Egypt appears to have been one of the principal markets for the sale of the human species. Homer refers to Cyprus and Egypt as the common marts for slaves in the Trojan war. The traffic was also practised, at that time, in many of the islands of the Egean sea. Tyre and Sidon are described by the Scriptures, as prosecuting this commerce. In truth, it prevailed in the whole of the known world. In Greece and Rome, and their colonies, the trade was universal; and among the nations which overran the South of Europe, it prevailed until the establishment of the Feudal System. That system was little else than a modification of the slavery of the ancients, to suit the circumstances and necessities of the rude and warlike nations in which it was adopted. It was admirably adapted to the purposes of defence; but did little, if any thing, to lighten the bonds of the slave, or ameliorate the condition of the race.

Slavery continued to exist, even in Europe, up to a late period. In the middle ages the Venetians carried on a very extended commerce in slaves; which was prohibited by the pope, only so far as it included trade in Christians. In England the AngloSaxon nobility sold their servants as slaves to foreigners; and even after the conquest, and until the reign of Henry II. slaves were exported, in numbers, from England to Ireland.

CHAPTER II.

Slavery among the Ancients continued-Voluntary Slavery-Roman Mercenarii-Grecian Prodigals-German Enthusiasts-Condition of Slaves-Power and inhumanity of Masters.

PERHAPS slavery, when resulting from insolvency, might with propriety be regarded as voluntary. The freeman who pursued a course which resulted in bondage, and thus incurred a fate which might have been avoided, may be considered as having assumed it. If this be admitted, the number of voluntary bondmen in Greece and Rome, where the refinement of society rendered the vicissitudes of fortune frequent, must be accounted very great.

In Rome there existed a large body of slaves, or servants, known as mercenarii. This title was given them because they received hire. They were free-born citizens, set down in the books as liberi, and distinguished from the foreigners, or alieni, who served the rich.

In the time of the Emperor Claudian, the Roman Senate passed a decree permitting those who were born free to sell their freedom and become slaves. This law remained in force until abrogated by Leo.

The Grecian Thetes were servants of a character somewhat similar to the mercenarii. They received are compense for their labours; and, though treated as slaves and obliged to perform the most servile offices, were not completely subject to the

will of their master, but could, at the expiration of a certain term, obtain their discharge if used with illegal severity.

There was, amongst the Greeks, a species of slaves denominated Prodigals. They were those who, having incurred debts which they were unable to liquidate, were sold for the satisfaction of their creditors. The Delinquents were debtors of a similar description, who having imprudently subjected themselves to the loss of their liberty, were sentenced to the gallies and laboured at the oar.

The most singular class of which we have an account, were the German Enthusiasts. They were gamblers, who, pursuing their intoxicating and fatal passion to the last stake, maddened by the excitement of the game, placed their persons on the hazard of the die, and, in case of failure, were sold as slaves. The whole account exhibits, in vivid colours, the strength of the passion for gaming-a passion which prevails with equal power, in the hut of the savage and the hell of the more finished gamester of refined society. Tacitus gives the following description of the Enthusiasts. The loser," says the historian, 66 goes into voluntary servitude; and though younger and stronger than the person with whom he played, patiently suffers himself to be bound and sold. Their perseverance in so bad a custom is styled honour. The slaves thus obtained are immediately exchanged away in commerce, that the winner may get clear of the scandal of his victory."

The condition of slaves among the ancients was totally different from that of modern slaves. Instead of being protected, as now, not only from unjust severity on the part of the master, but from suffering or want, they were wholly in the power of their owners. There was no limit to the power of the master over the slave. The latter was, in a civil

sense, dead. His limbs, life, faculties and affections were all at the mercy of his lord. In a legal point of view, he had neither name nor tribe; he was recognized as possessing no rights; and was, in fact, as completely within the power of the master as his horse or his dog.

There were, however, some partial exceptions to this general description. The Egyptian slave, though perhaps a greater drudge than any other, was protected from murder, and could, if he succeeded in reaching the temple of Hercules, secure a retreat from the oppressive severity of his master. The Hebrews also appear to have treated their slaves with lenity.

Athens, however, was distinguished above all the nations of antiquity for her peculiar humanity to slaves. In no place were they allowed so many privileges or treated with so much kindness. Demosthenes, in his Second Philippic, states that "the condition of a slave in Athens was preferable to that of a free citizen in many other countries." They were allowed great liberty of speech, and were permitted to enjoy a certain portion of time in their own peculiar pursuits, their private labours, amusements, amours or hours of relaxation and rest. They also had a temple of refuge; and were allowed the privilege of appealing to the legal tribunal against their masters in case of harshness or inhumanity. Besides these advantages, they possessed the invaluable privilege of redeeming themselves from bondage. They had an opportunity of working for themselves; and when their skill or industry had enabled them to accumulate a sufficient sum, they might purchase manumission, and become free for ever.

In Sparta and Carthage, the slaves were treated with more severity. In Rome, the power of the

master over his slave was absolute, extending to the right of depriving him of life. This severity was moderated under the emperors; and by a law of Adrian, the right of the master to slay his slave was withdrawn. By the Roman law, if a master was killed, all the slaves under the same roof or near enough to be able to hear his cries, were put to death. This severe provision was, we presume, intended to prevent those bloody acts of vengeance to which the cruelty of the master, at times, impelled the slave. The slave, and all that belonged, or could belong to him, was considered the property of the master. From the conduct of some of the most venerated patriots of Rome, it appears that inhumanity to slaves excited neither surprise nor censure. It was the practice of the elder Cato to sell his superannuated slaves at any price rather than maintain an useless burthen. Indeed, it appears to have been a custom in Rome to expose old, useless and sick slaves on an island of the Tiber to perish; and a law of Claudian upon the subject, instead of punishing and suppressing the barbarous practice, merely gave liberty to any slave who chanced to recover after having been thus exposed and abandoned. The same law prohibits masters from killing their slaves, merely for old age or sickness. Italy and Sicily were full of places of confinement, called Ergastula, in which slaves were kept at labour. One of the most formidable insurrections was occasioned by the breaking up of these Ergastula, and the simultaneous liberation of sixty thousand slaves.

From the facts, stated in this and the preceding chapter, it will be seen that slavery has always prevailed; and is so interwined with the necessities of the race, that while man exists, slavery will probably exist also. It will also be seen, that the wisest and most liberal nations of antiquity did not hesi