The Complete Antislavery Writings of Anthony Benezet, 1754-1783: An Annotated Critical Edition

COVER

KKKKKKKKKKKKKK PRAISE FOR The CompleTe AnTislAvery WriTings of AnThony BenezeT, 1754–1783 KKKKKKKKKKKKKK “The Philadelphia Quaker Anthony Benezet perhaps did more than any single person to start the international, ecumenical campaign to end the Atlantic slave trade, but for too long his work has been available only to specialist scholars. David L. Crosby’s fine edition brings together Benezet’s antislavery writing in one volume for the first time, supported with clear introductions and much valuable reference material. It will immediately become an essential reference point for anyone interested in Benezet, Quakerism, eighteenthcentury Philadelphia, and the early years of the international antislavery movement.” —Brycchan carey, author of From Peace to Freedom: Quaker Rhetoric and the Birth of American Antislavery, 1657–1761 “Anthony Benezet, the French-born Huguenot turned Quaker, was the foremost antislavery fighter of the eighteenth century. David L. Crosby has in this volume placed the major antislavery writings of Friend Anthony Benezet before us, and in so doing he provides readers with what Benezet wrote and the sources he used to fight for black freedom. Crosby’s annotations help show how Benezet used Quaker ideals, analyzed accounts of early travelers such as Andre Brue, John Atkins, and Wilhelm Bosman, and used ideas from the literary writings of thinkers like Frances Hutcheson and Montesquieu and discussions with black Philadelphians to develop the world’s first transatlantic antislavery movement.” —Maurice Jackson, author of Let This Voice Be Heard: Anthony Benezet, Father of Atlantic Abolitionism “Finally, with this volume, Anthony Benezet’s seminal antislavery writings are conveniently made available in a reliable modern edition. David L. Crosby’s annotations add real value for scholars and students seeking to understand the Quaker activist, whose publications informed and inspired abolitionists throughout the eighteenth-century Atlantic World.” —Jonathan D. sassi, professor of history, College of Staten Island and CUNY Graduate Center This page intentionally left blank The CompleTe AnTislAvery WriTings of AnThony BenezeT, 1754–1783 AnTislAvery, ABoliTion, And The ATlAnTiC World R. J. M. Blackett and JaMes BReweR stewaRt, seRies editoRs Louisiana State University Press Baton Rouge The CompleTe AnTislAvery WriTings of AnThony BenezeT 1754–1783 a n a n n o t a t e d c R i t i c a l e d i t i o n e d i T e d B y dAvid l. CrosBy KKKKKKKKKKKKKK K K K K K K K K K K K K K K Published with the assistance of the V . Ray Cardozier Fund Published by Louisiana State University Press Copyright © 2013 by Louisiana State University Press All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America First printing Designer: Barbara Neely Bourgoyne Typeface: Century Schoolbook Printer and binder: Maple Press Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Benezet, Anthony, 1713–1784. [Works. Selections] The complete antislavery writings of Anthony Benezet, 1754–1783 : an annotated critical edition / edited by David L. Crosby. pages cm. — (Antislavery, abolition, and the Atlantic world) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8071-5475-5 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-8071-5476-2 (pdf) — ISBN 978-0-8071-5477-9 (epub) — ISBN 978-0-8071-5478-6 (mobi) 1. Slavery— United States—Early works to 1800. 2. Slave trade—Early works to 1800. 3. Antislavery movements—United States—Early works to 1800. I. Crosby, David L., 1941–, editor. II. Title. E446.B485 2014 306.3'62097309033—dc23 2013034958 The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources. For my parents, Ambrose and Mary Frances Crosby, in memoriam This page intentionally left blank ...