most worthy descendant of the York family, the Lord Bishop of Ely, in condescending to communicate my opinion against Slavery to his Right Reverend Brethren the Bishops; so that, when I waited upon them individually, they all (with the exception of only two or three, whose opinions I could not obtain), most decidedly expressed their resolution to oppose slavery."

His own letters and notes will best explain his progress.

G. S. to Dr. John Sharp.

[EXTRACT.]

"Dear Brother,

"March 1779.

"I have lately made it my business to call upon the Archbishops and Bishops, to request their influence and assistance towards putting a stop to the Slave Trade, as the House of Commons have appointed a Committee to examine into the state of the African trade, and therefore, I think, there is an opportunity of exposing the iniquity of it, which ought not to be let slip. I have called upon all the Bishops that are in town, and are not invalids; and have had the honour of being admitted to seventeen out of the whole number; and I have the pleasure to find, that they all seem inclined to oppose the Slave Trade, but some are very zealous against it.

"The Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishops of Litchfield, St. David's, St. Asaph, London, Ely, Bangor, and Oxford, strongly express their horror against it; and the Bishop of Peterborough, since I called on him, has exerted himself in a very extraordinary manner, in calling upon a variety of people that have knowledge of the trade,

and reading all books that he can find upon the subject, in order that he may be enabled to answer the pleas of interested people who endeavour to promote the trade." &c. &c.

MS.

1779. Memorandum.-This spring I have, at different times, had the honour of conversing with twenty-two out of the twenty-six Archbishops and Bishops, on the subject of the Slave Trade, during the time that the African affairs were under 'the consideration of a Committee of the House of 'Commons; and I met with none that did not con

cur with my sentiments on the subject. A very great majority of them gave me reason to hope 'that they would publicly oppose any further encouragement of the Slave Trade, had it come 'before them in the House of Lords. This was the more agreeable to me, because I found they did

not oppose, nor take amiss, my appeal to them, in my tract "On the Law of Retribution," sent to each of them more than two years before*. Both 'the Archbishops, and the Bishops of Durham, London, Oxford, Litchfield, Bristol, Norwich, Landaff, Ely, Bangor, Worcester, St. Asaph, and Lincoln, expressed themselves very handsomely on 'the occasion, and seemed very desirous of putting a stop to the evil. The Bishop of St. David's (Dr. York) was particularly polite, as well as earnest in the business, and afterwards wrote me a

See Part VI, of these Memoirs, chap, v.:

'letter, signifying his desire to join most heartily 'with any person who would propose an effectual and proper mode of opposing the Slave Trade; and the Bishop of Peterborough (Dr. Hinchcliff) 'took a great deal of pains to make himself master

of the subject, that he might be ready to exert 'himself to the utmost, when the business should ' have passed the House of Commons. But, while 'the matter was before the Committee, accounts 'being received of the capture of our African settle'ments, the chief seat and source of all the iniquities ' and enormities which I opposed, the Committee, 'it seems, had directions from the Ministry not to proceed in their report.'

An extract from the Bishop of St. David's letter, mentioned by Mr. Sharp, will show the obstacles against which he had to contend, arising from the general disposition of the times.

"Sir,

To Granville Sharp, Esq.

"Brook Street, March 14, 1779. "I return you Mr. Benezet's book, and keep the copy of your tract on Retribution, which, by mistake, had not been acknowledged as your kind present to me some time since. At the same time, I repeat my thanks for the additional tracts received from you.

They are replete with religious benevolence and humanity, and, both in facts and reasoning, carry conviction on a subject which natural sensibility and common sense alone must reprobate. But the powers of custom,

indolence, and interest, are violent oppugners of reformation. It will give me the greatest satisfaction to co-operate with abler advocates than myself, at any favourable moment, in the advancement of so liberal and Christian a cause as this, for which you are so warm an advocate. "With due respect, &c. &c.

66 JAMES ST. DAVID'S."

The following is of the same time and tenour.

Dr. Fothergill to Granville Sharp.

"Esteemed Friend,

[EXTRACT.]

"Harpur Street, 11th inst. [March, 1779].

"I am very desirous of a little conversation on the subject of the Negroes. By the accounts I have received from our Friends in North America, many of the Blacks belonging to them are made free, and even in these hard times they are looking forward to find means of giving their children some education.

"It is not a time to hope much good to liberty from some of our superiors here, nor do I think any great point can be carried; yet I could have wished to have said something on this subject.

"Thy assured Friend," &c. &c.

Notwithstanding these inauspicious presages, the results of Granville's earnest and solemn appeals gradually began to display themselves.

MS. February 22, 1781.-The Bishop of Peter'borough called on me this day, to inquire particu'larly concerning the Spanish regulations for the

gradual enfranchisement of Negro Slaves in America; and he mentioned his plan for a Bill in Parliament, to soften, and gradually reduce, the 'Slavery in the West Indies.

'23.-Called on Mr. Brook Watson about the 'Spanish regulations desired by the Bishop of Peter'borough. Wrote to the Bishop.

' March 14.-The Bishop of Peterborough called on me this day. I mentioned to his Lordship a 'letter, which I received last year from the Bishop ' of Gloucester (Dr. York), declaring his readiness 'to join with any gentleman in opposing the Slave 'Trade; and I mentioned also the kind behaviour of the Bishop of Litchfield (Dr. Hurd), to the same purpose: whereupon, the Bishop of Peterborough agreed to call on both those Bishops, and, with them, to wait upon the Archbishop of Canterbury, 'to request a meeting of all the Bishops on this

6

Of the favourable disposition of the Bishops towards the cause of the suffering Africans, he speaks again with gratitude and pleasure, in a letter to the Bishop of Peterborough, dated 1781, giving farther particulars of their behaviour, and adding an anecdote of a very interesting nature.

* The Spanish Regulations will be inserted in the Appendix.