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WIGHT about 800 ft. The elevated part of the island consists of chalky formations, particularly rich in fossil remains, under which are various kinds of schists. Good coal, yellow and red ochre, fullers' earth, sandstone, pipe clay, na- tive alum, sulphur, and copperas stones are found. Sand and flints for the manufacture of glass and china are extensively exported. The climate is remarkably healthful, and so mild that myrtles, geraniums, and many other delicate plants grow luxuriantly in the open air. The soil is generally a rich loam, and a very small portion of the surface is waste. Wheat, oats, barley, turnips, and potatoes are the principal crops. Large flocks of sheep of superior quality are fed upon the uplands. Some manufactures are carried on at New- port. The principal exports are grain, wool, salt, and silicious sand. The Isle of Wight con- tains very extensive barracks, erected from 1800 to 1815. Osborne house, the marine villa of Queen Victoria, is near East Cowes on the N. shore of the island. Carisbrooke castle is near Newport. (See CARISBKOOKE.) WIGHT, Peter Bonnett, an American achitect, born in New York, Aug. 1, 1838. He studied under Thomas E. Jackson, and in 1862 was appointed architect of the new building for the national academy of design. The inten- tion in this structure was to unite sculpture, mosaic, painting, and architecture in one con- ception ; and Mr. Wight encouraged the work- men, under his teaching, to make their own designs for the decorations wrought by them- selves. Among his other works are the Yale school of fine arts at New Haven, the building of the mercantile library association in Brook- lyn, and various buildings in Chicago, where he now resides (1876). WIGHTMAN, William May, an American cler- gyman, born in Charleston, S. C., in 1808. He graduated at the college of Charleston in 1827, and in 1828 was admitted into the South Caro- lina conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1837 he became professor of Eng- lish literature in Kandolph Macon college, Va., but resigned at the close of the next year. He was editor of the Charleston " Southern Chris- tian Advocate" from 1840 to 1854, when he became president of Wofford college. In 1859 he was elected chancellor of the Southern uni- versity, at Greensboro, Ala. In 1866 he was elected bishop of the M. E. church, South. He published in 1858 a life of Bishop Capers. WIGTONSIIIRE, or Wigtownshire, a county of Scotland, bordering on Ayrshire, Kirkcud- brightshire, the Irish sea, and the North chan- nel; area, 512 sq. m. ; pop. in 1871, 38,830. The coast is generally bold and rocky, and in- dented by several bays, the most important of which are those of Wigton, Luce, and Loch Ryan. The principal rivers are the Cree and Badenoch. which are navigable for short dis- tances. The surface is generally hilly, but the elevation above the sea nowhere exceeds 1,500 ft., and in general varies between 400 WILBERFORCE G19 and 900 ft. About one third of the land is arable, but it is generally better suited for grazing than tillage. The principal crops are oats, barley, wheat, and potatoes. Great atten- tion is paid to rearing cattle. Wigton or Wig- town, the capital (pop. about 2,000), is a muni- cipal and parliamentary burgh, near the mouth of the Badenoch in Wigton bay, 16 m. W. by N. of Kirkcudbright. The other chief towns are Stranraer and Whithorn. WILBERFORCE. I. William, an English phi- lanthropist, born in Hull, Aug. 24, 1759, died in London, July 29, 1838. He was educated at Cambridge, and elected to parliament in 1780, and held a seat there till 1826. In the session of 1786 he proposed a plan for purify- ing county elections by establishing a registry of freeholders and holding the poll in several places at once. This measure was incorporated in the reform bill of 1832. Early in 1787 he aided in establishing a society for the reforma- tion of manners. Thomas Clarkson entreated him to exert himself in favor of the abolition of the slave trade, and soon after the meeting of parliament in 1787 he gave notice of his purpose to call the attention of the house to the subject; but in consequence of ill health and other hindrances, it was not till 1791 that he moved for leave to bring in a bill to prevent further importation of African negroes into the British colonies. He continued to press it till 1807, when he secured its adoption in both houses. He next agitated the question of negro emancipation, and continued it till his retirement. Just before his death the emanci- pation act was passed. He published "A Prac- tical View of the prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians in the Higher and Middle Classes of this Country, contrasted with real Christianity" (1797; translated into French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, and German), many essays and pamphlets, and a volume of " Family Prayers. 1 ' His income was largely devoted to charity. He was buried in West- minster abbey, and a statue was erected there to his memory. His sons published his life (5 vols., 1838; new ed., 1868) and a selection from his letters (2 vols., 1840). See also "William Wilberforce: his Friends and his Times," by John C. Colquhoun (London, 1866). II. Robert Isaac, an English clergyman, second son of the preceding, born at Broomfield house, near Clapham common, Dec. 19, 1802, died in Albano, Italy, Feb. 4, 1857. He graduated at Oxford in 1823, was chosen fellow of Oriel college, and became tutor and public examiner in litteris humanioribus. In 1830 he took charge of a parish, and in 1840 obtained the living of Burton Agnes, and was made arch- deacon of the East Riding of Yorkshire. His publications include "The Five Empires, an Outline of Ancient History" (1840; 10th ed., 1856) ; " Rutilius and Lucius, or Stories of the Third Age" (1842); "Doctrine of the Incar- nation" (1848); "Doctrine of Holy Baptism (2d ed., 1849); "History of Erastianism