CHAPTER IV.
_Continuation from July 1791 to July 1792--Author travels round the kingdom again--Object of his journey--People begin to leave off the use of sugar--to form committees--and to send petitions to Parliament--Motion made in the House of Commons for the immediate abolition of the trade--Debates upon it--Abolition resolved upon, but not to commence till 1796--Resolution taken to the Lords--Latter determine upon hearing evidence--Evidence at length introduced--Further hearing of it postponed to the next session._ The defeat which we had just sustained, was a matter of great triumph to our opponents.

When they considered the majority in the House of Commons in their favour, they viewed the resolutions of the committee, which have been detailed, as the last spiteful effort of a vanquished and dying animal, and they supposed that they had consigned the question to eternal sleep.

The committee, however, were too deeply attached to the cause, vanquished as they were, to desert it; and they knew also too well the barometer of public feeling, and the occasion of its fluctuations, to despair.

In the year 1787 the members of the House of Commons, as well as the people, were enthusiastic in behalf of the abolition of the trade.

In the year 1788 the fair enthusiasm of the former began to fade.