Exhibition Catalogue

parliamentary exhibitions open to the public in Westminster Hall. It seeks to explain why the abolition of the slave trade was a momentous issue in the moral and economic life of the country. As well as examining the role of key abolitionists and their endeavours to raise support for their cause, it demonstrates how parliament investigated the business of the slave trade and slavery. The focus of the exhibition is on the 30-year period leading up to the enactment of the bill for the abolition of the slave trade in 1807, the passing of that act was itself only a starting point in the campaign to abolish slavery; however the subsequent campaign, with its many vicissitudes, falls outside the remit of this exhibition. This catalogue documents the exhibits and provides a short explanation of their relevance to the subject. A bibliography is appended for those wishing to investigate the subject further. Exhibitions in Westminster Hall are intended to support parliament’s objective of promoting public knowledge and understanding of its role. This exhibition demonstrates how the legislative process was directly affected by the swirling (often confl icting) currents of popular opinion and commercial interests. There are striking