The history of the efforts made to secure the action of Parliament, though deeply interesting and instructive, our limits will not allow us to give in its details.[1] It is sufficient to state that the subject was introduced into the House of Commons in 1788, by Mr, Pitt, who proposed that the slave trade should be investigated at the next sessions. He was ably supported by Mr. Fox, Mr. Burke, Sir. W. Dolben, and others, and the motion passed unanimously.
Another measure, on the 22d of May, was proposed by Sir W. Dolben, which excited alarm among the traders in Liverpool and Bristol. It was that the number of slaves brought in a vessel should be in proportion to its tonnage. This the pro-slavery party were determined to resist, and they obtained leave to be heard by counsel before the House in their defense. But thus early, British philanthropy triumphed, and the motion passed by a large majority.
As the friends of humanity pushed their measures,[2] opposition was of course excited, and the advocates of the traffic succeeded in defeating motion after motion, until 1804, when the abortion bill was carried through the House of Commons. It was, how-
