the severe labour and trials in these
journeys. In the present, I was out four months. I was almost over the
whole island, I intersected it backwards and forwards both in the night and
in the day. I travelled nearly seven thousand miles in this time, and I was
able to count upon twenty new and willing evidences.

[Footnote A: Ten or twelve of those, who were examined, much to their
honour, came forward of their own accord.]

Having now accomplished my object, Mr. Wilberforce moved on the fourth of
February in the House of Commons, that a committee be appointed to examine
further witnesses in behalf of the abolition of the Slave-trade. This
motion was no sooner made, than Mr. Cawthorne rose, to our great surprise,
to oppose it. He took upon himself to decide, that the house had heard
evidence enough. This indecent motion was not without its advocates. Mr.
Wilberforce set forth the injustice of this attempt; and proved, that out
of eighty-one days, which had been given up to the hearing of evidence, the
witnesses against the abolition had occupied no less than fifty-seven. He
was strenuously supported by Mr. Burke, Mr. Martin, and other respectable
members. At length, the debate ended in favour of the original motion, and
a committee was appointed accordingly.

The examinations began again on February the seventh, and continued till
April the fifth, when they were finally closed. In this, as in the former
session, Mr. Wilberforce and Mr. William Smith principally conducted them;
and indeed it was necessary that they should have been present at these
times; for it is perhaps difficult to conceive the illiberal manner, in
which our witnesses were treated by those on the other side of the
question. Men, who had left the trade upon principle, and who had come
forward, against their apparent interest, to serve the cause of humanity
and justice, were looked upon as mercenaries and culprits, or as men of
doubtful and suspicious character. They were brow-beaten. Unhandsome
questions were put to them. Some were kept for four days under examination.
It was however highly to their honour, that they were found in no one
instance to prevaricate, nor to waver as to the certainty of their facts.

But this treatment, hard as it was for them to bear, was indeed good for
the cause; for, coming thus pure out of the fire, they occasioned their own
testimony, when read, to bear stronger marks of truth than that of the
generality of our oppo