Letter sheds light on Wilberforce

Wilberforce wrote the letter to his friend in Bath in 1831

A letter giving a rare insight into the personal life of slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce has been acquired by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

Written 175 years ago to friends in the city, it tells the story of a young servant awaiting trial for petty theft.

It describes the efforts made by Wilberforce to secure a lenient sentence for the teenager.

The letter also sheds light on his home life, the then recent death of his daughter and his own failing eyesight.

'Humanitarian nature'

Wilberforce visited Bath many times and there is a plaque commemorating his stay at 36 Great Pulteney Street.

It was on one of his last visits to Bath in 1831, staying at 9 North Parade, that he hired 18-year-old Michael McCarthy as a servant.

In his letter from the Isle of Wight to his friend the Reverend James Pears of Broad Street, Bath, he relates how the teenager was now under arrest charged with receiving a stolen silver dinner-fork whilst in someone else's employ.

The letter tells of his efforts to help a servant on trial for petty theft

He said: "He was a well-disposed and well-behaved young man. I am much surprised to think that any young man should be sent to the County Gaol for such an offence."

The council's principal archivist, Colin Johnston, said: "This letter is important because it demonstrates that Wilberforce's humanitarian nature extended to a local and personal level, as well as to matters of national concern.

"Sadly, we know that the character-reference William supplied for McCarthy had little effect under the harsh judicial system of the time.

"Court records show that McCarthy was found guilty at Wells Assizes in April 1832 and sentenced to six months in Shepton Mallet prison."

Wilberforce's personal life is to be the subject of a free public lecture to be given by Dr Ann Stott of the Open University at the Guildhall, High Street, Bath, on Wednesday.