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National Library of Wales, MS 4812D. Not previously published.
These letters were edited with the assistance of Carol Bolton, Tim Fulford and Ian Packer
For permission to publish the text of MSS in their possession, the editor wishes to thank the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library, Yale University; Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations; the Bodleian Library Oxford University; the British Library; Boston Public Library; the Syndics of Cambridge University Library; the Syndics of the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge; Haverford College, Connecticut; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; the Hornby Library, Liverpool Libraries and Information Services; the Houghton Library, Harvard University; the John Rylands Library, Manchester; the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas; Luton Museum (Bedfordshire County Council); Massachusetts Historical Society; McGill University Library; the National Library of Scotland; the Newberry Library, Chicago; the New York Public Library (Pforzheimer Collections); the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York; the Public Record Offices of Bedford, Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds) and Northumberland, the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge; the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne; the Trustees of the William Salt Library, Stafford, the Wisbech and Fenland Museum; the University of Virginia Library.
A research grant from the British Academy made much of the archival work possible, as did support from the English Department of Nottingham Trent University.
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Thank you for your early applicationxxxxxxxxxxxxx
sure of never being disappointed again. For xxx I have now neither expectation, hope, xx <or> I
believe I may add, possibility of ever any thing beyond what the grey goose quill may procure. In this case I had good
interest, as well as a fair claim.
In speaking of the xxx evils to be dreaded in consequence of Percevals death I looked forward to what appears to me a change of system with respect to the Peninsula, –
concessions to America, & concessions to the Catholics. With regard to the first point, – I have more fears at this moment for
G Britain than for Spain. As to America it is not all the concessions not on our part, nor all the sufferance
imaginable which can conciliate a party <Governments> leagued with France & bribed with the promise of the
spoils of Spain. America will go to war with us at last whenever she can no longer injure us as effectually by measures short of
hostility & whenever she can muster up courage enough for it – which submission on our part will be the best means of giving
her, – disputes of this kind – se termineront toujours a une guerre non seulement parce que l’homme prudent se
lasse a souffrir, mais aussi parce que l’insolent se lasse d’etre souffert.
Upon the effects of Catholic concessions in Ireland I shall endeavour to explain my own notions in reply to Adderley, & will enclose the letter to you. Its effects in England will be to hasten
on that downfall of the Establishment which so many causes are at this time operating to bring about. You know I am neither a
bigot, nor a hypocrite – I never conceal my dissent from the Church upon some very material points, – still I regard it as the
best Establishment which the Xtian world has ever yet seen, – & xx one infinitely better than any thing which could
be substituted in its place. – You x xx I know are a churc sincere churchman, & I suppose your immediate
friends are so, – but you must know that many of the party who sit with you are not. Foxthe measure <it>
to those who call themselves – or who think themselves – philosophers.
The sale of the tythes is such a measure. It would be popular beyond a doubt. Whatever Minister should propose it
would have the farmers with him, & the country gentlemen, – he would have the Dissenters, & the xxxxxxxxphilosophes, & the Catholics whom your Emancipation would bring into Parliament would all of course
support him. M. Wellesley if he becomes Minister will act as he did in India, he
will carry on the war triumphantly, careless of the cost. He is right in this, & if he took the money from the sinking fund,
or raised it by a hearth tax, or a graduated poll-tax I would applaud him. But the tythes offer a recourse xxx readier
resource, – because there would be only the party who are to be none to stand up in their defence except the party to
be plundered. Whenever that is done, the Establishment will in reality to be formed anew, & then it will be virtually put up
to the lowest bidder: – a prospect which will reconcile the Saints to the new Reformation.
Oh my dear Wynn we are in a fearful state. The dragons teeth have been sown on all sides of us, – & where is
the Jasoneasily too easily put away the thought because the time of its coming is uncertain. Do you remember what is
said in Espriella of the tendency of the Manufacturing system to this state?Jacquerie from which nothing but the Army
preserves us. How long that may be depended upon God knows, – but the end of these things is the loss of English liberty. – I
believe <that> the proudest days of England are to come, & that her happiest days are over. A great minister, if he were
as good a man as Washington or Jovellanoseven this is at
times overpowerd by his sensuality.