LORD  BYRON  and  his  TIMES
Byron
Documents Biography Criticism
In Whig Society 1775-1818
William Lamb to Lady Melbourne, 30 September 1812
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
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Introduction
Contents
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Chapter I.
Chapter II.
Chapter III.
Chapter IV.
Chapter V.
Chapter VI.
Chapter VII.
Chapter VIII.
Chapter IX.
Index
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Lismore.
September thirty 1812.

I sent you back Frederic’s letters from Bessborough some time ago, & wrote to you at that time fully upon that subject, as well as upon the dissolution of Parliament. The latter, I apprehend, has by this time taken place, the signs of such an event are more sure, than of any other. When it is very generally rumoured upon good authority, that there is to be a dissolution, depend upon it, it is then coming pretty quick,—as soon as it is certain, that it will take place, the next scheme is to deceive as much as possible about the exact time, & Beckets telling Giles, that it would be delayed until the first week in October was a strong reason for believing that it would be before the end of September. The reasons of all this are obvious. Ministers lose their advantage, if they delay the step long after it is publicly known, that they have determined upon it, & they in some measure puzzle and delude their adversaries by creating uncertainty with respect to the Moment. You say that it is a thousand pities that I have not contrived to make some interest somewhere. You know from my former letter, which by this time you have probably received, my sentiments upon this subject. It is impossible that any Body can feel the being out of Parliament more keenly for me than I feel it for myself. It is actually cutting
110POLITICAL INFLUENCE 
my throat. It is depriving me of the great object of my life at the moment, that I was near its attainment, & what is more, at a period when I cannot well turn myself to any other course or pursuit. But I have no money. I am embarrassed to a certain degree by circumstances which I am willing to explain. My income is insufficient, I am deprived of many things which I wish to have, & in many things in which I might be facilitated, I receive no assistance. Under these circumstances, I have long since determined not to diminish my own income one halfpenny—in justice to myself I cannot do it. I cannot expect my Father to bear the whole burthen, & even if he were willing to take it upon himself, I do not know whether I could justify to myself the suffering a further debt to be accumulated upon my account, which must in the end lead to serious embarrassment & to the further dismemberment of the property. This is the state of the case. I might add a hundred minor considerations to fortify the case, but these are the opinions which have led me to form a resolution which I do not name too strongly, when I call it my public ruin, but to which I do not see how I could avoid coming. I write in the dark so cannot add any more at present.

Yours ever dutifully & affectionately,
Wm. Lamb.