In 1772 Lord Mansfield ruled that English law did not allow slavery, meaning that a slave became free on entering English territory, and could not be sent overseas into bondage. It would require an act of Parliament to establish legality for slavery. The Act of abolition of the slave trade was enacted in 1807. But to postulate the 1770s is not entirely drivel, because of the Mansfield judgement.

Bell ringing need not reflect the public feeling, need it? As boycotting sugar need not, either.

Penny