CHAPTER XV.
_Author confers with the inhabitants of Bridgewater relative to a petition to parliament in behalf of the abolition--returns to Bristol--discovers a scandalous mode of procuring seamen for the Slave-trade--and of paying them--makes a comparative view of their loss in this and in other trades--procures imports and exports--examines the construction and admeasurement of Slave-ships--of the Fly and Neptune--Difficulty of procuring evidence--Case of Gardiner of the Pilgrim--of Arnold of the Ruby--some particulars of the latter in his former voyages_.
Having heard by accident, that the inhabitants of the town of Bridgewater had sent a petition to the House of Commons, in the year 1785, for the abolition of the Slave-trade, as has been related in a former part of the work, I determined, while my feelings were warm, to go there, and to try to find out those who had been concerned in it, and to confer with them as the tried friends of the cause.

The time seemed to me to be approaching, when the public voice should be raised against this enormous evil.

I was sure that it was only necessary for the inhabitants of this favoured island to know it, to feel a just indignation against it.

Accordingly I set off.

My friend George Fisher, who was before mentioned to have been of the religions society of the Quakers, gave me an introduction to the respectable family of Ball, which was of the same religious persuasion.