Baxter's directions to slave-holders, revived; first printed in London, in the year 1673

Brussels, March 7.

"The Abbé Raynal, whom we have the happiness to possess, together with other strangers, in this city, has just now received from a Quaker, in Philadelphia, the following letter in French, the tendency of which, entitles it to publication. It is presumed it will be read with pleasure.

My friend Abbé Raynal, From the idea which I conceived of the justice and generosity of thy sentiments, I took the liberty of writing to thee, about 7 or 8 months past, under cover of my friend B. F. and likewise by J. B. who, we are afraid, was lost on his passage. Having received no answer, by several vessels, nor knowing whether my letters reached thee, or whether thine miscarried; and a good opportunity offering, by my friend Dr. G. I now seize it to send thee two copies of a small extract of the origin and principles of my brethren, the Quakers, whom, I observe in such of thy writings which have come to our hands, thou didst not think unworthy of thy attention. I have nothing to add to what I already wrote thee, but shall repeat my wish of saluting thee affectionately, on the principles of reason and humanity, which constitute that grand circle of love and charity, unconfined by our parentage or country; but which, with affectionate cordiality, embraces the whole creation, earnestly desiring, to the utmost of my abilities, to promote the happiness of all men, even my enemies themselves, could I have any. I beseech God to give thee strength, that thou mayest ⟨p. 9⟩continue to hold up to mankind, thy brethren, principles tending to replenish their hearts with goodness, friendship and charity towards each other; that thus thou mayest do the utmost of thy power, to render men reasonable, useful, and consequently happy; and more especially, that thou mayest strenuously combat that false principle of honour, or rather intolerable pride and folly, which so strongly prevails in our nation, where the most indolent and the least useful fancy themselves, and are reputed the most noble. Let us endeavour to make them sensible, that men are noble but in an exact proportion to their being rational. The happiness which is to be found in virtue alone, is sought for by men, through the titles acquired by their fathers, for their activity in those wars which have desolated the world, or in the wealth accumulated by their ancestors; two means, generally unjust and oppressive, and consequently rather the sources of shame and humiliation. For, as the Chinese Philosopher well observed, "There is scarcely one rich man out of one hundred, who was not himself an oppressor, or the son of an oppressor."