They perceived, as facts came out in conversation, that there was a growing knowledge and hatred of the Slave Trade, and that the temper of the times was ripening towards its abolition.

Hence a disposition manifested itself among these, to unite as labourers for the furtherance of so desirable an object.

An union was at length proposed and approved of, and the following persons (placed in alphabetical order) came together to execute the offices growing out of it:-- [Footnote A: The Quakers, as a public body, kept the subject alive at their yearly meeting in 1784, 1785, 1787, &c.] WILLIAM DILLWYN, THOMAS KNOWLES, M.D.
GEORGE HARRISON, JOHN LLOYD, SAMUEL HOARE, JOSEPH WOODS.
The first meeting was held on the seventh of July, 1783.

At this "they assembled to consider what steps they should take for the relief and liberation of the negro slaves in the West Indies, and for the discouragement of the Slave Trade on the coast of Africa." To promote this object; they conceived it necessary that the public mind should be enlightened respecting it.

They had recourse; therefore, to the public papers, and they appointed their members in turn to write in these, and to see that their productions were inserted.