Written towards the end of his life, this is a short, but potent letter from Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846) to Congregational minister, and fellow abolitionist, John Scoble (1799-1877).
It commences in satisfying style, bringing yet another abolitionist, Joseph Sturge (1793-1859), into the frame. “It is proposed that my letter to him is to be read at the public meeting to be held on the 17th is not to contain any note or mention of the sugar duties.” Clarkson then asks if Scoble might be so good as to produce a clear copy of it in “a good hand, such as he can read easily.”
Clarkson reports that he had asked Sturge another question regarding the cost of sugar which had gone unanswered. He outlines the question and then passes it on to Scoble:
“The Cubans and Brazilians, if they free their slaves, will have only 34 sh[illings] the Cwt [hundredweight] to pay but what would they have had to pay had their sugar been Slave Sugar, or which is the same thing, what do foreigners now pay for Cwt, who bring into our market Slave grown sugar - will you be so good as to look into this question …”
