1819 March 28

To Erskine 4 II. Whig Merits[?]

With the French Revolution came the Revolutionary war. The prospect from Parliamentary Reform was now brightened. It went on with so much spirit, that Charles Fox almost fancied /could fancy/ the Hustings were almost as dear to him as the gaming-table. This continued not /It did not go on/ long. The aristocrats feared that instead of getting places they should lose their seats: their seats and such of them as had titles even their titles. At S\T tT\ Jamess and Saint Stephen's Burke had played his game better than Fox. /Answer Burke said the first Lord Lansdown to [...?] My Lord, I can not: I disagree with him in some things; but I agree with him in others. So much the better, quoth he. I hesitated: but while I was hesitating, other cases pressed upon my time and engrossed it./ Fox cold only speak: Burke could not only speak but write. He made all the cowards in the kingdom quake with fear, all the tyrants foam with rage. Burke got his ,3,000 a year for it. A remnant of the Whigs received a call with him, and were converted. Fox was again left in the lurch. Legitimacy took the place of divine right: the periodicals have ever since been filled with. Passive obedience and non-resistance - for of waste and corruption and hatred of economy and reform has ever since been the creed of all readers who are without understanding, and of all writers who are without shame. As terror spread Fox and his Whigs became alarmed not only for their seats but for their necks. To construe reform into treason would have cost but a few words: and these words Judges always /ever/ have been and always /ever/ will be, ready with. For the edification of such as had estates, corruption of blood had continued. Abbot had lent himself for this service, he had thus earnt his Speakership and of course his Lordship. Corruption of blood your Lordship need not be informed, is a phrase, by the virtue of which /by which/ for the supposed offence of one individual others are punished in countless multitudes.