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nd [wm 1818]

To Erskine

1

Letter III. Peoples alledged errors: in particular as to influence

After exhibiting to view, as above, the alledged Merits of the Whigs, your Lordship proceeds to bring to view certain errors – “great errors” which (your Lordship says) “have been entertained to their prejudice”

Error 1. (p. 17.) that ... the whole body of these Whigs ... should be represented as an unprincipled faction. Persons of course chargeable with this error those by whom such Representations have been made.

Error II. – that they should thus be “ publickly represented.”

Error III. Error. 3. (p. 17.) Merely because they espoused the pretensions “of an unblemished Gentleman, of a suitable rank in the world, and duly qualified to sit in Parliament for Westminster:” the error here alluded to being doubtless that of suffering these considerations to operate on their minds, as presenting the sole cause of the making of that same erroneous representation.

4. Error 4. Publickly representing M r Perry, Editor of the Morning Chronicle, as the corrupt tool of a corrupt faction” – that “he was publickly represented” &c. says your Lordship.

5. Error 5. Considering certain influences as unjust and illegal (p. 19:) “influences” (says your Lordship) being considered as unjust and illegal”. – Well – and what influence? Answer influence which, according to the definition which your Lordship immediately proceeds to give of them, are influences which, in all free and popular Elections, must from the very nature of human affairs, perpetually exist.

6. Error 6. (an error peculiar to Sir Francis Burdett.) “provoking the hostility on widening the breach, with a large body of men, possessing property and influence of various descriptions.

In regard to each of these alledged errors I must now take leave to submitt to your Lordship a few words of observations.

1. Alledged Error 1. Representing “the whole body of the Whigs as an ‘ unprincipled faction.

Observations. On this occasion, the error, if any, consists in the use of these two last words. Paw-paw words I should be inclined to call them, could I be assured that by the late Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain neither these words, nor any corresponding ones, were ever used. The words themselves nor at any rate not used by him against the people: for the people being too low to be capable of having principles, they are too low to be charged with want of principles:

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  • Title: [1819 March 15 Lett III + + To Erskine]
    Description: 1819 March 15 Lett III + +

    To Erskine

    III Peoples Error

    § 1. Letter

    1

    1

    Letter III. People’s alledged errors: in particular as to influence

    After exhibiting to view, as above, the alledged merits of the Whigs, Your Lordship proceeds to bring to view certain errors – “great errors” – which (Your Lordship says) “have been entertained to their prejudice”.

    Error I (p. 17.) “that ... the whole body of these Whigs ... should be represented as an unprincipled faction ...” – Persons of course chargeable with this error those by whom such representations have been made.

    Error II: – that they should thus be “ publickly represented.”

    Error III. Error 3 (p. 17.) merely because they espoused the pretensions “of an unblemished Gentleman, of a suitable rank in the world, and duly qualified to sit in parliament for Westminster” ... the error here alluded to being doubtless that of suffering these considerations to operate on their minds, as presenting the sole cause of the making of that same erroneous representation.

    4. Error 4: publickly representing M r Parry, Editor “of the Morning Chronicle as the corrupt tool of a corrupt faction: ...” that “he was publickly represented” &c says Your Lordship.

    5. Error 5. Considering certain influences “as unjust and illegal” (p. 19): “influences” (says Your Lordship) “being considered as unjust and illegal” ... Well and what influence? Answer. – influences which, according to the definition which Your Lordship immediately proceeds to give of them, are “influences which, in all free and popular elections, must from the very nature of human affairs perpetually exist.” [+]

    6. Error 6 (an error peculiar to Francis Burdett) ... “provoking the hostility, or widening the breach, with a large body of men, possessing property and influence of various descriptions.” [++]

    [+] p. 19

    [++] p. 21
  • Title: [1819 Apr. 3 + To Erskine IV]
    Description: 1819 Apr. 3 +

    To Erskine

    IV. Peoples Errors

    1

    2

    In regard to each of these alledged errors I must now take leave to submitt to Your Lordship a few words of observation.

    1 Alledged Error I. Representing “the whole body of the Whigs as “an unprincipled faction”.

    Observations. On this occasion, the error, if any, consists in the use of these two words. Paw-paw words I should be inclined to call them, could I be assured that by the late Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain neither these words nor any correspondent ones were ever used. The words themselves, no: at any rate not used by him against the people: for the people, being too low to be capable of having principles, they are too low to be charged with want of principles: and as to “ faction” – to wit /meaning/ a bad party – the people, such is their humiliation, neither are themselves party, nor exists there any such thing as a formed a party, which they dare look to and speak of as being theirs. But that in the above reported list of Your Lordship’s dark-coloured rhetorical flowers, flowers might be found, not less dark on him than these, is what I should not expect to be called upon by Your Lordship to deny. “Wicked men – Gangs of distracted men – rash, ignorant and mischievous men”. Here If on the one side we have the “Olivier”, on the other (it should seem) we have the “Roland”: If on the one side we have the “ pot”, on the other side we have the “kettle”.
  • Title: [1819 Apr. 5 To Erskine 10 III. Whig]
    Description: 1819 Apr. 5

    To Erskine 10 III. Whig demerits

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