British politician, evangelist and philanthropist (1759-1833) who played an important role in the movement to abolish slavery. ALS signed “W. Wilberforce,” three pages both sides, 4.5 x 7.25, July 30, 1812. Handwritten letter to Lord Radstock, in part: "I trust ye Lord will excuse the liberty I am about to take with you. I will add to my trespass as little as I can…A Scotchman named Leslie, who I take to be a ship owner & fisherman & of whose active benevolence I have heard a very favourable report, has requested my good offices in assisting him in bringing into public notice an Invention, which he calls a Life Buoy, for saving ye lives of shipwrecked mariners. It was publicly tried at Peterhead in a storm & some respectable Gents of that Country who witnessed ye experiment speak of ye machine as being far more effectual to its purpose than any other that is now known. I have been thinking therefore if some naval man of eminence whose benevolence would prompt him to take the trouble of going as far as Thames Street…to inspect the machine, & whose name & character & connections if he should approve of it, might stand ye inventor in good stead." Affixed to a larger page and in fine condition, with show-through on the last page from mounting remnants on the back.
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