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A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1819
Sydney Smith to Lady Grey, 3 November 1819
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Author's Preface
Contents
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Index
Editor’s Preface
Letters 1801
Letters 1802
Letters 1803
Letters 1804
Letters 1805
Letters 1806
Letters 1807
Letters 1808
Letters 1809
Letters 1810
Letters 1811
Letters 1812
Letters 1813
Letters 1814
Letters 1815
Letters 1816
Letters 1817
Letters 1818
Letters 1819
Letters 1820
Letters 1821
Letters 1822
Letters 1823
Letters 1824
Letters 1825
Letters 1826
Letters 1827
Letters 1828
Letters 1829
Letters 1830
Letters 1831
Letters 1832
Letters 1833
Letters 1834
Letters 1835
Letters 1836
Letters 1837
Letters 1838
Letters 1839
Letters 1840
Letters 1841
Letters 1842
Letters 1843
Letters 1844
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Foston, Nov. 3rd, 1819.

I am truly concerned, my dear Lady Grey, to hear Lord Grey has been so ill; and I thank you sincerely for the confidence you show in my attachment to him, by informing me of it. For himself, it would be far
MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH.185
better if he could remain quietly in the country, but the times will not admit of it; so do you inculcate prudence in what concerns the body, and he will go with the good wishes of all honest men.

I think if I were to talk over the matter with Lord Grey, I should hardly differ with him upon any one point;—certainly not upon the enormity of the outrage at Manchester, upon the necessity of county meetings, upon the reprehensible conduct of Ministers in approving of the proceedings of the magistrates, and upon the folly and iniquity of dismissing Lord Fitzwilliam.

I cannot measure the danger; I guess there is no more danger at present than what vigilance and activity, without any new and extraordinary coercion, may guard against. With a failing revenue, depressed commerce, manufactures, and industry, and with an Administration determined to concede nothing, there may be hereafter a struggle. If there be, it will not end in democracy, but in despotism. In which of these two evils it terminates, is of no more consequence than from which tube of a double-barrelled pistol I meet my destruction.

Yours, dear Lady Grey, with affection and respect,

Sydney Smith.