1819 March 29

To Erskine

E. against Reform

{Whigs against Reform}

5

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Now my Lord as to my part in taking my chance for Lord Grey’s forgiveness for entertaining in reality this one of the opinions which when M r Grey he professed – as to my part I am much inclined to be of opinion, that “this House will never reform itself, or destroy the corruption by which it is upheld, by any other means than those of the resolutions of the people acting upon the prudence of the House, and that point they could only accomplish by meeting in bodies as recommended by the Minister (Pitt) in 1782.” [*]

For my own part notwithstanding your Lordships declared aversion to rash ignorant and mischievous men p 30 and to any such spirit as an inflamed and ungovernable spirit, I have no doubt of your Lordships being in one condition – in perfect readiness to concur in the advice given by M r Pitt in 1782 when Minister as above and by the said M r Grey in 1794 when in opposition as above, so far as regards the meeting in bodies. This condition is that there shall be no noise made.

I remember hearing or reading, I forget where, of a man who had invented he said /an invention that had been hit upon/ a sort of gunpowder that did its business without making a noise. When this species of gunpowder is fairly come into use, I make no doubt that Your Lordship who is the same man at all times, and Lord Grey, who without being able to tell why is so much wiser than he was in 1794, and at all times equally honest and sincere, will be ready to concurr in so “acting upon the prudence of the House”, as to engage it to reform itself,” and “destroy the corruption by which it is upheld.

[*] A o 1794