Unidentified corresponent at Hull, to William Wilberforce, 9 April 1792. 

More here about the slave-trade debate and Dundas’s motion to make it “gradual.”

My dear Sir

         I thought of you most unremittingly the whole day of April 2; — & a good deal of the night, which to me was a very restless one.—I bless God & surely you have great reason to be thankful, that it pleases him to endow you with so much bodily energy that you are able to exert yr talents so steadily & for so long a time on such great occasions: Greater occasions can hardly ever occur & I think there can be no doubt but you have gained some ground; though I find many people think otherwise. – On the first news I thought so too; — but on reading the Debates, I am satisfied that much ground is gained as far as respects public opinion. The opposers are plainly overawed & ashamed; & I should think that now every thing depends upon [f. 26v] pushing the advantage speedily & with vigour. By & by the zeal of the Public will subside—not so the Efforts of avarice & artifice.—Gradually may mean 100 years or one year:—if it means ten years I should not be very fond of it; because in the course of those ten years, such machinations may probably take place, as will overset any resolutions now made—otherwise I should esteem it a very great point to have the Abolition certain & complete even 20 years hence.—The worst circumstance is this Dundas. Nobody thinks well of him – Duplicity & artifice are esteemed parts of his Character—he is judged to do, what he does, unwillingly & with design in the worst sense... I know he says you have as pure a heart as ever inhabited human breast—such things you can withstand:—but there is a stream of more delicate applause, which is likely to have more effect, & against which it is more difficult to guard.

When I can pray for myself you have my prayers – It pleases God to continue these trials — & I see no sort of Prospect that I shall ever be fit for any sort of business. That I might be so, has long been my most earnest & constant prayer lest I should die totally useless – My Eyes open a little: [f.27r] I believe I am wrong – God is sufficient: all sufficient for his own work in every way – is in my business to acquiesce more chearfully & to kiss the rod – but it is most hard work.—

Severe headaches have kept me from Camb: — I must go now if possible – about the latter End of this week  —.

         I shall be confined there a good deal on account of Coll business: & my Connect.n with the new Professor: — but I hope I shall see you either at Camb. or in London – before you excuse for the Summer.

         Let me hear from you at Cambridge –

                                 Your affection.e

                                                                     JM[?]

Text: MSS. Wilberforce, d. 17, fol. 26-27, Bodleian Library, Oxford.