1819 June 16

To Erskine

Let. 7. Whigs AntiReformists

§.5. Pos. 4. Whig Excellence

7

After the distress /distressful state/ to which Your Lordship’s Clients have been reduced it may seem barbarous to push them on the ground any farther. But the /this/ barbarity – it is none of mine – these troublesome questions they have already been pressed with them. It is by M r H. they have been thus pushed. Against this logic what are the resources of Your Lordships eloquence /rhetoric/? Had it been Edmund Burke been on Your Lordships case he would have had his answer /argument/ ready I hate metaphysics: this is a question about identity: this is metaphysics: I hate metaphysics. Thieves hate gas-lights: Burke hated metaphysics.

☞ Give a sketch of what Wilkins[?] says on this ground.