The mortality on board English ships, previously to the regulating bill, was four and an eighth per cent.
Since that time it had been reduced to little more than three per cent.[A] In French ships it was near ten, and in Dutch ships from five to seven, per cent.

In Portuguese it was less than either in French or Dutch, but more than in English ships since the regulating bill.

Thus the deaths of the Africans would be more than doubled, if we were to abolish the trade.
[Footnote A: Mr.Wilberforce stated it on the same evening to be between ten and eleven per cent.

for the last year.

The number then exported from Africa to our islands was rather more than 22,000, of whom more than 2,300 died.] Perhaps it might be replied, that, the importations being stopped in our own islands, fewer Africans would experience this misery, because fewer would be taken from their own country on this account.