Chapter I: Front Matter

THE
GUINEA VOYAGE,

*A Poem,*
IN THREE BOOKS.

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INSCRIBED TO
Sir RALPH MILBANKE, Bart. M. P.
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_TO WHICH ARE ADDED_,
OBSERVATIONS ON A VOYAGE
TO THE
_COAST OF AFRICA_,
IN A SERIES OF LETTERS TO
THOMAS CLARKSON, A. M.

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BY JAMES FIELD STANFIELD,
_FORMERLY A MARINER IN THE AFRICAN TRADE_.
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*Edinburgh,*
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PRINTED BY J. ROBERTSON, FOR THE AUTHOR, AND SOLD BY
VERNOR HOOD & SHARP, BOOKSELLERS, LONDON;
AND THE PRINCIPAL BOOKSELLERS IN
ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND.
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1807.

TO SIR RALPH MILBANKE, BART.

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR THE COUNTY OF DURHAM.

SIR,

From personal respect and attachment, as well as from a long and perfect knowledge of your sentiments with regard to the subject of these Verses and Observations, I should, naturally, have been led to the gratification of inscribing them with your name.—Yet, when I consider, that you had the happiness to second that Motion, which, like the impression of an oracle, has given the death-stroke to the disgraceful and nefarious Traffic, I have the satisfaction to find, that propriety, in this instance, is linked with estimation; and, that the convictions of the understanding have, sometimes, the felicity of being associated with the sensibilities of the heart.

I am,

SIR,

With warm sentiments of respect,

Your most obedient,

Humble servant,

_J. F. STANFIELD_.

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PREFACE.
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It may not be improper to observe, that this Poem was originally offered, as an humble mite from the author, towards the contributions, then collecting, for the purpose of effecting the Abolition of the Slave-Trade. It was, however, thought, that, as a witness of the enormities of that Traffic, his personal evidence might be of more use to the cause than could be produced by any work of imagination: he, therefore, twice attended in that capacity.

The substance of the “Observations” was intended to be attached to the Poem, as a set of proofs and explanations. But it was decided by those who had given their time and talents to the subject, that the prose account, substantiated by an affidavit, should precede the verses. When, therefore, at a subsequent period, the Poem was about to be published, wanting the aid of the explanatory prose, it was thought proper by the friends, whose kindness in the absence of the author, looked over the publication and its corrections, to bring the work down, in some measure to the level of plain, prosaic comprehension. In the present edition, something has been done to bring the verses nearer to the first intention.

It may be right to add, that, instead of changing the form of the “Letters” it was suggested as best to leave them in their original state, _as a faithful picture of what was once the practice of the Trade_. And, in the hope, that this may be the last local and temporary representation of the horrors of the abominable Traffic, the writer cannot resist the opportunity of saying, that he feels more gratifying and solid satisfaction than he has ever before experienced, or, perhaps, than ever can again occur to him.

ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK.

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_Subject and invocation.—The outfit of a Guinea Voyage.—Allurements and artifices to collect a crew.—Story of Russel.—Parting of Friends.—Outward passage by Madeira and the Canary Islands.—Tyranny of the Master, &c.—Apostrophe to British seamen._

THE
GUINEA VOYAGE.
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