It was then taken up to the Lords; but on a motion of Lord Hawkesbury, then a member of that House, the discussion of it was postponed to the next year.
The session being ended, the committee for the abolition of the Slave-trade increased its number, by the election of the right honourable Lord Teignmouth, Dr.Dickson, and Wilson Birkbeck, as members.
In the year 1805, Mr.Wilberforce renewed his motion of the former year.
Colonel Tarleton, Sir William Yonge, Mr.Fuller, and Mr.Gascoyne opposed it.

Leave, however, was given him to introduce his bill.
On the second reading of it a serious opposition took place; and an amendment was moved for postponing it till that day six months.

The amendment was opposed by Mr.Fox and Mr.Huddlestone.The latter could not help lifting his voice against this monstrous traffic in the sinews and blood of man, the toleration of which had so long been the disgrace of the British legislature.

He did not charge the enormous guilt resulting from it upon the nation at large; for the nation had washed its hands of it by the numerous petitions it had sent against it; and it had since been a matter of astonishment to all Christendom, how the constitutional guardians of British freedom should have sanctioned elsewhere the greatest system of cruelty and oppression in the world.
He said that a curse attended this trade even in the mode of defending it.
By a certain fatality, none but the vilest arguments were brought forward, which corrupted the very persons, who used them.

Every one of these were built on the narrow ground of interest; of pecuniary profit; of sordid gain; in opposition to every higher consideration; to every motive that had reference to humanity, justice, and religion; or to that great principle, which comprehended them all.