1819 May 12 + II

To Erskine

penult o

Lett. 6. E. Anti Reformists

Lett. 6. Whigs against Reform

21

1

Your Lordships prudence will never permitt /never has permitted it never/ Your Lordships eloquence to argue upon this ground: upon the state of interests Your Lordship dares not deny that the greatest interest of the greatest number is the only fit object – the measure of right and wrong in politics Your Lordship dares not deny that the interest of Your Lordships Clients have a separate interest adverse to that universal interest and as being more concentrated, always stronger and more effective.

Your Lordship will not deny that it is not in the power of Your Lordships Clients to render any effectual and lasting service to the universal interest without thus making a proportionable sacrifice to it of that particular interest which is in common to them /they possess/. Your Lordship is not able to produce any proof of general willingness on their part to make any such sacrifice. Your Lordship is not able to produce any one instance of a sacrifice made

Your Lordships wisdom has informed does inform and will continue to inform Your Lordship that this ground is the true ground and the only true one. But Your Lordships prudence never has permitted, does not now permitt nor ever will permitt Your Lordships eloquence to argue it upon this ground