1819 March 28

To Erskine 5 II. Whig Merits[?]

Whigs for Revolution

Came the year 1806 and the cup of power was once more in Whig hands. Fox took his short and parting sip of it. No danger to necks: no danger to estates now. Lawyers, and of course law, were now at their command. All blood might have been preserved, and for ever, from all corruption: they had but to speak the word. But reform now? Sooner would the Thames have run up to Crichliade[?] /Lechlade/. To call /Call/ upon these to reform, was to call upon Mr. Frog to hang himself. Reform was now not simply odious, but by a double title odious: lost by it would be not seats only, but places: places upon which the sitting post had already fixt itself. The people, whose backs would in case of absolute need would once perhaps have been used as stepping stones were now openly insulted. All former demonstrations were now laughed at: engagements were not forgotten but remembered: remembered for the purpose of the joke. Never shall I forget the pantomime /dumb shew/, by which in the Italian manner, a most active agent of the party testified /made known/ to me the change. The people, whose backs, rather than forego all hope of place would peradventure have been used as stepping-stones, were now openly insulted. Thus the Whigs went on. Would you know how, and at as small an expence as possible, learn /would you take[?] as short and at the same time as clear a view of it/ from taylor Place. (+) Alas! my Lord! his /old men's/ thoughts will wander! I had quite forgot who I was talking to.

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