his passage, however, he fell in with the Minion man of war, which
accompanied him to the coast of Africa. After his arrival he began as
formerly to traffic with the negroes, endeavouring by persuasion and the
prospects of reward to induce them to go along with him. But now they
were more reserved and jealous of his designs, and as none of their
neighbours had returned, they were apprehensive he had killed and eat
them. The crew of the man of war observing the Africans backward and
suspicious, began to laugh at his gentle and dilatory methods of
proceeding, and proposed having immediate recourse to force and
compulsion. The sailors belonging to his own fleet joined those of the
man of war, and applauded the proposal. But Hawkins considered it as
cruel and unjust, and tried by persuasion, promises and threats to
prevail on them to desist from a purpose so unwarrantable and barbarous.
In vain did he urge his authority and instructions from the Queen: the
bold and headstrong sailors would hear of no restraints. Drunkenness and
avarice are deaf to the voice of humanity. They pursue their violent
design, and, after several unsuccessful attacks, in which many of them
lost their lives, the cargo was at length compleated by barbarity and
force.

[Sidenote] Reflections on it.

Hence arose that horrid and inhuman practice of dragging Africans into
slavery; which has since been so pursued, in defiance of every principle
of justice and religion: Though Hawkins was the first Englishman who
engaged in this traffic, so repugnant to the spirit of the English
constitution; though he made use of such fraudulent arts even in his
first method of conducting it, as few men can have the assurance to
vindicate; yet, as he was a man of prudence and humanity, he is no ways
chargeable with those diabolical abuses which have since crept into this