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Story
September 10, 1789
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
In the House of Commons, Mr. Heniker reads an ancient letter from an African chief to King George I, offering slaves and boasting of wars, to argue that Africans engaged in savage warfare before European slave trade involvement, exculpating Britain.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
ANTIQUE.
Yesterday, in the House of Commons, on the subject of the slave trade, Mr. Heniker begged permission of the House to read as a curious relic of antiquity; a letter presented to him by the present Duke of Chandos, and found among the letters of the African company.
This communication was written by a Chief of an African kingdom, and translated and transmitted to England by the first white man that had ever been seen in that dominion. It was addressed to King George the First, and was substantially as follows:
Sensible of your mighty walls, and mighty ways, by a white man among ye I had never seen, and whom I look upon as equal to our Great Gods, I wished him to make me known to your Majesty, that I might make you a present of forty slaves, nay, forty times forty; and because this white man can write, it must come from the Great God over all our Gods.
By request of this white man I have desisted making war against my neighbours, though my father was a warrior, and fought seventy-five battles, and I too have fought two hundred and nine battles, and have five hundred thousand men all bred to battle; while my women stay at home to cultivate the land, and raise provisions. When my warriors are abroad, I have, to guard my person, an armed force. I have the King's head of a neighbouring nation, which I took, preserved with all the flesh and hair upon it, and placed upon all the walls of my Palace which is three miles round, together with other heads of prisoners that I took, ranging in a line along the walls, the top of which I shall in time completely fill around.
The purpose of producing this letter, Mr. Heniker said, was to prove that these black people were, long before the intercourse with the Europeans, in a state of internal warfare and savage barbarity -- and that they were not provoked to the frequent wars in which they were involved, by the encouragement given by Great-Britain in purchasing their slaves, and of this imputation they ought to be exculpated.
Yesterday, in the House of Commons, on the subject of the slave trade, Mr. Heniker begged permission of the House to read as a curious relic of antiquity; a letter presented to him by the present Duke of Chandos, and found among the letters of the African company.
This communication was written by a Chief of an African kingdom, and translated and transmitted to England by the first white man that had ever been seen in that dominion. It was addressed to King George the First, and was substantially as follows:
Sensible of your mighty walls, and mighty ways, by a white man among ye I had never seen, and whom I look upon as equal to our Great Gods, I wished him to make me known to your Majesty, that I might make you a present of forty slaves, nay, forty times forty; and because this white man can write, it must come from the Great God over all our Gods.
By request of this white man I have desisted making war against my neighbours, though my father was a warrior, and fought seventy-five battles, and I too have fought two hundred and nine battles, and have five hundred thousand men all bred to battle; while my women stay at home to cultivate the land, and raise provisions. When my warriors are abroad, I have, to guard my person, an armed force. I have the King's head of a neighbouring nation, which I took, preserved with all the flesh and hair upon it, and placed upon all the walls of my Palace which is three miles round, together with other heads of prisoners that I took, ranging in a line along the walls, the top of which I shall in time completely fill around.
The purpose of producing this letter, Mr. Heniker said, was to prove that these black people were, long before the intercourse with the Europeans, in a state of internal warfare and savage barbarity -- and that they were not provoked to the frequent wars in which they were involved, by the encouragement given by Great-Britain in purchasing their slaves, and of this imputation they ought to be exculpated.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Justice
Exploration
What keywords are associated?
Slave Trade Debate
African Chief Letter
King George I
Internal Warfare
House Of Commons
Historical Relic
Savage Barbarity
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Heniker
Duke Of Chandos
King George The First
Where did it happen?
House Of Commons; African Kingdom
Story Details
Key Persons
Mr. Heniker
Duke Of Chandos
King George The First
Location
House Of Commons; African Kingdom
Event Date
Reign Of King George I
Story Details
Mr. Heniker presents an old letter from an African chief to King George I, translated by the first white man seen there, offering slaves and describing extensive warfare and conquests, to demonstrate pre-existing African barbarity independent of British slave trade encouragement.