I am truly concerned to see you (in the papers) talking of your health, as you are reported to have done. God grant you may be more deceived in that, than you are in the state of the country! Pray tell me how you are, when you can find leisure to do so.
I entirely agree with you, that force alone, without some
attempts at conciliation, will not do. Readers are fourfold in number, compared
with what they were before the beginning of the French war; and demagogues
will, of course, address to them every species of disaffection. As the violence
of restraint increases, there will be private presses, as there are private
stills. Juries will acquit, being themselves Jacobins. It is possible for able
men to do a great deal of mischief in libels, which it is extremely difficult
to punish as libels; and the worst of it all is, that a considerable portion of
what these rascals say, is so very true. Their remedies are worse than the
evils; but when they state to the people how they are bought and sold, and the
abuses entailed upon the country by so corrupted a
| 188 | MEMOIR OF THE REV. SYDNEY SMITH. |
What I want to see the State do, is, to listen in these sad times to some of its numerous enemies. Why not do something for the Catholics, and scratch them off the list? Then come the Protestant Dissenters. Then, of measures,—a mitigation of the game-laws—commutation-of tithes—granting to such towns as Birmingham and Manchester the seats in Parliament taken from the rottenness of Cornwall—revision of the Penal Code—sale of the Crown lands—sacrifice of the Droits of Admiralty against a new war;—anything that would show the Government to the people in some other attitude than that of taxing, punishing, and restraining. I believe what Tierney said to be strictly true,—that the House of Commons is falling into contempt with the people. Democracy has many more friends among tradesmen and persons of that class of life than is known or supposed commonly. I believe the feeling is most rapidly increasing; and that Parliament, in two or three years’ time, will meet under much greater circumstances of terror than those under which it is at present assembled.
From these speculations I slide, by a gentle transition,
to Lady Grey: how is she? how is Lord Howick? Are you at your ease about the young
man? If ever you will send him, or any of your sons, upon a visit to me, it
will give me great pleasure to see them. They shall hear no Tory sentiments,
and Howick will appear to be the centre of gaiety and animation compared to
Foston. I am delighted with the part Lord
Lansdowne has taken: he seems to have made a most admirable
speech; but, after all, I believe
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