He had spent half an hour with him at an inn.

He described his person to me.
But he knew nothing of his name, or of the place of his abode.

All he knew was, that he was either going, or that he belonged to, some ship of war in ordinary; but he could not tell at what port.

I might depend upon all these circumstances, if the man had not deceived him; and he saw no reason why he should.
I felt myself set on fire, as it were, by this intelligence, deficient as it was; and I seemed to determine instantly that I would, if it were possible, find him out.

For if our suspicions were true, that the natives frequently were kidnapped in these expeditions, it would be of great importance to the cause of the abolition to have them confirmed; for as many slaves came annually from these two rivers, as from all the coast of Africa besides.