1819 June 7 +

To Erskine

Lett. 6. E. Anti Reformist

§ 7.5. Petitions rely on

3

44

3

As to the insinuation, it was no more than what, considering the side he had taken was absolutely necessary should be conveyed: my learned and Honourable friend neither himself thought /thinking/ thus meanly of us, nor having any apprehension that any body else would. “And on this occasion prudence was not less conspicuous than benevolence; for, as we are informed by the Editor of this speech of his (Hansard June 2 d 1818) not all the wishes which were so “generally expressed” could prevail upon him to enable the Editor “to print a corrected account of it.”

Be this as it may, this is one of the thousand and one precedents, the consideration of any one of which would suffice to exempt altogether from the charge of insincerity any expression of respect, how profound so ever, that might be observable in any petition which it might happen to me or any one, to have drawn for presentation in Honourable House. No one who knew any thing of me would be so unjust as to suppose, that in any respect which it happened to me to express as towards Honourable House, so constituted as at present, I meant what I said any more, than, in what they had said of their regard for the interests of the people any of our Monarchs – Kings, Queens and Princes – meant what they said.

As of Common Law, so of Parliamentary law – as of that branch of ex-post-facto law which is made by men really appointed by the King, so of that other branch which is made by men falsely said to be appointed by the people – it is an uncontrovertable maxim – that every thing that is done must have some falshood for its ground. Nor can any ground be more convenient: for thus it is, that every thing which it is expedient should be done, may at all times be done, according to existing circumstances: since, with whatsoever case that which is false may by learned men with their practical minds be taken for true, it may upon every proper occasion, by the same practical minds, and with still less difficulty, be taken for what it is.

“To Kings’ example all the world is fashioned” – says I forget what Latin poet with not more rhythm than reason not less reason than rhythm.