A memoir of Granville Sharp

by Charles Stuart

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Engraved by P Reason

GRANVILLE SHARP, ESQ^R

PHILANTHROPIST.

A

MEMOIR

OF

GRANVILLE SHARP,

TO WHICH IS ADDED SHARP'S "LAW OF PASSIVE OBEDIENCE," AND AN
EXTRACT FROM HIS "LAW OF RETRIBUTION."

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BY CHARLES STUART.

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NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY,
No. 144 Nassau Street.

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WILLIAM S. DORR, PRINTER.
1836.

CONTENTS

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Page

Section I.

G. Sharp's birth &c.—Slavery in England—Jonathan Strong—Sharp's Prosecution and Challenge—Triumph—Thomas Lewis—Sharp's Principles. ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

5

Section II.

James Somerset—Mr. Davy's Argument—Sharp's Letter to Lord North—Extract from Journal—Mr. Mansfield's Argument—Mr. Hargrave's—Mr. Alleyne's—Mr. Wallace's—Mr. Dunning's—Lord Mansfield's Judgment—Observations ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

10

Section III.

Sharp finds Coadjutors in Benezet, Franklin, and Rush—Investigates the Revolutionary contest and condemns the Government—Resigns his Office under Government—Omai—Gen. Oglethorpe—Settlement of Georgia—Sharp's sentiments on "Necessity" and Justice—Extract from a Letter to Archbishop of York—Las Casas Bishop of Chiapa—Case of the Zong—Dr. Hinchcliff, Bishop of Peterborough—Harry Demane—Correspondence with Franklin and Jay—Colleges of R. Island, Massachusetts, and Virginia—Emancipated Slaves in distress in England—Mr. Smeatham—Sierra Leone—Settlement and description of Sierra Leone—Observations upon Tropical climates—Progress of the Settlement—Settlement transferred by Sharp to a Commercial Company—War—Nova Scotia Settlers—Dreadful sickness and mortality—French attack—Deserter's town refugees—Observations on civilized arrogance—Maroons—Government assumed by King—Naimbana—Reflections on Naimbana's foresight ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

20

Section IV.

African Slave trade attacked—Slave produce—Prosecution of the attack—Legal Abolition of African Slave trade—Sharp's characteristic views—Wm. Pitt and Thos. Clarkson—Sharp's exculpation of himself—Bible Society—African Institution—African feelings towards White men prior to Sierra Leone—Object of African Institution—General features of Sharp—Sir Wm. Jones—Approaching death—"Departure"—General Observations ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

53

Section V.

The Colonization favored by Granville Sharp compared with that of the American Colonization Society ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

66

APPENDIX.

1. Quotations of various Legal Authorities. ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

85

2. The Trelawney Refugees ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

89

3. Observations upon Sierra Leone; and questions for exercise at leisure hours. ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

90

LAW OF PASSIVE OBEDIENCE ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

95

EXTRACT FROM LAW OF RETRIBUTION ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

133