Alderman Newnham presented one from certain merchants in London; Alderman Watson another from certain merchants, mortgagees, and creditors of the sugar-islands; Lord Maitland another from the planters of Antigua; Mr.Blackburne another from certain manufacturers of Manchester; Mr.Gascoyne another from the corporation of Liverpool; and Lord Penrhyn others from different interested bodies in the same town.
Mr.Wilberforce then moved the order of the day, for the house to go into a committee of the whole house on the report of the privy council, and the several matters of evidence already upon the table relative to the Slave-trade.
Mr.Alderman Sawbridge immediately arose, and asked Mr.Wilberforce, if he meant to adduce any other evidence, besides that in the privy council report, in behalf of his propositions, or to admit other witnesses, if such could be found, to invalidate them.

Mr.Wilberforce replied, that he was quite satisfied with the report on the table.

It would establish all his propositions.

He should call no witnesses himself: as to permission to others to call them, that must be determined by the house.
This question and this answer gave birth immediately to great disputes upon the subject.

Aldermen Sawbridge, Newnham, and Watson; Lords Penrhyn and Maitland; Mr.Gascoyne, Marsham, and others spoke against the admission of the evidence, which had been laid upon the table.