Andrew Swift V2.qxp_Layout 2 11/07/2020 13:23 Page 1
GARDENING DEFINING MOMENTS
Bristol docks in the mid-19th century
The tale of Thomas Clarkson
The unwillingness to face up to inconvenient truths remains as much an issue today as it was when an unlikely hero set out to subvert the trade which made Bristol rich. While the Colston statue’s demise speaks of unfinished business and a narrative in dire need of revision if the whiplash scars of history are to heal, Andrew Swift finds solace in the story of Clarkson the clergyman
T
he toppling of the statue of Edward Colston on 7 June was one of those defining moments that will be remembered for centuries to come. Unlike many such moments, however, no one was injured and no damage was caused – except to the statue. But, even though the mood that sultry afternoon was celebratory rather than threatening, many undoubtedly felt threatened by what they saw as the destruction of a key part of Bristol’s heritage. It is remarkable that someone who died almost 300 years ago should be the focus of such strong feeling, especially as the slave trade from which Colston derived so much of his wealth was outlawed over 200 years ago. Colston’s statue was of more recent vintage, however. Unveiled in 1895, it not only celebrated his philanthropy but also indicated a willingness to overlook the trade that funded such largesse. It was that willingness which led to the statue’s toppling 125 years later. Clearly, there is unfinished business here, and a narrative in dire need of revision if the whiplash scars of history are to heal. Fortunately, there are other, more positive narratives to turn to – those which tell of the fight to end the murky trade that brought Colston, and Bristol, so much wealth. Among those who fought to end the evils of slavery – Wesley, Wilberforce, Granville Sharp, Hannah More and others – the name that burns most brightly in Bristol’s firmament is that of Thomas Clarkson. Clarkson was an unlikely hero. While at Cambridge University
64 THE BRISTOL MAGAZINE
|
SUMMER 2020
|
No 191
The men Clarkson wanted to interview would be found in one of the most dangerous cities in the land, Bristol. As word about his mission spread he became a marked man studying for the priesthood, he wrote an essay – in Latin – for a competition. The subject he addressed was whether it was ‘lawful to make slaves of others against their wills.’ So impressive were his arguments that he won first prize; he also became convinced that ‘if the contents of the essay were true, it was time some person should see these calamities to their end’. He had discovered the cause which would dominate and define his life. When his essay – translated into English – was published, it became a best-seller, and in 1787 he became a founder member of a national association for the abolition of the slave trade. Veteran campaigner Granville Sharp was the association’s figurehead, but Clarkson was its driving force. The main problem facing the
