Attributed to Thomas Babington Macaulay.

TO THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM WILBERFORCE

(BORN IN HULL AUGUST 24TH 1759,
DIED IN LONDON JULY 29TH 1833)
FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY
A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
AND, FOR SIX PARLIAMENTS DURING THAT PERIOD,
ONE OF THE TWO REPRESENTATIVES FOR YORKSHIRE.

IN AN AGE AND COUNTRY FERTILE
IN GREAT AND GOOD MEN,
HE WAS AMONG THE FOREMOST OF THOSE
WHO FIXED THE CHARACTER OF THEIR TIMES,
BECAUSE TO HIGH AND VARIOUS TALENTS
TO WARM BENEVOLENCE, AND TO UNIVERSAL CANDOUR,
HE ADDED THE ABIDING ELOQUENCE OF A CHRISTIAN LIFE.

EMINENT AS HE WAS IN EVERY
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC LABOUR,
AND A LEADER IN EVERY WORK OF CHARITY,
WHETHER TO RELIEVE THE TEMPORAL OF THE
SPIRITUAL WANTS OF HIS FELLOW MEN HIS NAME WILL EVER BE
SPECIALLY IDENTIFIED WITH THOSE EXERTIONS
WHICH, BY THE BLESSING OF GOD, REMOVED FROM ENGLAND
THE GUILT OF THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE,
AND PREPARED THE WAY FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY
IN EVERY COLONY OF THE EMPIRE.

IN THE PROSECUTION OF THESE OBJECTS,
HE RELIED, NOT IN VAIN, ON GOD;
BUT IN THE PROGRESS, HE WAS CALLED TO ENDURE
GREAT OBLOQUY AND GREAT OPPOSITION.
HE OUTLIVED, HOWEVER, ALL ENMITY:
AND, IN THE EVENING OF HIS DAYS,
WITHDREW FROM PUBLIC LIFE AND PUBLIC
OBSERVATION TO THE BOSOM OF HIS FAMILY.
YET HE DIED NOT UNNOTICED
OR FORGOTTEN BY HIS COUNTRY.
THE PEERS AND COMMONS OF ENGLAND,
WITH THE LORD CHANCELLOR,
AND THE SPEAKER, AT THEIR HEAD,
CARRIED HIM TO HIS FITTING PLACE
AMONG THE MIGHTY DEAD AROUND,
HERE TO REPOSE:
TILL, THROUGH THE MERITS OF JESUS CHRIST,
HIS ONLY REDEEMER AND SAVIOUR,
(WHOM, IN HIS LIFE AND IN HIS WRITINGS
HE HAD DESIRED TO GLORIFY,)
HE SHALL RISE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST.