[ABOLITION] Signed Fowell Buxton re: Slavery Abolition Act, 1833 Letter

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Day 2: Early & Historic Americana

By Fleischer's Auctions

Oct 10, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-10-10 09:00:00 2025-10-10 09:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Day 2: Early & Historic Americana https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/fleischers-auctions/day-2-early-historic-americana-19250
Day one of Fleischer's 2025 Fall Premier auction includes early American artifacts, documents, signatures, ephemera, and weaponry. Rare material relating to African American history is featured, as well as fine examples of antique photography. Fleischer's Auctions info@fleischersauctions.com

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• Lot Description

  ...I hope the Country will say, for real Emancipation we will give the money, but not else.

   

  Autograph letter signed by Thomas Fowell Buxton to William Knibb. London, [England], 6 July 1833. 

   

  4to, 4 pages. With integral address panel with free frank London crown cancel in red dated 6 July 1833, with additional red cross-shaped stamp. 

   

  A very rare, unpublished letter entirely in the hand of Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, 1st Baronet Buxton of Belfield and Runton (1786-1845), the influential abolitionist, co-founder of the Anti-Slavery Society, and close friend of William Wilberforce.

   

  The complete abolition of the slave trade in the United Kingdom was gradual, with signal victories along the way, including the 1807 Act, which forbade the trade of slaves, but not slavery itself; the 1823 formation of the Anti-Slavery Society by Thomas Fowell Buxton, William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson, and others, with the explicit aim of ending all slavery in any form; and the subject of this letter, the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 in the British Empire. Wilberforce led the abolition movement in the House of Commons until his retirement in 1825 due to progressively ill health, when the mantle of leadership passed to Buxton. 

   

  The present letter, dated 6 July 1833, just 16 days before the second (and ultimately final) reading in the House of Commons, reflects Buxton's outrage at the latest draft of the Act returned by the Government, which attempted a last-minute additional concession to the slave owners. Instead of outright abolition, a 12-year mandatory period of "apprenticeship" for all slaves over 6 years of age following their release was introduced. Only those under 6 were immediately manumitted and taken in by schools for the education of the young children of the newly freed [but "apprenticed"] slaves.

   

  The letter is addressed to Baptist minister Rev. William Knibb (1803-1845). Knibb began missionary work in Jamaica when he was just 21 and quickly became an ally of the enslaved population and an advocate for emancipation. In 1832, he returned to England to further the abolitionist cause, speaking across England and Scotland. 

   

  Buxton writes with urgency and vehemence to his colleague, in full: "Your letter reaches me at a moment of extreme anxiety and perplexity. Our Bill was brought in last night & it contains 12 years apprenticeship!! What the Govt means by this act of madness as well as wickedness I cannot tell, but I trust it will procure them a defeat. The Country must remonstrate against the 12 years. I say at the same time that they will give the money of the apprenticeship up & not otherwise. Pray I need not say to you to exert yourself. We must act with infinite care not to throw out the bill, but yet we must have a strong expression of feeling from the Country, & I pray you get it for us if possible. I hope the Country will say, for real Emancipation we will give the money, but not else."

   

  Ultimately, there was a painful compromise on the part of the abolitionists. The Act, as planned, compensated enslavers with £20 million for the “cost” of losing their labor force. According to the original plan, the enslaved children under the age of 6 were freed immediately. The despised apprenticeship was enacted, though for a period of 6 years rather than 12. Abolitionists in Great Britain continued to push for the end of this system and were at last successful in winning complete emancipation for all enslaved people on 1 August 1838.

   

  The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 was passed unopposed on 22 July.  Wilberforce learned of the success on 26 July and died 3 days later. Buxton remained in Parliament until 1837 and continued to advocate for stronger and more complete emancipation. Knibb returned to Jamaica and worked to provide support for the newly emancipated. In 1988, he was posthumously honored with the Jamaican Order of Merit, the first white male to receive the country's highest civil honor. 

   

  A significant letter in the history of abolition.

   

  [African Americana, African American History, Black History, Slavery, Enslavement, Abolition, Emancipation]  [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs]

  Condition

  Request Condition Report

  Contemporary loss at seal, bifolium separated at hinge. Some tears and losses at extremities, nothing being rendered illegible and the paper remaining in good condition.

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