclavage et de la traite des nègres (London: [s.n.], 1849). French.

Friends House Library, London

Address Slavery Slave Trade Sovereigns Nations Europe Quaker Meeting Society Friends

This Address, which was conceived in a special Quaker Meeting for Sufferings in 1849, is focused on slavery and the slave trade as crimes against God, and the religious duty of the Quakers to testify against them. It asks European sovereigns and heads of state to consider the sufferings of enslaved Africans, and do everything in their power to facilitate their conversion to Christianity. It offers the prayer that slave-holders in the Americas should become aware of their sin, and set their slaves free.

Also published as a minute of the Quaker Yearly Meeting of 1849, and referred to in the minutes of the 1850 and 1854 meetings as an Address: To sovereigns and those in authority in the nations of Europe, and in other parts of the world where the Christian religion is professed. From the yearly meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in Great Britain and Ireland (London: Society of Friends, 1849). This address was drawn up and presented to the kingdoms of Europe (Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, the German kingdoms, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and Spain) as an important part of the continental anti-slavery tours undertaken by the Quaker abolitionist William Forster in 1849-51, and presented to the Portuguese court by Robert Fox and John Candler in 1852. As well as the initial Dutch and French translations, it was translated into German, Swedish, Danish, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese in the course of these Quaker tours of Europe (according to committee reports in 1850, 51 and 52). Almost 5000 copies of the address were distributed in Spain alone (1852 committee report).