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Actions Help FAQs Can't find what you're looking for? Browse Collections A-Z University of London	James Stephen letter Remove from selection Add to selection Request this item TitleJames Stephen letter Held atSenate House Library, University of London Reference codeAL345 Date1825 November 7 Creator Stephen, James (1758-1832) lawyer and slavery abolitionistMore Info on CreatorLess Info on Creator James Stephen was born in Poole, Dorset, and received a patchy education at various schools before studying law in Aberdeen and London. During 1783-1794 he worked as a lawyer in St Kitts in the West Indies, and on his permanent return to London he practised in the prize appeal court of the privy council. From 1811 until his death he was Master in Chancery, and he served as MP for Tralee, County Kerry, from 1808 to 1812 and for East Grinstead, Sussex, from 1812 to 1815. Stephen was deeply religious in the evangelical Christian tradition and (having witnessed its injustices first hand in the Caribbean) a staunch opponent of an vehement campaigner against slavery. Scope and ContentAddress: Master in Chancery's Office, London. To James Cropper Esq, Liverpool. 'I have just recd. a letter from our friend [?Zachary] Macaulay informing me of an intended publication of the Liverpool anti-slavery society of which he supposes a copy has been also sent to me. I have not received it, but from what he says of its contents, am afraid of losing a post in saying to you that I earnestly request its publication may be at least suspended, till we can submit to the consideration of your Society the remarks we have to make on it ...' [no such tract was published by the Liverpool Society of the Abolition of Slavery around this time, perhaps due to Stephen's letter]. Discusses current aspects of the problem of emancipation and concludes that direct legislation by parliament is 'the only means by which anything good for the slaves can or will ever be effected. My hopes I lament to say of any early adoption of such means are very faint indeed, but it is nevertheless our duty to call for them ...'. Autograph, with signature. Conditions governing accessAccess to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Special Collections Reading Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. At least 24 hours notice is required for research visits. Extent2 leaves Physical description9" x 7" System of ArrangementSee hard copy catalogue Finding aidsTypescript catalogue available in the Library's Special Collections Reading Room. Level of descriptionfonds

TitleJames Stephen letter

Held atSenate House Library, University of London

Reference codeAL345

Date1825 November 7

Creator
- Stephen, James (1758-1832) lawyer and slavery abolitionistMore Info on CreatorLess Info on Creator
  James Stephen was born in Poole, Dorset, and received a patchy education at various schools before studying law in Aberdeen and London. During 1783-1794 he worked as a lawyer in St Kitts in the West Indies, and on his permanent return to London he practised in the prize appeal court of the privy council. From 1811 until his death he was Master in Chancery, and he served as MP for Tralee, County Kerry, from 1808 to 1812 and for East Grinstead, Sussex, from 1812 to 1815. Stephen was deeply religious in the evangelical Christian tradition and (having witnessed its injustices first hand in the Caribbean) a staunch opponent of an vehement campaigner against slavery.

Scope and ContentAddress: Master in Chancery's Office, London. To James Cropper Esq, Liverpool. 'I have just recd. a letter from our friend [?Zachary] Macaulay informing me of an intended publication of the Liverpool anti-slavery society of which he supposes a copy has been also sent to me. I have not received it, but from what he says of its contents, am afraid of losing a post in saying to you that I earnestly request its publication may be at least suspended, till we can submit to the consideration of your Society the remarks we have to make on it ...' [no such tract was published by the Liverpool Society of the Abolition of Slavery around this time, perhaps due to Stephen's letter]. Discusses current aspects of the problem of emancipation and concludes that direct legislation by parliament is 'the only means by which anything good for the slaves can or will ever be effected. My hopes I lament to say of any early adoption of such means are very faint indeed, but it is nevertheless our duty to call for them ...'.
Autograph, with signature.

Conditions governing accessAccess to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Special Collections Reading Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. At least 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Extent2 leaves

Physical description9" x 7"

System of ArrangementSee hard copy catalogue

Finding aidsTypescript catalogue available in the Library's Special Collections Reading Room.

Level of descriptionfonds

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