He introduced me also to his cousin, Richard Phillips, of Lincoln’s Inn, who was at that time, on the point of joining the religious society of Quakers.  In him I found much sympathy, and a willingness to co-operate with me.  When dull and disconsolate, he encouraged me.  When in spirits, he stimulated me further.  Him I am now to mention as a new, but soon afterwards as an active and indefatigable, coadjutor in the cause.  But I shall say more concerning him in a future chapter.  I shall only now add that my work was at length printed; that it was entitled An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, particularly the African, translated from a Latin Dissertation, which was honoured with the first Prize in the University of Cambridge, for the year 1785; with Additions; and that it was ushered into the world in the month of June, 1786, or in about a year after it had been read in the Senate-house in its first form.

CHAPTER VIII.

[Sidenote:  Continuation of the fourth class of forerunners and coadjutors up to 1787; Bennet Langton; Dr. Baker; Lord and Lady Scarsdale.—­Author visits Ramsay at Teston.—­Lady Middleton and Sir Charles (afterward Lord Barham).—­Author declares himself at the house of the latter ready now to devote himself to the cause; reconsiders this declaration or pledge; his reasoning and struggle upon it; persists in it; returns to London; and pursues the work as now a business of his life.]

I had purposed, as I said before, when I determined to publish my essay, to wait to see how the world would receive it, or what disposition there would be in the public to favour my measures for the abolition of the Slave Trade.  But the conversation which I had held on the 13th of March with William Dillwyn, continued to make such an impression upon me, that I thought now there could be no occasion for waiting for such a purpose.  It seemed now only necessary to go forward.  Others I found had already begun the work.  I had been thrown suddenly among these, as into a new world of friends.  I believed, also, that a way was opening under Providence for support; and I now thought that nothing remained for me but to procure as many coadjutors as I could.

I had long had the honour of the friendship of Mr. Bennet Langton, and I determined to carry him one of my books, and to interest his feelings in it, with a view of procuring his assistance in the cause.  Mr. Langton was a gentleman of an ancient family and respectable fortune in Lincolnshire, but resided then in Queen Square, Westminster.  He was known as the friend of Dr. Johnson, Jonas Hanway, Edmund Burke, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and others.  Among his acquaintance, indeed, were most of the literary, and eminent professional, and public-spirited men of the times.  At court, also, he was well known, and had the esteem of his majesty (George III.), with whom he frequently conversed.  His friends were numerous also, in both houses of the legislature.  As to himself, he was much noted for his learning, but most of all for the great example he gave, with respect to the usefulness and integrity of his life.