date

1819 Mar. 27 To Erskine Lett
1819 Mar. 27

To Erskine

Lett. IX Whigs self-condemned

antireformists

Earl Greys change

2

Is this rhetoric my Lord? Is this eloquence? my Lord is this rhetoric? No, my Lord: if a name of art or science must be found for it, it is logic: in it is no fallacy: it is close reasoning: find if you can a flaw in it.

In current language, rich is synonymous to virtuous; powerful is synonymous to virtuous: poor to vicious. That which a man may be punished for is wrong: that which a man can not be punished for is right: and no man now is or can be punished for any thing he does in Parliament. To tell a lie out of Parliament is wrong and shameful and inexcusable, always excepted those lies into which men are forced, or to which they are invited by Judges or by Parliament. To tell a lie in Parliament especially if it be for the concealing the imperfections and corruptions of the system of Parliament is even on the opposition side not wrong, if on the ministerial side not only meritorious but indispensable. The whole frame of Government rests on false pretences: the machine could not keep itself at work for two days together were it not for false pretences.

The education of the rising generation – the holy Church itself is placed /seated/ on the rock of perjury. + Without /But for/ Perjury the University would be a desert. But for declaration and subscription notoriously false, the whole spiritual branch of the official establishment would be a desert.

+ For proof see “Swear not at all”. London 181| |.

[marginal note:] There my Lord
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