One thing however appeared now to be necessary, which had not yet been done.  This was to inform our friends in the city, upon whom I had all along occasionally called, that we believed the time was approaching, when it would be desirable that we should unite our labours, if they saw no objection to such a measure; for, if the Slave-trade were to become a subject of parliamentary inquiry with a view to the annihilation of it, no individual could perform the work which would be necessary for such a purpose.  This work must be a work of many; and who so proper to assist in it as they, who had before so honourably laboured in it?  In the case of such an event large funds also would be wanted, and who so proper to procure and manage them as these?  A meeting was accordingly called at the house of James Phillips, when these our views were laid open.  When I stated that from the very time of my hopes beginning to rise I had always had those present in my eye as one day to be fellow-labourers, William Dillwyn replied, that from the time they had first heard of the Prize Essay, they also had had their eyes upon me, and, from the time they had first seen me, had conceived a desire of making the same use of me as I had now expressed a wish of making of them, but that matters did not appear ripe at our first interview.  Our proposal, however, was approved, and an assurance was given, that an union should take place, as soon as it was judged to be seasonable.  It was resolved also, that one day in the week[A] should be appointed for a meeting at the house of James Phillips, where as many might attend as had leisure, and that I should be there to make a report of my progress, by which we might all judge of the fitness of the time of calling ourselves an united body.  Pleased now with the thought that matters were put into such a train, I returned to my former objects.

[Footnote A:  At these weekly meetings I met occasionally Joseph Woods, George Harrison, and John Lloyd, three of the other members, who belonged to the commitee of the second class of forerunners and coadjutors as before described.  I had seen all of them before, but I do not recollect the time when I first met them.]

It is not necessary to say any thing more of the first of these objects, which was that of the further distribution of my book, than that it was continued, and chiefly by the same hands.

With respect to the enlargement of my knowledge, it was promoted likewise.  I now gained access to the Custom-house in London, where I picked up much valuable information for my purpose.

Having had reason to believe that the Slave-trade was peculiarly fatal to those employed in it, I wished much to get copies of many of the muster-rolls from the Custom-house at Liverpool for a given time.  James Phillips wrote to his friend William Rathbone, who was one of his own religious society, and who resided there, to procure them.  They were accordingly sent up.  The examination of these, which took