FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



I think it would be more politic now to proceed 

 gradually (reducing the duty and supplying the 

 deficiency so created in the revenue by new import 

 duties) than to repeal the duty at once. At the 

 same time, as it is impossible to fight an opposing 

 Government on details of finance, and as my 

 opinion is decidedly in favour of the ultimate 

 total repeal of the duty in question, I should 

 certainly feel myself at liberty to vote in favour 

 of any general resolution in favour of its repeal, 

 guarding myself as I have in this letter. 



" The respect which I entertain for the farmers 

 of Oxfordshire has induced me to state my opinions 

 thus fully to their committee which has charge 

 of the petition, and if they shall be satisfied to 

 entrust it to my hands after the explanation above 

 given of the sense in which I assent to the resolu- 

 tions on which it is to be drawn up, I shall feel 

 much gratified in being solicited by them to present 

 it to the House of Lords. 



" Trusting that they will excuse the errors of 

 a very hastily written letter, I have the honour to 

 remain, sir, 



" Your obedient servant, 



" REDESDALE." 



Few men have breathed the atmosphere of 

 politics and come out of it with a purer record 

 than he who has been handed down to posterity 

 as " honest Lord Althorp," and who was the writer 

 of the other letter referred to. Early in life he 

 showed his attachment to agriculture, and, notwith- 

 standing the claims of important offices of State, 

 including the leadership, during exceptionally 



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