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Discusses a contract agreed between the planters and Parliament at the time of the Emancipation Act which has allowed slavery to continue. Sets out the actions being taken by the Committee to fight against it; public meetings, publication of articles and signing of petitions. Offers sympathy for the death of Clarkson's son, remembers visit to Playford Hall fondly and passes on regards to Mrs Clarkson.

Vincent has just read in the Paris Gazettes that the former Queen of Haiti and her two daughters are at present at Playford Hall, and he considers it typically worthy of Clarkson to have discharged a debt which lies rather more at the door of a government [i.e. than at that of a private individual]. He hopes that his letter (i.e. the one following) finds them still at Playford, and will be glad to learn that they receive with especial grace ('avec quelque distinction') his protestations of devotion.

Notifies the writer's intention to draw on behalf of the Societe £50 upon Messrs. Gwinel, Hoare and Harmand, bankers. Should the funds not be readily available, the representative of M. Claviere has orders to wait, but he begs Clarkson to send the money with utmost speed.

Sends a draft of the work regarding the treaty.

Acknowledges a parcel sent by the letter. He describes the importance of the example given by Clarkson's efforts, as wielding a moral force superior to that inculcated by principles alone. He comments on the importance of the personal interests of those concerned in advancing a great cause, and the hypocrisy of a motion for the freedom of Negroes being put before the National Assembly, which is preoccupied with its own ideas of liberty.

Sent during TC's visit to France, assuring him that he is quite right not to have put himself to trouble to translate his last communication into French, since the writer has perfectly understood it, with a little help. He acknowledges on behalf of the Abbe Sieyes and himself, the two pictures which Clarkson sends, with which the writer is already familiar. (1) This design inspired Lubersac with a great hatred of the traffic in human kind as much as that traffic has degraded it. He invites Clarkson with an unnamed friend, to a modest dinner next Monday at 4 p.m. (1) The picture was evidently the slave ship picture which Clarkson circulated in profusion in Paris and from which Mirabeau had a model made for his dining room table (See Clarkson Biography, pp. 57-8).

Assures him of the pleasure of seeing him and his wife at their last visit to Paris, and of the effect it had for the cause. Clarkson's two letters were discussed in some papers, though in less depth than would have been desirable, and in several there was only a bare notice of them. Gregoire discusses the preponderant frivolity of the French press, though there are exceptions. Gregoire goes on to discuss the impact of censorship on the press, which has forced [? Messrs. Comte and Dunoye], editors, to cease publishing in journal form and publish instead separate volumes. He is sending by an intermediary, Captn. Scobell, 'un ami des noirs' a volume of Observations, twenty pages of which are devoted to Clarkson's works. He has received a work on the slave trade, and slavery of blacks and whites, but thinks it may not be allowed to go to press since it contains some hard truths explicitly dealt with. If so, he will send it in a manuscript. Gregoire attaches M. Egion's receipt (1), and asks for his own to be returned or destroyed. He acknowledges Clarkson sending him his work on the Quakers (2), and Mr. Foster (3), whom he has not met, sending his works on the same subject. He requests help with corrections to his own works, his Histoire des Sectes, and a new edition of his Litterature des Negres. Mr. Wilberforce has sent the second edition of the life of Toussaint Louverture, by M. Stephen (4). Gregoire intends to write to him and send him copies of the letters written to himself by 'ce general' [Toussaint]. Cambridge University which in times gone by [jadis] awarded a prize for Clarkson's work, opened a debate some years ago on the question 'what are the advantages and inconveniences which may result from the new republic of blacks and coloureds established in the West Indies?' Gregoire asks was the prize actually bestowed, and what was the result of the debate? (5) He sends his compliments to Mrs. Clarkson, Messrs Robinson, Stoddart, William Smith etc. etc.

(1) In a postscript, however, he says he cannot find it.

(2) Portraiture of Quakerism (1806).

(3) It could be the odd Baptist preacher John Foster 1770-1843 (DNB) but probably not.

(4) James Stephen 1758 - 1832. This work is not listed among his 'chief' in the DNB.

(5) The Prize is probably a garbled ref. to Clarkson's prize Essay on Slavery, 1786, but the debate?

Conveyed by their mutual friend, Mr Allen, who will supply further details. He acknowledges Clarkson's zeal in seeing to the insertion in the papers of Gregoire's letter rebutting the slanders of [?Bertrand-Molleville]; other friends have done similarly in the German papers. He has discussed the state of St. Dominique with Mr. Weatherley, who is on his way to Vienna. Ten letters written to him from St. Dominique have been mislaid, gone astray or been intercepted by various means. He has sent various parcels of educational and devotional works to St. Dominique, but doubts after his conversation with Weatherley, whether they will reach their destination. Gregoire discusses political conditions in St. Dominique at some length.

If the recipient is in London, he will receive the letter from the hands of the Marquis (?Piresi). He is sending printed works by various deliveries. He sends a new copy of the second printed letter which he has addressed to an Elector of [?Lisere]. He has sent [?what] to Zachary Macaulay and already forwarded to Lord Calthorpe notes which attest that Senegal continues the slave trade. He has set a cry of indignation ringing in many papers, especially the Chronique Religieuse, and despite the fury of the 'marchands de sanf' (i.e. slave traders) against him, does not waver. He sends compliments to Clarkson's wife.

Acknowledges Clarkson's letter of 30 November which has dispelled his misgivings at Clarkson's previous lack of response. All that he has written of the merits of King Christophe, and his praise of his wife and the education of his two daughters, makes Vincent regret the more not having been able to stay with Clarkson, who had included Madame Vincent in his invitation. Vincent's initial fears about the Queen's high expenses in London have been relieved by Clarkson's excellent planning: she has nothing to fear from the winter lodged at Playford , and she and her daughters may return to their own sweltering climate when the fine weather comes. Vincent is contemplating with pleasure taking up in the Spring Clarkson's invitation to visit. He will bring materials concerning Haiti. He is accused of prejudice in favour of the blacks, and Clarkson's last letter, passed on to moderate people, has produced the same effect. In France, he is convinced, they are subject to greater prejudice, and accounts of the history of the Haitian revolution may not be published without awakening great antagonism. Nevertheless he believes that the Slave Trade is on the verge of being abolished, and that a new minister will adopt the opinion that it can no longer be tolerated, let alone encouraged. He looks forward to a reunion at Playford Hall, and a discussion of how to write the history of the Haitian revolution, at which prospect Clarkson's friend Greg[?oire] himself is dismayed. Vincent considers himself surrounded by enemies of truth, and in opposition to their prejudices and interests; this makes him the more desire the visit to England. He sends respects to Mrs. Clarkson and the family of Christophe.