CHAPTER II.
_Continuation from July 1789 to July 1790--Author travels to Paris to promote the abolition in France--attends the committees of the Friends of the Negros--Counter attempts of the committee of White Colonists--An account of the deputies of Colour--Meeting at the Duke de la Rochefoucauld's--Mirabeau espouses the cause--canvasses the National Assembly--Distribution of the section of the slave-ship there--Character of Brissot--Author leaves Paris and returns to England--Examination of merchants' and planters' evidence resumed in the House of Commons--Author travels in search of evidence in favour of the abolition--Opposition to the hearing of it--This evidence is at length introduced--Renewal of Sir William Dolben's bill--Distribution of the section of the slave-ship in England--and of Cowper's Negro's Complaint--and of Wedgewood's Cameos._ We usually find, as we give ourselves up to reflection, some little mitigation of the afflictions we experience; and yet of the evils which come upon us, some are often so heavy as to overpower the sources of consolation for a time, and to leave us wretched.

This was nearly our situation at the close of the last session of parliament.

It would be idle not to confess that circumstances had occurred, which wounded us deeply.
Though we had foiled our opponents at their own weapons, and had experienced the uninterrupted good wishes and support of the public, we had the great mortification to see the enthusiasm of members of parliament beginning to cool; to see a question of humanity and justice (for such it was, when it was delivered into their hands) verging towards that of commercial calculation; and finally to see regulation, as it related to it in the way of being substituted for abolition.

But most of all were we affected, knowing as we did the nature and the extent of the sufferings belonging to Slave-trade, that these should be continued to another year.
This last consideration almost overpowered me.

It had fallen to my lot, more than to that of any other person, to know these evils, and I seemed almost inconsolable at the postponement of the question.