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 MEMOIR 
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 
 
 BY THOMAS PRICE. 
 
 Scconlr ^mcrfcan Htrftfon. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 BOSTON : 
 
 LIGHT & STEARNS, 1 CORNHILL. 
 1836.
 
 Entered arc orJing to Act of Congress, in the year 1836, by 
 Light & Stearns, in the Clerk's Office of the District 
 Court of iMassachusetts.
 
 PREFACE 
 
 TO THE AMERICAN EDITION. 
 
 The followino; Memoir of one of the most interesting 
 personages who have lived during the current century, 
 first published a few months since in London, is pre- 
 sented by the Publishers to the American community. 
 Eminently conspicuous among this class, for half a cen- 
 tury, stood the subject of Mr. Price's Biography a 
 man, whose memory will be sufficiently distinguished in 
 all coming time, by the extraordinary combination of 
 intellectual and moral power which he directed, and 
 caused to be directed and that with both a spirit and a 
 success unsurpassed, on the whole, in the world's 
 annals to the promotion " of the greatest act of national 
 benefit ichich God ever put in the power of man to confer 
 on his felloiD creatures.''^ Such was the language used 
 by Sir Samuel Romilly, in the British Parliament, on 
 occasion of the final passage, by that body, of the Bill for 
 abolisliing the African slave-trade throughout the British 
 dominions ; and whoever will attentively weigh the vast 
 interest and importance of the great events, now alluded
 
 IT PREFACE, 
 
 to, in which Mr. Wilberforce acted a part which has ren- 
 dered his name immortal, cannot for a moment hesitate 
 to admit that the eloquence of this noble eulogy is but 
 adequate to its truth. 
 
 It is proper for the Publishers to state that they have 
 omitted, in the republication of this excellent tribute to 
 the worth of the departed philanthropist, those portions 
 of the Memoir that, while they contributed to swell the 
 volume beyond the size best adapted to the design of 
 popular circulation, were likely, also, by their seclarian 
 and controversial character, to prove of considerably less 
 value, than the more strictly biographical department of 
 the work. It may be read, in its present form, as the 
 Publishers confidently believe though they would not 
 be understood to assert their own precise accordance 
 with every particular sentiment expressed by the Bi- 
 ographer with equal pleasure and profit, by persons of 
 every sect, party, and condition.
 
 MEMOIR 
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 
 
 The doctrine of Divine Providence is strik- 
 ingly illustrated in the history of our world. 
 Amidst the apparent confusion of its affairs, the 
 controlling agency of infinite wisdom and good- 
 ness may be traced. There has been an evident 
 subordination in the course of events to some 
 great issue. Complicated and intricate move- 
 ments, which at first perplexed the most saga- 
 cious observers, have ultimately been seen to 
 lend their influence to the advancement of human 
 happiness. Tiie temporary triumph of infidelity 
 has thus been checked, and the faith and hope 
 of the believer have been increasingly justified. 
 Hence much of the value which attaches to the 
 records of the past. History would lose its im- 
 portance, were it to be regarded as a chronicle 
 1 *
 
 6 MEMOIR OP 
 
 merely of events. Its details might exercise the 
 memory, and afford pleasure to the curious, but 
 a mind intent on the acquisition of moral truth 
 would cease to regard its pages with interest, 
 or to derive from them the materials of its most 
 ennobling speculations. 
 
 The superintendence of the Deity has been 
 evinced in the preparation of agents for the exe- 
 cution of his purposes. At different periods in 
 the history of mankind, he has raised up, and 
 qualified with all appropriate endowments, the 
 ministers of his pleasure. They have been 
 brought forward at the precise moment when 
 their services were needed, and a stage has been 
 prepared on which they might efliciently act 
 their part. Outward circumstances have been 
 so adapted to their mental constitution, as to 
 assist them in extending a salutary influence 
 over the men of their day. God has worked 
 with them, confirming their word with signs 
 following. 
 
 There is no important era in the history of 
 mankind which does not afford illustrations of 
 this fact. Luther was formed by divine Provi- 
 dence for the work which he accomplished. 
 "Whitfield and Wesley were eminently endowed 
 by the Head of the church, for the revival of
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 7 
 
 religion in their native land; and many of those 
 who, in more recent times, have gone to the land 
 of heathenism, proclaimirag the unsearchable 
 riclies of Christ, have manifested an adaptation 
 to their work, in which the devout observer can- 
 not fail to recognize the hand of God. A similar 
 observation may be made respecting the subject 
 of this brief memoir. There was a great work, 
 involving the interests of humanity and religion, 
 to be accomplished ; and in the person of Mr. 
 Wilherforce, God furnished an agent eminently 
 fitted for its execution. His integrity commanded 
 the respect of all parties ; his talents engaged 
 their attention, and his inflexible determination 
 of purpose won the triumph of his cause. Had 
 not Mr. Wilherforce been a member of the Brit- 
 ish parliament when the philanthropic Clarkson 
 was endeavoring to stimulate the national con- 
 science, it is not, perhaps, tno much to say, 
 that the wrongs of Africa would have been unre- 
 dressed to this day. Other senators may have 
 raised their voice, but the heart of the nation 
 would not have responded as it did to the appeal 
 of the patriarch of the cause. " To the talent, 
 the sagacity, the discretion, the unwearied perse- 
 verance, the mild and conciliatory, though deter- 
 mined tone, the unexceptionable spirit, and the
 
 C MEMOIR OF 
 
 winning, irresistible eloquence with which he 
 conducted this great cause, as long as health 
 and strength permitted him thus to lead in it, is, 
 no doubt, under God's blessing, mainly to be 
 attributed the triumphant issue to which, after a 
 contest of forty-three years, the whole is now 
 brought." 
 
 The ancestors of Mr. Wilberforce were for 
 many years successfully engaged in trade at 
 Hull. His great-great-grandfather was a Mr. 
 William Wilberforce, who was one of the gover- 
 nors of Beverly in the year 1070. The grandson 
 of this gentleman married Sarah, the daughter 
 of Mr. John Thornton, about the year 1711; 
 and hence, we believe, originated that intimate 
 connection with the Thornton family, which 
 continued to the end of Mr. Wilberforce's life. 
 There were two sons and two daughters, the 
 issue of this marriage. William, the eldest son, 
 died without issue in the year 1780. Robert, 
 the younger, married Miss Elizabeth Bird the 
 aunt, as we believe, of the present Bishops of 
 Winchester and Ciiester. The late Mr. Wilber- 
 force was the only son of Mr. Robert Wilber- 
 force. There were two daughters, Elizabeth and 
 Sarah: the former died unmarried; the latter 
 was twice married, first to the Rev. Clarke,
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 9 
 
 and then to Mr. Stephen, the late master in 
 Chancery. 
 
 Mr. Wilberforce was born at Hull, on the 
 24th of August, 1759, in a house in High Street, 
 and was baptized in Trinity church, of that town, 
 in the following month. His early education 
 was received at the grammar school in Hull, 
 then under the superintendence of the Rev. 
 Joseph Milner, whose preaching appears to have 
 made a deep impression on his youthful mind. 
 What may have been the amount of this impres- 
 sion, it is impossible now to determine. But 
 there is good reason to believe that it was the 
 commencement of that christian character which 
 subsequently appeared in so mature and lovely a 
 form. In itself it was incomplete ; but it con- 
 tained the germ and promise of future good. 
 The integrity and strength of this early impres- 
 sion was severely tried in after life ; but, though 
 exhibiting considerable variations, and sometimes 
 reduced, apparently, to the last degree of weak- 
 ness, it was never permitted to fade away. At 
 the age of twelve, he was removed to a school in 
 the neighborhood of London, where he resided 
 with a pious uncle and aunt, by the latter of 
 whom he was introduced to the venerable John 
 Newton. There must have been something in
 
 10 MEMOIR OF 
 
 his appearance or manners very striking, even at 
 this early age ; for Mr. Scott informs us that 
 when, nearly fifteen years after, altered views 
 and revived religious impressions led him (Mr. 
 Wilberforce) again to seek the acquaintance of 
 that excellent man, Mr. Newton surprised and 
 affected him much, by telling him that, from the 
 time of the early introduction just alluded to, 
 he had not failed constantly to pray for him. 
 His residence near London was but temporary. 
 In 17T2, he was at a grammar school at Pock- 
 lington, Yorkshire, under the care of the Rev. 
 Mr. Baskett. Here he continued till his removal 
 to Cambridge, which took place in 1776 or 
 1777. 
 
 Many serious apprehensions were entertained 
 by his friends, on account of the delicate state of 
 his health. They feared that his frame was too 
 feeble to endure long ; more especially, amidst 
 the activity and excitement of a public life. In 
 the year 1788, Dr. Warren, the most eminent 
 physician of his day, declared " he had not 
 stamina enough to last a fortnight." But the 
 good pleasure of his God had ordered otherwi.se. 
 There was work for him to do ; and his bodily 
 strength was, in consequence, daily renewed. 
 The "puny boy," as Mr. Scott designates him
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 11 
 
 in his funeral sermon, survived to a good old 
 age, and at length retired to rest amid the plau- 
 dits of an admiring world. He suffered much 
 through life from his attendance in parliament, 
 yet he continued it from a sense of duty. One 
 who knew him well tells us that kw members 
 attended with more assiduity in their places in 
 parliament. Though his frame was always weak, 
 and his health indifferent, he rarely absented 
 himself from public duty : he had, indeed, a 
 higher motive to its discliarge than most men. 
 Though singularly destitute of self-importance, 
 he was sensible that he had gradually risen to a 
 peculiar responsibility, which there were few, if 
 any, to share with him. He was regarded, by 
 the religious world, as the protector, in the lower 
 house, of public morals and religious rights. 
 He was justly conscious that this was the highest 
 trust confided to his care, and he was vigilant in 
 proportion. He was never to be found sleeping 
 when any question trenching on public decorum, 
 or the interests of religion, came before the legis- 
 lature. We believe that this high motive im- 
 pelled him to a more frequent attendance than 
 consisted with his physical strength. In his 
 later years, he often availed himself of the too 
 frequent opportunity given by a heavy speaker.
 
 12 MEMOIR OF 
 
 to indulge himself with an hour's sleop in the 
 back seats under the galleries; and this indul- 
 gence was cheerfully and respectfully conceded 
 by the House. To have disturbed the slumber 
 of Mr. Wilberforce would have been, with one 
 consent, scouted as a breach of privilege, for 
 which no ordinary apology could have atoned. 
 
 We have already seen that he was the subject 
 of religious impressions in very early life ; and 
 the character which resulted from them, though 
 subject to some variations, assumed more and 
 more of the fixedness and determination of chris- 
 tian principle. We shall have occasion, in the 
 course of our narrative, to notice the fearless- 
 ness with which he avowed, and the ability with 
 which he defended religion. It is our province, 
 now, to notice the earlier developments of his 
 piety, the first manifestations of the grace which 
 was given him. "I have been favored," says Mr. 
 Scott, " with the sight of several letters written 
 by him from this place, which, amidst all the 
 vivacity and playfulness belonging to his years 
 and his character, discover a serious and feeling 
 sense of religion, and even a distinct insight into 
 the leading doctrines of Christianity. lie alludes 
 repeatedly to the preaching of Mr. Miliier, of 
 which he evidently retained a very pleasing re-
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 13 
 
 collection, and on which he says he should re- 
 joice again to attend : he takes a lively interest 
 in the success of Mr. Milner's labors, and those 
 of other pious ministers ; expresses much aver- 
 sion to the theatre, and deprecates being com- 
 pelled to attend its exhibitions : but, on the 
 whole, is well content with all that might befall 
 him, believing that it would work for his good, 
 
 " On his removal to Cambridge, or even be- 
 fore that time, he appears to have fallen under 
 the direction of persons who much feared his 
 being too serious, and who were willing even to 
 risk making him dissipated, rather than allow 
 him to be more religious than the world ap- 
 proves ; and, under this influence, he made not 
 that use of his time at the University which he 
 would afterwards have wished that he had done. 
 
 " I have the best authority, however, for say- 
 ing, that his conduct never was vicious. That 
 he always possessed and cultivated a literary 
 taste, it would be superfluous to state : but, after 
 he became decidedly religious, he conscientiously 
 and diligently applied himself to all those studies 
 which become a christian gentleman and a legis- 
 lator, that he might consecrate his talents, thus 
 improved to the utmost, to the glory of God, and 
 the good of his fellow creatures." 
 2
 
 14 MEMUIR OF 
 
 Mr. Wilberforce entered as a fellow-commoner 
 at St. John's College, where he formed an inti- 
 macy with Mr. Pitt, which remained unbroken 
 till the close of that statesman's life, in 1806. 
 He did not obtain any.a'cademical honors, such 
 being very rarely sought at that time by young 
 men of his standing ; but his attainments were 
 highly respectable, and his classical taste ac- 
 knowledged. In 1781, he took the degree of 
 Bachelor of Arts, and that of Master in 1788. 
 
 In the year 1780, when he had just attained 
 his majority, he was chosen to represent his 
 native town in parliament ; an honor which ap- 
 pears to have been unsolicited on his part, but 
 which could not fail to yield him very high grati- 
 fication. Thus an appropriate sphere for the 
 exercise of his talents was unexpectedly sup- 
 plied; and an opportunity of preparation was 
 given, for the great work of his life. The guid- 
 ance of Divine Providence, in this event, is now 
 recognized by the devout observer with joy and 
 gratitude. 
 
 His name first occurs in the Parliamentary 
 Journals in the year 1781, as one of the com- 
 missioners for administering the oaths to mem- 
 bers; but he does not appear to have taken any 
 active part in the business of the house till
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 15 
 
 1783, when he seconded an address of thanks on 
 the peace, and warmly opposed Mr. Fox's India 
 bill. In the year 1784, on the summary dis- 
 missal of the coalition administration, he was 
 re-elected for Hull, in opposition to Mr. David 
 Hartley, an eminent partisan of Mr. Fox ; but 
 immediately resigned its representation, on being 
 chosen for the county of York, for which he 
 continued to sit in six successive parliaments, 
 till he voluntarily surrendered the honor in 1812, 
 on account of increasing infirmities. In the 
 year 1808, his return was warmly contested ; 
 but, such was the admiration in which his char- 
 acter was held, and the value put upon his ser- 
 vices, that the expenses of his election, though 
 exceeding .100,000, were far more than met by 
 voluntary subscriptions. 
 
 Two years after, in 1786, he succeeded in 
 carrying through the Commons a Bill for the 
 Amendment of our Criminal Code, the principal 
 object of which was, to give certainty to punish- 
 ment; but, being opposed by Lord Chancellor 
 Loughborough, it was rejected in the upper house 
 without a division. If we may judge from the 
 comments of the chancellor, it reflected more 
 credit on the heart, than on the legal dexterity of 
 Mr. Wilberforce.
 
 16 MEMOIR OF 
 
 In the early part of his parliamentary career, 
 his style of oratory appears to have partaken of 
 severer and more caustic qualities than at a later 
 period. " It is instructive to ob:=erve," remarks 
 a writer well acquainted with Mr. ^Vilberforce, 
 " the early parliamentary career of this great 
 man. If there ever was a being gifted with 
 more than human kindness, it was Mr. Wilber- 
 force. His tone, his manners, his look, were all 
 conciliatory, even to persuasive tenderness; yet 
 we have already seen him reproved for undue 
 severity by Fox, and we next find him tutored in 
 meekness by Pitt! In 17S7, in a debate on 
 the commercial relations with France, Burke 
 had provoked Mr. "NVilherforce into some acri- 
 mony of retort, when Mr. Pitt checked him for 
 his imprudence, telling him that ' it was as far 
 beyond his powers as his wishes, to contend with 
 such an opponent as Burke, in abuse and per- 
 sonality.' " 
 
 It is easily to be believed, that his religious 
 character was severely tried in the earliest period 
 of his parliamentary life. His society was courted 
 by the leading men of his day, and the associa- 
 tions into which he was consequently brought, 
 proved unfriendly to the growth of his christian 
 principles. Being introduced to the political
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 17 
 
 clubs of London, his character was tested, and 
 there is reason to suppose that its religious tone 
 was somewhat lowered. He was surrounded by 
 men of secular ambition, and we need not won- 
 der if the unsuspecting confidence of youth ex- 
 posed him to serious injury. Political pursuits 
 have ever been pregnant with danger to religious 
 principles. But, at the period to which we now 
 refer, they possessed an absorbing power, which 
 increased a thousand fold their means of evil. 
 Party politics were at their height. The atmos- 
 phere of Europe was charged with the elements 
 of disorder and ruin. The most sagacious states- 
 men were perplexed by the signs of the times ; 
 and all men were preparing, in fearful mood, for 
 that mighty struggle which was to shake the 
 fabric of European society, and to give to its 
 character and prospects an entirely different 
 aspect. That the youthful mind of Mr. Wilber- 
 force should so far have been stimulated by the 
 absorbing influences of this period, as to be 
 "drawn away from God, and turned aside to 
 vanity," may excite our regret, but cannot 
 awaken surprise. It needed all the determina- 
 tion of a matured christian to withstand the evil 
 influences by which he was surrounded. 
 2*
 
 18 MEMOIR OP 
 
 But we have reason to adore the Father of 
 mercies, that his gracious interposition arrested 
 the progress of the evil ; thus preserving, to the 
 cause of humanity and christian truth, one of 
 its most consistent and successful advocates. It 
 is interesting to observe the means which were 
 employed for the recovery of such a mind from 
 its spiritual torpor. The tendency of its asso- 
 ciations was not only to perpetuate, but to in- 
 crease the evil. When religious sensibility is 
 impaired when the heart ceases to reply with 
 cheerfulness and promptitude to the calls of 
 piety there is much reason to fear lest, for its 
 own protection from distracting thoughts, it 
 should plunge into the arms of dissipation or 
 infidelity. Thousands have sought refuge from 
 themselves by adopting so fearful an alternative; 
 but the watchful eye of Infinite Benevolence was 
 upon Mr. Wilberforce, and the intercourse of 
 friendship was speedily sanctified to the religious 
 renovation of his heart. 
 
 " In the latter part of the year 1784, and 
 again in 178.5," says Mr. Scott, " Mr. Wilber- 
 force travelled on the continent with a party of 
 friends. The late Dean of Carlisle, Dr. Isaac 
 Milner, was his companion in the same carriage : 
 and here these highly gifted friends discussed
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 19 
 
 various interesting topics together. Religion 
 was of the number : and, on one occasion, Mr. 
 "Wilberforce having expressed respect for a pious 
 clergyman, added, that he ' carried things too 
 far.' His friend pressed him upon this point. 
 "* What did he mean by carrying things too far, or 
 being too strict? On what ground did he pro- 
 nounce this to be the case ? When we talk of 
 going too far, some standard must necessarily be 
 referred to : was the standard of scripture ex- 
 ceeded ? or could any other standard be satis- 
 factorily adopted and maintained ? Perhaps it 
 would not easily be shown that, where things 
 were carried, as it was alleged, too far, they 
 were not carried beyond the rules of scripture, 
 but only beyond what was usually practised and 
 approved among men.' 
 
 " Mr. Wilberforce, when thus pressed by his 
 friend, endeavored to explain and defend his 
 position as well as he could : but he was dissat- 
 isfied himself with what he had to offer ; in 
 short, he felt that his own notions on the subject 
 were vague and untenable. A lodgment was 
 thus made in his conscience ; matter for serious 
 thinking was suggested ; and his thoughts could 
 find no rest till they found it from the word of 
 God, and the adoption of a scriptural standard.
 
 20 MEMOIR or 
 
 by which to form all his judgments, and regulate 
 all his conduct. 
 
 "Another incident in the history of his mind 
 at this period, as related by himself, is not less 
 interesting and instructive than the preceding. 
 * As I read,' said he, ' the promises of holy scrip- 
 ture "Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye 
 shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto 
 you ; God will give the Holy Spirit to them that 
 ask him ; Come unto me, all ye that labor and 
 are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest; I will 
 take away the heart of stone, and give you the 
 heart of flesh ; I will put my laws in your hearts, 
 and write them in your inward parts ; I will be 
 merciful unto their unrighteousness, and their 
 sins and iniquities will I remember no more" 
 as I read these passages, it occured to me tO' 
 reflect If these things be so if there be any 
 truth in all this and if I set myself to seek the 
 blessings thus promised I shall certainly find a 
 sensible effect and change wrought within me,, 
 such as is thus described. I will put the matter 
 to the proof: I will try the experiment : I will 
 seek, that I may find the promised blessings.' 
 lie did so; and the result was peace, and liberty, 
 and victory peace of conscience, and purified 
 affections ; deliverance from those sins which had
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 21 
 
 ensnared him, or held him in bondage ; ' the 
 victory that overcometh the world,' and boldness 
 ' to confess Christ before men.' ' He had the 
 witness in himself;' a sensible evidence, both 
 that the word of God is true, and that he had not 
 in vain sought the fulfilment of its promises to 
 himself." 
 
 Happy would it be for mankind, if they could 
 be induced to make a similar trial. The word 
 of God is the instrument of regeneration. It is 
 the incorruptible seed, by which we are born 
 again; the word of truth, by which God of his 
 own will hath begotten us. Its efficiency has 
 been proved in ten thousand cases ; and when- 
 ever, in future times, the inquiring and anxious 
 mind shall turn to its pages, and devoutly seek 
 to imbibe its spirit, it will infallibly transmit to 
 his heart an influence which shall make him a 
 new creature in Jesus Christ. It is admirably 
 adapted to the renovation of man's moral nature. 
 As an instrument, it is perfect ; let it then be 
 employed aright, and the happiest effects must 
 follow. 
 
 With the feelings which resulted from these 
 searchings of heart, Mr. Wilberforce once more 
 sought the acquaintance of Mr. Newton, and, 
 in the winter of 1785-6, at his earnest recom-
 
 182 MEMOIR OF 
 
 mendation, began to attend the ministry of the 
 Rev. Thomas Scott, at the Lock Hospital. " This 
 was a period of my life," says the subject of our 
 memoir, " when it was peculiarly important to 
 me habitually to attend the ministrations of a 
 sound and failhful pastor; and I willingly as- 
 sented to Mr. Newton's earnest recommendations 
 of Mr. Scott. I soon found that he fully equalled 
 the strongest expectations that I had formed of 
 him, and from that time for many years I at- 
 tended him regularly, for the most part accom- 
 panied by my dear friends both, alas I now 
 gone to a better world the Hon. Edward James 
 Eliot, and Mr. Henry Thornton. We used to 
 hear him at the Lock in the morning; Mr. 
 Thornton and I often gladly following him for 
 the afternoon service into the city, where he 
 had the lectureship of Bread Street church. All 
 objections arising from an unfavorable manner 
 were at once overruled by the strong sense, the 
 extensive acquaintance with scripture, the accu- 
 rate knowledge of the human heart, and the ve- 
 hement and powerful a[i].eals to the conscience, 
 with which all his sermons abounded, in a greater 
 degree than those of anv other minister I ever 
 attended. Indeed, the substantial solidity of his 
 discourses made those of ordinary clergymen,
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 23 
 
 though good and able men, appear comparative! j 
 somewhat superficial and defective in matter." 
 
 Some of his friends now recommended his re- 
 tirement from public life, but others, with much 
 more wisdom and fidelity to the cause of God, 
 urged him to retain the station which Providence 
 had assigned him. Happily for the interests of 
 humanity, Mr. Wilberforce adopted the advice 
 of the latter. " I feel a sort of self-congratula- 
 tion, at present," said the Rev. Thomas Scott, in 
 1807, " that, about twenty years ago, 1 withstood, 
 with all my energy, Mr. 's counsel, who ad- 
 vised Mr. Wilberforce to retire from public life. 
 Had that counsel been followed, the slave-trade, 
 might have continued to future generations." 
 
 Our country was first implicated in the Afri- 
 can slave-trade in the reign of Elizabeth. Sir 
 John Hawkins possesses the unenviable distinc- 
 tion of having been the first Englishman who 
 engaged in it. This occurred in the year 1562. 
 He deceived his royal mistress, by representing 
 the Africans as voluntary laborers. The queen 
 is stated to have expressed her deep concern lest 
 any of the negroes should be forced from their 
 country, declaring " it would be detestable, and 
 call down the vengeance of Heaven upon the 
 undertakers." A large number of vessels annu-
 
 24 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ally sailed from this country, taking with them 
 fire-arras, intoxicating liquors, and other articles 
 of trifling value, which they exchanged for slaves. 
 This traffic continued, without exciting much 
 attention from the moral part of the community^ 
 till the middle of the last century. The society 
 of Friends were among its earliest opponents ; 
 and by their untiring efforts for its abolition, 
 have entitled themselves to the esteem and grati- 
 tude of mankind. So early as the year 1727, 
 they passed a resolution, at their annual meeting, 
 declaring "that the importing of negroes from 
 their native country and relations, by Friends, is 
 not a commendable nor allowed practice, and is 
 therefore censured by this meeting." In 1758, 
 they proceeded farther, warning all in connexion 
 with them, that they carefully avoid being in 
 any way concerned in reaping the unrighteous 
 profits arising from it." At length, in 1761, 
 they determined to disown all such as engaged 
 in it ; thus furnishing an example to Chris- 
 tendom, which redounds to the honor of our 
 common faith. 
 
 But the elTorts of the Quakers, though honora- 
 ble to themselves, and efficient in reference to 
 their own members, failed to make any extensive 
 impression on the nation. This, however, was
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFOKCE. 25 
 
 accomplished by the labors of Mr. Granville 
 Sharp, one of those enlightened philanthropists, 
 who break the continuity of human selfishness 
 and crime, and attach a character of distin- 
 guished honor to the age in which they live. 
 
 In the early part of the eighteenth century, 
 the planters and merchants were accustomed to 
 bring slaves from the colonies in the capacity of 
 servants, and subsequently, to return them at 
 their pleasure to the West Indies. A notion 
 became extensively prevalent among this class, 
 that the English law did not sanction their mas- 
 ters in returning them to bondage, if they had 
 submitted, during their residence in England, 
 to the christian rite of baptism. They conse- 
 quently solicited, with much importunity, the 
 performance of this rite ; and having obtained 
 its administration, they absconded. This state 
 of things involved the planters and merchants 
 in much perplexity, and induced them, in 1729, 
 to solicit the opinion of York and Talbot, the 
 attorney and solicitor general. This opinion 
 was unfavorable to the negroes, and they were, 
 in consequence, seized, and openly forced on 
 board the vessels which were destined to convey 
 them to the land of slavery. Public feeling 
 was thus outraged, and the means of deliverance
 
 26 MEMOIR OF 
 
 for the oppressed unexpectedly prepared. Mr. 
 Sharp took an active part in the struggles of that 
 period. He first appeared before the public as 
 the friend of the African, in the case of Jona- 
 than Strong, who was brought to England in 
 1765. This slave, having been barbarously used 
 by his master, Mr. David Lisle, became so ema- 
 ciated by ague, fever and lameness, as to be 
 utterly useless, and was, consequently, permitted 
 to go whither he pleased, in order that the ex- 
 pense of his maintenance might be avoided. In 
 this miserable condition, he applied to Mr. Wil- 
 liam Sharp, brother of Mr. Granville Sharp, for 
 medical advice, under whose benevolent and 
 skilful care he was restored to health. During 
 his recovery, he was supplied with money by Mr. 
 Granville Sharp, who afterwards procured him a 
 situation. Here his master saw him, and deter- 
 mined on repossessing him. For this purpose, 
 he caused him to be seized by some of the city 
 officers, who con\eyed him, wilhout a warrant, 
 to the Poultry Compter, where he was sold to 
 John Kerr, for thirty j)ounds. "In tliis situa- 
 tion," Mr. Clarkson tells us, in his History of 
 the Abolition, " Strong sent, as was usual, to his 
 godfathers, John London and Stephen Nail, lor 
 their protection. They went, but were refused
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 27 
 
 admittance to him. At length, he sent for Mr. 
 Granville Sharp. The latter went, but they still 
 refused admission to the prisoner. He insisted, 
 however, upon seeing him, and charged the 
 keeper of tlie prison at his peril, to deliver him 
 up till he had been carried before a magistrate. 
 
 " Mr. Sharp, immediately upon this, waited 
 upon Sir Robert Kite, then lord mayor, and en- 
 treated him to send for Strong, and to hear his 
 case. A day was accordingly appointed. Mr. 
 Sharp attended, and also William M'Bean, a no- 
 tary public, and David Laird, captain of the ship 
 Thames, which was to have conveyed Strong to 
 Jamaica, in behalf of the purchaser, John Kerr. 
 A long conversation ensued, in which the opin- 
 ion of York and Talbot was quoted, Mr. Sharp 
 made his observations. Certain lawyers, who 
 were present, seemed to be staggered at the case, 
 but inclined rather to recommit the prisoner. 
 The lord mayor, however, discharged Strong, as 
 he had been taken up without a warrant. 
 
 "As soon as this determination was made 
 known, the parties began to move off. Captain 
 Laird, however, who kept close to Strong, laid 
 hold of him before he had quitted the room, and 
 said aloud, 'Then I now seize him as my slave." 
 Upon this, Mr. Sharp put his hand upon Laird's
 
 28 MEMOIR OF 
 
 shoulder, and pronounced these words ; ' I charge 
 you, in the name of the king, with an assault 
 upon the person of Jonathan Strong, and all 
 these are my witnesses.' Laird was greatly in- 
 timidated by this charge, made in the presence 
 of the lord mayor and others, and fearing a pro- 
 secution, let his prisoner go, leaving hira to be 
 conveyed away by Mr. Sharp." 
 
 Several other cases of a similar nature subse- 
 <iuently occurred, in all of which Mr. Sharp took 
 a prominent part. But the legal question was 
 yet unsettled. No broad principle, to which the 
 future protection of the African might be en- 
 trusted, had been admitted; and it was, there- 
 fore, determined, in the case of James Somerset, 
 to try the general question, "Whether a slave, by 
 coming into England, became free." In order 
 that the law might be fully ascertained, the case 
 was argued at three different sittings, in 1772, 
 and the pleadings submitted to the opinion of the 
 judges. The result of the trial is well known. 
 To the honor of the British constitution, it was 
 declared That as soon as ever any slave set his 
 foot on English territory, he became free. This 
 was an important and influential step. It con- 
 tained the germ of subsequent measures, and
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 29 
 
 gave promise to outraged humanity of more com- 
 plete vindication. 
 
 From this period, public attention was increas- 
 ingly drawn to the question. It became the 
 topic of general conversation. Its nature was 
 inquired into, and a conviction, perpetually deep- 
 ening, of its inhuman and diabolical character, 
 was obtained. The public abhorrence was greatly 
 strengthened by a circumstance which occurred 
 in 1783. 
 
 " In this year, certain underwriters desired to 
 be heard against Gregson and others, of Liver- 
 pool, in the case of the ship Zong, Captain Col- 
 lingwood, alleging that the captain and officers 
 of the said vessel threw overboard one hundred 
 and thirty-two slaves alive into the sea, in order 
 to defraud them, by claiming the value of the 
 said slaves, as if they had been lost in a natural 
 way. In the course of the trial, which after- 
 wards came on, it appeared that the slaves on 
 board the Zong were very sickly ; that sixty of 
 tiiem had already died, and several were ill, 
 and likely to die when the Captain proposed to 
 James Kelsall, the mate, and others, to throw 
 several of them overboard, stating 'that if they 
 died a natural death, the loss would fall upon the 
 owners of the ship, but that if they were thrown
 
 30 MEMOIR OF 
 
 into the sea, it would fall upon the underwri- 
 ters.^ He selected, accordingly, one hundred 
 and thirty-two of the most sickly of the slaves. 
 Fifty-four of these were immediately thrown over- 
 board, and forty-two were made to be partakers 
 of their fate on the succeeding day. In the 
 course of three days afterwards, the remaining 
 twenty-six were brought upon deck, to complete 
 the numher of victims. The first sixteen sub- 
 mitted to be thrown into the sea, but the rest, 
 with a noble resolution, would not suffer the offi- 
 cers to touch them, but leaped after their com- 
 panions, and shared their fate! 
 
 *' The plea which was set up in behalf of tiiis 
 atrocious and unparalleled act of wickednc^-s 
 was, that the captain discovered, when he made 
 the proposal, that he had only two hundred gal- 
 lons of water on board, and that he had missed 
 his port. It was proved, however, in answer to 
 this, that no one had been put upon short allow- 
 ance, and that, as if Providence had determined 
 to afford an unequivocal proof of the guilt, a 
 shower of rain fell, and continued for three days, 
 immediately after the second lot of slaves had 
 been destroyed, by means of which they might 
 have filled many of their vessels* with water, 
 
 * Ii ai>i>ciircd lliat llicv lillfd six.
 
 \Vir,I,IAM WILBERFORCE. 31 
 
 and thus have prevented all necessity for the 
 destruction of the third. 
 
 " Mr. Sharp was present at this trial, and pro- 
 cured the attendance of a short-hand writer, to 
 take down the facts which should come out in 
 the course] of it. These he gave to the public 
 afterwards. He communicated them also, with 
 a copy of the trial, to the Lords of the Admiralty, 
 as the guardians of justice upon the seas, and to 
 the duke of Portland, as principal minister of 
 state. No notice, however, was taken by any 
 of these, of the information which had been thus 
 sent them. 
 
 " But though nothing was done by the persons 
 then in power, in consequence o^ the murder of 
 so many innocent individuals, yet the publication 
 of an account of it by Mr. Sharp, in the newspa- 
 pers, made such an iuipression upon others, that 
 new coadjutors rose up." 
 
 Two years after this, in 1785, Mr. Thomas 
 Clarkson directed his attention to this subject, 
 and the result of his inquiries was an entire dedi- 
 cation of himself to the interests of humanity. 
 In that year. Dr. Peckhard, the vice-chancellor 
 of Cambridge, proposed to the senior bachelors 
 in arts the following question, as the subject for a 
 Latin dissertation : " Is it right to make slaves
 
 33 MEMOIR OP 
 
 of others against their will ?" Mr. Clarkson was 
 at this time of the order of senior bachelors, and, 
 having the previous year obtained the prize for 
 the best Latin dissertation, a regard to his own 
 reputation led him to try for it again. He at 
 once perceived that the question had a direct 
 bearing on the African slave-trade, and proceeded 
 to London, to obtain information respecting the 
 manner in which this traffic was conducted. 
 Hitherto he had felt no interest in the question 
 itself. His only concern was to maintain and 
 extend his reputation in the university. But in 
 the course of his reading, his mind underwent an 
 entire revolution. The atrocities which were 
 systematically practised on the African coast, 
 harrowed up his soul, and induced a degree of 
 feeling scarcely compatible with the calm dis- 
 charge of his duties. Hir own account of the 
 state of his mind at this period, is eminently 
 beautiful and touching. 
 
 " Furnished then in this manner," he says, 
 " I began my work. But no person can tell the 
 severe trial which the writing of it proved to me. 
 I had expected pleasure from the invention of 
 the arguments, from the arrangement of them, 
 from the putting of them together, and from the 
 thought, in the interim, that I was engaged in
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFOUCE. 33 
 
 an innocent contest for literary honor. But all 
 my pleasure was damped by the facts which were 
 now continually before me. It was but one 
 gloomy subject, from morning to night. In the 
 day-time I was uneasy ; in the night I had little 
 rest. I sometimes never closed my eyelids for 
 grief. It became now not so much a tri-al for 
 academical reputation, as for the production of a 
 work which might be useful to injured Africa. 
 And keeping this idea in my mind ever after the 
 perusal of Benezet, I always slept with a candle 
 in my room, that I might rise out of bed, and 
 put down such thoughts as might occur to me in 
 the night, if I judged them valuable, conceiving 
 that no arguments of any moment should be lost 
 in so great a cause. Having at length finished 
 this painful task, I sent my essay to the vice- 
 chancellor, and soon afterwards found myself 
 honored, as before, with the first prize. 
 
 "As it is usual to read these essays publicly in. 
 the senate-house, soon after the prize is adjudged, 
 I was called to Cambridge for this purpose. I 
 went, and performed my office. On returning, 
 however, to London, the subject of it almost 
 wholly engrossed my thoughts. I became, at 
 times, very seriously aiVected while upon the 
 road. I stopped my horse occasionally, and
 
 34 MEMOIR OP 
 
 dismounted and walked. I frequently tried to 
 persuade myself, in these intervals, that the con- 
 tents of my essay could not be true. The more, 
 however, I reflected upon them, or rather upon 
 the authorities on which they were founded, the 
 more I gave them credit. Coming in sight of 
 Wade's Mill, in Hertfordshire, I sat down dis- 
 consolate on the turf by the road-side, and held 
 my horse. Here, a thought came into my mind, 
 that if the contents of the essay were true, it was 
 time some person should see these calamities to 
 their end. Agitated in this manner, I reached 
 home. This was in the summer of 1785. 
 
 " In the course of the autumn of the same 
 year, I experienced similar impressions. I walked 
 frequently into the woods, that I might think on 
 the subject in solitude, and find relief to my mind 
 there. But there the question still recurred, 
 'Are these things true?' Still the answer fol- 
 lowed as instantaneously, ' They are.' Still the 
 result accompanied it ' Then, surely, some per- 
 son should interfere.' I then began to envy 
 those who had seats in parliament, and who had 
 great riches, and widely-extended connections, 
 which would enable them to take up this cause. 
 Finding scarcely any one at that lime who 
 thought of it, I was turned frequently to myself.
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 35 
 
 But here many difficulties arose. It struck me, 
 among others, that a young man of only twenty- 
 four years of age would not have that solid judg- 
 ment, or knowledge of men, manners and things, 
 which were requisite to qualify him to undertake 
 a task of such magnitude and importance : and 
 with whom was I to unite ? I believed, also, 
 that it looked so much like one of the feigned 
 labors of Hercules, that my understanding would 
 be suspected, if I proposed it. On ruminating, 
 however, on the subject, I found one thing, at 
 least, practicable, and that this, also, was in my 
 power. I could translate my Latin dissertation. 
 I could enlarge it usefully. I could see how the 
 public received it, or how far they were likely to 
 favor any serious measures, which should have a 
 tendency to produce the abolition of the slave- 
 trade. Upon this, then, I determined; and, in 
 the middle of the month of November, 1785, I 
 began my work." 
 
 Mr. Clarkson was now too deeply interested in 
 the subject to return to his ordinary occupations. 
 He determined on the translation of his essay, 
 sought an interview with Mr. G. Sharp, and ulti- 
 mately resolved on abandoning the Church, in 
 which he had fair prospects of preferment, and 
 devoting himself entirely to the cause of the
 
 36 Mb:.MUIR OF 
 
 Africans. From this period, he occupied him- 
 self in calling on tlie leading members of the 
 two houses of parliament, in obtaining additional 
 information, and in circulating such works as 
 were suited to enlighten and arouse the public 
 mind. Among other persons, he called on Mr. 
 Wilberforce, then in the morning of his day. 
 Little did Mr. Clarkson imagine that the young 
 senator whom he visited was destined to act so 
 distinguished and praiseworthy a part in the great 
 struggle which was commencing. The designs 
 of Providence were yet unrevealed ; but now 
 that the result is known, and the course of Mr. 
 Wilberforce so honorably closed, it cannot be 
 uninteresting to learn the reception which he 
 gave to this sacred cause, on its being first sub- 
 mitted to his attention. 
 
 "On my first interview with him," says Mr. 
 Clarkson, "he stated frankly that the subject had 
 often employed his thoughts, and that it was near 
 his heart. lie seemed earnest about it, and also 
 very desirous of taking the trouble of inquiring 
 further into it. Having read ny book, which I 
 had delivered to him in person, lie sent for me. 
 He expressed a wish that I would make him ac- 
 ([uainted with some of my authorities for the as- 
 sertions in it, which 1 did afierwards^ to his sat-
 
 WILLIAM WILBEKFORCE. 37 
 
 isfaction. He asked nie if I could support it by 
 any other evidence. I told him I could ; I men- 
 tioned Mr. Newton, Mr. Nisbett, and several 
 others to him. He took the trouble of sending 
 for all these. He made memorandums of their 
 conversation, and, sending for me afterwards, 
 showed them to me. On learning my intention 
 to devote myself to the cause, he paid me many 
 handsome compliments. He then desired me to 
 call on him often, and to acquaint him with my 
 progress from time to tune. He expressed, also, 
 his willingness to afford me any assistance in his 
 power, in the prosecution of my pursuits." 
 
 In the course of Mr. Clarkson's visits to Mr. 
 Wilberforce, tlie latter manifested an increasing 
 interest in the subject of their conference. His 
 strong mind readily yielded to the force of evi- 
 dence, and its convictions were aided by the 
 promptings of a generous heart. Occasional 
 meetings of the friends of abolition were held at 
 his house, and measures were there concerted 
 f)r the accomplishment of their design. At 
 length, on the 22d of May, 1787, a committee 
 was formed for the adoption of such measures 
 as were calculated to effect the abolition of tlie 
 slave-trade, and Mr. Wilberforce became their 
 parliamentary leader. Those who have witnessed 
 4
 
 38 MEMOIR OF 
 
 the recent feelings of the nation on this subject, 
 may imagine that but little moral courage was 
 required for the adoption of the course which 
 Mr. Wilberforce took. But the state of things 
 was then totally different from what we have 
 lately seen. The atrocities of the system were 
 not known ; the moral sensibilities of the nation 
 were blunted, and a numerous, affluent, and 
 unprincipled party was pledged to opposition. 
 It was at this risk of party associations and of 
 personal friendships, that he determined on his 
 course ; and the virulence with which he was 
 assailed, and the foul aspersions which were cast 
 on his unspoltcd fame, bespoke the fear which 
 his talents and virtues had excited. The nation, 
 though but little informed, and still less inter- 
 ested, in this great question, was yet in advance 
 of the house of commons. The first petition 
 presented to that house was from the Quakers, 
 in I7S'3; the second was from Bridge water, in 
 1785, and its reception was most discouraging. 
 "There did not appear," say the members for 
 B:idgewater, in a joint letter which they ad- 
 dressed to their cnnstitueiits, " the l-jast disposi- 
 tion to pay any further attention to it. Every 
 one, almost, says tliat the abolition of the slave- 
 trade must immediately throw the West India
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 39 
 
 Islands into convulsions, and soon complete their 
 utter ruin." 
 
 Under these circumstances, Mr. Wilberforce 
 gave notice, early in 1788, of his intention to 
 bring the subject before the legislature ; but be- 
 ing prevented from doing so by indisposition, Mr. 
 Pitt, on the 9th of May, introduced and carried 
 the following resolution : " That this house will, 
 early in the next session of parliament, proceed 
 to take into consideration the circumstance of 
 the slave-trade, complained of in the said peti- 
 tion, and what may be fit to be done thereupon." 
 In the course of the discussion on this motion, 
 Mr. Fox complained of the ignorance in which 
 Mr. Pitt had left the house respecting his own 
 views, and of the delay which his proposition 
 involved, declaring that, for himself, he had no 
 scruple about asserting, at the outset, that the 
 slave-trade ought not to be regulated, but de- 
 stroyed. To this opinion he said his mind was 
 made up ; and he was persuaded that the more 
 the subject was considered, the more his view of 
 it would gain ground : and it would be admitted, 
 that to consider it in any other manner, or on 
 any other principles than those of humanity and 
 justice, would be idle and absurd. It is interest- 
 ing to observe these two great men, who divided
 
 40 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 the admiration and confidence of political parties, 
 and who were usually ranged on opposite sides of 
 the question in debate, concurring in the future 
 stages of this benevolent measure. Mr. Pitt's 
 official character imposed at first some restraint 
 upon him ; but he continued, throughout the pro- 
 longed agitation of the question, its consistent 
 and able, though unsuccessful advocate. Many 
 of his colleagues, it is well known, were violently 
 opposed to his views, nor did they attempt to 
 conceal their opposition. Lord Chancellor Thur- 
 low. Lord Liverpool, and Mr. Dundas frequently 
 opposed him in parliament, and were supported, 
 there is reason to believe, by a higher and more 
 influential personage than themselves. This state 
 of things prevented Mr. Pitt from making the 
 abolition a cabinet measure, and insured, in 
 consequence, its frequent rejection. His personal 
 influence was unable to triumph over the power- 
 ful opposition arrayed against it. Mr. Fox, on 
 the other hand, was unfettered by office, and, 
 therefore, spoke and acted according to the 
 promptings of his generous nature. And when, 
 on the death of Mr. Pitt, he succeeded to the 
 premiership, he proved his own sincerity, and 
 the political rectitude of his party, by making 
 the abolition a ministerial question.
 
 WILLIAM WtLBERKORCE. 41 
 
 In the discussion of this subject which ensued 
 in parliament, on the 12th of May, Mr. Wilber- 
 force distinguished himself by a very able and 
 animated speech, in the course of which he 
 advanced the following propositions, deduced 
 from the Privy Council Report, and intended as 
 subject of future remark : 
 
 " 1. That the number of slaves annually car- 
 ried from the coast of Africa, in British vessels, 
 was about 38,000, of which, on an average, 
 22,500 were carried to the British islands ; and 
 that of the latter, only 17,500 were retained there. 
 
 "2. That these slaves, according to the evi- 
 dence on the table, consisted, first, of prisoners 
 of war ; secondly, of free persons sold for debt, 
 or on account of real or imputed crimes, particu- 
 larly adultery and witchcraft in which cases 
 they were frequently sold with their whole fami- 
 lies, and sometimes for the profit of those by 
 whom they were condemned ; thirdly, of domes- 
 tic slaves sold for the profit of their masters, in 
 some places at the will of the masters, and in 
 others, on being condemned by them for real or 
 imputed crimes; fourthly, of persons made slaves 
 by various acts of oppression, violence, or fraud, 
 committed either by the princes and chiefs of 
 those countries on their subjects, or by private
 
 I 
 
 42 MEMOIR OF 
 
 individuals on each other ; or lastly, by Europe- 
 ans engaged in this traffic. 
 
 " 3. That the trade so carried on had, neces- 
 sarily, a tendency to occasion frequent and cruel 
 wars among the natives, to produce unjust con- 
 victions and punishments for pretended or aggra- 
 vated crimes, to encourage acts of oppression, 
 violence and fraud, and to obstruct the natural 
 course of civilization and improvement in those 
 countries. 
 
 " 4. That Africa in its present state furnished 
 several valuable articles of commerce, which 
 were partly peculiar to its^elf, but that it was 
 adapted to the production of others, with which 
 we were now either wholly or in great part sup- 
 plied by foreign nations. That an extensive 
 commerce with Africa might be substituted in 
 these commodities, so as to afford a return for 
 as many articles as had annually been carried 
 thither in British vessels : and lastly, that such a 
 commerce might reasonably be expected to in- 
 crease by the progress of civilization there. 
 
 "5. That the slave-trade was peculiarly de- 
 structive to the seamen employed in it ; and that 
 the mortality there had been much greater than 
 in any British vessels employed upon the same 
 coast in any other service or trade.
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 43 
 
 "6. That the mode of transporting the slaves 
 from Africa to the West Indies necessarily ex- 
 posed them to many and grievous sufferings, for 
 which no regulations could provide an adequate 
 remedy ; and that in consequence thereof, a 
 large proportion had annually perished during 
 the voyage. 
 
 " 7. That a large proportion had also perished 
 in the harbors in the West Indies, from the dis- 
 eases contracted in the voyage and the treatment 
 of the same, previously to their being sold, and 
 that this loss amounted to four and a half per 
 cent of the imported slaves. 
 
 " 8. That the loss of the newly imported slaves, 
 within the three first years after their importa- 
 tion, bore a large proportion to the whole number 
 imported. 
 
 "9. That the natural increase of population 
 among the slaves in the islands, appeared to have 
 been impeded principally by the following causes: 
 First, by the inequality of the sexes in the impor- 
 tations from Africa. Secondly, by the general 
 dissoluteness of manners among the slaves, and 
 the want of proper regulations for the encour- 
 agement of marriages, and of rearing children 
 among them. Thirdly, by the particular diseases 
 which were prevalent among them, and which
 
 44 MEMOIR OP 
 
 were in some instances to be attributed to too 
 severe labor, or rigorous treatment, and in others 
 to insufficient or improper food. Fourthly, by 
 those diseases which affected a large proportion 
 of negro children in their infancy, and by those 
 to which the negroes newly imported from Africa 
 had been found to be peculiarly liable. 
 
 " 10. That the whole number of the slaves 
 in the island of Jamaica, in 1768, was about 
 167,000; in 1774, about 193,000, and in 1787, 
 about 256,000 : that by comparing these num- 
 bers with the numbers imported and retained in 
 the said island during all these years, and making 
 proper allowances, the annual excess of deaths 
 above births was in the proportion of about seven 
 eighths per cent ; that in the first six years of 
 this period, it was in the proportion of rather 
 more than one on every hundred, that in the last 
 thirteen years of the same, it was in the propor- 
 tion of about three fifths on every hundred, and 
 that a number of slaves, amounting to fifteen 
 thousand, perished during the latter period, in 
 consequence of repeated hurricanes, and of the 
 want of foreign supplies of provisions. 
 
 "11. That the whole number of slaves in the 
 island of Barbadoes was, in the year 1764, about 
 70,706; in 1774, about 74,874; in 1780, about
 
 WILLIAM WILBERPORCE. 45 
 
 68,270 ; in 17S1, after the hurricane, about 
 63,248; and in 17S6, about 62,115: that by 
 comparing these numbers with the number im- 
 ported into the island, (not allowing for any re- 
 exportation,) the annual excess of deaths above 
 births in ten years, from 1764 to 1774, was in 
 the proportion of about five on every hundred ; 
 that in the seven years from 1774 to 1780, it 
 was in the proportion of about one and one third 
 on every hundred ; that between the years 1780 
 and 1781, there had been a decrease in the 
 number of slaves of about five thousand ; that in 
 the six years from 1781 to 1786, the excess of 
 deaths was in the proportion of rather less than 
 seven eighths on every hundred; that in the four 
 years from 1783 to 1786, it was in the proportion 
 of rather less than one third on every hundred; 
 and that during the whole period, there was no 
 doubt that some had been exported from the 
 island, but considerably more in the first part of 
 this period than in the last. 
 
 " 12. That the accounts from the Leeward 
 Islands, from Dominica, Grenada, and St. Vin- 
 cent's, did not furnish sufficient grounds for 
 comparing the state of population in the said 
 islands, at different periods, with the number of 
 slaves which had been from time to time imported
 
 46 MEMOIR OF 
 
 there and exported therefrom ; but that from the 
 evidence which had been received respecting the 
 present state of these islands, as well as that of 
 Jamaica and Barbadoes, and from a consideration 
 of the means of obviating the causes which had 
 hitherto operated to impede the natural increase 
 of the slaves, and of lessening the demand for 
 manual labor, without diminishing the profit of 
 the planters, no considerable or permanent in- 
 convenience would result from discontinuing the 
 further importation of African slaves." 
 
 The debate was renewed on the 25th, when 
 the further consideration of the subject was de- 
 ferred till the following session. In 1790, the 
 clamor for further evidence prevailed, and no 
 progress was made. In 1791, Mr. Wilberforce 
 was again at his post; but his motion, though 
 supported by the eloquence of Fox and Pitt, was 
 lost by a majority of 75. Undaunted by these 
 repeated failures, he renewed his efforts on the 
 3d of April, 1792; and though opposed by all 
 the rancor and sopliistry which the advocates of 
 an inhuman system could display, a motion for 
 the gradual abolition of the traffic was carried 
 through the house. The merit of proposing 
 gradual measures in a case of unparalleled injus- 
 tice and cruelty, belonged to Mr. Dundas, after-
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 47 
 
 wards Lord Melville. The insincerity of the 
 proposition was soon made apparent ; for those 
 who were most clamorous in its support, were 
 foremost to oppose its taking effect. They only 
 wanted to divert, if possible, public attention 
 from the subject, or at least, to afford an oppor- 
 tunity for its excitement to subside. Happily, 
 the principles of justice were too deeply seated in 
 the breast of the nation to allow of their success. 
 The triumph of humanity was delayed for a 
 season, but its victory was ultimately more 
 signal. 
 
 The speech of Mr. Wilberforce, on this occa- 
 sion, was every way worthy of his cause. It 
 manifested an intimate acquaintance with the 
 facts of the case, a heart in perfect harmony 
 with the principles of justice, a benevolence as 
 enlightened as it was pure, and an indignation 
 as intense as it was free from acrimony. 
 
 "The debate on this occasion," says the au- 
 thor of 'Public Characters,' writing in 1801, 
 " was perhaps the most eloquent and interesting 
 that was ever witnessed in the British senate. 
 The want of success hitherto seen;ed to have 
 awakened all the energies, and to have roused 
 every honorable feeling, of which the human 
 heart is capal>Ie.
 
 48 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " Evils, said Mr. Wilberforce, " were con- 
 spicuous everywhere in this trade. Never was 
 there indeed a system so replete with wickedness 
 and cruelty. To whatever part of it we turn our 
 eyes, whether to Africa, the Middle Passage, or 
 the West Indies, we can find no comfort, no 
 satisfaction, no relief. It was the gracious ordi- 
 nance of Providence, both in the natural and 
 moral world, that good should often arise out of 
 evil. Hurricanes cleared the air ; and the pro- 
 pagation of truth was promoted by persecution. 
 Pride, vanity and profusion contributed often, in 
 their remoter consequences, to the happiness of 
 mankind. In common, what was in itself evil 
 and vicious, was permitted to carry along with 
 it some circumstances of palliation. The Arab 
 was hospitable ; the robber brave. We did not 
 necessarily find cruelty associated with fraud, or 
 meanness with injustice. But here the case was 
 far otherwise. It was the prerogative of this 
 detested traffic to separate from evil its concomi- 
 tant good, and to reconcile discordant mischiefs. 
 It robbed war of its generosity ; it deprived 
 peace of its security ; we saw in it the vices 
 of polished society, without its knowledge or its 
 comforts, and the evils of barbarism, without its 
 simplicity. No age, no sex, no rank, no condi-
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFOKCE. 49 
 
 tion, was exempt from the fatal influence of this 
 wide-wasting calamity. Thus it attained to the 
 fullest measure of pure, unmixed, unsophisticated 
 wickedness; and, scorning all competition and 
 comparison, it stood, without a rival, in the 
 secure, undisputed possession of its detestable 
 pre-eminence." 
 
 An attempt was made, on the 25th of April, 
 to alter the period of the abolition from the 1st 
 of January, 1890, to the 1st of January, 1793. 
 This proposition was negatived by a majority of 
 47; but, by a compromise, the time was subse- 
 quently fixed for the 1st of January, 1796. The 
 bill, however, was lost in the upper house. 
 
 In 1794, 1795, I79G, 1798, and 1799, Mr. 
 Wilberforce renewed his efforts, but without suc- 
 cess. The house appeared to grow weary of the 
 discussion, and the country at large to have lost 
 somewiiat of its former zeal and vigor. The 
 indefatigable Clarkson was compelled, by an 
 enfeebled frame, to remit his exertions. Every- 
 thing depended, at this crisis, on the decision 
 of Mr. Wilberforce, and he was faithful to the 
 occasion ; but every expedient having been de- 
 vised, and every form which the measure could 
 assume, having been put before the house and 
 rejected, Mr. Wilberforce and his friends did not
 
 50 MEMOIR OF 
 
 deem it advisable to bring the subject again into 
 parliament, till some new circumstances should 
 favor its introduction. 
 
 From 1799 to the year 1804, he contented 
 himself with moving for certain papers, and with 
 assuring the house that he had not grown cool 
 in the cause. In the latter year, the abolition 
 committee determined on renewed exertions, hav- 
 ing increased their number by electing James 
 Stephen, Zachary Macauley, Henry Brougham, 
 Robert Grant, William Allen, and others, mem- 
 bers of its body. 
 
 The entrance of Irish members into the British 
 parliament, which occurred in 1804, revived the 
 hopes of tiie abolitionists. Most of them were 
 known to be friendly to the cause, and, as they 
 were generally free from the commercial influ- 
 ence which had perverted the views of many 
 English representatives, the support of all was 
 hoped for. Mr. Wilberforce, accordingly, on the 
 30th of May, moved that the house resolve itself 
 into committee ; and he prefaced his motion by 
 one of the most impassioned speeciies ever made 
 within its walls. We have generally understood 
 it was his noblest etTort. 
 
 The second reading, on the 7th of June, was 
 carried by a majority of 100 to 42; and on the
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 51 
 
 27th of the same month, the bill passed its last 
 stage, by a majority of 69 to 36 ; but when for- 
 warded to the upper house, it was postponed, on 
 the motion of Lord Hawkesbury, to the following 
 session. 
 
 In 1805, it was again introduced by Mr. Wil- 
 berforce, with every prospect of success, but was 
 unhappily lost in the commons by a majority of 
 seven, through the excessive confidence of its 
 friends. It appeared that no fewer than nine 
 members, who had never been absent once in 
 sixteen years when it was agitated, gave way to 
 engagements on the day of the motion, from a 
 belief that it w-as safe. It appeared, also, that 
 out of the great number of Irish members who 
 supported it in the former year, only nine were 
 in the house when it was lost. It appeared, also, 
 that, previous to this event, a canvass, more im- 
 portunate than had been heard of on any former 
 occasion, had been made among the latter, by 
 those interested in the continuance of the trade.* 
 
 But the period at length had arrived, when 
 this great question was to be decided. 
 
 The death of Mr. Pitt, in January, 1S06, 
 made way for the Fox and Grenville administra- 
 
 * Clarksoii's History.
 
 59 MEMOIR OK 
 
 tion, and the question was immediately ushered 
 into parliament under their ministerial auspices. 
 In May, a bill was introduced tor the abolition 
 of the foreign, and the limitation of the domestic 
 slave-trade, which passed both houses of parlia- 
 ment, and received the royal assent. On the 
 10th of June, Mr. Fox introduced the subject, at 
 the special request of Mr. Wilbtjrforce, in doing 
 which, he passed a high eulogium on the latter. 
 " Before, sir, I proceed to state the grounds on 
 which I look with confidence for the almost 
 unanimous countenance of the house in this 
 measure, I feel myself called on to say a few 
 words, by way of apology, for being the person 
 to come forward on the present occasion. For 
 the last sixteen or seventeen years of niy life, I 
 have been in the habit of uniformly and strenu- 
 ously supporting the several motions made by a 
 respectable gentleman, Mr. Wilberforce, who has 
 so often, by his meritorious exertions on this 
 subject, attracted tlie applause of this house, and 
 claimed the admiration of the public. During 
 the long period that I found it in such excellent 
 hands, it was impossible for me to feel tlie slight- 
 est disposition to take it out of them. I am ^till 
 of the same opinion ; and cannot but think it 
 would have been much better, if the same hon-
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 53 
 
 orable member and his friends had retained it in 
 their own hands ; and thoy might certainly have 
 depended on me, and those with whom I have 
 the honor to act, for the same ardent support 
 which we have uniformly given them. But, sir, 
 the honorable member and many of his friends 
 seemed so strongly to entertain different senti- 
 ments on that point, from me, that I submitted 
 my own opinion to theirs, and now assume the 
 task, reluctantly on that account, but on every 
 other, most gladly. So fully am I impressed with 
 the vast importance and necessity of attaining 
 what will be the oltject of my motion this day, 
 that if, during the almost forty years that I have 
 now had the honor of a seat in parliament, I had 
 been so fortunate as to accomplish that, and that 
 only, I should think I had done enough, and 
 could retire from public life with comfort, and 
 conscious satisfaction that I had done my duty." 
 He closed his speech by moving, "That this 
 house, considering the African slave-trade to be 
 contrary to the principles of justice, humanity 
 and policy, will, with all practicable expedition, 
 take effectual measures for the abolition of the 
 said trade, in such a manner, and at such a 
 period, as may be deemed advisable," which 
 being carried by a majority of 114 to 15, Mr.
 
 54 MEMUIR OK 
 
 Wilberforce immediately moved, "That an hum- 
 ble address be presented to his majesty, beseecii- 
 ing his majesty to take such measures as in his 
 wisdom he shall think proper, for establishing, 
 by negotiation with foreign powers, a concert 
 and agreement for abolishing the African slave- 
 trade, and for affording assistance, mutually, 
 towards carrying into execution any regulations 
 which may be adopted by any or all of the con- 
 tracting parties, for accomplishing their common 
 purpose ; assuring his majesty that this house, 
 feeling the justice and honor of the British 
 nation to be deeply and peculiarly involved in 
 the great object they have in view, will be ready 
 at ail times, cheerfully to concur in giving effect 
 to such measures as his majesty may see fit to 
 adopt for its attainment." This was carried 
 without a division. 
 
 From this moment, the great question was 
 considered as triumphant. Some apprehension, 
 indeed, was awakened by the death of Mr. Fox, 
 in October, 180G. He had been among the 
 earliest, most consistent and zealous of the par- 
 liamentary advocates of the abolition; and when 
 in office, he nobly rcdectned the pledges which 
 he had given in opposition. The sacred cause 
 occupied his thoughts amidst the struggles and
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. i)i) 
 
 pains of dissolution. "Two things," said he, on 
 his death-bed, " I wish earnestly to see accom- 
 plished peace with Europe, and the abolition 
 of the slave-trade ; but of the two, I wish the 
 latter." 
 
 The confidence of the abolitionists was re- 
 stored, by Lord Grenville introducing, on the 2d 
 of January, 1807, a bill for the abolition of the 
 slave-trade into tlie house of lords. It was ulti- 
 mately carried through both houses, although 
 against much opposition ; Earl Gray, then Lord 
 Horwick, distingui^^hiiig himself by its eloquent 
 support in the commons. It must be eminently 
 gratifying to this nobleman, distinguished alike 
 by the unblemished virtues of his private and 
 public life, to have been instrumental, not only 
 in the abolition of the African trade, but also in 
 the extinction of slavery itself The blessing of 
 many ready to perish will descend on the admin- 
 istratjon over which he so honorably presides ; 
 and the enlightened tribute of a nation's praise 
 will solace and cheer his spirit amid the increas- 
 ing infirmities of age. It is a singular event, 
 and highly to the honor of his political connec- 
 tions, that the same party which achieved the 
 former triumph has now the latter also. Had 
 they conferred no other benefit on their nation
 
 56 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and species, the abolition of the slave-trade, and 
 the extinction of British colonial slavery, would 
 have secured them the admiration and gratitude 
 of posterity. 
 
 Though the bill which Lord Grcnville intro- 
 duced was pressed forward with the utmost pos- 
 sible expedition, the friends of humanity and 
 religion were far from being free from anxiety. 
 Even after it had passed both houses, its fate 
 was regarded as uncertain ; for the king, being 
 displeased with his ministers, had determined on 
 their dismission. But the force of public opinion 
 j>revailed, and the royal assent was given by 
 commission to the bill. "This event," says 
 Mr. Clarkson, " took place the next day ; for 
 on Wednesday, the '^^th, at half past eleven 
 in the morning, his majesty's message was de- 
 livered to the different members of it, that they 
 were then to wait upon him, to deliver up the 
 seals of their offices. It then appeared that a 
 commission for the royal assent to this bill, 
 among others, had been obtained. This com- 
 mission was instantly opened by tlie lord chan- 
 cellor, (Erskine,) who was accompanied by the 
 lords Holland and Auckland ; and as the clock 
 struck twelve, just when the sun was in its me- 
 ridian splendor to witness this august act, this
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCK. 57 
 
 establishment of a Magna Charta for Africa in 
 Britain, and to sanction it by its most vivid and 
 glorious beams, it was completed. The cere- 
 mony being over, the seals of the respective 
 offices were delivered up ; so that the execution 
 of this commission was the last act of the admin- 
 istration of lord Grenville an administration 
 which, on account of its virtuous exertions in 
 behalf of the oppressed African race, will pass 
 to posterity, living through successive genera- 
 tions in the love and gratitude of the most vir- 
 tuous of mankind." 
 
 Thus ended, after a continuance for twenty 
 years, one of the most glorious contests ever 
 carried on in any age or country a contest, not 
 of brutal violence, but of reason a contest be- 
 tween those who felt deeply for the happiness 
 and the honor of their fellow creatures, and those 
 who, through vicious custom and the impulse of 
 avarice, had trampled under foot the sacred 
 rights of their nature, and had even attempted 
 to efface ail title to the divine imnge frorti their 
 minds. 
 
 It is impossible, at tlie present day, dulv to 
 estimate the satisfaction and joy with wiiich Mr. 
 Wilberforce must have witnessed this consum- 
 mation of his labors. He had borne the burden
 
 68 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and the heat of the day ; he had watched over 
 the cause with more than parental solicitude ; 
 had nurtured its infancy, guided its youth, and 
 won for it a nation's sympathy and support ; he 
 had witnessed the desertion of some of its earliest 
 advocates, and had been so frequently defeated 
 as to require far more than ordinary firmness to 
 sustain its vigor and determination of purpose. 
 But he was steadfast and immovable, and the 
 good providence of God ultimately crowned his 
 labors with success. The mere politician may 
 exult at the success of his cause, but the joy of 
 Mr. Wilberforce was that of the philanthropist 
 and christian. He had succeeded, amidst in- 
 credible difficulties, in lessening the amount of 
 human misery, and in averting from his country 
 the displeasure of that God who is a refuge to 
 the poor, a refuge to the needy in his distress. 
 In the successful termination of' his efforts, he 
 beheld an answer to the prayers of the faithful, 
 and an omen of good to the future generations of 
 men. Hence his piety and his patriotism alike 
 ministered to his joy. The principles on which 
 he had acted were but imperfectly known to the 
 men of his day. They proljably imagined him 
 to be altogetlier such an one as thtMntelves, and 
 had therefore referred his conduct to secular
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 59 
 
 ambition, or to mere benevolence of heart. But 
 his main impulse had been drawn from heaven ; 
 and his resort, in every season of perplexity and 
 gloom, had been to the throne of his God and 
 Father. Sustained in his labors by an enlight- 
 ened conscience, he could not but rejoice in 
 their successful termination. The character of 
 Christianity was thus relieved from reproach, 
 and some promise afforded of yet brighter days 
 to the degraded tribes of Africa. 
 
 The feelings of Mr. Wilberforce on this occa- 
 sion were eloquently alluded to by Sir Samuel 
 Romilly. 
 
 " But sir," said that distinguished statesman, 
 "if such be the feelings of those who have borne 
 only a part in this transaction, what must be 
 the feelings of my honorable friend Mr. Wilber- 
 force ? What is there in the wide range of hu- 
 man ambition which could afford pleasures so 
 pure, gratification so exalted, as he must enjoy ? 
 When I look at the man at the head of the 
 French monarchy, surrounded as he is with all 
 the pomp of power, and all the pride of victory, 
 distributing kingdoms to his family, and princi- 
 palities to his followers; seeming, as he sits upon 
 his throne, to have reached the summit of human 
 ambition, the pinnacle of earthly happiness; and
 
 (iO MEMOIR OF 
 
 when I follow him into his closet, or to his bed, 
 and contemplate the anguish with which his 
 solitude must be tortured, by recollections of the 
 blood he has spilt, and the oppressions he has 
 committed ; and when I compare with these 
 pangs of remorse the feelings which must accom- 
 pany my honorable friend from this house to his 
 home, after the vote of this night shall have 
 accomplished the object of his humane and un- 
 ceasing labors when he shall retire into the 
 bosom of his delighted and happy family when 
 he shall lay himself down on his bed, reflecting 
 on the innumerable voices that will be raised in 
 every quarter of the world to bless his name, 
 how much more enviable his lot, in the conscious- 
 ness of having preserved so many millions of his 
 fellow creatures, than that of the man with whom 
 I have compared him, on a tlirone to which 
 he has waded through slaughter and oppression ! 
 Who will not be proud to concur with my hon- 
 ored friend in promoting the greatest act of 
 national benefit, and securing to the Africans the 
 greatest blessing which God has ever put in the 
 power of man to confer on his fellow creatures?" 
 We cannot read the hi.-tory of this struggle, 
 without feeling the encouragement which it 
 affords to every virtuous and benevolent deed.
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 61 
 
 Greater difficulties can scarcely be conceived, 
 than those with which the abolitionists had to 
 contend. Their whole project was regarded as 
 chimerical ; and every means which wealth, 
 power and dishonesty could devise, were em- 
 ployed against them. The evil to be remedied 
 was practised at the distance of some thousands 
 of miles ; and those who had witnessed its enor- 
 mities possessed, for the most part, a pecuniary 
 interest in their continuance. It was well known 
 that the highest personage in the state was 
 opposed to their views, and that the revenues of 
 the nation, and the prosperity of its commerce, 
 were extensively regarded as threatened by them. 
 Undeterred, however, by these circumstances, 
 the friends of humanity determined on their 
 course, and the rectitude of their object gave 
 them success. Their labors constituted the seed 
 from which an abundant harvest has been gath- 
 ered in our day. That the great patriarch of 
 the cause should have survived to witness the 
 struggle which was to crown with victory the 
 labors of his life, must be gratifying to every 
 benevolent mind. Amid the decay of nature, 
 his spirit must have been refreshed by the scene 
 he witnessed, and the language of his heart have 
 been similar to that of Simeon, " Lord, now 
 6
 
 62 MEMOIR OF 
 
 lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine 
 eyes have seen thy salvation." 
 
 In order to bring the history of the abolition 
 to a close, I have omitted some circumstances, 
 which materially affected the happiness, and 
 developed the character of Mr. Wilberforce. 
 These I now proceed to notice. In 1797, he 
 married Miss Barbara Spooner, the daughter of 
 an opulent banker in Birmingham, who survives 
 him. Of their six children, the four sons are 
 living. Two of them are clergymen of the 
 church of England. The Rev. Samuel Wilber- 
 force holds the living of Bright^on, Isle of Wight, 
 presented to him by the Bishop of Winchester ; 
 and the Rev. Robert Wilberforce, the third ^on, 
 that of East Farleigh, near Maidstone, on the 
 presentation of the Lord Chancellor. 
 
 This year was also di-tinguished in the life 
 of Mr. Wilberforce, by the publication of his 
 "Practical View of the Prevailing Religious 
 System of Professed Christians." 
 
 The value of the service which he rendered 
 by this work cannot be estimated, without some 
 knowledge of tiie circumstances of England at 
 this period. The rapid decluie of religion at the 
 close of the seventeenth, and during the first 
 half of the eighteenth century, had awakened
 
 WIl.LTAM WII.BERFORrE. 6J? 
 
 many serious apprelienslons in the more thought- 
 ful and pious of all classes, respecting the future 
 fate of our country. There has been much dis- 
 cussion about the causes of this decline, which 
 has exhibited far more of the spleen of party 
 than of a sober and honest inquiry after truth. 
 The severe and unnatural restraint under which 
 vice and irreligion were held, during the time of 
 the Commonwealth, was followed by a ruinous 
 reaction on the return of the Stuarts. The stern 
 morality of the puritans had put vice to shame, 
 and their legislation had succeeded in giving 
 more of the appearance of religion to the nation 
 than it had ever previously borne. But there 
 was much of hypocrisy in this ; hypocrisy, be 
 it remembered, on the part of the enemies of 
 the puritans, though conjmonly charged on them- 
 selves. These high-minded and illustrious men, 
 who protected at once the ark of our liberty and 
 the temple of our God, expected to coerce the 
 public mind ; and, attempting this, they failed. 
 They held it under a restraint which was felt to 
 be violent and irksome, and we need not, there- 
 fore, wonder at the eagerness with whicli vice 
 was f iHowed, when once this yoke was broken. 
 Tlie uiilialloued passions w hich had previously 
 been refused indulgence, immediately sought to
 
 64 MEMOIR OF 
 
 compensate themselves for the mortification to 
 which they had rehjctantly submitted. The re- 
 turn of Charles proved the greatest moral evil 
 which our country had experienced. Unprinci- 
 pled and licentious, he violated the common 
 decencies of life, and gave sanction and currency 
 to vice, which has painfully moulded our national 
 character. Religion became, in consequence, a 
 by-word and reproach; her most zealous minis- 
 ters were silenced ; her doctrines were made the 
 subjects of profane banter, and her altars were 
 polluted by the approach of men of secular ambi- 
 tion, or of unholy lusts. The light of truth was 
 thus gradually diminished: and God, incensed at 
 the apostacy of the nation, withdrew the cheering 
 tokens of his presence. " The Gallican church," 
 remarks the late Rev. Robert Hall, and the pas- 
 sage is equally applicable to the case before us, 
 *' no doubt, looked upon it as a signal triumph, 
 when she prevailed on Louis the Fourteenth to 
 repeal the edict of Nantes, and to suppress the 
 proiestant religion. But what was the conse- 
 quence? Where shall we look, after this period, 
 for her Fenelons and her Pascals where for 
 the distinguished monuments of piety and learn- 
 ing which were the glory of her better days ? 
 As for piety, she perceived she had no occasion
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 65 
 
 for it, when there was no lustre of christianiioli- 
 ness surrounding her ; nor for learning, when she 
 had no longer any opponents to confute, or any 
 controversies to maintain. She felt herself at 
 liberty to become as ignorant, as secular, as irre- 
 ligious as she pleased ; and, amid the silence 
 and darkness she had created around her, she 
 drew the curtains, and retired to rest. The ac- 
 cession of numbers she gained by suppressing 
 her opponents, was like the small extension of 
 length a body acquires by death ; the feeble re- 
 mains of life were extinguished ; and she lay a 
 putrid corpse and a public nuisance, filling the 
 air with pestilential exhalations." Such was the 
 state of things when Whitfield and Wesley com- 
 menced their labors. The character of those 
 labors, and the degree of success which accom- 
 panied them, are matters of history, and need 
 not, therefore, be dwelt on in this place. Their 
 influence on the hierarchy was, for a time, very 
 limited. But few of the clergy sympathized with 
 their views, or emulated tiieir zeal ; while the 
 higher and more influential of their number em- 
 braced every opportunity of holding up these holy 
 men to the contempt and reprobation of the pro- 
 fane and formalist. It consequently followed, 
 that while the lower and middle classes of so- 
 6
 
 66 MEMOIR OP 
 
 ciety were materially benefited by these apostolic 
 laborers, the highest grade was wholly unaffected 
 by them. At no period of our history was this 
 order of society more thoroughly irreligious than 
 at the close of the last century. They were ut- 
 terly destitute of the spirit of Christianity, and 
 had so mistaken its nature as to substitute in its 
 place an unmeaning and pernicious system of 
 external rites. " The fact is, that through the 
 secularity and irreligion of the clergy, evangeli- 
 cal truth was nearly effaced from the minds of 
 the members of the Establishment, and in the 
 higher ranks, and that an indolent acquiescence 
 in established formularies had succeeded to the 
 ardor with which the great principles of religion 
 were embraced at the Reformation. Such was 
 the state of the public mind, that in a contest 
 between orthodoxy and heresy, the former proved 
 triumphant, merely because it was already estab- 
 lished, and had the plea of antiquity and pre- 
 scription in its favor." 
 
 In this lamentable state of things, it was of 
 the highest importance that some religious advo- 
 cate should step forth, qualified by his rank, 
 character and talents, to command the respect, 
 and to effect the instruction of the higher orders. 
 "To stem the torrent of infidelity," remarks
 
 WILLIAM WILBERPORCE. 67 
 
 the Bishop of Calcutta, in an introductory essay 
 to the 'Practical View,' published some years 
 since, " in the higher and middle classes of so- 
 ciety to rouse the national establishment to the 
 holy efforts for which it was so well adapted to 
 restore the standard of that pure and vital Chris- 
 tianity on which all subjection to law, and all 
 obedience from motives of conscience, and all 
 real morality and piety ultimately depend to 
 sow anew the principles of loyalty, contentment, 
 peace, holiness, deeply and permanently in the 
 minds of men to rescue, in a word, our country 
 from impending ruin, and render her a blessing 
 to the nations, to these high ends, something 
 more was decidedly wanting. 
 
 "The writings of statesmen did not meet the 
 cae. They excited, indeed, a just horror of 
 atheism and insubordination ; they painted the 
 miseries of revolutionary frenzy in its true colors; 
 they vindicated the national creed in general, 
 and the national clergy ; they enforced the im- 
 portance of Christianity, in its morals and its 
 influence on the good order of society ; but all 
 this was partial and ineffective. There was too 
 much of personality and acrimony in their stric- 
 tures too much of worldly policy : they under- 
 stood not the full extent of the malady which
 
 68 MEMOIR OF 
 
 they treated, nor did they rightly conceive of the 
 nature of that heart-felt Christianity which was 
 alone capable of producing a cure. 
 
 " In this stnte of things the storm of the 
 French revolution still raging an open renunci- 
 ation of Christianity just made in a great nation 
 Europe rent asunder with war, which, after a 
 duration of four or five years, seemed farther 
 than ever from a close the church feeble, and 
 full of apprehension the ministers of the state, 
 and the legislature, overwhelmed with schemes 
 of defence abroad and regulatif)n at home the 
 minds of thoughtful men portending calamities 
 untold difficulties thickening around in this 
 state of tilings, who could be found to stand 
 in the gap? who could rise with tlie necessary 
 talent and reputation to calm the distracted peo- 
 ple ? who could mildly, and yet auilioritatively, 
 interpose between the clamors of party 1 who 
 could recall men, with a bold and friendly voice, 
 to the true source of their salvation, and the 
 adequate remedy for tlieir troubles ? One man 
 at length appeared. Our author was the hon- 
 ored individual. He undertook the task, uncon- 
 scious to himself of the extent of service he was 
 rendering his country. He possessed all the 
 various natural advantages required for such an
 
 WILLIAM Wn.BERFORCE. 69 
 
 emergency ; and he was soon acknowledged to 
 be the person who could speak with effect, at 
 such a moment, on the subject of religion, and 
 who could best make an open confession of its 
 genuine doctrines before his fellow statesmen, 
 and appeal effectually to their hearts and con- 
 sciences, as to the necessity of a return to the 
 faith and piety of their fathers." 
 
 The design of Mr. Wilberforce was strictly 
 what his title-page denotes. He does not attempt 
 to establish the truth of Christianity, but assum- 
 ing this, he aims to exhibit her true form and 
 features to his countrymen. He does not contend 
 with the sceptic or infidel, but with the nominal 
 christian. Analyzing the prevalent system of 
 religion, he shows it to be essentially defective, 
 wanting many of the peculiarities of the chris- 
 tian revelation, and utterly inadequate to the high 
 purpose of man's recovery unto God. He takes 
 the Bible as his standard, and, acting on the 
 principle of protestantism, brings the popular 
 faith to this test. " The main object which he 
 has in view," Mr. Wilberforce states in his intro- 
 duction, "is not to convince the sceptic, or to 
 answer the arguments of persons who avowedly 
 oppose the fundamental doctrines of our religion, 
 but to point out the scanty and erroneous system
 
 70 Mi-.Moin OF 
 
 of the bulk of those who heloivT to the class of 
 orthodox christinns, and to contra.-t their defective 
 4schenie with a representation of what the author 
 apprehends to be real Christianity. Often has 
 it filled him with deep concern, to observe in 
 this description of persons, scarcely any distinct 
 knowledge of the real nature and principles of 
 the religion which they profess." 
 
 It is accurately remarked by the Bishop of 
 Calcutta, in his introductory essay to the " Prac- 
 tical View," that "there is nothing more remark- 
 able in the style and manner of the work, than 
 the skill in debate, the parliamentary tact, if we 
 may so speak, which is apparent throughout. 
 You discern in it everywhere tlie ninrked effects 
 of the author's public life. You cannot read 
 three pages witliout feeling tliat tlie writer is in 
 the midst of your very thoughts and feelings : all 
 is business all is a vivid delineation of actual 
 life all is directly aimed at tlie heart. It is a 
 persuasive address to his fellow .statesmen and 
 countrymen, in which he kindlcH with his great 
 topics, gains upon your judgirient and heart as 
 he proceeds, and leaves you at hst under the 
 impressions produced by a sincere and ;i(recting 
 orator, rather than of a writer or a controversial- 
 ist. You see in it the hand of a master, used to
 
 WILLIAM WILUEKFOUCE. 71 
 
 State the objections of an opponent, not only 
 fairly, but in the very words that such an oppo- 
 nent would employ ; yon see tlse skill of a legis- 
 lator, compelled to be on the watch, aware that 
 any, the least slip would be exposed, and trained 
 to a popular, commanding, and yet measured way 
 of stating things. No adversary is outraged; no 
 personal feelings are wounded; no real difficul- 
 ties extenuated or denied : but all is open, and 
 manly, and conciliatory. Almost every imagina- 
 ble concession is made on each topic. The ob- 
 jections are stated at such length, and with so 
 much justice, that you tremble as you are read- 
 ing them, lest a satisfactory answer should not be 
 given ; and yet, after repeated admissions, limi- 
 tations, cautions, apologies, every one of them 
 most apparently kind and sincere, the blow is 
 at last struck so hard, and with so much truth 
 of aim, as to fall with irresistible force.. We 
 are not aware that we ever re:id any book in 
 which everything was so fairly, and, at the same 
 time, so fully stated. No reader has to complain 
 of any material misrepresentation. The whole 
 habit of the author's public life seems to have 
 been brought to bear, in this benevolent and 
 faithful appeal to his country. Seldom, indeed, 
 has such a talent for debate, a. id such an accu-
 
 72 MEMOIR UF 
 
 rate knowledge of the human heart, been united 
 with such a delicate and friendly attention to 
 the feelings of others, and such a force of per- 
 suasion and authority of truth. 
 
 "There is, further, a warmth in the style of 
 the work, which adds to its attractions. It bears 
 all the marks of having been composed after 
 years of deliberate preparation, indeed, as to the 
 main topics, and a thorough faculty of discus- 
 sion, acquired in the best school of eloquence, 
 in just that sort of pressure and hurry from 
 the demands of public duties, which lend it a 
 naturalness and warmth, and generous urgency, 
 which are best adapted to gain its end. It is a 
 book which was poured out, if we may so speak, 
 between two sessions of parliament. It is the 
 lively and urgent expose of his views of Chris- 
 tianity, made by a statesman on a sudden im- 
 pulse, -to the vast influential body of legislators 
 and men of the world among whom he was act- 
 ing his part, and whom he had neither the oppor- 
 tunity nor the leisure of acquainting, by any 
 other means, with the true character of those 
 religious principles by which he wished to govern 
 all his own conduct, and to which he would 
 reduce the wandering and unsettled notions of 
 those with whom he habitually conversed.
 
 UILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 73 
 
 The whole consequences of this publication 
 will not be known until the records of this world 
 are opened at the bar of God. One instance of 
 its usefulness is too interesting to be omitted. 
 It is recorded, in the Life of the Rev. Legh 
 Richmond, that, shortly after he had entered on 
 his ministerial charge in the Isle of Wight, one 
 of his college friends, to whom a near relative 
 had sent the " Practical View," forwarded the 
 work to i\Ir. Richmond, requesting him to exam- 
 ine it, and to report his opinion of its contents. 
 The work thus incidentally introduced was the 
 means of effecting an entire change in the views 
 and habits of Mr. Richmond. It had been sent 
 to him by a thoughtless friend, in order to relieve 
 himself from the irksome task of its perusal; but 
 it proved mighty, through God, to the pulling 
 down of strong holds. Speaking of his son Wil- 
 bertorce, Mr. Richmond remarks, " He was bap- 
 tized by the name of Wilberforce, in consequence 
 of my personal friendship with that individual, 
 whose name long has been, and ever will be, 
 allied to all that is able, amiable, and truly chris- 
 tian. That gentleman had already accepted the 
 <^>tlice of sponsor to one of my daughters; but 
 the subsequent birth of this boy afforded me the 
 additional satisfaction of more familiarly associat- 
 7
 
 74 Mr.MOIR OF 
 
 ing liis name with that of my family. But it 
 was not the tie of ordinary friendship, nor the 
 veneration which, in common with multitudes, I 
 felt for the name of Wilberforce, which induced 
 me to give tliat name to my child: there had, for 
 many years past, subsisted a tie between myself 
 and that much-loved friend, of a higher and more 
 sacred character than any other which earth can 
 afford. I feel it to be a debt of gratitude, which 
 I owe to God and to man, to take this affecting 
 opportunity of stating, that to the unsought and 
 unexpected introduction of Mr. Wilberforce's 
 book on 'Practical Christianity,' I owe, throtirrh 
 God's mercy, the first sacred impression wliicli 1 
 ever received, as to the spiritual nature of the 
 gospel system, tiie vital cliaracter of personal re- 
 ligion, the corruption of the human heart, and 
 the way of salvation by Jesus Christ. As a young 
 minister, recently ordained, and just entrusted 
 with the charge of two parishes in the Isle of 
 Wight, I had commenced my labors too much in 
 the spirit of the world, and founded my public 
 instructions on the erroneous notions which pre- 
 vailed among mv academical and literarv asso- 
 ciates. The scriptural principles stated in the 
 'Practical View,' convinced me of my error, 
 led me to the study of the scriptures with an earn-
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCK. . 75 
 
 estness to which I had hitherto been a stranger, 
 humbled my heart, and brought me to seek the 
 love and ble^.-^ing of that Saviour, who alone can 
 afford a peace whicli the world cannot give. 
 Through the studv of this book, I was induced 
 to examine the writings of the British and foreign 
 reformers. I saw the coincidence of their doc- 
 trines wiih those of the scriptures, and those 
 which the word of God taught rae to be essential 
 to the welfare of myself and my flock. I know 
 too well what has passed within my heart, for 
 now a long period of time, not to feel and to 
 confess that to this incident I was indebted, 
 originally, for those solid views of Christianity, 
 on which I rest my hope for time and eternity. 
 May I not, then, call the honored author of that 
 book my spiritual father? and if my spiritual 
 father, therefore my best earthly friend. The 
 wish to connect his name with my own was 
 natural and justifiable. It was a lasting memo- 
 rial oftl'.e most important transaction of my life; 
 it still lives amid the tenderness of present emo- 
 tions, as a signal of endearment and gratitude ; 
 and I trust its character is imperishable." 
 
 ^Ir. Wilberfoice continued to represent the 
 county of York until 1S1*2, from which period to 
 the clo-e of his parliamentary life, about 1825,
 
 <6 ME.Moiu or 
 
 he was returned by Lord Caltiiorp for tlie boroufrli 
 of Bramber. He was a frequent speaker in the 
 house, but he did not take that prominent ])art 
 in its business whicli he had fornrierly done. In 
 1813, on the renewal of the East India Com- 
 pany's charter, he gave his most ftrcnuoti? i^up- 
 port to the cause of christian rnis,-ion?, then 
 represented as inconsistent with the preservation 
 of our Eastern territories, and happily succeeded 
 in throwing open these vast dependencies of the 
 empire to the free entrance of christian truth. In 
 1816, he introduced and carried his "Registry 
 Bill," the object of wliich was to render the abo- 
 lition of the slave-trade effectual, by preventing 
 an illicit importation of Africans. This was vio- 
 lently opposed by the colonists and their partisans 
 in this country, but was ably defended by Mr. 
 Wilberforce in parliament, and by Mr. Stephen 
 from the press. It was evident that sonic such 
 measure was absolutely necessary, to pi event a 
 systematic and extensive violation of the law. 
 
 A few years afterwards, Mr. Wilberforce pub- 
 lished "An Appeal to the Religion, .lustice, and 
 Humanity of the Inhabitants fif the British Em- 
 pire, in behalf of the Negro Slaves in the West 
 Indies." His undiminished interest in the wel- 
 fare of this unhappy class, the strong conviction
 
 MIM.IAM WII.BI'.IUORCE. 77 
 
 of duty which impelled him to act on their behalf, 
 and the consistency of hi-; present views with his 
 former professions, are sliown throughout this 
 pamphlet, in a strain of mild and persuasive elo- 
 quence. It is particularly important, as showing 
 that the abolitionists had, from the first, contem- 
 plated the extinction of slavery as the ultimate 
 reward of their labors ; and will be read with in- 
 terest in future years, as the last public effort of 
 an aged philanthropist to arouse the conscience 
 and benevolent sympathies of a nation. 
 
 Notwithstanding the transparent integrity and 
 ])eiievolence of Mr. Wilberforce, many attempts 
 were made by the unprincipled abettors of the 
 system he attacked, to injure his reputation. 
 Defeated in the field of honorable debate, they 
 have endeavored to bring his character and pro- 
 ceedings into suspicion, by propagating false and 
 calumnious reports. One of these gave occasion 
 to the following note, addressed to my highly 
 respected friend and ministering brother, the 
 Rev. William Knibb, missionary, from Jamaica. 
 
 East Fareleigh, rear Maidstone, } 
 2'3d ^'ov. 132. 5 
 
 Mr Dear Sir : 
 
 I very gladly authorize you to give the flattest 
 contradiction possible to the statement you mentioned, 
 that, " previously to my endeavors to effect the abolition
 
 76 MEMOTR OF 
 
 of the Blave-trade, or the extinction of slavery, 1 had 
 sold my slaves." The truth is, that neither I, nor any 
 of my family possessed a single slave, or had any con- 
 cern with slavery. 1 cannot conceive liow such a report 
 could originate ; and surely the gentleman wlio lias 
 assisted in circulating such a rumor, must have tliounht 
 it strange indeed, if such a charge against me could be 
 truly urged, that, as the printed debates of tiie two 
 houses will show, I should have gone on pleading for 
 twenty years against the slivc-trade, without the circum- 
 stance being mentioned. I rejoice to hear from you, 
 that you proceed successfully in your sacred warfare, 
 for so I must really term it, and remain, with esteem 
 and regard, 
 
 My deir sir, very siiictrrly your-, 
 
 W. Wii.nERrnncK. 
 
 On the arrival of the late Queen Caroline, he 
 labored to avert those revolting discu!^sioIls, by 
 which such outrage was done to public morals. 
 For this purpose, he moved in parliament an 
 address to her majesty, praying her to return to 
 France. His proposition was adopted by tlie 
 house in a manner most flattering to liimself ; 
 but, as is well known, it proved unsuccessful. 
 
 During his last moments, he was supported by 
 the consolations of religion. The principles 
 which had guided his public conduct, sustained 
 him throughout a protracted illness, and shed a 
 mild and christian lustre over the closing scenes
 
 WILLIAM WILBF.RFORCE. 79 
 
 of his life. Amidst his increasing infirmities, 
 the "inward man" was renewed day by day. 
 So abundant were his consolations, that he him- 
 self remarked, " The last year has been the 
 happiest of my life." A short time before his 
 decease, a friend having said, on his recovery 
 from a severe attack, " I hope, sir, you will feel 
 better soon," he replied, "lam quite prepared 
 for the worst. " He then asked for " Baxter's 
 Dying Thoughts," and read them. In the course 
 of the last month of his life, a friend was speak- 
 ing to him of his prospect of heaven, when he 
 observed, "As for me, I have nothing to say but 
 the publican's plea, * God be merciful to me a 
 sinner.' " On tlie Friday preceding his death, 
 hopes were entertained by his sorrowing rela- 
 tives, that lie might yet be spared a little longer ; 
 but more threatening symptoms appeared on 
 Saturday, and, on the IMonday following, July 
 29th, this inestimable man departed from the 
 scene of his labors, to enter into the joy of his 
 Lord. 
 
 His funeral was intended to be strictly private; 
 but the following requisition, equally honorable 
 to Mr. Wilberforce and to the age in which he 
 lived, induced his family to alter their arrange- 
 ments :
 
 80 MEMOIU OF 
 
 " We, the undersigned, members of both Houst's of 
 Parliament, being anxious, upon pubhc grounds, to show 
 respect for the memory of the late Wili-iam Wilbkk- 
 FORCE, and being also satisfied that public honors can 
 never be more fitly bestowed than upon such benefactors 
 of mankind, earnestly request that he may be buried in 
 Westminster Abbey, and that we, and those who agree 
 with us in sentiment, may have permission to attend his 
 funeral." 
 
 To this requisition were affixed the signatures 
 William Frederick, (Duke of Gloucester,) 
 Brougham, Eidon, Lansdowne, Wellesley, Grey, 
 W, Cantuar, (Archbishop of Canterbury,) Ripon, 
 Wellington, Ilarrowby, and of twenty-seven 
 other peers, and those of upwards of ninety 
 members of the House of Commons; and this 
 on a short notice, and at so late a period of tlie 
 session. 
 
 The funeral took place in the manner thus 
 proposed, on Saturday, August 3. " The peers, 
 amounting to a considerable number, all dressed 
 in deep black, having put on scarves and hat 
 bands, proceeded from the Jerusalem Chamber of 
 the House of Lords into the Abbey, entering at 
 the Poets' Corner ; while the members of the 
 House of Commons, numbering between one 
 and two hundred, in full mourning, proceeded 
 two abreast to the west door of the Abbey, by
 
 ^\n.T.T.\M \Vi!,i5Kr:roiict;. 81' 
 
 which they entered. It \v;if^ a proud sight, to see 
 the royalty, the high Ftnl;on,the rank and greatest 
 talent of the country, become the? pa'1-bearers of 
 ;t virtuous citizen ; which was at once a compli- 
 i:;cnt to the memory of tlie man, a credit to 
 their own hearts and understandings, and an 
 h.onor ofwliich the people of this great country 
 may proudly boast to other nations. The grave 
 was formed close to the tombs of Canning, Fox 
 and Pitt; and while the most solemn part of the 
 funeral service was read, their Royal Highnesses 
 the Dukes of Sussex and Gloucester, the Duke 
 of Wellington, the Archbishop of Canterbury, 
 the Bishop of Chichester, and the various other 
 Bishops, the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of 
 the House of Commons, and the other pall- 
 bearers, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Ross- 
 lyn, Lord Althorp, Lord Auckland, &c. formed 
 a circle round the grave." 
 
 The general bias of his politics was towards 
 the tories ; but he was perfectly free from that 
 servile attachment to ];arty which is one of tlie 
 characteristics of a weak or unprincipled mind. 
 It is ]iroltable that his early actjuaintance with 
 Vv'illiani Pitt influenced his political career. The 
 partiality of friendship induces even the most 
 liberal and independent to regard with a favora-
 
 82 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ble eye the opinions and the course of an early 
 associate. Though the intimate friend of the 
 minister, he never solicited or accepted place or 
 honor ; and the only personal favor he ever 
 asked, is said to have been for the entree through 
 the park, in driving to the house ; which he 
 declined, on finding that importance was at- 
 tached to the boon. 
 
 On his retirement from parliament in 18"25, he 
 had been a member of the house for forty-five 
 years, during part of which time his influence 
 had been greater than that of any other person 
 not possessed of office. It is said that forty 
 members were influenced by his speech on Lord 
 Melville's prosecution, when he pronounced the 
 conduct of that nobleman a fit subject for cen- 
 sure. He possessed in a very high degree some 
 of the most important attributes of popular ora- 
 tory, and his voice was so sweetly modulated, 
 that he was at one time called " the nightingale 
 of the house." 
 
 The private character of Mr. Wilberforcc was 
 as amiable as his public course was upright. It 
 has not uiifrecjueutly been found, that the bustle 
 and excitement of a public life unfit men for tlie 
 more calm and retired duties of the domestic 
 circle. The ambitious statesman often regards
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 83 
 
 his home with indifference. Its joys are too 
 tame to awaken his sensibilities, or to induce 
 him to occupy much time in their cultivation. 
 But it was far otherwise with Mr. Wilberforce. 
 He repaired from the senate to his house with 
 evident delight, and borrowed happiness from the 
 joy his presence imparted. He partook of the 
 pleasures of domestic life with a zest of which 
 most politicians are destitute. " He was ex- 
 tremely fond," says a relative, "of children, and 
 would enter into their gambols with the gaiety of 
 a school-boy. We need scarcely add, that he 
 was the idol of his own. Their veneration, their 
 filial attachment, bordered on enthusiasm ; their 
 hourly attendance on his wants resembled the 
 maternal anxiety of a widowed parent for an 
 only child. Mr. Wilberforce was particularly 
 happy in conversation : his memory was richly 
 stored with classical allusions ; a natural poetry 
 of mind constantly displayed itself ; a melodious 
 cadence marked every thought and every expres- 
 sion of the thought. He was seldom impas- 
 sioned ; not often energetic ; but his tones were 
 mellifluous and persuasive, exactly according 
 with the sentiment they conveyed." 
 
 His attachment to the established church was 
 well known, and greatly contributed to the favor-
 
 84 MKJIOIII UK 
 
 able reception of his " Practicil View " in the 
 higher chi.'^se.s of society. Somctinies, however, 
 he attended at (li^^se^ting places of worship ; 
 and, on one occasion, partook of the Lord's 
 supper witli non-conforming christians. A gen- 
 tleman having expressed some doubt of this cir- 
 cumstance, and Mr. Wilberforce being asked if 
 the report was correct, replied, in a tone which 
 indicated surprise, " Yes, my dear ; is it not the 
 church of God?" So com[)leiely free was he 
 fi'om the narrowness and intolerance of the par- 
 tisan. 
 
 He was eminently a man of prayer. His 
 intercourse with God was habitual, and hence 
 resulted the consistency of his life. "Persons of 
 the highest distinction," says tlie Rev. Joseph 
 Brown, in his funeral sermon, " were frequently 
 at his breakfast-table, but he never made his 
 appearance till he had concluded his own medi- 
 tations, reading his bible, and prayer ; always 
 securing, as it were, to God, or railier to his own 
 soul, I believe, the first hour of the morning. 
 Whoever surrounded his breakfast-table, however 
 distinguished tlie individuals, they were invited 
 to join the family circle in family prayer. In 
 reference to his own soul, I am ini'ornied, he set 
 apart days, or a part of thcui, on which he had
 
 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. 85 
 
 received particular mercies, for especial prayer. 
 " Now," would he sometimes say to those attend- 
 ing him, " I shall not want you for some time." 
 Those who were accustomed to his habits knew 
 that he devoted those hours to meditation, and 
 reading, and prayer. When a clergyman, who 
 had been visiting, was about to leave, " Stop," 
 said Mr. Wilberforce, " T must assemble my chil- 
 dren." He did so. " Now," said he, " before 
 you go, you must pray with them." 
 
 " One beautiful point of his character I must 
 just notice : not only did he pray in his closet, 
 and with his family, but if his domestics were 
 ill, at their bed-side there was their valued 
 master praying with them praying for them." 
 
 Mr. Scott also, in his funeral sermon, bears a 
 similar testimony to the religious character Mr. 
 Wilberforce maintained in his family. " The fol- 
 lowing incident," he says, " came almost within 
 my own knowledge : A minister of state called 
 upon him on some public business on a Sunday: 
 he at once excused himself, saying, he would 
 wait upon his lordship at any hour he would fix 
 the next day, but he was then going to church! 
 And this was after he had already attended the 
 morning service. It was his maxim, that every 
 man should be the priest of his own household :
 
 8G MEMOIR OF 
 
 and this character he would never resign, tliough 
 he might from time to time delegate it to others. 
 Hence, even when he had clergymen present, 
 of whose assistance he would at other times 
 gladly avail himself, he would frequently con- 
 duct the daily religious services iti person. And 
 here we are assured, ' the fulness and rich- 
 ness of his expositions of scripture, and the 
 fervor of his supplications, were such as none 
 can forget who ever were present at them.' And 
 then the full effect would be given to all this 
 among the members of his household, by the 
 tenderness and consideration which he ever 
 showed for them. ' If any of his domestics,' 
 said one frequently resident under his roof, and 
 on the most familiar terms ' If any of his do- 
 mestics show a ruffled temper, or fall into mis- 
 conduct, the case is met rather with pity than 
 with resentment, and anxiety is shown to restore 
 the offender, like a sick member, in the spirit of 
 meekness.' This was the rule of his family. 
 Though much conversant with the world, he 
 entered into no compromise with it as to the 
 way of spending his time, or countenancing its 
 vain amusements. He had no leisure, and, 
 what is the great thing to be aimed at, he had 
 no heart, for such frivolities; but quite the con-
 
 WUXIAM WILBERFORCE. 87 
 
 trary. Indeed, I have observed, however others 
 may plead for such indulgences, that those who 
 have been previously most acquainted with them, 
 and best know their effects, on beconiing de- 
 cidedly religious, most strictly renounce them, 
 and protest most strongly against them. Finally, 
 the spirituality of his mind under the press of 
 public business, and amid the succession of per- 
 sons who crowded upon them, was truly sur- 
 prising. He seemed always ready for devotional 
 exercises, and for religious conversation, in which 
 the heart evidently bore as large a share as the 
 understanding. And at church he ever appeared 
 to be one of the most devout and fervent of 
 worshippers." 
 
 His devotional engagements gave energy to 
 his public life. He came forth from his closet 
 strengthened with might in his inner man, and 
 was thereby enabled to achieve what would have 
 overwhelmed many other minds. It was his 
 own conviction, tiiat he never could have sus- 
 tained the labor and stretch of intellect required 
 in his early political life, if it had not been for 
 the rest of his sabbath ; and that he could name 
 several of his contemporaries who had experi- 
 enced a premature death, or fallen into the more
 
 88 MEMOIR OF 
 
 dreadful catastrophe of insanity and suicide, in 
 consequence of its neglect. 
 
 Humility was by no means one of the least 
 prominent features of his character. " Walking 
 in the Isle of Wight," says the Rev. Joseph 
 Brown, "a person begging approached him, 
 using the roost flattering language. ' Do not 
 so,' said Mr. Wilberforce to the beggar ; ' I am 
 only a poor sinner like yourself " 
 
 " Of his extreme humility, I experienced an 
 instance which at once astonished and embar- 
 rassed me. One day, in conversation, Mr. Wil- 
 berforce kindly gave me some advice. I expressed 
 my thanks, and said how much I should feel 
 indebted, if, in conversation or correspondence, 
 he would at all times be my counsellor, and, if 
 necessary, correct me, and point out my faults. 
 He suddenly stopped, (for we were walking 
 together,) and replied, ' I will ; but you must 
 promise me one thing.' ' Witli pleasure,' I 
 answered, little thinking what it was. 'Well, 
 then,' continued Mr. WiU)orf()rce, 'in all your 
 conversation and correspondence with me, be 
 candid and open, and point out niy faults.' " 
 
 Such was the man whom princes, nobles, and 
 senators have deli<ihted to honor. All classes
 
 WIl.MAM WILBERlORrE. 89 
 
 held him in veneration. When the House of 
 Commons, some years since, was engaged in an 
 investigation that deeply interested George the 
 Third, the king inquired, from one who had just 
 left the house, " Who was under examination 1" 
 and being told, he asked, "Who were taking 
 notes?" it was answered, "Mr. Wilberforce is 
 very busy taking notes." "Ah," replied his 
 majesty, " he is a good man he is a good man ; 
 I wish they all were like him." His memory 
 will long be embalmed in the grateful recollec- 
 tion of his species; and the value of the services 
 he has rendered to the cause of humanity, will 
 be seen in the future freedom, intelligence, and 
 virtue of the negro population.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 The following account of the last honors ren- 
 liered to the remains of Wilberforce, is taken from 
 a London paper. It will be considered an appro- 
 priate sequel to the history of his life and services, 
 contained in the preceding pages of this volume. 
 
 FUNERAL OF MR. WILBERFORCE. 
 
 The funeral of that most excellent man, Mr. Wilber- 
 force, eminent through the course of his long life for liis 
 public and private virtues, for his sterling patriotism, 
 his christian piety, and his universal feeling of philan- 
 thropy, took place on Saturday. It was at first intended, 
 in conformity to the wish of the deceased, to conduct 
 his funeral with the utmost privacy, and to inter his 
 remains in Newington church yard ; but a very con- 
 fiiderable number of the most distinguished members of 
 the Houses of Peers and Commons, anxious to pay a 
 last tribute of respect to the memory of a man who, 
 through a long series of years, had been so honorably 
 distinguished in the British senate, prevailed on his sons 
 and immediate friends to allow the funeral to be a public
 
 92 APPENDIX. 
 
 one, and the place of interment to be Westminster 
 Abbey, that solemn habitation of " the departed great ;'' 
 thus conferring the highest possible honor on the memory 
 of Mr. Wilberforce, and giving to the world (for of Mr. 
 Wilberforce it may be said, that he was not the property 
 of a nook, but of the world) an exalted testimony of the 
 country, and of the friendship which his mild manners 
 and noble qualities had won him. 
 
 At about half past twelve o'clock, the Order of the 
 Procession having been arranged, the cotfin containing 
 the remains of the deceased was placed in the hearse, 
 and the procession began to move in the following 
 order : 
 
 Horsemen, two and two abreast, wearing blacU scarves and hat Ijands, 
 and preceded by Mr. Birch, the Family Undertukir. 
 
 i - Two Mutes abreast. o O 
 
 < = = = 
 
 ^^ IMume of Feathcrn. g- " 
 
 Q S 1'wo Mutes abreast. ^ ^ 
 
 Attendants. Horsemen, two and two abreast. Attendants. 
 
 Hearse, (bearin" the Coffin.) ,, 
 
 S Richly studded with blacl( plumes, and . 
 
 "s 5 Drawn by six jet horses, richly o s_ 
 
 ^ Caparisoni'd, with black velvet trappings, o 
 
 "* And adorned with nodding i)Iumes. 
 
 Eight Mournin'' Coaches, 
 , "^ 
 
 a The first bearing the Deceased's ?ons S 
 
 "g As Chief Mourners ; g_ 
 
 The others containiiijr the Mourners. 3 
 
 < 
 
 Noblemen and Gentlemen's Carria 
 
 To the number of nearly fifty, being chiefly those of the members of 
 both Houses of Parliament. 
 
 In this manner the procession moved slowly from 
 Cadogan place towards Westminster Abbey, forming a 
 very lengthened train, accompanied by immense crowds
 
 APPENDIX. 93 
 
 of people, who flanked it in moving columns, on either 
 side; and a little after one o'clock, the signal that it was 
 approaching the Abbey was given by Mr. Lee, the High 
 Constable of Westminster, to the Peers and Commoners, 
 who had assembled in their relative Houses of Parlia- 
 ment for the purpose of following tiie body in procession 
 through the aisles of the Abbey. The Peers, amounting 
 to a considerable number, all dressed in deep black, 
 having put on scarves and hat bands, proceeded from the 
 Jerusalem Chamber of the House of Lords into the 
 Abbey, entering at Poets' Corner ; while the members 
 of the House of Commons, numbering between one and 
 two hundred, in full mourning, proceeded two abreast to 
 the west door of the Abbey, by which they entered. 
 
 The cofRn, at this period, having arrived at the west- 
 ern door, was moved from the hearse and placed on the 
 shoulders of six men, the pall of rich black velvet with a 
 deep border of white satin, having been thrown over it. 
 When inside the door the bearers were ordered to halt ; 
 it was here a proud sight to see the royalty, the high 
 station, rank and greatest talent of the country, become 
 the pall bearers of a virtuous citizen, which was at once 
 a compliment to the memory of the man, a credit to 
 their own hearts and understandings, and an honor of 
 which the people of this great country may proudly 
 boast to other nations. 
 
 The following are the names of the distinguished indi- 
 viduals who supported the pall: The Lord Ciiancellor, 
 Speaker of the House of Commons, ]>ord Bcxley, and 
 the Marquis of Westminster, on the one side ; the Right 
 Honorable Charles Grant, Sir Robert Inglis, Mr. W.
 
 94 AITENDIX. 
 
 Smith (as we are informed.) and his Ro_val Higliness the 
 Duiie of Gloucester, on the other. His lloyal Highness 
 wa.s t!ie last on the extreme riglit, it being ;i rule, accord- 
 ing to the etiquette of sucli occasioii<!, for royalty to be 
 last among tlie prill be^irers : tiie Lord Cliancellor was 
 first on the extreme left. 
 
 A solemn stillness now prevailed, amid which the 
 order of the procession through tiie aisles was formed, 
 and the sight was altogether a most impressive one. 
 The King's Boys, in their uniforms, and the Westminster 
 School Boys, in their white surplices, two and two 
 abreast, formed the van of the procession. The Abbey 
 Choristers, robed in their robes of while and scarlet, 
 together with the Choristers of St. Paul's Cathedral, 
 Whitehall Chapel, and the various o"her important 
 places of public worship throughout the metropolis, next 
 followed ; then followed the Peers, at the head of whom 
 was his Royal Highness the Duke of Sus-ex, and his 
 Grace the Duke of Wellinirton, both in deep black, and 
 exhibiting a star on the left breast ; next in order were 
 the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of (Chichester, 
 and various other Bishops ; after them followed the Dean 
 and Chapter of Westminster, then the Rev. Dr. Hol- 
 combe, accompanied by the Rev. Dr. ]>akins ; ne.xt to 
 them the colHn and distinguished j)ail bearers ; and 
 lastly, the rne:iib:^rs of tlie House of Commons, two 
 and two abreast. D^iring all tliis time, the Abbey bell 
 tolled slowly and solemnly : and the procession having 
 been an ano^ed. the si<;niil to ad vnnce was given. 'Ihe 
 organ here commenced its melanciioly and devotional 
 funeral notes, the Choristers chiming in with a sweetnes.s
 
 Al'PENDIX. 95 
 
 and solemnity of voice, producing, as tlie sounds trav- 
 elled from aisle to aisle, the deepest feeling tiiat the 
 presence of man's mortality and immortality can inspire. 
 The Choristers, as the procession moved towards the 
 north trinsept of the Abbey, where the grave was 
 formed, close to the tombs of Canning, Fox and Pitt, 
 chanteil the funeral dirge composed by Croft. Having 
 arrived at the grave, the coffin was lowered into it, and 
 the funeral service was most impressively read by the 
 Rev. Dr. Holcombe, the Choristers, King's Boys, &,c. 
 chanting in occasion.iliy, with the accompaniment of 
 the organ. During this most solemn part of the service, 
 their Ro3'al Highnesses the Dukes of Sussex and Glou- 
 cester, the Duke of Wellington, the Archbishop of Can- 
 terbury, the Bishop of Chichester, and the various other 
 Bishops, the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House 
 of Commons, and the other Pall Bearers, the Marquis of 
 Lansdowne,Lord Rosslyn, Lord Althorp, Lord Auckland, 
 &c. formed a circle around the gjrave. 
 
 Among the most distinguished Commoners present, 
 besides those already mentioned, we observed Sir James 
 Giaiiam, Sir Robert Peel, Lord iVlorpeth, Mr. Fowel 
 Buxton, Dr. Lusliington, Mr. Stanley, Mr. Lyttleton, 
 Sir Robert Grant, Mr. Spring Rice, the Messrs. Attwood, 
 Messrs. James and Henry Grattan, Mr. Tynte, Mr. 
 Carew O'Dwyer, itc. &c. 
 
 Besides the above, the .-Xbbcy was crowded by persons 
 of distinction, among whom were many ladies. 
 
 After the funeral service was over, the numerous per- 
 sons pressed eagerly towards the grave, to get a sight of 
 the coffin, which was covered with rich black velvet,
 
 96 APPENDIX. 
 
 and ornamented with gilt moulding, heading, &c. In 
 the centre of the lid was a splendid brass plate of con- 
 siderable dimensions, with the following simple inscrip- 
 tion : 
 
 " WILLIAM WrLBERFORCE, Esq. 
 
 Born 24th of August, 1759 ; 
 
 Died 29tli of July, 1833. 
 
 Thus terminated the mortal career of as pure and 
 virtuous a public man as ever lived of " a man whom 
 (in the words of Ben Johnson) no sordid hope of gain, or 
 frosty apprehension of danger, could make a parasite to 
 time, or place, or opinion." 
 
 Mr. Wilberforce's jjublic life forms one of the bright- 
 est pages in the annals of this country, so long renowned 
 among the nations of tiie earth. By his exertions in 
 the Senate, the heart of the nation was first impressed 
 with the horror and degradation of its long-cherished 
 traffic in human beings. His glowing eloquence inspired 
 in olhers the feelings of humanity in which it had its 
 source, and he had the glor}' of witnessing the triuniph 
 of that holy cause to which he had devoted all the ener- 
 gies of his gifted mind, in the deliverance of his country 
 from the abomination of the slave trade a consumma- 
 tion well characterized by one of his ablest coadjutors as 
 " the saving of the soul of the nation." A delicate 
 constitution compelled him to retire from parliament and 
 public life some years ago, which deprived the cause of 
 humanity ol his personal e.xcrtions in tlie total extinc- 
 tion of slavery ; but the feelings he mainly contributed 
 to ins])ire can never die ; and llie people of this country, 
 while they lionor the name of Wilberforce, will feel
 
 APPENDIX. 97 
 
 their own highest honor in imitating the conduct of him 
 whose benevolence, founded on the sincerest piety, 
 regarded the whole human race as friends and brothers. 
 
 The funeral ceremony did not terminate before three 
 o'clock. We may here mention that we saw two gentle- 
 men of color in the procession, who appeared to feel a 
 deep interest in the solemnity of the passing scene. 
 
 As many of the readers of the first edition of this 
 memoir have expressed their regret at the omission, 
 by the author, of the celebrated "Protest," first com- 
 municated to the London Christian Advocate by 
 Mr. Garrison, in July, 1833, we have concluded to 
 insert it in this place. It will be seen that the name 
 of Wilberforce stands at the head of its distinguished 
 sub^^^cribers. The affixing it was his last public 
 effort in the African cause, having occurred a few 
 weeks i)revious to his decease. 
 
 PROTEST. 
 
 We, the undersigned, having observed with regret 
 tliat the "American Colonization Society" appears to 
 be gaining some adherents in this country, are desirous 
 to express our opinions respecting it. 
 
 Our motives and excuse for thus coming forward are 
 the claims which the Society has put forth to anti-sla- 
 ccnj support. These claims are, in our opinion, wholly
 
 98 AI'I'KMJIX. 
 
 groundless; and we feol bound to afTlrni tliat our delibe- 
 rate judgment and conviction are, that the professions 
 niiide by the Colonization Society of promoting the abo- 
 lition of slavery, are altogether delutiive. 
 
 As far as the mere colony of Liberia is concerned, it 
 has, no doubt, the advantarres of other trading establish- 
 ments. In this sense, it is beneficial both to America 
 and to Africa; and we cordially wish it well. We can- 
 not, however, refrain from expressing our strong opinion 
 that it is a settlement of which the United States ought 
 to bear the whole cost. AVe never required of tiiat 
 country to assist us in Sierra Leone. We are enor- 
 mously burdened by our own connection with slavery ; 
 and we do maintain that we ought not to be called on to 
 contribute to the expenses of a colony which, though 
 no doubt comprising some advantages, was formed 
 chitfly to indulge the prejudices of American slave- 
 holders, and which is regarded with aversion by the 
 colored population of the United States. 
 
 With regard to the extinction of the slave-trade, we 
 apprehend that Liberia, however good the intentions of 
 its supporters, will be able to do little or nothing towards 
 it, except on the limited extent of its own territories. 
 The only effectual death-blow to that accursed traffic 
 will be the destruction of slavery throughout the world. 
 To the destruction of slavery throughout the world, we 
 are compelled to say that we believe the Colonization 
 Society to he an obsLructiim. 
 
 Our objections to it are briefly these : While we 
 believe its pretexts to be delusive, we are convinced 
 that its rral effects are of the most dangerous natuie. 
 It takes its root from a cruel prejudice and alienation in
 
 APPENDIX, 99 
 
 the whites of America against tho colored people, slave 
 or free. This being its source, the effects are what 
 might be expected that it fosters and increases the 
 spirit of caste, already so unhappily predominant 
 tliat it widens the breach between the two races, exposes 
 the colored people to great practical persecution, in 
 order to force them to emigrate, and finally, is calcu- 
 lated to swallow up and divert that feeling which 
 America, as a'^christian and a free country, cannot but 
 entertain, that slavery 'is alike incompatible with the 
 law of God and with the well-being of man, whether of 
 the enslaver or the enslaved. 
 
 On these grounds, therefore, and while we acknow- 
 ledge the colony of Liberia, or any other colony on the 
 coast of Africa, to be in itself a good thing, we must be 
 understood utterly to repudiate the principles of the 
 American Colonization Society. The Society is, in our 
 estimation, not deserving of the countenance of the 
 British public. ' 
 
 WxM./^WlLBERFORCE, 
 
 Wm. Smith, 
 Zachary Macaclay, 
 William Evans, M. P. 
 Samuel Gurney, 
 George Stephen, 
 Slifield, 
 
 S. LuSHINGTON, ]\I. p. 
 
 Thos. F. Bdxton, M. p. 
 James Cropper, 
 William Allen, 
 Dan. OConnel, M. P. 
 
 London, July. 1833.
 
 100 APPENDIX. 
 
 ANECDOTE OF MR, VVILBERFORCE. 
 
 A few years ago, the late Mr. Wilberforce was en- 
 gaged, at the committee of the African Institution, in a 
 discussion with the present Chancellor, and some other 
 members, upon a point that involved the necessity of a 
 conference with the Minister. The duly of calling upon 
 him was, of course, imposed on Mr. Wilberforce; but it 
 was a habit which he had acquired by a constant inter- 
 ruption of visiters, to defer all matters not immediately 
 pressing, to a leisure hour that seldom arrived. Brough- 
 am, aware of this, urged upon him to seek the interview 
 without delay ; the committee being assembled in the 
 adjoining street to the official residence. Mr. Wilber- 
 force, however, had already become entangled in con- 
 versation with others; and Brougham, finding his efforts 
 ineffectual, seated himself at the table, and hastily wrote 
 a letter, which he handed over to Mr. Wilberforce to sign. 
 " That," said he, " will settle the matter witliout more 
 trouble." But the veteran senator was not so confiding 
 in the learned Lord's address, as was expected. He road 
 the proposed epistle with unusual caution; and, return- 
 ing it to its author, emphatically quoted the patriarclTs 
 words, " The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hand 
 is the hand of Esau ! " A more felicitous quotation, in 
 reference to the political characters of both parties, as 
 well as to its immediate application, cannot well In- con- 
 ceived : but even Brougham could not rival this illus- 
 trious man in a pointed yet courti'ous rci)ail(e.
 
 APPENDIX. 101 
 
 SONNET. 
 
 WRITTEN BY COTVFER IN 1792. 
 
 Thy country, Wilberforce, with just disdain, 
 Hears thee by cruel men and impious called 
 Fanatic, for thy zeal to loose th' enthralled 
 
 From exile, public sale, and slavery's chain. 
 
 Friend of the poor, the wronged, the fetter-galled, 
 
 Fear not lest labor such as thine be vain. 
 
 Thou has achieved a part ; hast gained the ear 
 
 Of Britain's senate to thy glorious cause ; 
 
 Hope smiles, joy springs; and though cold caution pause, 
 And weave delay, the better hour is near 
 That shall remunerate thy toils severe, 
 
 By peace for Afric, fenced with British laws. 
 
 Enjoy what thou has won, esteem and love 
 
 From all the just on earth, and all the blest above. 
 
 DEATH OF WILBERFORCE. 
 
 BY MRS. SKiOURNEY. 
 
 1 heard loud praise of heroes. But I saw 
 The blood-stain on their tablet. Then I marked 
 A torrent rushing from its mountain height. 
 Bearing the up-torn laurel, while its strength 
 Amid the arid sands of Vanity
 
 102 APPENDIX. 
 
 Did spend itself and lo ! a warning voice 
 Sighed o'er the Ocean of Eternity, 
 "Behold the Warrior's glory." 
 
 History came, 
 Sublimely soaring on her wing of light, 
 And many a name of palatine and peer, 
 Monarch and prince, on her proud scroll she bore, 
 Blazoned by Fame. But 'mid the sea of Time, 
 Helmet, and coronet, and diadem. 
 Rose boastful up and shone and disappeared. 
 Like the white foam-crest on the tossing wave, 
 Forgotten, while beheld. 
 
 I heard a knell 
 Toll slow amid the consecrated aisles 
 Where slumber England's dead, a solemn dirge 
 Break forth amid the tombs of kings, and say 
 That man was dust. And then a nation's tears 
 Fell down like rain ; for it was meet to mourn. 
 But from the land of palm-trees, where doth flow 
 Sweet incense forth, from grove, and gum, and flower. 
 Came richer tribute, breathing o'er the tomb 
 A prostrate nation's thanks. 
 
 Yes Afric knelt, 
 That mourning mother, and, throughout the earth 
 Taught her unfettered children to repeat 
 The name of Wii.berforce, and bless the spot 
 Made sacred by his ashes. Yea, the world 
 Arose upon her crumbling throne, to praise 
 The lofly mind that never knew to swerve. 
 Though holy Truth should beckon it to meet 
 The frown of the embattled universe.
 
 APPENDIX. 103 
 
 And so I bowed me down in this far nook 
 Of tlie far West, and proudly traced the name 
 Of Wii.BERroRCE upon my country's scroll, 
 To be her guide as she unchained the slave, 
 And the bright model of her sons, who seek 
 True glory. And, from every village haunt 
 And school, where rustic Science quaintly reigns, 
 I called the little ones, and forth they came, 
 To hear of Afric's champion, and to bless 
 Tlie firm in purpose, and the full of days.
 
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