that the Africans were made happier by being carried from their own country to the West Indies, observed, “Be it so.  But we have no right to make people happy against their will.”  Mr. Windham, when it was suggested that the great importance of our West Indian islands, and the grandeur of Liverpool, would be brought against those who should propose the abolition of the Slave Trade, replied, “We have nothing to do with the policy of the measure.  Rather let Liverpool and the islands be swallowed up in the sea, than this monstrous system of iniquity be carried on.[A]” While such conversation was passing, and when all appeared to be interested in the cause, Mr. Langton put the question, about the proposal of which I had been so diffident, to Mr. Wilberforce, in the shape of a delicate compliment.  The latter replied, that he had no objection to bring forward the measure in parliament when he was better prepared for it, and provided no person more proper could be found.  Upon this, Mr. Hawkins Browne and Mr. Windham both said they would support him there.  Before I left the company, I took Mr. Wilberforce aside, and asked him if I might mention this his resolution to those of my friends in the city, of whom he had often heard me speak, as desirous of aiding him by becoming a committee for the purpose.  He replied, I might.  I then asked Mr. Langton, privately, if he had any objection to belong to a society of which there might be a committee for the abolition of the Slave Trade.  He said he should be pleased to become a member of it.  Having received these satisfactory answers, I returned home.

[Footnote A:  I do not know upon what grounds, after such strong expressions, Mr. Boswell, in the next year, and Mr. Windham, after having supported the cause for three or four years, became inimical to it.]

The next day, having previously taken down the substance of the conversation at the dinner, I went to James Phillips, and desired that our friends might be called together as soon as they conveniently could to hear my report.  In the interim I wrote to Dr. Peckard, and waited upon Lord Scarsdale, Dr. Baker, and others, to know (supposing a society were formed for the abolition of the Slave Trade) if I might say they would belong to it.  All of them replied in the affirmative, and desired me to represent them, if there should be any meeting for this purpose.

At the time appointed I met my friends.  I read over the substance of the conversation which had taken place at Mr. Langton’s.  No difficulty occurred.  All were unanimous for the formation of a committee.  On the next day we met by agreement for this purpose.  It was then resolved unanimously, among other things,—­That the Slave Trade was both impolitic and unjust.  It was resolved, also,—­That the following persons be a committee for procuring such information and evidence, and publishing the same, as may tend to the abolition of the Slave Trade, and for directing the application of such moneys as have been already, and may hereafter be collected for the above purpose:—­