TALBOT2817

London
19 Feb. 1834

My Dear M^r F.

Yesterday was the most lively debate we have had this session, the ministers were very earnest in their request to their friends to attend, knowing that there was a considerable probability of being left in the minority on a question of this kind – Peel & Stanley ¹ put forth their choicest eloquence but their exertions only produced a majority of 8, so many are the members who are afraid of their constituents – M^r Harvey ² is a very formidable opponent, he is the best speaker the radicals ³ possess and on this occasion he exceeded himself, I suppose from being animated with the hopes of success –

Some fun was created by Spring Rice’s ⁴ addressing Sir Samuel Whalley ⁵ the M.P. for MaryleBone as one of his constituents, and calling him my representative – But what do I hear my representative say? I am astonished at the opinion, of my representative! I will give you an extract from Peel’s speech.

Peel. There is nothing I should desire so much, were it consistent with my public duty, as a full and fair enquiry into every part of this Pension List! ⁶

Voices. Enquire! Enquire! Enquire!

Peel, (passionately) No I won’t enquire!

(hear, hear, hear, hear)

Harvey made a capital hit in producing that quotation from one of L^d Grey’s ⁷ early speeches – I will read to the House, he said, the [illegible deletion] language of Lord Howick, ⁸ on such & such an occasion, which if I were to use it would be called low vulgarity, radical insolence, &c. &c.

The Times ⁹ has made strange work of part of Rice’s speech when he boasts of a pension having been so worthily conferred, upon a man who may be called the Newton ¹⁰ of the present day, upon M^r John Moore (so we understood the Hon. Member) that most celebrated Mathematician.

Now I can’t help thinking the Times had got running in its head the name of Francis Moore, ¹¹ physician author of Vox Stellarum or a loyal almanac

Your aff^e
Henry