Amazing Grace Page #5

by the fact that slaves in the West Indies

consume that part of the fish

which is fit for no other consumption.

I do feel that if my honourable friend

continues to scrape the bottom

of the barrel for objections,

he is in danger of getting

splinters under his fingernails.

Now, if I may continue with my argument...

As representative of the great and flourishing

commercial town of Liverpool,

I must once again remind the House

that we have no evidence

that the Africans themselves

have any objection to the trade.

I have here an account written by a...

Mr Clutterbuck...

...which states that most slaves in the Indies

have a snug little garden with

plenty of pigs and poultry.

There are many poor families

in Liverpool who do not have as much.

Which... Which is why,

apart from a few mendicant

physicians and itinerant clergymen,

the ordinary people of

Britain are not at all exercised

by the whole issue of slavery.

My honourable friend, the member for Liverpool,

seeks evidence of people's concern.

In the past year, I and my

itinerant clergymen friends

have been gathering just such evidence.

We have taken a petition calling

for the abolition of the slave trade

to all the great cities of this country.

It has been signed by over 390,000 people.

However, this petition is not yet complete.

There is one more person who wishes

to add his name.

Do something.

Mr Speaker, I humbly request a suspension

while we take time to examine the

signatures on this document.

There is something very provoking

in the calm way my honourable

friend seeks delay.

- Mr Speaker, will he not give way?

- Is the desolation of Africa suspended?

- Please, gentlemen.

- Is the work of death suspended?

- You bring petitions into the House...

- Mr Speaker...

...as if this country should be

governed by the rule of the mob,

- rather than its natural rulers!

- Order!

That roll of paper reeks of rebellion!

No matter how loud you shout,

you will not drown out the voice of the people!

The people?

This session will be suspended

while the petition is examined.

Wilber.

My spies tell me that Tarleton and Coconut Clarence

have gone to see the Home Secretary.

- What would they want with Lord Dundas?

- He's one of ours, isn't he?

James. James.

- Where does Lord Dundas stand?

- Probable, I think.

We have him down as a probable.

Last year he stopped the deportation

of a Jamaican slave from Scotland,

- so his heart's in the right place.

- Be wary of Dundas.

If he's capable of compassion once, why not twice?

What damage could he do if he's turned?

He controls the Scottish vote, 34 MPs.

We'll have to have faith in his integrity.

Integrity?

Where are you going?

To look up the word "integrity"

in Dr Johnson's Dictionary.

Come.

Prime Minister, Lord Charles Fox to see you.

You look more at home when doing

something devious.

Prime Minister, your friend

Wilberforce doesn't play cards any more.

No. He resigned from all five card

clubs when he saw the light.

Pity. He was good.

Well, I think there's a hand you

should play for him.

- Against whom?

- Someone who stands in his way.

So name him.

Good evening.

Billy, did I not win enough money

from you on Saturday evening?

Really, I have no time for cards.

I have urgent business in the House.

As prime minister, idle gossip collects

around you like scum in slack water.

What have you heard?

Lord Tarleton's throwing East India Company money

at people who are speaking against abolition tonight.

Of course, no true friend of mine

would accept such an offer.

I appear to have three jacks.

I've always ensured that you have

been dealt a favourable hand.

- Are you threatening me?

- You are threatening our friendship.

It isn't money that has made me

decide to oppose Wilberforce.

His enemy is my enemy.

You are sleepwalking hand-in-hand with a bloody rebel.

Wilberforce follows no leader but

the preacher in his head.

How much were you offered?

Keep yourjacks.

The planters still have the king,

and I, at least, am still loyal to him.

Don't force me to put a pistol to your head.

Well, if you do, there will be two pistols,

one from each side.

And perhaps if I duck, you'll shoot each other.

Order.

Order.

First, let me be clear.

After long consideration and much consultation,

I am in favour of the abolition

of the slave trade.

There's no doubt in my mind that

this trade in human beings

is an almighty calumny and is a

disgrace to this nation.

However... I also take the point

of my honourable friend,

the member for Liverpool.

If we were to outlaw the trade tomorrow,

it would bring financial disaster

to many cities and industries in this country.

I therefore suggest a period of reflection.

After a year and a half of privy council investigations,

what good would it do to delay the inevitable?

Inevitable? Is my honourable friend

counting the votes before they are cast?

I didn't mean that.

If the trade were to be abolished,

I suggest that we do so gradually.

Violent storms sink ships.

This great ship of state must not be sunk

by a wave of good intentions.

They are cleverer than us, Thomas.

And yet...

...outside the House of Commons, the mood is with us.

And what good is that?

I have friends in France.

Our counterparts.

Men of principle, like you and I.

- They bring me only good news.

- News of what?

Revolution.

They're certain it's coming.

In Paris they speak openly

in the streets of emancipation.

Freedom for all men, and women too.

The Americans pulled the cork

out of the bottle, Wilberforce.

Now the French share the wine.

You talk about revolution as if it were a safe thing.

It's just a word.

Every day we change things, by degrees.

Education, factories.

By degrees.

You sound like Dundas! Gradually.

An imperfect order's better than no order.

We must fight for a perfect order!

I've pledged an allegiance to the king.

You know as well as I do...

the king is insane.

He shakes hands with oak trees

and claims he can see Germany through his telescope.

I know you have your loyalties, Wilberforce,

but underneath it you're more radical than any of us.

You see, you never doubt you're right.

What we say of the slave is true of the worker in the field,

the weaver, the miner.

Shouldn't they be free to prosper too,

instead of the fruits of their

labours going to men like Tarleton?

Men who spend their money on whores and comic operas.

Young girls debauched.

Soldiers forced to beg.

It's a natural wave that's flowing, Wilber.

First Boston, then Paris.

Next London.

Thomas...

...you must never speak of revolution

in my presence ever again.

I'm going to Paris to see for myself.

Why don't you come with me?

Drink some of that wine?

Africa, your sufferings have been a theme

that has engaged and arrested my heart.

Your sufferings...

...no tongue can express, no language impart.

Agh!

God has set before me two great objects:

The suppression of the slave trade

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