The king had been made intoxicated on purpose, by the French agents, or he would never have consented to the measure.

He stated also, that in consequence of the temptations held out by slave-vessels coming upon the coast, the natives seized one another in the night, when they found opportunity; and even invited others to their houses, whom they treacherously detained, and sold at these times; so that every enormity was practised in Africa, in consequence of the existence of the Trade.

These specific instances made a proper impression upon the lords of the council in their turn: for Dr.Spaarman was a man of high character; he possessed the confidence of his sovereign; he had no interest whatever in giving his evidence on this subject, either on one or the other side; his means of information too had been large; he had also recorded the facts which had come before him, and he had his journal, written in the French language, to produce.

The tide therefore, which had run so strongly against us, began now to turn a little in our favour.
While these examinations were going on, petitions continued to be sent to the house of commons, from various parts of the kingdom.

No less than one hundred and three were presented in this session, The city of London, though she was drawn the other way by the cries of commercial interest, made a sacrifice to humanity and justice.