They alleged, as a reason, that they conceived the introduction of it to have been improper pending the inquiry on the general subject of the Slave-trade.

This declaration brought up the Lords Stanhope and Lauderdale, who charged them with inconsistency as professed friends of the cause.

At length the bill was lost.

During these discussions the examination of the witnesses was resumed by the Lords; but only two of them were heard in this session[A].
[Footnote A: After this the examinations wholly dropped in the House of Lords.] After this decision the question was in a desperate state; for if the Commons would not renew their own resolution, and the Lords would not abolish the foreign part of the Slave-trade, What hope was there, of success?
It was obvious too, that in the former House, Mr.Pitt and Mr.
Dundas voted against each other.

In the latter, the Lord Chancellor Thurlow opposed every motion in favour of the cause.