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Briefly replies to a letter discussing slavery. Uses religious principles to show that slavery must cease.

Copy, sent to Thomas Clarkson, of letter, in French, from Toussaint Louverture, General of Division, Commander in Chief in the Department of the West, to Citizen Gregoire, Representative of the People and Bishop of the Department of the Loire, dated 9 Frimaire (29 November) 1796. Toussaint describes the lack of moral guidance for the people of St. Dominique in the wake of the conditions following breakdown of the colonial regime, and requests that priests be sent out to help to remedy the situation. 2p. Copies of four more letters in French from Toussaint to the Bishop on a similar theme as above, and the relations between St. Dominique and the Revolutionary Government in France, dated: 15 Prairal (3 June) 1798, 23 Brumaire (13 November) 1798, 3 Vindemaire (24 September) 1798, 16 Germinal (6 April) 1800.

Discusses extradition clause of the Treaty recently negotiated with the USA. (1) Notes the fact that even though once on British land a slave is regarded as free, the extradition clause means he can now be returned to USA to face punishment for any crime which may have been committed. Points out the difference between the sentences for crimes committed by a free man and by those committed by a slave in America, the lack of hard evidence needed to extradite a slave and how it is of great value for a slave owner to regain slaves. Asks that the government reconsider the Act which applies to the Treaty and that fugitive slaves will be exempted from it. (1) Ashburton Treaty, signed by Great Britain and the USA on August 9, 1842.

Discusses the granting of freedom to slaves by the Government of India and the availability of cotton produced by paid labourers in India as opposed to that of cotton from the USA.

Refers to the 'Berbice Case' and the defense which shall be made. The first letter gives the views expressed by Mr. Horton in the Privy Council and during a speech in the House of Commons (1) as follows: The planters cannot work their estates profitably without slaves. Therefore they must have compensation for the loss of the slaves which at present is not set high enough. Negroes will not work without compulsion. It is stated that these two arguments will be defeated by the use of The Privy Council Report and its supplement of 1789, a report commissioned by Parliament under Lord Hawkesbury on the slave trade. They will also use an Abridgement of this evidence which was compiled by the anti slavery committee and used in the House of Commons. The second letter provides evidence from the Abridgement to show that the Planters of Berbice are not in any way losing money with the current rate of compensation. Only a very few slaves can buy their freedom and therefore the workforce is not declining. (1) Refers to a speech made by the Right Honourable R. Wilmot Horton in the House of Commons, on 6 March 1828, on moving for the production of the evidence taken before the Privy Council, upon an appeal against the compulsory manumission of slaves in Demerara and Berbice.

Documents from other sources.

Papers relating to Clarkson Family, including Catherine Clarkson, and friends

Document, typed, giving a brief biography of William Wilberforce and further information relating to him. Produced by the Church Missionary Society on the Bicentenary of the birth of Wilberforce. Includes a letter from B. D. Nicholls of the Church Missionary Society to 'The Editor,' dated 1 June 1959

Concerning research of material for biography of Clarkson

Concerning research of material for biography of Clarkson