Wesley Corpus

4. From this time Slavery was nearly extinct, till the commencement of the sixteenth century, when the discovery of _America_, and of the Western and Eastern coasts of _Africa_, gave occasion to the revival of it. It took its rise from the _Portuguese_, who to supply the _Spaniards_ with men, to cultivate their new possessions in _America_, procured Negroes from _Africa_, whom they sold for Slaves to the _American_ Spaniards. This began in the year 1508, when they imported the first Negroes into _Hispaniola_. In 1540, _Charles_ the fifth, then King of _Spain_, determined to put an end to _Negro-Slavery_: giving positive orders, That all the Negro-Slaves in the _Spanish_ dominions should be set free. And this was accordingly done by _Lagasca_, whom he sent and impowered to free them all, on condition of continuing to labour for their masters. But soon after _Lagasca_ returned to _Spain_, Slavery returned and flourished as before. Afterwards other nations, as they acquired possessions in _America_, followed the examples of the _Spaniards_; and Slavery has taken deep root in most of our _American_ colonies. II. Such is the nature of Slavery: such the beginning of Negro-Slavery in _America_. But some may desire to know, what country it is, from which the Negroes are brought? What sort of men, of what temper and behaviour are they in their own country? And in what manner they are generally procured, carried to, and treated in _America_? 1. And first, What kind of country is that from whence they are brought? Is it so remarkably horrid, dreary and barren, that it is a kindness to deliver them out of it? I believe many have apprehended so: but it is an entire mistake, if we may give credit to those who have lived many years therein, and could have no motive to misrepresent it. 2. That part of _Africa_ whence the Negroes are brought, commonly known by the name of _Guinea_, extends along the coast, in the whole, between three and four thousand miles. From the river _Senegal_, (seventeen degrees North of the line) to Cape _Sierra Leona_, it contains seven hundred miles. Thence it runs Eastward about fifteen hundred miles, including the _Grain-coast_, the _Ivory-coast_, the _Gold-coast_, and the _Slave-coast_, with the large kingdom of _Benin_. From thence it runs Southward, about twelve hundred miles, and contains the kingdoms of _Congo_ and _Angola_.