Americans' Fury

Clapham Street No. 3.

The reporter looked eagerly at Wilberforce. "So, you've already heard about the abolition bill passed on a certain island?"

In fact, the members of the Clapham Sect had only heard that the Saint-Domingue Parliament had passed an abolition bill; they knew none of the specific details.

But the reporter had just brought them "the latest information obtained by the Newspaper Office," so they had no doubts whatsoever.

Wilberforce nodded. "That's right. It truly is encouraging news."

"What is your attitude toward the abolition bill?"

"I have always opposed the inhumane slave trade, so any action that can free slaves should be encouraged."

As a government official, Wilberforce could only offer such official remarks. Then he looked toward Thomas Clarkson, a member of the Clapham Sect.

The latter clearly had no such reservations. Smiling, he said, "The French subjected those West African Blacks to extraordinarily cruel persecution, and now the slaves are taking revenge on them. This is a tremendous victory for the Abolitionist Movement.

"I wish Saint-Domingue... ah, the free Blacks on that island and their allies can make the slave owners pay the price they deserve! Ha ha, you mustn't print that."

The other members of the Clapham Sect immediately laughed along with him.

The British had always taken immense delight in seeing the French suffer setbacks. In truth, Britain had far more Black slaves in places like Jamaica and the West Indies than France did, but double standards had always been what they did best.

Earl Middleton said from the side, "As everyone knows, the French treat Black slaves more cruelly than anyone else in the world. It is no surprise at all that they have met with today's circumstances."

The reporter continued his roundabout interview for a long while, using leading questions to