States it is necessary to acquaint Mathew that the Reports of the Committee of the...

States it is necessary to acquaint Mathew that the Reports of the Committee of the house of Commons on the subject of the Slave Trade were on last Monday and Tuesday under the consideration of the whole house, and that after a long and interesting discussion of the subject, the motion made by Mr. Wilberforce 'that the Chairman be directed to move the House for leave to bring in a Bill for preventing the further importation of African Negroes into the British Colonies and Plantations was negatived by 163 against 88; states if the decision has an effect of increasing discontent which may prevail among the Slaves, 'it will, I trust, at least afford a strong inducement to the Planters to pay the utmost attention to the great object of endeavouring by mild and gentle treatment of these people to reconcile them as much as possible to their situations'; refers to quelling of 'disturbances' in Dominica; application grounded for increase of troops stationed in islands due to 'serious alarm' expressed that same 'spirit' shown in Dominica has appeared to a lesser extent in some of other islands, but Grenville requires ore substantial proof of necessity of such a measure.

William Wyndham Grenville, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 125 - 128.