date

1819 March 14 Letter 6. Whigs Anti
1819 March 14

Letter 6. Whigs Anti Reformists

Erskines Reform I. or III Shape

Earl Grey

9?

3

10

disagree on the question how far it was advisable to go in those measures by which the appearance of endeavouring at the end should be kept up. Differ they would of course: and if they could not have differed otherwise, nothing could have been more easy for them than to have agreed to differ: and suppose them all agreed – suppose Honourable House as unanimous in wishing for reform as it was in wishing the contrary, there was the Monarch – there were the Lords – there was the balance of the Constitution – what could one branch of the legislature do against two? There was the Revolution. What? could they have done any thing more for the people than was done at and by the Revolution? Oh no perish the people rather that would be to “cast into shade the character of the Revolution itself.” [*] For why? a little beyond the Revolution it suits not Your Lordships “Great body” ever to budge: the people were made for the Revolution: not the revolution for the people.

people. Change Kings and welcome as often as they can find one that will suit them better than the one we have. This is what they are always ready to do: ready to do when /whenever/ it is impossible to be done /when nobody wants it to be done/, and no good to be done by doing it /no reason for doing it/. Change Kings and welcome! any thing but change representatives: any thing but suffer the people to choose those whom they are said to choose {any thing but to substitute the thing which is to the thing which is not:} any thing but suffer the people to save themselves from being systematically oppressed and plundered by their pretended protectors

[*] p. 2
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