1819 May 11 {C} E

To Erskine

ult o

Lett. 6. Whig anti Reform

State of interest

General challenge

{3} 1

22

2

The state of interests! the state of interests! theirs[?] is the true – the only true ground of argument. Honourable Gentlemen know it is: in vain would they deny it. On the memorable | | 1812 it was forced upon them /the book on which that ground was for the first time laid down/ by the Hon. ble M r Ward. The Whigs thought the triumph was there: they found they thus were triumph was over themselves: they were confounded After a pause like that in Pandæmonium Romilly at length acting the part of the ruler[?] of it rose for their conciliation: admirable was the prudence he displayed: neither party interest /connection/ nor personal friendship though so opposite to each other he could find cause for complaint: sorry he said he was for the part his friend had taken – sorry he truly was, and well he might be: Honourable House Tories and Whigs together was not dissatisfied: I, new /unpræcommunicated[?]/ and unexpected by me, was richly satisfied.

[marginal insertion:] Yet were his party sorrow ever so sincere there was a mixture of public comfort as well as of private sympathy at the bottom of it.

I repeat it – /Among those individ/ not an individual who possesses the faculty of thought (and it is not even one who does in any degree possess it) not an /a single/ individual to whom it can be unknown that the question has been placed upon that ground and that it is the only true ground. Not an individual unless M r Francis Burdett be an exception who dares argue the question upon that ground