132-184.xml

Title: [1819 July 10 To Erskine Lett]

Description: 1819 July 10

To Erskine

Lett. 6 ?

§ 7.5. Petitions rely on ?

No indecent animadversions!

3

3

50

9

Not to mention so many other intimations in this same Letter that have already been brought to view, in those which are here brought to view a second time is there not that which if haply the Judge whom Your /his/ Lordship has in contemplation for this adequate judicature should from the Bible or any inferior source of doctrine have learnt that he ought not to be a respecter of persons, would not the quondam head of the law run some risk of being swept off along with us of the swinish multitude into the sink of punishment into the place appointed for libellers? Supposing even that to the animadversions in question by the competent authority /judicatory/ in question the term indecent should not be found applicable – and nobody can be farther than myself from thinking that in this case it is justly applicable, among those appellatives which would be most indecent can /could/ any be found that to the set of men /authority/ in question would be more annoying? – more destructive of that reverence in which, if it were /where it is/ “well founded the legislature and the laws (Your Lordship assures us in this same passage /on this same occasion/) are regarded by the great body of the people? upon which reverence Your Lordship therein also assures us the security and confidence of every country mainly depends?

132-183.xml

Title: [1819 July 10 To Erskine Lett]

Description: 1819 July 10

To Erskine

Lett. 6 ?

§ 7.5. Petitions rely on ?

No indecent animadversions!

2

2

49

8

☞ Quere has not this topic been handled elsewhere already?

On this occasion, it is some satisfaction, though unhappily assuredly not of the most cheering kind to learn from the pen Lord Erskine from the Whig head of the law, even in his matured years what are his affections towards that guardian of all other liberties, the liberty of the press.

Speaking of Parliament, The state of things which his eloquence employs itself in representing as preeminently desirable [+] is that /one/ in which “no impunity” ... is to be expected for any indecent animadversions upon its character and conduct” so that, by some tribunal /judicatory/ or another – it is not stated what, but must of course have been meant if any thing were meant, a /some/ judicatory possessing adequate powers, by some person or persons punishment, and that of course adequate to the purpose of effectual prevention should on so easy a condition as the pronouncing the word indecent be applied to every person making animadversions upon the character and conduct of parliament.

That supposing the Utopia thus described created, I who write this /whose audacity here uttered/ should among the rest of the lower-orders alias swinish multitude be swept off for punishment follows of course: as does likewise the extirpation of all the existing vermin that make their appearance /infest in the shape of newspapers/ that annoy Honourable and Right Honourable eyes in the shape of Newspapers, and the planting in the room of them those of the pure Continental breed, to which we are indebted for such correct and punctual information relative to the locomotion of Kings and those whom each majesty delighteth to honour. In all this there would be nothing worth a thought. But Lord Erskine? how would it fare with Lord Erskine? As above observed Here and there has it not happened to him to say to speak (p. 27) not only of imperfections but of abuses as being in existence – of the removal of them as an operation, a motive for which is rather to be wished than expected ? of the dignity of Parliament (p. 28) as a quality already so effectually gone, that of the recovery of it the very hope may appear visionary or delirious.

Not

[+] p. 32

132-173.xml

Title: [1819 July 9 To Erskine ult]

Description: 1819 July 9

To Erskine

ult o

Lett. 6. E. AntiReformist

§ 7.5. Petitions rely on

40

5

This being understood, when directed to the question in question the language of respect may be universally employed, and with as much facility /little difficulty/ / with no more words/ as the language of the opposite sentiment. The opposite sentiment is accordingly the sentiment which it will have the effect of spreading and inculcating. And this is the effect /sort of advantage/ which by those who think to force respect by the manufacturers of forced respect is at the long run gained at the hands of those who though not strong enough to save themselves from being oppressed are clearsighted enough to save themselves from being duped /they can not help being oppressed may help the being duped/.

{Had I a petition to draw for /at the instance of/ the friends of reform in the three kingdoms /a petition to draw/ for redress of grievance, whether it was to Royal Majesty, to Right Honourable House or to Honourable House for those three are one I would take care /it should be my care/ there should be respect enough: there should be as much as yea more than Royal Majesty Right Honourable House or Honourable House, with all their appetite for forced respect could well /easily/ swallow.}

{“Parliament changed or unchanged as to the general forms of election should have the habitual confidence” says Your Lordship (p. 32) “of all ranks and classes throughout the kingdom, so as that no disturbances could have their origin in any rash distrust of “ their” purity and wisdom, nor popularity be derived from, or impunity expected for, any indecent animadversions upon its character and conduct:}

“The security and confidence” of every country} depending {continues} /mainly says/ Your Lordship mainly upon the well-founded reverence in which the Legislature and the Laws are regarded by the great body of the people. Yes /Or/, my Lord, when (as Your Lordship says) well-founded.