LORD  BYRON  and  his  TIMES
Byron
Documents Biography Criticism
In Whig Society 1775-1818
Charles Grey to Lady Melbourne, [1793 c.]
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Introduction
Contents
Forward
Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter III.
Chapter IV.
Chapter V.
Chapter VI.
Chapter VII.
Chapter VIII.
Chapter IX.
Index
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“Whatever my principles may be you need not be afraid of my discussing them at your house. I know how ill it will be received and shall therefore avoid it however angry I may sometimes be at hearing unqualified abuse of Men whose talents and general principles I must admire, particularly when it comes from those who have neither talents nor principles but are guided in all their actions solely by selfishness. Ld. E[gremont]’s

1 Morpeth, the eldest son of the Earl of Carlisle, who in 1801 married Georgiana, the eldest daughter of Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire, had espoused the cause of liberty with ardour.

2 Lord Boringdon, afterwards created 1st Earl of Morley, married into the great Whig family of the Jerseys.

20LADY MELBOURNE 
opinions do not alarm me; I think his judgment generally good, but on this subject he has always been a croaker.

“How can you know me so little as to suppose any thing could induce me even to accept, much more to ask a favor of the present adminis[tratio]n. I wrote to Ld. O. to thank him for his offer of the Lieut[enan]cy, but to decline it at the same time, telling him I never would take it. I will never subject myself to the caprice of a K[ing], & I might be turned out for my political opinion as others have been. As to the Militia, I deferr’d giving him a positive answer till I see him. I should not have hesitated about accepting it if I had not been convinced that in every respect it would be disagreeable to me, & I could only be induced to do it from a conviction that in the present situation of affairs everybody ought to stand forward, particularly the young ones & those whose keeping back might be attributed to their want of ardour in the cause. I therefore remain still in doubt urged on the one hand by the wish to what I think I ought & on the other by the wish to avoid what would be in every respect a disagreeable situation.

“You mistake me in supposing I am violent in my political opinions. At some moments I feel great apprehensions as to the effects of any change—my inclinations lead me to the reformers, my aversions strengthen these inclinations. I see too with regret Men whom I always hoped would some day rescue the country from the arbitrary, the oppressive, the aristocratic Administration that now governs it, meanly playing a second part and being the dupes by being the Cats paw of the very set of men their principles
LADY MELBOURNE21
must make them detest (at least politically so). Seeing all this I cannot help wishing a speedy reform that will in some degree satisfy the minds of the people. I know the danger of any reform, but I cannot help looking on a present moderate one as the only means of preventing a very serious one soon. Opposition have lost their consequence. Whilst the people had them to look to they flatter’d themselves the hasty strides of the present admin[istratio]n towards encreasing the influence of the Crown would at least be checked if not stopp’d. They can no longer have that hope, for they see the Chiefs fighting Pitt’s battles.”