LORD  BYRON  and  his  TIMES
Byron
Documents Biography Criticism
The “Pope” of Holland House
John Whishaw to Thomas Smith, 18 March 1816
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Preface
Contents
Introduction
Chapter I: 1813
Chapter II: 1814
Chapter III: 1815
Chapter IV: 1816
Chapter V: 1817
Chapter VI: 1818
Chapter VII: 1819
Chapter VIII: 1820
Chapter IX: 1821
Chapter X: 1822
Chapter XI: 1824-33
Chapter XII: 1833-35
Chapter XIII: 1806-40
Chapter XIV: Appendix
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March 18, 1816.

It will give you great pleasure to hear that Lord Lansdowne’s speech on Friday last on military expenditure was universally admired as a most finished performance, and has placed him very high in the first class of public speakers. It was distinguished not only by great clearness of statement and perfect knowledge of a very extensive and intricate subject, but by powers of pleasantry which he had not displayed on any former occasion. It is

1 Proposing a scheme for maintaining the value of bank notes by making them exchangeable, not for gold coin, but for standard bars of gold bullion.

145
The Income Tax
quite an era in his parliamentary life; and I cannot but be very highly gratified that he and Horner, with whom I am so particularly connected, should be precisely the persons who have made the most marked and decided progress in public opinion during the present session.

The Ministers are determined to persist in their income tax, which they expect to carry by a majority of about 30. Many think it will not be quite so great, but that there will be a majority there seems to be no reasonable doubt. It is the strongest act of ministerial power, and the most striking proof of the inadequate state of parliamentary representation that has ever taken place in our time.