Epistle from the Yearly Meeting, London. 1794

Joseph Gurney Bevan, clerk of the meeting signed this Epistle of Advises circulated to Quakers in their meetings worldwide. On the subject of blacks and the slave trade, the Epistle advised the following but took no steps to call for the end of slavery: "We continue to cherish a render concern for their restoration to their proper rank in society. On the subject of the slave trade being laid before us, a solemn pause ensued: and though no step appears expedient for us, at this juncture, to take as a body; we desire that every one of us may continue to sympathize with this afflicted people, and endeavor to excite, in his respective sphere of acquaintance, a like compassion for their almost unparalleled sufferings.