Henry Beaufoy, Tong near Shiffnall, to William Wood, [Leeds], 4 October 1789.

My dear Sir

     Tho’ my absence in Ireland, & the hurry of continual Travelling which has followed my return, have retarded my acknowledgments, yet I have too much pleasure in my earliest Friendships, & am too solicitous for the establishment of the civil rights of the Dissenters to have received with only a common Welcome, the obliging communications with which you have favoured me.

        Nothing can gratify me more than to have my fellow Collegians for my associates in the business I have undertaken; & few Events are so likely to promote our success as the spirited resolves of the Meeting in which you presided.

        From my other Correspondents I learn that a similar zeal is rising in different parts of the kingdom, & as that zeal is too properly tempered to be ardently opposed, the attainment of our object is no longer considered as doubtful or remote.

        But while I rejoice in the prospect before us I cannot but feel a painful apprehension that the Interests of Mr Wilberforce in the County of York may be seriously affected. I should hope however that the extent of his Talents, & the eminence of his Virtues would impress the minds of his Constituents with an earnest solicitude for his continuance in Public life; & that this solicitude would be increased by the singular firmness which he has shewn in bringing forward, against all the Intreaties & all the Threats of an Interest hitherto irresistible, the most important proposal that ever Justice Humanity or Religion recommended to the attention of the Legislature.”

        I expect in a few days to have the pleasure of seeing the Chairman of the London Committee & if I should be informed by him of anything that particularly deserves communication I shall be happy to transmit to you the Intelligence.

        The distance which separates us I always think of with regret, & few things would please me more than to have an opportunity of seeing you either in London or Leeds.

                    I am – with the greatest regard

                            Dear Sir

                                    sincerely & faithfully

                                                        yours

                                                                    H Beaufoy

Tong near Shiffnall

4th Oct. 1789

Text: Test Acts Papers, no. 30, Unitarian Collection, UCC 3/6/6, John Rylands University Library of Manchester.  The "proposal" mentioned above is a reference to the twelve resolutions condemning the slave-trade, which were presented by Wilberforce in a three and one-half hour speech in Parliament on 12 May 1789, only four days after the defeat of the Test Act Repeal motion.  Pitt, Burke, and Fox supported the slave-trade resolutions, but the motion was tabled at the time.