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[Parliament].
The Debate on a Motion for the Abolition of the Slave-Trade in the House of Commons, on Monday and Tuesday, April 18 and 19, 1791, Reported in Detail.
Publisher: Printed by and for W. Woodfall, London;
Date of Publication: 1791
Stock Code: 15177
First edition. Duodecimo, pp., [2], 123, [1]. Later maroon quarter calf over terracotta buckram; titled in gilt to spine; all edges sprinkled blue; marbled end-papers. Binding a little tight but strong, the corners sharp. First and final leaves evenly toned; very occasional spots to margin but contents otherwise fresh. A clean copy in a near-fine rebind. The first edition of the landmark report on Wilberforce’s first abortive bill to abolish slavery. This book contains an account of Wilberforce’s legendary four-hour speech condemning the slave trade. Wilberforce had spoken vigorously against slavery since 1789, and had chaired a select committee on the subject of the trade in 1790, but this debate in 1791 was the first outing in the Commons for his Abolition Bill. As his biographer writes ‘On April 18, in a four-hour speech that showed his mastery of the evidence and arguments, [Wilberforce] moved for leave to bring in an Abolition Bill. Subsequent debate was lively and extended over two evenings, but when the house voted at 3.30 on the morning of 20 April Wilberforce was defeated by 163 to 88 votes. The outbreak both of revolution in France and, early in 1791, of a slave rebellion in the French colony of San Domingo (Haiti) had heightened insecurities and led the majority of M. P. s to oppose a measure that they perceived as potentially destabilizing.’ (ODNB). An important document in the history of Abolition. Scarce in commerce. £950.00