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The Life and Letters of John Gibson Lockhart
Chapter 22: 1850-53
John Gibson Lockhart to James Hope-Scott, 28 September 1850
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
GO TO PAGE NUMBER:
Vol. I. Preface
Vol. I Contents.
Chapter 1: 1794-1808
Chapter 2: 1808-13
Chapter 3: 1813-15
Chapter 4: 1815-17
Chapter 5: 1817-18
Chapter 6: 1817-19
Chapter 7: 1818-20
Chapter 8: 1819-20
Chapter 9: 1820-21
Chapter 10: 1821-24
Chapter 11: 1817-24
Chapter 12: 1821-25
Chapter 13: 1826
Vol. II Contents
Chapter 14: 1826-32
Chapter 15: 1828-32
Chapter 16: 1832-36
Chapter 17: 1837-39
Chapter 18: 1837-43
Chapter 19: 1828-48
Chapter 20: 1826-52
Chapter 21: 1842-50
Chapter 22: 1850-53
Chapter 23: 1853-54
Chapter 24: Conclusion
Vol. II Index
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“Sussex Place, September 28, 1850.

“Dear Hope,—Please return the enclosed, which will show you that I have disbursed abundantly and lately. I cannot doubt that Walter received money some days ago, at latest; but I can’t help it if he has not. The letter you sent me is most insane, or most wicked, or both. He has kept me in a most painful state—but a step of decided rebellion now would, I really believe, put an end to all further interferences on my part. I wrote to him yesterday—the fourth since I had a line from him.

“I am very sorry to hear it confirmed that H. Wilberforce has taken that rash step, and trust Manning will not. The Church of England is in a most difficult and critical position, but it is not, I think, the duty of any individual to act as an individual under such circumstances. He should abide to the last moment that he does not find himself forced to do something which conscience forbids, before he declines to take part with the
340 LIFE OF J. G. LOCKHART.  
body. Surely no private clergyman has a title to claim the initiative before so many bishops. The clergy and laity, if wise, would understand that their ends can be attained in one way only—that is, by altering the complexion of the majority in the House of Commons; and, if they would act in that direction with the zeal they throw away on polemical pamphlets, the power inherent in the Church party might, I still believe, effect very much—especially conjoined, as it would be in the next General Elections, with such a general energy of the landed interests, who now begin to suffer, as every Whig acknowledges, in a manner that has not been shown in recent times.—Ever affectionately yours,

J. G. Lockhart.”