About the same time a traffic in the human species, called Negroes, was
introduced into England; which is one of the most odious and unnatural
branches of trade the sordid and avaricious mind of mortals ever
invented. It had indeed been carried on before this period by Genoese
traders, who bought a patent from Charles the fifth, containing an
exclusive right of carrying Negroes from the Portuguese settlements in
Africa, to America and the West Indies; but the English nation had not
yet engaged in the iniquitous traffic. As it has since been deeply
concerned in it, and as the province, the transactions of which I
narrate, owes its improvements almost entirely to this hardy race of
labourers, it may not be improper here to give some account of the origin
and first inventor of this trade.

William Hawkins, an expert English seaman, having made several voyages to
the coast of Guinea, and from thence to Brazil and the West Indies, had
acquired considerable knowledge of the countries. At his death he left
his journals with his son John Hawkins, in which he described the lands
of America and the West Indies to be exceedingly rich and fertile, but
utterly neglected for want of hands to improve them. He represented the
natives of Europe as unequal to the task in such a scorching climate; but
those of Africa as well adapted to undergo the labours requisite. Upon
which John Hawkins immediately formed a design of transporting Africans
into the western world; and having drawn a plan for the execution of it,
he laid it before some of his opulent neighbours for encouragement and
approbation. To them it appeared promising and advantageous. A
subscription was opened, and speedily filled up, by Sir Lionel Ducket,
Sir Thomas Lodge, Sir William Winter and others, who plainly perceived
the vast profits that would result from such a trade. Accordingly three
ships were fitted out, and manned by an hundred select sailors, whom