Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Wilberforce, William, 1759-1833 to Thomas Pringle

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00496.251 Author/Creator: Wilberforce, William, 1759-1833 Place Written: Newport, Isle of Wight, Great Britain Type: Letter signed Date: May 9, 1832 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; Height: 24.4 cm, Width: 19.1 cm Order a Copy

Wilberforce, a British abolitionist, writes from the Brighstone (Brixton) Rectory (possibly while his son Samuel served as vicar there). He recommends Mr. Stephen, a relative and friend (likely his brother-in-law James Stephen), to serve as chairman of an unspecified organization (possibly the Anti-Slavery Society). He notes Stephen's "abhorrence of the Slave trade and Slavery." Mentions other members of the Society, including Mr. Buxton and Dr. Lushington (possibly Thomas F. Buxton and Stephen Lushington, both reformers and abolitionists). He hopes Pringle's new anti-slavery publication will succeed. Assures Pringle he would attend the meeting in London if he weren't frequently ill. The letter is attached to a brown paper frame. Measurements include attached frame.

Wilberforce, William, 1759-1833
Pringle, Thomas, 1789-1834
Lushington, Stephen, 1782-1873
Buxton, Thomas Fowell, 1786-1845

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources