Wilberforce, William (1759-1833) Letter signed on the slave trade, Highwood Hill

Wilberforce, William (1759-1833) Letter signed on the slave trade, Highwood Hill, Middlesex, 7th June 1830 single bifolium of gilt-edged wove paper (watermark 'Whatman 1828'), 22.4 x 18cm, written on 3 sides, addressed to George Paton Esqr, signed 'W Wilberforce', folded, docketed verso probably by the recipient Qty: (1) Note: An outstanding unpublished letter in which Wilberforce reveals with marked clarity his pessimistic view of the prospects of abolition, with the Abolition of Slavery Act still several years distant, while casting doubt on his correspondent's intention to deploy an unnamed 'black preacher' in aid of the cause, before offering a more positive assessment of the situation in Mauritius: 'I entirely concur with you in judgment that we can effect the deliverance of the slaves only by applying to the good principles and feelings of the people in general. I scarcely however dare be as sanguine as you appear to be either as to the facility of producing a general popular movement for the purpose intended ... sufficient to counteract the powerful interest of the West Indians [plantation owners] in both Houses of Parliament, combined with the disinclination of our cause which government has but too plainly manifested ... The expediency of the measure you support, of bringing over the black preacher, must entirely depend on his personal qualifications, of which I know nothing ... I will make some inquiries on this head, though I own I see many great difficulties and weighty objections to it. 'The slave trade at the Mauritius of which you speak, has been at length proved to have been carried on through the connivance I fear of the government of that island: but I am assured that government intends to take the cause which justice and humanity prescribe in the matter, to have an inquiry instituted, and to restore to their liberty, all who have been so unjustly and cruelly deprived of it. I must do our government the justice to declare that I firmly believe they had no knowledge whatever of the slave trade's existence in the Mauritius.' Provenance: Private collection, Scotland.