From all these particulars the humanity of the Slave Trade was inferred, because it took away the inhabitants of Africa into lands where no such barbarities were known.

But the humanity of it was insisted upon by positive circumstances also; namely, that a great number of the slaves were prisoners of war, and that in former times all such were put to death, whereas now they were saved: so that there was a great accession of happiness to Africa since the introduction of the trade.
These statements, and those of others on the same side of the question, had a great effect, as may easily be conceived, upon the feelings of those of the council who were present.

Some of them began immediately to be prejudiced against us.

There were others who even thought that it was almost unnecessary to proceed in the inquiry, for that the trade was actually a blessing.

They had little doubt that all our assertions concerning it would be found false.