WILBERFORCE, William (1759-1833). Philanthropist and slavery abolitionist.
Autograph Letter Signed to Lord Holland [Henry Richard Fox (later Vassall) third Baron Holland (1773-1840)], 1 page 4to, 'Near London', 26 November 1806. Thanking him for his support in the recent election. Contemporary endorsement to the reverse.
Wilberforce had retained his parliamentary seat of Yorkshire for the fifth time in the general election of 1806 which followed the death of the foreign secretary Charles James Fox on 13 September. The Holland, nephew of Charles James, to whom this letter is addressed had been intended by his uncle to succeed him in his position but he was instead appointed lord privy seal on 15 October, and in the following year was to sit as a lord commissioner to convey the royal assent to his uncle's bill abolishing the slave trade. [See C.J. Wright in Oxford DNB]

'Having heard of your Lordship's friendly exertions in my Behalf on my late election, I cannot but be desirous of returning you my cordial acknowledgments, and I hope I need not assure you that I am the more gratified by your Lordship's support, because I trust it was dictated by a sense of Duty.'

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