I laid open to those whom I saw, the discoveries I had made relative to the loss and ill treatment of seamen; at which they seemed to be much moved; and it was agreed that if it should be thought a proper measure, (of which I would inform them when I had consulted the committee,) a second petition should be sent to Parliament from the inhabitants, praying for the abolition of the Slave Trade.  With this view I left them several of my Summary View, before mentioned, to distribute, that the inhabitants might know more particularly the nature of the evil, against which they were going to complain.  On my return to Bristol, I determined to inquire into the truth of the reports that seamen had an aversion to enter, and that they were inveigled, if not often forced, into this hateful employment.  For this purpose I was introduced to a landlord of the name of Thompson, who kept a public-house called the Seven Stars.  He was a very intelligent man, was accustomed to receive sailors when discharged at the end of their voyages, and to board them till their vessels went out again, or to find them births in others.  He avoided, however, all connexion with the Slave Trade, declaring that the credit of his house would be ruined if he were known to send those, who put themselves under his care, into it.

From him I collected the truth of all that had been stated to me on this subject.  But I told him I should not be satisfied until I had beheld those scenes myself which he had described to me; and I entreated him to take me into them, saying that I would reward him for all his time and trouble, and that I would never forget him while I lived.  To this he consented; and as three or four slave-vessels at this time were preparing for their voyages, it was time that we should begin our rounds.  At about twelve at night we generally set out, and were employed till two and sometimes three in the morning.  He led me from one of these public-houses to another which the mates of the slave-vessels used to frequent to pick up their hands.  These houses were in Marsh-street, and most of them were then kept by Irishmen.  The scenes witnessed in these houses were truly distressing to me; and yet, if I wished to know practically what I had purposed, I could not avoid them.  Music, dancing, rioting, drunkenness, and profane swearing, were kept up from night to night.  The young mariner, if a stranger to the port, and unacquainted with the nature of the Slave Trade, was sure to be picked up.  The novelty of the voyages, the superiority of the wages in this over any other trades, and the privileges of various kinds, were set before him.  Gulled in this manner, he was frequently enticed to the boat, which was waiting to carry him away.  If these prospects did not attract him, he was plied with liquor till he became intoxicated, when a bargain was made over him between the landlord and the mate.  After this his senses were kept in such a constant state of stupefaction by the liquor, that in time the former