Letter – John Swinburne to Charles Grey – 6 Dec 1825

                                                                               			Capheaton Dec 6th 1825

My Dr Ld Grey

      Having seen your correspondence with Ridley, with whose sentiments I entirely coincide, as to the measure you had in contemplation, I cannot refrain from troubling you with a few lines, dictated by the most friendly motives, and an anxious desire, to place the subject in a different point of view from that which you happen to have taken of it, particularly with respect to our friend Monck whose conduct has I fear been much misrepresented.  I am much persuaded he has not been intriguing in any way, & as to what passed with Beaumont, I am perfectly sure, he had no intimation of the proposal made to him from Beaumont, till he received the letter containing it, & his answer was consistent with what he has all along said on the subject.  You may rest assured there is a very general feeling throughout the County in his favour, and he will not I believe be abandoned by his old friends, nor has what has passed as to Beaumont excited any jealousy against him, that I know of, the common language held is this, ‘We are anxious to have Sir Charles Monck again for our Representative not only on account of his respectable private character, but also, from our previous knowledge and experience of the very upright, zealous & satisfactory manner in which he transacted our business, we shall besides get rid of Beaumont without a struggle, & we are anxious to avoid the Distraction & turmoil of a contested Election, that appears to have no public or political Question on which it can be grounded, & why therefore should the County be thrown into Confusion when the means of keeping it quiet are so palpable.’  In spite of the Duke’s very proper and civil message to you, do you think he will prefer Lord Howick to Monck?  I would not rely upon that, I assure you.  The Disunion of the Whig party in this County, that must cease, if the two Candidates of that party come forward, will I am afraid destroy whatever weight it may now possess.  I trust you will excuse the freedom with which I have stated my sentiments, I have always done so for a great many years, whenever I conceived your welfare & interests were at stake, which ever have been & ever will be an object of great solicitude to me.