Priscilla Buxton [to the Cottage ladies] about the relief they feel over the accord expressed at the so-called Anti-Slavery Parliament, describing these last two days as the most important in the history of the movement. She relates how encouraged they have been by the evident support of so many people, in contrast to the long period when they seemed to struggle on alone against overwhelming opposition. (Copy.)

She writes that the petition against Buxton has been withdrawn due to the efforts of [William] Forster and George Stephen, but at great expense, and she describes Buxton's unhappiness at his inability to take up the dispute himself because he could not risk losing his seat when the anti-slavery campaign was in such a critical state. She adds that she intends to give her aunt's petition to [Andrew] Johnston, as her father will hand all his in together in a mass. (Copy.)

She describes over 300 petitions with which she is surrounded. She writes that Buxton has been depressed about bad news of the government's plans for the abolition of slavery, which she hopes may prove unfounded. She describes their hard work on the female [anti-slavery] petition, and thanks her aunt for her contribution to the Anti-Slavery Society, which is hard-pressed at the moment owing to the production of 125,000 of Whiteley's pamphlets.

They have been suffering feelings of tension and apprehension. She writes that Buxton is seeing Stanley to try to find out the government's exact plans, to end their uncertainty. She describes how busy she has been listing and packing 400 petitions, which Buxton presented to the Commons with a very good speech, but which seem since then to have gone unnoticed. She adds that she, Buxton, and Chenda are shortly to go to Dagenham for a brief rest, although she will need to return early to...

She mentions that her father is seeing Lord Grey and is unlikely to be able to leave for Dagenham, though she hopes he may. (Copy.)

With appreciation for the latter's awareness of the sincerity of his motives and commenting on the proposed regulations [for the abolition of slavery] and the Colonists' dislike of them. He acknowledges their sense of honour, but remarks that this would have been more effective if it had prevented them from importing a thousand enslaved people, and admits that they are never likely to agree. (Copy.)

Priscilla Buxton to Sarah Buxton, with thanks for a ladies' petition sent from Cromer, and commenting on the huge number of such petitions now being sent in. She writes that she and Chenda are shortly to take their father up to Dagenham, a responsibility to which she is not altogether looking forward. (Copy.)

Setting out the reasons underlying his actions, which emanate from his intense hatred of the slave system and his awareness of his responsibility towards a large section of the public who support abolition, as well as his responsibility towards the enslaved people themselves, who have no means of making their views heard. He adds that he can never put his own interests before theirs since they are so powerless, and he is therefore determined, for their sake, to bring on his motion [for the...

Describing the attractions of the place by the river where they are staying, and the positive effect that the change is having on her father, although he does not cease to reflect on and worry about his course of action. She writes of how important this period is in their campaign and how well she gets on with Buxton, helping him whenever he asks her as much as she is able, and adds that Chenda is being a very pleasant companion. She mentions their pessimism about the progress of the...

About the events of the last few days before her father-in-law's departure for Calcutta (Kolkata) [see preceding letter], describing the farewell ceremonies and the sermons he gave, and the journey to Portsmouth. (Copy.)

Buxton having shown his plan to Lord Althorp, who did not dismiss it out of hand. She mentions a rumour that a West Indian colonist was pressing for immediate and unconditional emancipation. (Copy.) (Also included in Vol. 2 of the main collection, MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 444 Vol. 2, p. 271.)

She thinks there must be some good points because the West Indians have rejected it, though she deplores the scheme to make the enslaved people pay for their freedom. She writes of the weakness of the government, and the indecisiveness of its Whig members as to how to vote on the question. (Copy.)

About the former's letter to Sir George Chetwynd, in which he had expressed his desire to see emancipation brought about as soon as possible but only as long as the safety of all concerned was assured. However, he adds that he had not made anyone's convenience a condition for the process. He asserts that if it were in his power, he would bring about emancipation as soon as the appropriate Police Regulations had been established, which ought to be done straight away to ensure the protection...