19 Oct r 1807

Lords Delegates

Letter VII

Letter VII Eldon's Bill

Letter VII

My Lord

Before me lies a Bill, Order for printing dated 10 August 1807, and /if/ the papers of the time are to be believed laid upon the Table of the House of Lords by the Lord Chancellor, Lord Eldon.

This Bill will form the /It is this Bill that forms the principal/ subject of the present Letter.

Taking this Bill for its subject at least for its principal subject it is to his Lordship /Lord Eldon/ that on some account it would most naturally be addressed.

Your Lordship's however was the first seal stamped upon the measure. To Your Lordship as first occupant, will belong an incontestable share in whatsoever fruit in the shape of acknowledged merit and respect may ultimately be reaped from it.

With Your Lordship I have contracted that sort of ideal familiarity which results from the habit of correspondence, even where if so it may be said without a solecism the correspondence happens to be, like the sort of reciprocity we sometimes hear of, all on our side. Into the presence, though it is but the ideal presence of the noble and Learned lord I should feel an awkwardness in attempting to intrude (myself).