William WILBERFORCE (1759–1833), English politician and phil - Lot 181

William WILBERFORCE (1759–1833), English politician and philanthropist, advocate for the abolition of slavery. Autograph letter (signed in the third person at the top), [London] 45 Brompton Row, to Colonel Stanhope; 1½ pages, 8vo; in English (with 7 engraved portraits enclosed). Wilberforce thanks Colonel Stanhope for his letter, which gave him the great pleasure of discovering a military man from his family and of such talents who shares his Christian outlook: “Mr. Wilberforce presents his best regards to Colonel Stanhope and returns him many thanks for his obliging communication. Nor can he refrain from assuring Colonel Stanhope that it has given him no small pleasure to find a military man of his family and talents taking an interest on behalf of those who are too often overlooked precisely because of the circumstances that ought to make them objects of attention to the benevolent, and more especially to the Christian mind.” Enclosed: – an incomplete autograph letter, Bath, January 23, 1797 (3 pp., in-4 format; part of the first folio is missing, repaired with tape); – a signed autograph letter of dedication, Bath, November 20, 1825 (1 p., in-12), “To the Rev. Chas. Plumer with the assurance of every friendly wish from W. Wilberforce”; – the end of a letter (mounted on heavy paper) to Mrs. Hard; – 3 autograph addresses (2 with his countersignature); – several newspaper clippings.