The Opportunity, or Reasons for an Immediate Alliance with St. Domingo

James Stephen (1758-1832) was a British lawyer and slavery abolitionist. After qualifying for the bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1782 Stephen sailed for St Kitts in 1783. The atrocities committed against slaves which he witnessed in the West Indies converted him to the abolitionist cause, and after his return to England in 1794 he campaigned on behalf of the abolition movement. This volume, first published in 1804, contains Stephen’s discussion of Britain’s political choices following the successful Haitian Revolution (1791-1804). Before the Revolution, Haiti was one of the wealthiest colonies in the Caribbean, which Britain had attempted unsuccessfully to acquire by force. Stephen explores the complex political situation created by Haiti’s declaration of independence, and advocates for Britain to acknowledge Haiti as a sovereign state. Stephen’s thorough assessment of Britain’s political choices and their potential impact provides valuable insights into contemporary trade and political motivations surrounding Haiti.