1819 Apr. 5

To Erskine 10 III. Whig demerits

Fallacies

1. Glorious Revolution

Whatsoever you wish people to believe if it be true assert it, if false insinuate it: for by [...?] in the effort [...?] emmence[?] falshood save itself from [...?]

They would proceed to observe that those "most virtuous and best informed amongst the higher and enlightened classes of the people, who [...?] took prudent and effectual steps for securing its success without bloodshed": they would this endeavour to cause it to believe that in seeking reform, reformists would rather the business should be done by bloodshed than without it.

They would proceed to observe that those same Whigs of 1688 were confident of the support of a vast majority of the people: of all indeed, who loved freedom and detested [(+)] arbitrary power. They would pretend[?] to /and/ say /exclusive/ These were the Whigs of England at the Revolution;" and to add "and I have never till very lately, heard theor representatives decendants and representatives, whilst they maintained the principles of their forefathers, considered as an unprincipled faction in the state." They would thus endeavour to cause it to be believed that what ever was good in these principles in which every thing was good is maintained by themselves the Whigs of 1819: and that therefore as the appellation of an unpincipled faction in the state, would /could/ not be applied with propriety to these same forefathers, so neither could it be the present /existing/ descandents of those same forefathers.

Well my Lord, now we are come again to those same paw-paw[?] words unprincipled faction. Well my Lord I am glad we are so [...?] to /it is quite pleasant to/ shake hands. No they shan't be called /nobody shall call them/ an unprincipled faction. My bond first: and whoever those were that ever ewre naughty enough to use such words they shall all join with me in the bond. But good as Sancter would say, are good here desire another: and as Lord North said, the reciprocity must not be all on one side. To make the whole matter, before I have done, I think to present /submitt/ to your

Lordship

Lordship a few queries. When those qwueries have received an answer from Your Lordship, the [...?] of attack and defence is cloud[?], and as Blackstone says, every thing is as it should be.

[(+)] p. 4