[copyist’s hand]

nd [wm 1818]

To Erskine

1

Letter III. Peoples alledged errors: in particular as to influence

After exhibiting to view, as above, the alledged Merits of the Whigs, your Lordship proceeds to bring to view certain errors – “great errors” which (your Lordship says) “have been entertained to their prejudice”

Error 1. (p. 17.) that ... the whole body of these Whigs ... should be represented as an unprincipled faction. Persons of course chargeable with this error those by whom such Representations have been made.

Error II. – that they should thus be “ publickly represented.”

Error III. Error. 3. (p. 17.) Merely because they espoused the pretensions “of an unblemished Gentleman, of a suitable rank in the world, and duly qualified to sit in Parliament for Westminster:” the error here alluded to being doubtless that of suffering these considerations to operate on their minds, as presenting the sole cause of the making of that same erroneous representation.

4. Error 4. Publickly representing M r Perry, Editor of the Morning Chronicle, as the corrupt tool of a corrupt faction” – that “he was publickly represented” &c. says your Lordship.

5. Error 5. Considering certain influences as unjust and illegal (p. 19:) “influences” (says your Lordship) being considered as unjust and illegal”. – Well – and what influence? Answer influence which, according to the definition which your Lordship immediately proceeds to give of them, are influences which, in all free and popular Elections, must from the very nature of human affairs, perpetually exist.

6. Error 6. (an error peculiar to Sir Francis Burdett.) “provoking the hostility on widening the breach, with a large body of men, possessing property and influence of various descriptions.

In regard to each of these alledged errors I must now take leave to submitt to your Lordship a few words of observations.

1. Alledged Error 1. Representing “the whole body of the Whigs as an ‘ unprincipled faction.

Observations. On this occasion, the error, if any, consists in the use of these two last words. Paw-paw words I should be inclined to call them, could I be assured that by the late Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain neither these words, nor any corresponding ones, were ever used. The words themselves nor at any rate not used by him against the people: for the people being too low to be capable of having principles, they are too low to be charged with want of principles:

and