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A Memoir of the Reverend Sydney Smith
Letters 1842
Sydney Smith to Lord Denman, October 1842
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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Combe Florey, October, 1842.
My dear Lord,

I have received your speech upon affirmations; and though it is not said so on the white leaf, I believe you sent it to me: if not, leave me in the honourable delusion.

Your great difficulty in arguing such a question is akin to that of proving that two and two are equivalent to four. All that the Legislature ought to inquire is, whether this scruple is now become so common as to cause the frequent interruption of justice. This admitted, the remedy ought to follow as a matter of course. We are to get the best evidence for establishing truth,—not the best evidence we can imagine, but the best evidence we can procure; and if you cannot get oath, you must put up with affirmation, as far better than no evidence at all. But one is ashamed to descant upon such obvious truths.

One obvious truth however I have always great pleasure in descanting upon; and that is, that I always see the Chief Justice leading the way in everything that is brave, liberal, and wise; and I beg he will accept my best wishes and kind regards.

Sydney Smith.