Cameos._

We usually find, as we give ourselves up to reflection, some little
mitigation of the afflictions we experience; and yet of the evils which
come upon us, some are often so heavy as to overpower the sources of
consolation for a time, and to leave us wretched. This was nearly our
situation at the close of the last session of parliament. It would be idle
not to confess that circumstances had occurred, which wounded us deeply.
Though we had foiled our opponents at their own weapons, and had
experienced the uninterrupted good wishes and support of the public, we had
the great mortification to see the enthusiasm of members of parliament
beginning to cool; to see a question of humanity and justice (for such it
was, when it was delivered into their hands) verging towards that of
commercial calculation; and finally to see regulation, as it related to it
in the way of being substituted for abolition. But most of all were we
affected, knowing as we did the nature and the extent of the sufferings
belonging to Slave-trade, that these should be continued to another year.
This last consideration almost overpowered me. It had fallen to my lot,
more than to that of any other person, to know these evils, and I seemed
almost inconsolable at the postponement of the question. I wondered how
members of parliament, and these Englishmen, could talk as they did on this
subject; how they could bear for a moment to consider their fellow-man as
an article of trade; and how they should not count even the delay of an
hour, which occasioned so much misery to continue, as one of the most
criminal actions of their lives.

It was in vain, however, to sink under our burthens. Grief could do no
good; and if our affairs had taken an unfavourable turn, the question was,
how to restore them. It was sufficiently obvious that, if our opponents
were left to themselves, or, without any counteracting evidence, they would
considerably soften down the propositions, if not invalidate them in the
minds of many. They had such a power of selection of witnesses, that they
could bring men forward, who might say with truth, that they had seen but
very few of the evils complained of, and these in an inferior degree. We
knew also from the example of the Liverpool delegates, how interest and
prejudice could blind the eyes, and how others might be called upon to give
their testimony, who would dwell upon the comforts of the Africans, when
they came into our power