During the last three years the leaders of the Anti-slavery movement had been forced into comparative repose; but the movement itself went on. The nation was turning its attention more and more to the question of slavery; inquiring into its true nature, and receiving impressions from the facts and arguments brought forward in the Anti-slavery Reporter, and other publications.

A few years before, the idea of emancipation had been odious both to Parliament and to the people. “If,” said Mr. Buxton, in 1827, “a man had a large share of reputation, he would lose the greater part of it by espousing the cause of the slaves; if he had a moderate share, he would lose all: that is my case, and it is just what I like! ” At that time he wrote to Mr. Macaulay:—

“God grant you, my dear friend, good health and good spirits; I, like you, have my share of slander. To-day I have received a letter from Joseph John Gurney, telling me the reports he has heard against me, and from our friends too! No matter; if slander against individuals is the method our adversaries take of justifying slavery, they will have hard work in inventing lies before they succeed in silencing us.”

But, at the period we have reached, although in some quarters a clamorous spirit of opposition still prevailed, yet the Anti-slavery feeling had been steadily making way.