(SLAVERY

and ABOLITION.) WILLIAMS, PETER. An Oration on The Abolition of the Slave Trade; delivered in The African Church in the City of New-York, January 1, 1808. 26, [2] pages. 8vo, disbound. New York, 1808 first edition. In 1807, the British Parliament put an end to the slave trade. While this by no means ended slavery, it meant that no more Africans were to be wrenched from their homelands. It was cause for celebration throughout the African-American community, both slave and free. This celebratory oration was delivered by Williams, a young parishioner from the nearby Trinity Episcopal Church. The oration was so moving that Williams was urged to publish it to help further the cause of anti-slavery. It is certainly one of the earliest published anti-slavery speeches delivered by an African-American. Sabin 104326; Shaw and Shoemaker 16741; Blockson 9815.