“Although I have not yet made my appearance amongst the fifteen hundred friends, who (as I understand from the daily papers) have already congratulated your Lordship on your having attained the highest honours of your profession, you will, I am sure, do me the justice to believe that there is no person who rejoices more sincerely in that event, or who looks forward to the result of it with greater expectation than I do.
“That one, who has hitherto unceasingly devoted himself
to the greatest and most generous pursuits, should be placed in a situation
where the greatest facilities are afforded for benefiting
| 394 | LIFE OF WILLIAM ROSCOE. |
“My attention was recalled a few days ago to the period of our more frequent intercourse, by the receipt of a small pamphlet from Mr. George Forwood, who is now stipendiary superintendant of the poor in Liverpool. This pamphlet is upon the subject which now occupies the entire attention of the nation,—the extension of suffrage,—and is written (as he tells me in a note) for the purpose of exemplifying one of the principles upon which (in my letter to you, addressed to you now upwards of twenty years ago) I proposed my plan of reform;—namely, ‘to extend the right of voting to all, who, as householders, are heads of families, and contribute to the exigencies of the state; as well as to some others of the community.’
“As the pamphlet just sent me enters somewhat more
particularly into the subject, and as the author has requested that, if I
should think favourably of his attempt, I would bring it more immediately under
your notice, I have sent your Lordship a copy of it; not doubting that all
| LIFE OF WILLIAM ROSCOE. | 395 |
“A few of my friends here having thought proper, on the present occasion, to republish my letter on Reform, addressed to your Lordship in the year 1810, I venture to trouble you with two copies of it; and as I do not recollect, at this distance of time, whether I ever gave you a copy of my neighbour Mr. Merritt’s letter to me on that subject, and of my answer to him, I also send copies of each of these,—and am on all occasions, with the sincerest respect and attachment, my dear Lord,” &c. &c.
