Let the advocates for the bloody traffic state what they had to set off on their side of the question against the comforts and independence of the man, with whom they compared the slave.
The amendment was supported by Sir William Yonge, Sir William Pulteney, Colonel Tarleton, Mr.Gascoyne, C.Brook, and Hiley Addington.

On dividing the House upon it, there appeared for it seventy-seven, but against it only seventy.
This loss of the question, after it had been carried in the last year by so great a majority, being quite unexpected, was a matter of severe disappointment; and might have discouraged the friends of the cause in this infancy of their renewed efforts, if they had not discovered the reason of its failure.

After due consideration it appeared, that no fewer than nine members, who had never been absent once in sixteen years when it was agitated, gave way to engagements on the day of the motion, from a belief that it was safe.

It appeared also, that out of the great number of Irish members, who supported it in the former year, only nine were in the House, when it was lost.

It appeared also that, previously to this event, a canvass, more importunate than had been heard of on any former occasion, had been made among the latter by those interested in the continuance of the trade.