e was defeated; but it may
fairly be questioned whether he could have carried an immediate
abolition at the present time, if this appeal had not been made; for, at
this period, there were many circumstances which operated to the injury
of his cause. Thus the abolitionists had recently determined to use
no sugar which came from the West Indies; a determination that would
materially interfere with the revenue. Then again, the massacres and
burnings in the French division of the island of St. Domingo, where the
negro slaves had been set free from their chains, gave rise to a fear
that, if a total abolition took place, these troubles might extend to
Jamaica and our other West India islands, and hence indisposed the
king and many members of parliament to support the measure. Moreover,
Clarkson, one of the most active abolitionists, and the bosom friend of
Wilberforce, openly advocated the principles of the French revolution,
whence occasion was offered of representing the friends of abolition as
levellers. Finally, the knowledge that Brissot and the other friends
of the blacks in France were fierce revolutionists, and that the
redoubtable Tom Paine ranged on the side of Wilberforce in the cause
of humanity, had the effect of depriving him of many votes. All these
circumstances, combined with the powerful motive of self-interest,
would, doubtless have ensured his defeat, had not Dundas interposed
his scheme of gradual abolition. So the murderous traffic was to be
continued unmitigated; and, as it proved, for another long twenty years.

LONDON POLICE ACT.

Complaints had long been made of the disgraceful state of the police
of the metropolis, and especially of the largest portion of it, not
included in the jurisdiction of the city of London. Every one felt that
the unpaid magistracy were altogether inadequate to the discharge of
their onerous duties; and many rules and ordinances had been enacted
at various periods, for the preservation of the public peace, which had
been nullified by their want of power and incompetency. To rectify this
defect, early in March a bill was introduced into the commons, with the
countenance and approbation of government, the plan of which was to
open five different police-offices in the metropolis, for the prompt
administration of those parts of justice which were in the hands of
magistrates. Hitherto magistrates, though nominally unpaid, had driven
a handsome trade in fees; but by this bil