CHAPTER XIX.
Author proceeds to Manchester; finds a spirit rising among the people there for the abolition of the Slave Trade; is requested to deliver a discourse on the subject of the Slave Trade; heads of it, and extracts .-- Proceeds to Keddleston, and Birmingham; finds a similar spirit at the latter place .-- Revisits Bristol; new and difficult situation there .-- Author crosses the Severn at night; unsuccessful termination of his journey; returns to London.
I now took my departure from Liverpool, and proceeded to Manchester, where I arrived on the Friday evening.

On the Saturday morning, Mr.
Thomas Walker, attended by Mr.Cooper and Mr.Bayley of Hope, called upon me.

They were then strangers to me.

They came, they said, having heard of my arrival, to congratulate me on the spirit which was then beginning to show itself among the people of Manchester, and of other places, on the subject of the Slave Trade, and which would unquestionably manifest itself further by breaking out into petitions to parliament for its abolition.

I was much surprised at this information.
I had devoted myself so entirely to my object, that I had never had time to read a newspaper since I left London.