The fact is, that Burke was not at all a philanthropist as Clarkson and Wilberforce were philanthropists.

His sympathy was too strongly under the control of true political reason.

In 1780, for instance, the slave-trade had attracted his attention, and he had even proceeded to sketch out a code of regulations which provided for its immediate mitigation and ultimate suppression.

After mature consideration he abandoned the attempt, from the conviction that the strength of the West India interest would defeat the utmost efforts of his party.

And he was quite right in refusing to hope from any political action what could only be effected after the moral preparation of the bulk of the nation.