posed act than any idea of retirement
or repose. On the contrary, you have, all of you, as principals or
auxiliaries, a much better [hotter?] and more desperate conflict, in all
probability, to undergo, than any you have been yet engaged in. The only
question is, whether the risk ought to be run for the chance (and it is
no more) of recalling the people of England to their ancient principles,
and to that personal interest which formerly they took in all public
affairs. At any rate, I am sure it is right, if we take this step, to
take it with a full view of the consequences, and with minds and
measures in a state of preparation to meet them. It is not becoming that
your boldness should arise from a want of foresight. It is more
reputable, and certainly it is more safe too, that it should be grounded
on the evident necessity of encountering the dangers which you foresee.

Your Lordship will have the goodness to excuse me, if I state in strong
terms the difficulties attending a measure which on the whole I heartily
concur in. But as, from my want of importance, I can be personally
little subject to the most trying part of the consequences, it is as
little my desire to urge others to dangers in which I am myself to have
no inconsiderable a share.

If this measure should be thought too great for our strength or the
dispositions of the times, then the point will be to consider what is to
be done in Parliament. A weak, irregular, desultory, peevish opposition
there will be as much too little as the other may be too big. Our scheme
ought to be such as to have in it a succession of measures: else it is
impossible to secure anything like a regular attendance; opposition will
otherwise always carry a disreputable air; neither will it be possible,
without that attendance, to persuade the people that we are in earnest.
Above all, a motion should be well digested for the first day. There is
one thing in particular I wish to recommend to your Lordship's
consideration: that is, the opening of the doors of the House of
Commons. Without this, I am clearly convinced, it will be in the power
of ministry to make our opposition appear without doors just in what
light they please. To obtain a gallery is the easiest thing in the
world, if we are satisfied to cultivate the esteem of our adversaries by
the resolution and energy with which we act against them: but if their
satisfaction and good-humor be any part of our object, the attempt, I
adm