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Title: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African
Author: Olaudah Equiano
Release date: March 17, 2005 [eBook #15399]
Most recently updated: October 4, 2024
Language: English
Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15399
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF OLAUDAH EQUIANO, OR GUSTAVUS VASSA, THE AFRICAN ***
THE
INTERESTING NARRATIVE
OF
THE LIFE
OF
OLAUDAH EQUIANO,
OR
GUSTAVUS VASSA,
THE AFRICAN.
_WRITTEN BY HIMSELF._
_Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be
afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my
song; he also is become my salvation.
And in that shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his
name, declare his doings among the people. Isaiah xii. 2, 4._
LONDON:
Printed for and sold by the Author, No. 10, Union-Street,
Middlesex Hospital
Sold also by Mr. Johnson, St. Paul's Church-Yard; Mr.
Murray, Fleet-Street; Messrs. Robson and Clark, Bond-Street;
Mr. Davis, opposite Gray's Inn, Holborn; Messrs. Shepperson
and Reynolds, and Mr. Jackson, Oxford Street; Mr.
Lackington, Chiswell-Street; Mr. Mathews, Strand; Mr.
Murray, Prince's-Street, Soho; Mess. Taylor and Co. South
Arch, Royal Exchange; Mr. Button, Newington-Causeway; Mr.
Parsons, Paternoster-Row; and may be had of all the
Booksellers in Town and Country.
[Entered at Stationer's Hall.]
[Illustration: Olaudah Equiano or GUSTAVUS VASSA, _the African_]
To the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons of the
Parliament of Great Britain.
_My Lords and Gentlemen_,
Permit me, with the greatest deference and respect, to lay at your
feet the following genuine Narrative; the chief design of which is to
excite in your august assemblies a sense of compassion for the
miseries which the Slave-Trade has entailed on my unfortunate
countrymen. By the horrors of that trade was I first torn away from
all the tender connexions that were naturally dear to my heart; but
these, through the mysterious ways of Providence, I ought to regard as
infinitely more than compensated by the introduction I have thence
obtained to the knowledge of the Christian religion, and of a nation
which, by its liberal sentiments, its humanity, the glorious freedom
of its government, and its proficiency in arts and sciences, has
exalted the dignity of human nature.
I am sensible I ought to entreat your pardon for addressing to you a
work so wholly devoid of literary merit; but, as the production of an
unlettered African, who is actuated by the hope of becoming an
instrument towards the relief of his suffering countrymen, I trust
that _such a man_, pleading in _such a cause_, will be acquitted of
boldness and presumption.
May the God of heaven inspire your hearts with peculiar benevolence on
that important day when the question of Abolition is to be discussed,
when thousands, in consequence of your Determination, are to look for
Happiness or Misery!
I am,
My Lords and Gentlemen,
Your most obedient,
And devoted humble Servant,
Olaudah Equiano,
or
Gustavus Vassa.
Union-Street, Mary-le-bone,
March 24, 1789.
LIST of SUBSCRIBERS.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
His Royal Highness the Duke of York.
A
The Right Hon. the Earl of Ailesbury
Admiral Affleck
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James Adair, Esq.
Reverend Mr. Aldridge
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B
His Grace the Duke of Bedford
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Mrs. Baillie
Miss Baillie
Miss J. Baillie
David Barclay, Esq.
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Reverend Mr. Bentley
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Sir John Berney, Bart.
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Mrs. Bond
Miss Bond
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---- Brand, Esq.
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Mr. Buxton
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Mr. W. Button
C
The Right Hon. Lord Cathcart
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Miss Calwell
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Ottobah Cugoano, or John Stewart
D
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Sir William Dolben, Bart.
The Reverend C.E. De Coetlogon
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Mrs. Delamain
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E
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The Right Hon. the Countess of Essex
Sir Gilbert Elliot, Bart. 2 copies
Lady Ann Erskine
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The Reverend Mr. John Eyre
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F
Mr. George Fallowdown
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The Reverend Mr. Foster
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G
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---- Gardner, Esq.
Mrs. Garrick
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Miss Gibbes
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H
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Right Hon. Dowager Countess of Huntingdon
Thomas Hall, Esq.
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Sir Richard Hill, Bart.
Reverend Rowland Hill
Miss Hill
Captain John Hills, Royal Navy
Edmund H Next |