On waiting upon the mother of William Lines, I learnt from her, that two out of four of the witnesses had been bribed by the slave-merchants, and sent to sea, that they might not be forthcoming at the time of the trial; that the two others had been tempted also, but that they had been enabled to resist the temptation; that, desirous of giving their testimony in this cause, they had gone into some coal-mine between Neath and Swansea, where they might support themselves till they should be called for; and that she had addressed a letter to them, at the request of Mr. Gandy, above a week ago, in which she had desired them to come to Bristol immediately, but that she had received no answer from them.  She then concluded, either that her letter had miscarried, or that they had left the place.

I determined to lose no time, after the receipt of this intelligence; and I prevailed upon a young man, whom my friend Harry Gandy had recommended to me, to set off directly, and to go in search of them.  He was to travel all night, and to bring them, or, if weary himself with his journey, to send them up, without ever sleeping on the road.  It was now between twelve and one in the afternoon.  I saw him depart.  In the interim I went to Thompson’s, and other places, to inquire if any other of the seamen, belonging to the Thomas, were to be found; but, though I hunted diligently till four o’clock, I could learn nothing satisfactory.  I then went to dinner, but I grew uneasy.  I was fearful that my messenger might be at a loss, or that he might want assistance on some occasion or other.  I now judged that it would have been more prudent if two persons had been sent, who might have conferred with each other, and who might have divided, when they had reached Neath, and gone to different mines, to inquire for the witnesses.  These thoughts disturbed me.  Those, also, which had occurred when I first heard of the vexatious way in which things were situated, renewed themselves painfully to my mind.  My own obstinacy in resisting the advice of Mr. Burges, and the fear of injury to my own reputation, and to that of the cause I had undertaken, were again before my eyes.  I became still more uneasy; and I had no way of relieving my feelings, but by resolving to follow the young man, and to give him all the aid in my power.

It was now near six o’clock.  The night was cold and rainy, and almost dark.  I got down, however, safe to the passage-house, and desired to be conveyed across the Severn.  The people in the house tried to dissuade me from my design.  They said no one would accompany me, for it was quite a tempest.  I replied, that I would pay those handsomely who would go with me.  A person present asked me if I would give him three guineas for a boat, I replied I would.  He could not for shame retract.  He went out, and in about half an hour brought a person with him.  We were obliged to have a lanthorn as far as the boat.  We got on board, and went off.