CHAPTER XVI.
_Author goes to Monmouth--confers relative to a petition from that place--returns to Bristol--is introduced to Alexander Falconbridge--takes one of the mates of the Africa out of that ship--visits disabled seamen from the ship Thomas--puts a chief mate into prison for the murder of William Lines--Ill-usage of seamen in various other slave-vessels--secures Crutwell's Bath paper in favour of the abolition--lays the foundation of a commitee at Bristol--and of a petition from thence also--takes his leave of that city._ By this time I began to feel the effect of my labours upon my constitution.
It had been my practice to go home in the evening to my lodgings, about twelve o'clock, and then to put down the occurrences of the day.

This usually kept me up till one, and sometimes till nearly two in the morning.
When I went my rounds in Marsh-street, I seldom got home till two, and into bed till three.

My clothes, also, were frequently wet through with the rains.

The cruel accounts I was daily in the habit of hearing, both with respect to the slaves, and to the seamen employed in this wicked trade, from which, indeed, my mind had no respite, often broke my sleep in the night, and occasioned me to awake in an agitated state.

All these circumstances concurred in affecting my health.