William Wilberforce, Kensington Gore, to Joseph Butterworth, Sr., 13 June 1820.

Kens.n Gore 13th June

1820

My dear Sir,

   I have known you for too long & too well, being myself a married man not to know how you must feel under the Stroke which it has pleased God to inflict on you¾But it will be your Comfort to reflect, that Events like that from which you are suffering, do not happen by Chance; but that they are all dispens’d by unerring Wisdom & infinite Love, & will doubtless prove beneficial in their ultimate Result, according to the sure promise that all things shall work together for good to them that love God

Both to you & to me, also my dear Sir, the Time is short, & we shall soon exchange this world for that which will continue for ever.  May we be ready for the decisive Summons

I am ever with cordial Esteem & Regard

         My dear Sir

                     Yours sincerely

                                 W Wilberforce

PS I mov’d yr leave of absence as Mr Dorrington desird me for 6 weeks tho’ if we should have need of you for the Sunday Bill I hope you will obey our Summons & return

Josh Butterworth Jr

Text: Wilberforce Papers, Series II (Microfilm), reel 16, fol. 55, Bodleian Library, Oxford.