William Wilberforce | Four letters to Stephen Lushington, with related material on Abolitionism, 1820s-40s

William Wilberforce

Four letter to Dr Stephen Lushington, MP, or his wife, with related material, comprising:

i-iv) William Wilberforce, four autograph letters signed, (one incomplete, one partly dictated), praising Luchington's "zeal in the Cause of the poor Negro Slaves" in the long campaign for the abolition of slavery and commenting scathingly on the Duke of Wellington's undermining of Parliamentary Resolutions ("...He looks to the Colonial Legislatures for carrying them into Execution...He even uses Language which would almost convince any one that He is not aware that we have the Constitutional Right to pass Laws for the Colonies; nay even to tax them...In short this looks as if we had all our Work to begin again..."), 12 pages, one address panel and impression in black wax of armorial seal, 4to and 8vo, 1 May 1823-30 July 1832, seal tearv-viii) Letters to Lushington by: Samuel Parr, introducing Robert Fellowes, 1821; four civic dignitaries of Bath, inviting Lushington to represent the city in Parliament, 1832; a fragment of a letter on a Parliamentary bill; and a letter wrapper addressed by Lord Stowell

ix) Autograph notes by Lushington on the subject of slavery, and a draft letter, 17 pages, 8vo, some pages torn in two, repaired with light adhesive tape;

x-xii) James Stephens. England Enslaved by her own Slave Colonies... second edition. London, 1826; and two other printed pamphlets; two in wrappers, slight wear

Dr Stephen Lushington (1782-1873) was a lawyer and MP, and a firm supporter of the Abolitionist cause over many decades.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's 13 July 2000, lot 210