34? THE WHIGS AND THE RADICALS. [1819. 



Fitzwilliam and the new army) are plainly none of 

 Lord Liverpool's doing. I see Wellington in them, 

 and I have little doubt that they seriously and despe- 

 rately intend to change the Government into one less 

 free."* I should say they did so if they passed laws 

 restricting meetings and the press. Nor would it stop 

 there. That many will support them cordially, I can- 

 not doubt. The Eadicals have made themselves so 

 odious, that a number even of our own way of think- 

 ing would be well enough pleased to see them and their 

 vile press put down at all hazards. And a still larger 

 body of our enemies secretly long for a good quiet des- 

 potism, not reflecting that its blessings must (in this 

 country at least) be obtained through long civil wars. 

 " Nothing can be more important or more difficult 

 than the part cast on us in this crisis ; but if we con- 

 tinue firm and cautious we have a chance of doing 

 something. I question if the present overt acts of 

 violence would have been attempted but for the late 

 crotchets of some of our friends, and I heartily hope 

 Morpeth and the Cavendishes may now be cured of 

 them. We really must rally and make a great struggle. 

 For this purpose ought we not all to be in town a 

 week before the 23d, and to hold a united meeting of 

 the two Houses, and enter into some specific resolu- 

 tions ? There is clearly no medium between the most 

 complete concert and a total abandonment of discip- 

 line, for any middle course really cripples us and plays 

 their game. I make no doubt that the miscreants cal- 

 culate on effecting their desperate purpose at the ex- 

 pense of a hard-fought session one month in duration, 

 and then meeting Parliament again with the country 



* Lord Fitzwilliam, deprived of the Lord-Lieutenancy of Yorkshire. 



