Diary – James Losh – 11 Aug 1830

A very numerous meeting of the Friends to the Abolition of Slavery was held today in the large Methodist Meeting House.   Beaumont was in the chair and Brougham made one of his magnificent but somehwat too vehement speeches.   He was warmed and somewhat exalted by the great events which have occurred in France and also by the most honorable and flattering mark of public approbation which he has just received from the great county of York, having been called upon (together with Lord Morpeth) by the freeholders, and what is still more remarkable by the great majority of the gentry to represent them in Parliament.   This and Mr. Hume's election for Middlesex, both free of expence, prove that a great and decisive feeling in favor of liberal opinions has taken place throughout the country.

I was somewhat mortified that the state of my health prevented my sharing in the real triumph of the enemies of slavery upon this occasion.