William Wilberforce, Esq., M.P.

It was very soon after my settlement in Bath that I had the honour and advantage of commencing an acquaintance with this inestimable man, and which led to an intimacy which continued for his life.

He was then lodging in Queens Square Terrace, his relation, Mr. Henry Thornton, member for the Borough, being with him. It was by a note of invitation I called upon him. As I had not been before in the company of any distinguished personage, I felt exceedingly as I approached the door, and held the knocker some seconds in my hand before I could use it. But unlike his excellent kinsman, whose manner was as cold as his disposition was generous, and with whom, instead of advancing you had always to begin your friendship, and never could be free; he instantly loosened me from my fears and embarrassment, and, without lowering my respect, inspired me with confidence and attachment.

Was there ever a being who possessed such a power of endearing himself, making all hearts his own, as soon as they approached him; and not only preserving but increasing affection, by every additional opportunity of intercourse! Perhaps, if one sentence could more fully express him than another, it would be an incomparable readiness to give pleasure, and to be pleased.

I had several other interviews with him during that visit to Bath. They were all delightful and useful. One Sabbath morning, after hearing me on a subject which had reference to the Doctrine of the Trinity, he mildly asked me whether something I had advanced did not carry the distinctions in the Divine Nature too far, and whether it might not be made to countenance Tritheism? He was correct; I saw my mistake; and was thankful for such an early proof of his attention and kindness.

He asked me if I had Quintilian, and finding I had never seen the work, he promised, on his return, to send it to me; but, for what reason I know not, instead of this, he sent me the works of Dr. Witherspoon. To the Treatise of this Author on “Regeneration,^’ he was much attached; and some years after he wrote an Essay to be prefixed to it, in a series of Publications issued by Chalmers and Collins of Glasgow. Concerning this admirable Essay, I remember his complaining, that he wrote it only to prefix to Witherspoon’s “Treatise on Regeneration; ‘’ but the Publishers connected with it his work on Justification, “with which,’’ said he, “I was less acquainted, and might not have so highly and entirely approved. This was not fair.”

His preferences in Religion were not censorious or exclusive. He had a real and large liberality towards those who differed from him in some of the more external and subordinate parts of Christianity; or rather its administrations; and, therefore, he made no scruple to attend occasionally in places which at that time ignorance, and not law, called conventicles; and in two instances, at least, he partook of the Lord’s Supper in Nonconformist Churches; for which he is now doubtless ashamed and grieved, in the presence of Him who said, ‘^ Whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, the same is my Brother and Sister and Mother.’’ Could his Biographers be unacquainted with this? Are all those dead who have heard him more than once say, — “Though I am an Episcopalian by education and conviction, I yet feel such a oneness and sympathy with the cause of God at large, that nothing would be more delightful than my communing once every year with every Church that holds the Head, even Christ.” And did this render him a worse Churchman? What must we have thought of such a Church if it had?

While I was preaching in London, and he was visiting in Bath, I received from him the following letter: —

Near Bath, Sept. 22nd, 1803.

My dear Sir, — I commence my letter with unaflPected doubts whether I should apologize for delaying it so long, or for even now writing it. I have for a fortnight past been on the point of taking up my pen, and knowing, on the one hand, that I am addressing a man of whose candour and liberality of spirit I would rather speak to any other than to himself; and, on the other, my conscience bearing me witness, that I am actuated by motives of pure benevolence, and love without dissimulation; I will proceed to fulfil the most valuable duty of friendship. Yet, when I go on to state that it is to observe on your mode of preaching that I have resolved to address you, I am aware that I may, not without reason, appear guilty of somewhat of the same presumption as the philosopher who undertook to lecture Hannibal on the Art of War; for you must, it can be no compliment to say it, have studied vastly more than myself the way of addressing your hearers, and have balanced opposite considerations, &c. &c. Yet it may be of use to a minister that a friend should tell him what the hearers say, not to control but to inform his judgment, that, having all before him, he may at length decide for himself.

I have then (to come to the point) been told from various quarters, that your general strain of preaching has been of late, not sufficiently Evangelical; and though the few opportunities I have myself had of hearing you (opportunities which I always prize as the greatest of my Bath pleasures,) scarcely qualify me to judge for myself on this question; yet I should not be honest, were I not to confess, that they have rather confirmed the report which had reached me from others. It has been ascribed to your having witnessed the sad consequences of an unwarranted application of the promises and blessings of the Gospel, and I have myself also ascribed it to a cause connected with the former; I mean, to your observing that the bulk of professors were shamefully uninstructed in the Christian system, and ignorant of the very Scriptures in which they say they have eternal life.

I hope I need not assure you, that no man is more vehement against that way of preaching which indolence, I fear, more than any other consideration, has rendered so general, of following so little the example of the sacred writers, as to be always insisting on one single topic. I cannot want you to leave your fatness {sic) with which your talents and knowledge enable you to honour God and serve man. I cannot wish you to give up the various melodies with which a bountiful Creator hath endowed you, for the unvaried strain of one cuckoo-note: but there is a mode (and no man knows it better) of preaching evangelical truth practically, and applying evangelically the rich and full variety of the doctrines and precepts of the “Word of God. I am aware, too, that there may be no danger of your being misunderstood by your own stated congregation. But indeed, my dear sir, you are “a debtor to the Greeks and barbarians.” Consider the situation in which you stand. Not another minister in Bath, whom any of the poor wretched upper classes are likely to hear, who preaches the Gospel. They come, perhaps, to your chapel; they never heard the word of life before; they never may have another opportunity. Pity them, my dear sir, as I know you do. They, above all others, deserve to be pitied. I have, alas! been more conversant with them than you, and am, therefore, the more impressed with a sense of their wretched ignorance in spiritual things.

And now, my dear sir, I have only to express my hopes, that you will do justice to the motives of esteem and regard which have dictated this letter; and it may be as well to add, that no human being, not even Mrs. W. herself, knows of its being written. It appears to me that all friendly offices of this kind are likely to be more pure from all improper mixture, when they are known by the two individuals alone, from whom and to whom the representation is made. And, besides this motive for secrecy, I must add, that it requires a very different degree of evidence and conviction to warrant the private communication of a hint to a friend, and the mention of it, if it is to become ever so little more public; for, if anything be at all divulged, who shall say, “thus far, and no farther?”

I cannot pass this occasion of expressing the sincere pleasure, and I hope I may say, improvement, with which I have read your first, and a great part of your second, volume of Sermons; the publication of which may, I trust, be beneficial in various ways, and I must advise your sending forth an addition to their number.

I remain, my dear Sir, yours very sincerely,

W. WiLBERFORCE.

“Let the righteous smite me, and it shall be a kindness; and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil which shall not break my head; and even my prayer also shall be for him in his calamity.” This letter was most gratefully received. Nothing also could have been more seasonable. It was really needed. There was ground, at least in a considerable degree, for the pious apprehension. From the motives mentioned by him, I had insensibly been led too far, and enlarged too much on what some have called, “the guarding side.” Perhaps also with regard to some, from a little vain wish to avoid the offence of the Cross. As I found this friendly admonition useful to myself, I hope it will be serviceable, especially to some of my younger brethren, who may be in danger from a similar mistake. The truth is, we are not to preach the less the doctrines which some pervert or abuse, but to preach them the more, only in a better manner, holding them forth, not only in all their richness, but also in all their connexions, proportions, influences, and effects. I trust I was enabled to act upon the counsel so timely and delicately given; and many of my friends noticed, forthwith, the advantage in my general strain of preaching. But little were they aware of the cause to which, under God, it was owing.

And what a view does it give us of the mind of this pre-eminent man, that, amidst all his public engagements, he could turn his attention to a humble individual, who had no secular distinction, and who was labouring in a different religious community from his own! But he considered the importance of his situation, and his opportunities of doing some good there, and especially, that good which was spiritual and eternal, and which was the first and last wish of his heart, by whomsoever it. might be accomplished.

I have said, in another place, and I repeat it, that some are too Orthodox to be Evangelical. Because Mr. Wilberforce held not the exclusive part of Calvinism, suspicions have prevailed.

that he was not quite sound in doctrine. But let any who question even the degree of his evangelism, read not only his gwn invaluable book, but even this letter, and see what kind of preaching that was for which he was so zealous, and to which he was persuaded God only gave testimony, as to the word of his grace.

And may I not ask, and does not even a regard to Truth itself allow me to ask, whether this Letter does not breathe a regard which his ‘^ Memoirs” seemed designed to deny or to diminish.

I need not quote the — only — kind of references to the Reminiscent which appear in that work; but I leave the reader to inquire for what purpose such insignificant notices were inserted. And let a thousand instances of kindness, and the following correspondence, assist them to answer.

I prefix a note from Mrs. Wilberforce:

Bath, Sunday Night. Dear Sir, — Permit me to offer a trifle towards the good work which I heard of to-day, — the enlarging your Chapel. May the undertaking lead to as much good as your heart can desire.

With every good wish to yourself, Mrs. Jay, and family,

I am, my dear Sir, your obliged and faithful,

B. A. Wilberforce.

No. 7, South Parade,

Thursday Evening, 14th Oct. 1830. My dear Sir, — Though I trust you know the cordial esteem and regard which I feel, and have long felt for you, too well, not to be sure that I must sympathize with you in your present season of aflfliction; (and let me say the same, and with no less truth, for my dear Mrs. Wilberforce also;) yet I must intrude on you for a few moments, to assure you of the sincerity of my condolence. May it please God to support and comfort you under this trying dispensation.*

I remain, my dear Sir, ever sincerely and affectionately yours,

W. Wilberforce. P.S. I beg you will not trouble yourself to return me any answer.

* It was the first seizure of Mrs. Jay noticed fully in Letter X.

No. 5, Queen’s Square,

Friday.

My dear Sir, — ^I am just now requested to introduce to you some young people who are truly worthy of the privilege of your acquaintance, and, I hope, friendship.

The ladies are the daughters of a widow recently become such, Mrs. Wolf. The gentleman, an ofl&cer in the navy, a son of Dr. Hall, Dean of Durham, and late head of Christ Church, Oxford. It has pleased God to touch his heart to true piety, which is more attractive by the singularly pleasing form in which it is presented. He is about to be united with Miss Amelia Wolf, and she also, I am assured, is truly religious.

I could not refuse their desire, that I would recommend them to your friendly attention, though I tell them how little time you can spare even to your oldest friends.

I am ever, my dear Sir, yours sincerely,

W. WiLBERFORCE.

N.B. I ought to mention that Mr. Hall’s wish to know you arose first from a sermon he heard you preach last night.

No. 5, Queen’s Square,

26th May, 1826.

My dear Sir, — It would have given both Mrs. Wilberforce and myself pleasure to call again on Mrs. Jay and you, before our departure to-morrow; but I fear we cannot; and therefore, I trouble you by the pen with a question or two, which I should otherwise put orally.

It occurs to me that you can probably inform me who and what Mr. Campbell is. He writes to me occasionally from Edinburgh upon religious subjects, and I have now occasion to answer a recent letter of his, concerning the Apocryphal dispute. I know not whether to call him Rev. or Esq.; and he may think it strange that I do not know his proper description; I probably did know it, but I have forgot it.

We may probably be able to go to Mr. Hall’s chapel on Sunday. Can you inform me where it is situated, and at what hour service begins?

I take the pen in my own hand to add, that I cannot but sincerely regret my not having had the profit and pleasure of hearing you, and joining with you in worship, during this visit to Bath. Both you and I, I believe, and indeed I cannot doubt it, are much more closely bound to each other by the substance of Christian principles, (besides a personal friendship which has long been, and will continue, I trust, during our lives, to be a subject of mutual pleasm’e to both of us,) than we are separated by any differences as to the outward form and mechanism of religion. I had rather wished for a few minutes’ private conversation with you, but I fear I shall not be able to call (or Mrs. W. on Mrs. Jay) before my departure to-morrow about 12 o’clock. If you should be walking this way, I should be happy to see you; and if not, let me thus take my leave for the present, assuring you of the cordial esteem and regard with which I am, with our best respects to Mrs. Jay,

My dear Sir, yours very sincerely,

W. WiLBERFORCE.

No. 9, North Parade,

Wednesday, 17th Oct. 1831. My dear Sir, — We cannot but remember with pleasiu-e the visits you kindly paid us last year, and Mrs. Wilberforce and I much wish to renew the enjoyment. Mrs. W. reminds me that you used sometimes to take your tea while we took our dinner.

Would you favour us with your company at a quarter before five o’clock to-morrow?

I can truly say that the hope of seeing you is always one of the most gratifying objects in my prospect, when I look forward to the renewal of my visits to Bath; and that I am, with cordial esteem and regard,

Ever sincerely yours,

W. Wilberforce.

Near Uxbridge, 7th Jan.

My dear Sir, — I enclose you a £5-note to reimburse you for the sum you were so kind as to lay down for me; and I return you thanks for so kindly inquiring into the case; perhaps it would be for the poor young man’s own benefit, to caution him against relying on future aid from me. I have sometimes found a little pecuniary assistance practically injurious for the want of this warning.

I thank you for naming the Eclectic, and will procure the number; I used to take in that publication, but discontinued it, partly because the increasing numbers of such periodical works compelled me to select; and still more, because it became so much more of a party work; otherwise my knowing that occasionally R. Hall and Foster wrote in it, was a strong inducement to take it in. Were not my eyes very indifferent and my stock of leisure veri, small, I would enter for a few minutes into the Roman Catholic Question. I have not seen “Cobbett” for some time. My chief reason for ever taking in his paper was, that I could not otherwise see it; and I thought it right to know what were the lessons of a very able and influential political teacher on the passing events of the day. But when I heard his paper circulation had much declined, I declined also.

My motives for supporting what is very ill entitled Catholic emancipation, were not that I thought that when granted the Roman Catholics would desire no more; still less, because I did not entertain a very strong repugnance to the Roman Catholic religion of the present day; (and this last I thought it right in fairness to declare to the two Roman Catholic deputies who called on me as a friend a few years ago, Drs. Everett and Murray;) but because I really believe the actual state of the laws tends to maintain, nay, probably to extend, certainly to exasperate and embitter, the influence of the Roman Catholic tenets. The Roman Catholics can and now do vote for Members of Parliament, though they cannot become such. The consequence is, that they choose Members, who, though Protestant by profession, (commonly, perhaps, neutrals at heart,) are full as subservient to Roman Catholic interests as avowed Roman Catholics could be, while they may speak a language which, uttered by Roman Catholics, would call forth a spirit in the Protestants to at least an equal amount; but to which, when held by Protestants, no objection could be made without a man’s being considered guilty of a personal afiront. Put the question arithmetically. The influence excited on the side of the Roman Catholics is now the sum of their own and that of Protestants whom they elect or favour. “When Roman Catholics should be eligible, it would be only the difi’erence. The existing state of the laws keeps the Roman Catholics in a continual state of irritation, reminded of their incapacities; for they are brought forward to vote, but not to be elected. I also lay much stress on the efiect of Roman Catholic gentlemen mixing in Parliament with Protestants, and thus habitually learning to disrelish, as galling and humiliating, the subjection to the priests, in which, after all, consists much of the strength and evil of their religion. But I must lay down my pen, only remarking, that I cannot be afraid of Popery in this country, but that I should not be greatly surprised to see the Roman Catholic oriflamb waving in Ireland, the Roman Catholic mass being supported by the military regulars of some continental Roman Catholic power. However, be this as it may, I cannot but trust all will end well, both for Ireland herself, and much more for England, when I witness the continually increasing flood of light which she (England) is the instrument of diff’using through the Pagan world. India is likely, I hope, ere long, to become the glory of this country.

My dear Sir, you seduce me, you see, even on paper, into too long a tete-d teie, and I have scarcely left myself room to request you to present Mrs. W.’s and my own best remembrances to Mrs. Jay, and to assure you of her cordial good wishes as well as my own, for the temporal, and still more for the spiritual, well-being of you and yours.

Ever, my dear Sir, your sincere and aflFectionate friend,

W. WlLBERFORCE.

Wlieii I published my “Evening Exercises/^ I dedicated them to my Illustrious Friend. As the preface was long, and animadverted on various, and some of them disputed topics, I sent it to him in manuscript, begging he would strike out whatever he disapproved of; but he returned it without a single erasure; and when the volumes came out, as soon as he received the copy I presented to him, he wrote me the following letter: —

Elmdon House, near Birmingham, 30th Dec. 1831.

My dear Sir, — Though I will not withhold from Mrs. Wilberforce the pleasure of answering your friendly letter, I cannot be satisfied without assuring you, with my own pen, that I feel honoured as well as gratified by the proof of your esteem and regard for me, which you gave by desiring to place my name at the head of your publication. It gives me unaffected pleasure to reflect that my name will thus be permanently associated with yours; and may this, my dear Sir, with all your other labours of love, be abundantly blessed. May the Gracious Giver of all good, who has already rendered you an instrument of such extensive usefulness, continue to prosper your endeavour to promote the temporal, and still more the eternal, benefit of your fellow-creatures; and after a long protracted sphere of usefulness and honour, may you at length hear addressed to you those blessed words, — “Well done, good and faithful servant,” &c.

Suffer me also to add my humble prayer, and let me hope that it will be yours also, that I may one day welcome you into that better world; and that, though by somewhat different paths, yet tending to the same point, and graduating, if I may use the expression, to the same centre, we may at length meet where holiness and happiness, where love and peace, and gratitude and joy, will be unalloyed and everlasting. Such, my dear Sir, is my sincere wish, and sometimes shall be the prayer for you, and for all that are dear to you, of

Yours with cordial esteem and attachment,

W.W.

As a beautiful contrast to this, I insert a few sentences from a little work its author sent by post to Mr. “William Jay, Bath, a few years ago.

They were all pencil-marked to render them the more emphatic.

“— and this is the reason why church people, and especially clergymen, may not keep company with, and make friends of, any of those who call themselves Dissenting ministers.

“Every Dissenting teacher is plainly making a division; every churchman, therefore, is commanded to avoid him. Be his gentleness and mildness what they may, in comparison with the miserable bitterness of most modern Dissenters; he his personal holiness, his mind and intellectual qualifications, what they may; he his friendship however dear to me, how can I continue it, when God has commanded me to avoid him? To pray for him as an erring brother, — to desire his present and future welfare, — to cherish towards him all kindly and brotherly feeling, — to assist him, if need be, with my counsel or my purse; — these things would be a duty and a pleasure; but to make him any longer a friend or an intimate would be a sin.

“Therefore he feels (i.e. a true churchman) that it would be sin to attend their places of worship or preaching, to acknowledge them in public meetings, or elsewhere, as fellow-ministers of the Word of God, or choose them as the friendly companions of his leisure hours.

“If this tract has done the readers any good, it will influence their conduct and make them resolve never to make themselves partakers of other men’s sins, by going to a Dissenting meeting even once; whether on Sunday or week-day, in the morning or afternoon or evening; whether because they hope to get good or for curiosity,* or to be friendly and neighbourly. It is quite plain that all Dissent is sin; now, how very shocking it is, that many good sort of people think really of coming to church on the Sunday morning, and then going to meeting in the evening! But people, I am afraid, will have to answer, not only for their own sin in going sometimes, but for the sin of those who go always, and whom, by their example, they have encouraged to do so.”

“Christian Unity,”*

BY Henry William Wilberforce, M.A.,

Incumbent of Walmer, Kent.

* Referring to this uncharitable pamphlet in a letter dated Bath, Oct. 17, 1837, Mr. Jay observes, —” Mr. Wilberforce’s life is forthcoming, but I expect it will be a very partial representation of him, especially on the score

What wonder such sentiments led to Rome! They spring from it. “A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit.” “By their fruits ye shall know them. Men do not gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles.”

Mr. Wilberforce sent me, as soon as they were published, inscribed with his own hand, his ‘Practical Piety;” and his work on “Slavery” addressed “to Prince Talleyrand.”

I remember, owing to some occurrence, Mr. Wilberforce gave me an admonition never to notice any thing concerning ones-self in the public prints. “If you do,” said he, “you must notice every thing; or what passes unnoticed will pass for truth which cannot be refuted;” adding, “our character and conduct must be both our defenders and advocates.”

He then mentioned the following imputation concerning himself: — “Some time ago, in Benjamin Flower’s ‘Cambridge Journal,’ it was said, ‘Behold an instance of the Pharisaism of St. Wilberforce! He was lately seen walking up and down in the Bath Pump Room, reading his prayers, like his predecessors of old, who prayed in the corners of the streets, to be seen of men.’

“As there is generally some slight circumstance which perverseness turns into a charge or reproach, I began to reflect; and I soon found the occasion of the calumny; and it was this: — I was walking in the Pump Room in conversation with General

; a passage was quoted from Horace, the accuracy of

which, was questioned; and, as I had a Horace in my pocket, I

of his liberality. It is written by his two clerical sons, who are now so high, that one of them has published a tract in condemnation of Mr. Baptist Noel’s candour, and calls upon the members of the church to have * no social or friendly intercourse with any Dissenters, and to visit them only as subjects of poverty and affliction to relieve them.’ Yet their honoured father used to say, — * Though I am an Episcopalian, I should like to commune once every year with every Christian church that holds the Head.’”

sought, and founds and read the words. This was the plain bit of wire which factions malignity sharpened into a pin to pierce my reputation; yet I never thought it worth while to attempt to refute or rectify what I could have so easily done/^

When there was some thought of abridging the privileges enjoyed by Dissenters under the Toleration Act, Mr. Wilberforce wrote to the Reminiscent. I am sorry I have either lost or mislaid this letter; but I well remember its contents. He expressed himself as exceedingly averse to the design, and wishing and hoping that all the interference of government might be avoided. But he would just ask whether the Dissenters and Methodists, in the licensing of preachers, would object to the requisition of a certificate or testimony from the churches to which they belonged. I answered, that, as far as I knew them, their apprehensions were too much excited to acquiesce even in such an apparently safe measure. At that season, however, and for want of some reflection, I confess I was rather disposed to differ from them; and the more, as it had been till then the wise and good usage among them, before any of their members went forth officiating, to receive a sanction from the united approval, benediction, and prayers of the minister and people in whose communion they lived. And what has been often the result of persons becoming preachers without consulting with, and unrecommended by, any one but themselves?

Here I remember a case rather curious and instructive. A young man thought he was called to leave common and civil life, and to enter the ministry; neither his own pastor nor father knew anything of this. The persuasion of his sacred destiny originated solely with himself. Though fully satisfied in his own mind, yet from a kind of respect for a family friend, and to save appearances, he wished to converse with me upon the subject. By no means like-minded with himself, and fearful of giving offence (a sad infirmity in such a case), I begged him to consult an older authority, and one who I knew had a firmer, bolder manner. An interview soon taking place, the young man told him he had been for some time persuaded he was called to the ministry; and asked his aged adviser what he deemed the best sign or evidence of a Divine call to the work: — Sir,’^ said the sage, “what I should deem the best sign or evidence would be a mans not thinking of it, but considering himself the last person in the world God would select for this purpose; and who, if God came for him, would be found like Saul, ’ hid among the stuff,’ and requiring an effort to draw him out.”

I remember his relating a remarkable circumstance concerning Carlile the infidel. “The wretched creature,” said he, “was then in the prison at Dorchester, having been prosecuted for his vile and infamous publications. As I was then visiting at the house of a magistrate in the neighbourhood, I thought I should like to see the prisoner and converse with him, perfectly incog. After some general conversation, I learned from him something of his former life, and found that he had formerly been among the Wesleyan Methodists, and even a class-leader. I then began to speak on the subject of religion. He said he did not wish to enter on that topic, for he had long ago made up his mind, and did not wish to have it disturbed; and, seeing me take out my little Bible, he said, ‘I wish to have nothing to do with that book; and you cannot wonder at this, for if that book be true, I am damned for ever.’ I was shocked, and said, No, no, Mr. Carlile: according to that book, there is hope for all who will seek for mercy and forgiveness; for it assures us, that God hath no pleasure in the death of him that dieth.’ I also said more, but it seemed to have no effect at the time, and I knew not that it had any afterwards. But,” added he,” we see (as we are needing hope) how desirable and necessary it is that there should always be an obvious and powerful ground for it; that despair hardens even more than presumption; and that men live so as to make the Bible their enemy and then hate it because it does not prophesy good concerning them, but evil.’^

I cannot help adding a circumstance not irrelevant to this occurrence. Preaching one Tuesday evening at Surrey Chapel, after his (Mr. Carliles) release from prison, I mentioned in my sermon the above anecdote. When I came down from the pulpit, some one told me that Carlile had been hearing me, and insisted upon seeing me. I said, “By all means; desire him to come into the vestry.^’ He entered; I arose and received him courteously, and gave him my hand, remembering that “the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be patient towards all men, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves, if haply God might give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.^^ I asked him for what purpose he wished to see me. He said, ^’ I do not charge you with intentional misrepresentation, but I have heard you say this evening what is not true.^’ Then stating what I had related, I said, “Are you sure this is not true V I am: I am certain Mr. Wilberforce never conversed with me or saw me in prison.^^ “Do you know Mr. Wilberforce personally V” I do not. I look upon him as a bigoted but very good and benevolent man; but I am sure I never saw him.^’ “Well, as you never saw him, how are you sure that, among others who visited you, he never saw you in your confinement; especially as his design was to keep himself unknown? Do you think,” said I, “Wilberforce would forge a letter, or utter a serious falsehood? ‘^ “No, I think he would not.” “And as for myself,” I said, “I am sure I have accurately reported his relation, for I received it in writing at the time.’^ This rather softened and silenced him, and he only murmured, “Well, I remember nothing of it.”

I desired him to be seated, and said, “I should be glad, Mr. Carlile, to have a little further conversation,” to which he seemed disposed; but some of his disciples who had followed him into the vestry, rudely urged him to come away; saying, ‘’These gospel-preachers will say anything that serves their purpose,”

As he had not behaved improperly, and as such characters are often too harshly treated, I felt a disposition to pray for him, and determined I would call upon him. This I did the next day, but he was not at home, and as I had to leave London immediately, I had no opportunity to renew the call. I regret I did not write to him.

In their periodical, the week after, there was a tolerably fair account of the thing, unaccompanied with any reflections on myself.

I may add that Mr. Wilberforce, after relating the above occurrence, said, “It is a very difficult and perplexing subject, but I begin to question whether such prosecutions are not more injurious than beneficial; as they awaken attention to their works, and frequently enlist feeling on behalf of the writers;’’ — remarking that Carlile, probably, did more mischief while in prison than before his trial and condemnation; — alluding to several tracts he issued while there, composed entirely of Scripture, quoting only passages which would represent the Bible as filled exclusively with what seemed indelicate and impure; and excusing, if not countenancing, immorality 1

“It was,’’ says Lord Brougham, “the constant maxim of my revered friend, Mr. Wilberforce, that no man should be prosecuted for his attacks on religion. He gave this opinion in Parliament; and he was wont to say, that the ground of it was his belief in the truth of religion. If religion be, as I believe it to be, true, it has nothing to fear from such assaults; but it may be injured by the secular arm interposing.”

I cannot omit noticing my last interview with him. Having received a note from Mrs. Wilberforce, that they should leave Bath in two days, and mentioning the increased indisposition ol her beloved husband, and the possibility of my not seeing him again, — by her desire I called. I was introduced to him alone, as he was lying upon the sofa. Though it was obvious that the outward man was fast declining, all his pious and friendly principles and feelings evinced their full vigour. Propriety required the interview to be short; there could be, therefore, no lengthened conversation. The following, however, I have found, which I wrote down as soon as I returned, precluding any mistake concerning it.

Something had led him to mention that noblest of all institutions — the Bible Society; and as the Trinitarian Bible Society was about that time making a noise in our city, and assailing and seeking to divide and injure the old Institution, he eagerly inquired whether there were many defections. I told him I believed the defections were almost entirely confined to his own community; for I did not know, in the circle of my acquaintance, one minister or member among all the Dissenters and Methodists who had revolted. “Well,^^ he said,” I am thankful for this; and hope the good cause will continue to flourish.^’

He also said,” I see what is the best way to reduce an undue attachment to the subordinate things in religion; — it is to keep up a supreme regard to the more important ones; for we shall then have little time and less inclination to engage in the strivings and strifes of bigots.^^

He also observed,” I see much in the state of the world and church which I deplore, yet I am not among the croakers. I think real religion is spreading; and, I am persuaded, will increasingly spread, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.^^

Taking my hand at parting, he pressed it to his bosom, and said,” I am glad you have not turned aside after any of the ’ lo! heres ’ and ’ lo I theres, many of which you must have witnessed; but have kept to the common, plain, and important truths, in which all Christians are nearly agreed; and I hope you will never leave the good old way, — God bless you !|^^ — What an interview! what a parting! what a benediction!

I leave others to speak of him as a politician. I know some of the liberals were much dissatisfied with him; but he would not be a gagged party man. He preserved his independence by accepting nothing from government; and always gave his vote according to his conviction. I remember after the French Revolution, and for some time during the war, when the rage of opinion ran so high, he more than once desired me to say among my connexions, (he knew that some whom he valued were puzzled and grieved with his seeming devoted ness to the prime minister,) that they were not to suppose he entirely approved of all Mr. Pitt’s measures; but the times were peculiarly perilous, and it was necessary to support the government generally, when there were so many tendencies to anarchy and confusion.

I well remember how Mrs. More herself, and others of his friends and advisers, wondered and grieved at his favouring the Catholic Emancipation Bill. No one could dislike popery more than he did; but he thought it reasonable that all its adherents should realize their civil rights and immunities; and that, with regard to religious parties, all restraints and oppositions excited and strengthened their zeal the more, and resembled the dams in a river that caused the water to rise higher and spread wider. — See a preceding letter to the Reminiscent on this subject.

But time and language would fail me to speak of this man as a benefactor, and especially as the poor negro’s friend. His disinterested, self-denying, laborious, undeclining efforts in this cause of justice and humanity are too well known to need enlargement, and will call down the blessings of millions; and ages yet to come will glory in his memory.

Whose very soul has not melted, not only at the poetry, but the praise of the sonnet, by the author of the ‘^ Task?’^ —

Thy country, Wilberforce, with just disdain,
Hears thee by cruel men and impious call’d
Fanatic, for thy zeal to loose the enthrall’d

From exile, public sale, and slavery’s chain.

Friend of the poor, the wrong’d, the fetter-gall’d,

Fear not lest labour such as thine be vain.

Thou hast achieved a part; hast gained the ear Of Britain’s senate to thy glorious cause; Hope smiles, Joy springs; and though cold Caution pause,

And weave delay, the better hour is near

That shall remunerate thy toils severe.
By peace for Afric, fenced with British laws.

Enjoy what thou hast won, esteem and love

From all the Just on earth, and all the Blest above.

But who or what can do justice to such a character? Every notice of him is necessarily an eulogy. Here was a man, not only great among the good, but good among the great. The most popular man (according to Madame de Stael) in this country, and yet an example of ‘^ whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report,” whatsoever things have any virtue or any praise in them.

But what, amidst so much and such varied intercourse with company and scenes so little favourable to religious decision and improvement, enabled him to maintain such spirituality and fervour, and to be always ready to engage so easily and naturally in pious conversation and exercises?

First: — The firmness of his convictions. Religious sentiments in him were firm, were not opinions, but principles. That is, — sentiments which had attached to them both certainty and importance.

Secondly: — His inviolable sanctification of the Lord’s-day. With him how truly was the Sabbath a delight, and the holy of the Lord, honourable! When did he not *’ turn away his foot from the Sabbath from polluting it, not doing his own ways, not finding his own pleasure, not speaking his own words?’^

I was once dining with him on the Sabbath: it was before his marriage. We were quite alone; no servant was in attendance; we had only a dumb-waiter. The conversation turned upon the subject of my discourse that morning, — “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved — of which he begged the outline. “I just now,^^ he said,” met Mr. Bushe on the North Parade; he told me there was very bad news; but I did not ask concerning it, and I dare not open a paper on the Lords-day.^’

Thirdly: — His always attending, when in his power, the House of God and the preaching of the Word, and that word which was found to be the savour of life unto life. -

Fourthly: — His family worship. Here I refer not only to its existence and regularity, but to the manner in which he discharged it. What a solemn importance seemed always attached to it! What a freedom from formality! What a simplicity in the performance! What a seriousness and degree of impression, and of effect!

Fifthly: — And, perhaps, above all, his determination to secure time for private devotion. This befriended the effect two ways — first, by the natural influence of these exercises themselves; secondly, by the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, which prayer, and especially such prayer, is accredited to obtain. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.’’” But when thou prayest, enter into thy closet; and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.’’

It would not only be needless but presumptuous in me to speak of his senatorial rank and claims. It is undisputed what an eminent place in oratory he occupied and maintained, when eloquence in the House of Commons rivalled that of Athens and Rome. His voice was fine, deep, clear, distinct, and flexible; his animation was often great; and the impression of many of his speeches, especially of those he delivered on the Abolition of the Slave Trade, peculiarly powerful.

“I never,^^ says Mackintosh, saw any one who touched life at so many points; and this is the more remarkable in a man who is supposed to live absolutely in the contemplation of a future state. When he was in the House of Commons, he seemed to have the freshest mind of any of those there. There was all the charm of youth about him, and he is quite as remarkable in this bright evening of his day, as when I saw him in his glory many years ago.^^

“I never,^^ says Southey, ^’ saw any other man who seemed to enjoy such a perpetual serenity and sunshine of spirit. In conversing with him you feel assured that there is no guile in him; that if ever there was a good man and a happy man on earth, he was one.” Again, “There is such a constant hilarity in every look and motion, such a sweetness in all his tones, such a benignity in all his thoughts, words, and actions — that you can feel nothing but love and admiration for a creature of so happy and blessed a nature.”

APPENDIX BY THE EDITORS.

The following additional letters of Mr. and Mrs. Wilberforce to Mr. Jay, we venture to insert in further proofs of their friendly and confidential intercourse. Before we do so, however, we beg to introduce a few observations.

If any of the readers of this article should also have been readers of Mr. Wilberforce’s Life by his sons, the disclosures here made will be surprising, and in some respects painful.

It will be no matter of surprise that two such men, residing in Bath at the close of the last century, when Evangelical preaching was rare in the Church, should have become friends; and that the friendship of two such souls should have become permanent, and ripened into mutual cordiality and confidence. But the matter of surprise and pain will be to observe, that a Life of Wilberforce could possibly be written, and a voluminous life too, in which it could be made to appear, that there existed between them nothing but a mere cold, slight, and, on Mr. Wilberforces side, not very respectful or polite acquaintance.

For the purpose of enabling the readers of Mr. Jays Reminiscence of Wilberforce to judge of the representation of this matter by the two Reverend sons who have taken upon them virtually to ignore the friendly intimacy of their Father with the Dissenting Minister of Bath, we shall extract from their Work all the notices of Mr. Jay we have been able to find, and then an opinion may be formed of the spirit which dictated this meagre, and not very delicate, exhibition of facts for public perusal from Mr. Wilberforce’s Diary.

Vol. II. p. 234, under date 1797.

“Sunday. Randolph’s, morning — Evening, Jay’s — comfort — able, happy Sunday.’’

Vol. II. p. 240. Same year.

“Asked to subscribe to Jay’s velvet cushion, but refused.”

Vol. II. p. 313 — date 1798.

“Sir George Beaumont, Creykes, &c., with us. Jay told us his origin and story very simply — a bricklayer employed on Beckford’s house — began to preach at 16 — humble and not democratical.”

Vol. II. p. 351 — date 1799.

“I found that so much use was made of my going to Jay’s that I have kept away.”

Vol. II. p. 361. Date 1800. Referring to a projected BiU i%U PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS OF CHARACTER.

to restrict Dissenting preachers, and stating that he had explained to Mr. Pitt the only limitation of the Toleration Act to which he would consent,, viz., that no one should exercise the officQj of a Teacher without a testimonial from the Sect to which he belonged, he says:

“This would put a stop to the practice which I am told prevails at Salisbury, and (as I heard from Mr. Jay, the Dissenting Minister) at Bath, of a number of raw, ignorant lads, going out on preaching parties every Sunday.^^

Vol, V. p. 258 — date 1825.

“at Jays, where I greatly wished to go, but thought

it wrong.^^

This sentence seems ambiguous through the omission of a name. It evidently refers to some person in Mr. Wilberforces family, less scrupulous than himself, who went to hear Mr. Jay (possibly Mrs. W.) We are at a loss to conceive for what purpose the extract was made, unless to give publicity to Mr. Wilberforce’s opinion, that it was wrong for him to go to the Dissenting Chapel to hear the Dissenting Minister with whom he had been on terms of the strictest friendship for nearly thirty years, whom he had frequently entertained at his table, introduced to his selectest friends, corresponded with familiarly and confidentially, and allowed his name to appear in the dedication of one of his works, expressing his sense of the honour, and his gratification at the request, and adding, “it gives me unaffected pleasure to reflect that my name will thus be perma nently associated with yours.^^ Thus wrote Mr. Wilberforce, Dec. 30, 1831.

After this, as appears from the foregoing Reminiscence, Mr. Jay visited Mr. Wilberforce during his illness at Bath, at the special request conveyed to him by Mrs. W., when other esteemed friends were not allowed access to him. From these facts it appears that there had been no suspension of intercourse or decay of friendship, either between 1799 and 1825, or from 1825 to the end of the year 1831, when he so kindly and gracefully accepted the dedication of “The Christian Contemplated/^ Even the entry made in the Diary in the year 1799, respecting his “keeping away from Jay’s Chapel, because so much use was made of it,’’ is certainly not intended to intimate that after that period he never attended again; for it is well known that he did go after that date.

In the Correspondence now published there is a note dated a year after any notice of Mr. Jay given in the Life of Wilberforce, ‘^ Queen’s Square, May 26, 1826,” in which Mr. Wilberforce requests directions of Mr. Jay where in Bristol he might find Mr. HalFs Chapel, saying, “We may probably be able to go to Mr. Hall’s Chapel on Sunday.” If Mr. Wilberforce had relinquished so early as 1799 the pleasure and profit of attending upon Mr. Jay’s ministry, and in 1825 thought that it was “wrong,’’ that is morally sinful, though he wished for it greatly, would he have asked the way to another Dissenting Chapel in 1826, and would he, or could he have said in the same note of inquiry, “I cannot but sincerely regret my not having had the profit and pleasure of hearing you and joining with you in worship during this visit to Bath .?”

It is certainly not impossible that the same pen should have written the two notices in the Diary respecting attendance at Mr. Jay’s Chapel, and those other sentences we have quoted from the Letter of May 26, 1826, to Mr. Jay. But if it did, then something unmentioned would, if known, reconcile them with honour and integrity, or some intentional concealment gives them the appearance of contradiction. If no explanation can be given of this matter, Mr. Wilberforce’s memory will have to bear the suspicion of hollow profession and faithless friendship, or the monument his reverend sons have reared to his memory will convey a most unjust, as well as false, impression.

y2

These two good and great men while living appear to have had no misunderstanding, and no alienation through a friendship of thirty-five years, and they have now met in a happier world, and united in purer worship than they ever joined in here. But the Biography of the one was undoubtedly made the means of deeply wounding the heart of the other; because he was conscious that it gave to the world, a most imperfect and unjust view of the long friendship which had existed between himself and Mr. Wilberforce. It had been kinder and wiser, as it now appears, not to have let the world know that Mr. Wilberforce had any acquaintance with the Dissenting Minister of Bath, or had ever delighted to hear and to patronize him, than to have inserted the few slighting and ambiguous extracts we have cited from the Diary.

The following are the additional letters, which still further show the kind of friendship subsisting between them.

Mr. Wilberforce to Mr. Jay.

Near London — May 7th, 1805. My DEAR Sir, — I will not quite take you at your word and return no answer at all; but I will so far avail myself of your friendly allowance for me, as merely to thank you for your kind communication.

Archbishop Usher’s, and Bishop Bedell’s Life, have long been in my library, and have been favourites with me. — I have often quoted them to some of our Irish Rulers; and had their examples been followed, Ireland would have been in a far better state,

I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully,

W. Wilberforce.

P.S. — The memorandum I hope to get to-morrow when I go to town. I am detained here to-day by indisposition.

Mr. Wilberforce to Mr. Jay.

Pulteney St. — Wednesday. My dear Sir, — Will you and Mrs. Jay dine with us on Friday next, at half-past four or a quarter before five, to meet my friends, Mr. and Mrs.

Noel, with whom I wish to bring you well acquainted? And may I beg you to bring your son-in-law, Mr. Bolton, also, on whom I meant to call in order to entitle myself to ask him; but I trust he will excuse the breach of ceremony. I hope his lady and little one are doing well.

“With cordial esteem and regard.
My dear Sir,

Ever sincerely yours,

W. WiLBEBFORCE.

Mr. Wilberforce to Mr. Jay.

Maidenhead Bridge.

28th August, 1817. My dear Sir, — One word merely to satisfy you that your letter has reached my hands. I thank you for pointing out to me how I may fulfil my intention of begging Dr. Kollock’s acceptance of a pledge of my

friendly esteem; though, unless, on my return home, I find Mr. V k’s

address, or unless you can favour me with it, I shall still be at a loss. If I find the former not to be the case, I will —

(Here the letter breaks of and is taken up again.)

Near London. — December 26, 1817. Such was actually a letter I meant to send to you four months ago; and I now send it chiefly to do myself justice both with you and other gentlemen concerned, by preventing its being supposed that I had neglected the

business. I found Mr. V k’s address after a time (I think at the

Northumberland Cofiee House) but he was gone from it.

What, however, has prompted me now to despatch this long retained letter, is my wishing to request from you in confidence any intelligence

you can send me concerning. A more intemperate, or, in all respects,

unadvised publication I scarcely ever read. Who is Mr.? What

his connexions? What his talents and acquirements? *

Let me assure you, with best remembrances to Mrs. Jay, that I am with cordial esteem and regard.

My dear Sir,

Youi-s sincerely,

W. Wilberforce.

Excuse the effects of great and necessary haste.

Mr. Wilherforce to Mr. Jay.

No. 8, North Parade.

Saturday, 19th September, 1829. My dear Sir, — When we arrived at Bath we were told you were absent, but soon after we heard you had returned, and ever since I have been wishing, and Mrs. W. not less, though she knew of Mrs. Jay’s absence, to pay our respects to you. But the weather has been so variable, as to render it quite unsafe for any one who, like myself, may probably suffer greatly from the slightest exposure to rain, to venture far from shelter, or from a Sedan chair. Our time, however, is hasting away, and it would really grieve me to have visited Bath without seeing an old friend whom I so sincerely esteem and love. Will you give us the pleasure of your company in the way in which we enjoyed it formerly — you taking your tea while we are at our dinner? Do name a day on which we may hope to enjoy this pleasure at half-past four o’clock.

Believe me, with cordial attachment,
Ever sincerely yours.
The Rev. Wm. Jay. W. Wilberforce.

P.S. — We have heard with unfeigned concern of Mrs. Jay’s indisposition, and hope she is mending.

If the same to you, I had rather see you any other day than Monday next; but if that day suit you better, I will make it convenient to us also.

Mrs. Wilberforce to Mr. Jay.

Elm don House, Birmingham. December 29th, 1831. Mt dear Sir, — Allow me to offer you many thanks for your most kind and acceptable present, in addition to the most valuable “Morning Thoughts.” May we only all of us profit by them as we ought. I am very sorry I have not been able to write sooner, as you wished to hear from me before you take measures respecting the stereotyping. It gave us much satisfaction to hear of the former volumes having been thus fixed, and that these latter ones are to share their fate; and America to profit by them as well as England. We cannot offer any alterations. I should have said that my husband gladly accepts the undivided moiety which you offer him in these volumes. But I hope he will add a few words for himself, though you know his eyes forbid much writing, and I am sorry to say that we have much business of an uncomfortable nature demanding tiihe and writing, which has been one of the results of our flosses; until we are a little freer from these demands, more falls to Mr. W.’s share to dictate and write than is good for him; added to all which we have now much anxiety about our dear daughter’s health. Her brother found her far from well — and as she has a cough, which I fear began before her confinement, and still hangs on her, though till very lately little noticed by her medical man, we know not yet what to expect respecting her. Her brother Kobert has hitherto remained with her, hoping to send us better accounts, but as yet they are not mended, and we are very uneasy about her. You, my dear Sir, who have now above a twelvemonth been suffering from much anxiety and daily sorrow, will know how to sympathize with us.

I write to-day in much haste — therefore will not enter on this sad Bible Society question; but with best regards, and every good wish to yourself, Mrs. Jay, and all your family, subscribe myself,

My dear Sir,

Your much obliged and sincere,

B. A. WiLBERFOECE.

Since writing the above I am thankful to be able to say, we have heard a much better account of our daughter. The cough seems yielding, and we are encouraged to hope there is no cause for alarm; and that we shall soon hear she is better.

The readers of Mr. Jay’s Reminiscence of Mr. Wilberforee are now in a situation to judge how far the half-dozen trivial and, several of them, scarcely respectful, notices of Mr. Jay, which we have given from the Life of Wilberforee, do honour or even justice to that long and ancient friendship which, as it was unvarying and constant, appears to have been no less sincere and unaffected. If Mr. Wilberforee has preserved no other testimonies of his friendship for Mr. Jay than those his sons have published, happily for the memory of the latter he has left no one to doubt his siacerity, but supplied ample proof of his generous and affectionate regard for the former.