“. . . Your philosophy is well and solidly grounded. These are feeble grievances as long as you are all well: nay, I might add, what are grievances like these to those of Lord and Ly. Salisbury—the one, the descendant of old Cecil and aged 80 years—the other, the head and ornament and patroness of the beau monde of London for the last 40 years, and yet to have £2000 per ann. taken out of their pockets at last by a rude and virtuous House of Commons. . . . If this distress will but pinch these dirty, shabby landed voters two sessions more, there’s no saying at what degree of purity we shall arrive. Meantime, all your place and pension holders must shake in their shoes. . . . Here is Grey in such roaring spirits, and so affable that I should not be surprised at the offer of a place from him when he comes in, which I am sure he now thinks must be very soon indeed. But Abercromby for my money: he told me last night it was all over with the present men.”
