"8. St. James's Street, February 25. 1812.
"My Lord,
"With my best thanks, I have the honour to return the Notts, letter
to your Lordship. I have read it with attention, but do not think I
shall venture to avail myself of its contents, as my view of the
question differs in some measure from Mr. Coldham's. I hope I do
not wrong him, but _his_ objections to the bill appear to me to be
founded on certain apprehensions that he and his coadjutors might
be mistaken for the '_original advisers_' (to quote him) of the
measure. For my own part, I consider the manufacturers as a much
injured body of men, sacrificed to the views of certain individuals
who have enriched themselves by those practices which have deprived
the frame-workers of employment. For instance;--by the adoption of
a certain kind of frame, one man performs the work of seven--six
are thus thrown out of business. But it is to be observed that the
work thus done is far inferior in quality, hardly marketable at
home, and hurried over with a view to exportation. Surely, my Lord,
however we may rejoice in any improvement in the arts which may be
beneficial to mankind, we must not allow mankind to be sacrificed
to improvements in mechanism. The maintenance and well-doing of the
industrious poor is an object of greater consequence to the
community than the enrichment of a few monopolists by any
improvement in the implements of trade, which deprives the workman
of his bread, and renders the, labourer "unworthy of his hire." My
own motive for opposing the bill is founded on its palpable
injustice, and its certain inefficacy. I have seen the state of
these miserable men, and it is a disgrace to a civilised country.
Their excesses may be condemned, but cannot be subject of wonder.
The effect of the present bill would be to drive them into actual
rebellion. The few words I shall venture to offer on Thursday will
be founded upon these opinions formed from my own observations on
the spot. By previous enquiry, I am convinced these men would have
been restored to employment, and the county to tranquillity. It is,
perhaps, not yet too late, and is surely worth the trial. It can
never be too late to employ force in such circumstances. I believe
your Lordship does not coincide with me entirely on this subject,
and most cheerfully and sincerely shall I submit to your superior
judgment and experience, and take some other line of argument
against the bill, or be silent altogether, should you deem it more
advisable. Condemning, as every one must condemn, the conduct of
these wretches, I believe in the existence of grievances which call
rather for pity than punishment. I have the honour to be, with
great respect, my Lord, your Lordship's
"Most obedient and obliged servant,
"BYRON.
"P.S. I am a little apprehensive that your Lordship will think me
too lenient towards these men, and half a _framebreaker myself_."
* * * * *
It would have been, no doubt, the ambition of Lord Byron to acquire
distinction as well in oratory as in poesy; but Nature seems to set
herself against pluralities in fame. He had prepared himself for this
debate,--as most of the best orators have done, in their first
essays,--not only by composing, but writing down, the whole of his
speech beforehand. The reception he met with was flattering; some of the
noble speakers on his own side complimented him very warmly; and that he
was himself highly pleased with his success, appears from the annexed
account of Mr. Dallas, which gives a lively notion of his boyish elation
on the occasion.
"When he left the great chamber, I went and met him in the passage; he
was glowing with success, and much agitated. I had an umbrella in my
right hand, not expecting that he would put out his hand to me;--in my
haste to take it when offered, I had advanced my left hand--'What!' said
he, 'give your friend your left hand upon such an occasion?' I showed
the cause, and immediately changing the umbrella to the other hand, I
gave him my right hand, which he shook and pressed warmly. He was
greatly elated, and repeated some of the compliments which had been paid
him, and mentioned one or two of the peers who had desired to be
introduced to him. He concluded with saying, that he had, by his speech,
given me the best advertisement for Childe Harold's Pilgrimage."
The speech itself, as given by Mr. Dallas from the noble speaker's own
manuscript, is pointed and vigorous; and the same sort of interest that
is felt in reading the poetry of a Burke, may be gratified, perhaps, by
a few specimens of the oratory of a Byron. In the very opening of his
speech, he thus introduces himself by the melancholy avowal, that in
that assembly of his brother nobles he stood almost a stranger.
"As a person in some degree connected with the suffering county, though
a stranger not only to this House in general, but to almost every
individual whose attention I presume to solicit, I must claim some
portion of your Lordships' indulgence."