[copyist’s hand]

nd

To Erskine

3.

Now then as to the persons to whom in the first place under the name of Whigs, Your Lordship’s eloquence has, on this occasion, been pleased to direct our eyes. These are the Whigs of 1688. Hoping for Your Lordship’s pardon, I decline lifting up my eyes, for the present at least, towards any of those | | Yes, were there any of them in a way to become Candidates for Westminster: or even for any other seat. But M r Lamb’s Great Great Grandfather is too generous I am persuaded to entertain, on this or any other occasion, a thought of attempting to supplant his Honourable Great Great Grandson. This much for the House of Commons. Though all the Erskines, if I understand right, have Kings for fore-fathers, your Lordship and your Lordship’s great Great Grandfather are not exactly the same person. A truth so vulgar, your Lordship’s eloquence seems not to have been perfectly aware of: but to us, who are plain men, it has become necessary to have it in remembrance. Thus much for the House of Lords.

The shades of departed heroes being thus dismissed, I proceed to existing flesh and blood. | | in the concisest manner possible, follows a list of their alledged merits, acknowledged by me beforehand in the quality of good deeds.

1. Merit I. p. 5. A o 177 . American War. This gave rise to ‘a general Spirit of reform’. Opposing the war, Whigs favoured reform.

2. Merit II. A o 17 . Vindication of the Rights of Juries. Rex versus Shipley. Per Kings Bench, we are entitled to make the jury verdict. Per Erskine for Defendant: Not so, but the Jury. Argument after argument, Erskine ultimately and virtually triumphant. N.B. Erskine a Whig.

3. Merit III p. 6. Fox’s Libel Act A o 17 . Juries established in the right of giving their own verdict, law as well as fact included.

4. Merit IV. p. 7. A o 1789 &c. French Revolution. Whigs took advantage of it: supported the Revolutionists: opposed Britain’s interference: formed themselves into a Society – that of the Friends of the people – for introducing reform into the parliamentary representation.

5. Merit V. p. 9. A o 1793. Publishing a Declaration exposing the vices of the existing system of Representation.