Chapter 11

In chapter 11 of Bury the Chains, the debates in Parliament started. There were already ongoing hearings on abolition underway and the debates started to really apply pressure to the situation. Proslavery advocates were taking a harsh toll and they were relieved when a very prominent supporter, Hawkesbury, joined their fight. He was a very persuasive defender and looked to the facts to support his arguments. The abolitionists knew that they needed to use more resources and had to bring this debate to an international level so the slave owners could not use the economic aspect argument. Clarkson continued his work, lining up witnesses, traveling over thousands of miles to gain more signatures and testimonies. He found some difficulty with this and had to come up with a new way in which to gain supporters. This is where the diagram of Brooks's slave ship was first introduced. It was such a shocking picture that people were horrified and surprised to see the actual measurements of the boats. MANY MANY copies were produced and hung everywhere you could think of. It was the most important piece of propoganda the abolitionist had, and it worked. Later on in the chapter Wilberforce comes back, trying to come up with an argument against slavery based on the Privy Councils report. He made a very moving speech, but it was shot down by the pro-slavery economic merchants, and their claim that the British will suffer. The abolitionist were so close to giving up until they got word that Lafayette, an abolitionist, had been appointed major in Paris. This is where Clarkson was headed next.