Letter – Thomas Wentworth Beaumont to Charles Grey – 23 Mar 1824

Sir

       In consideration of the favour you have expressed towards me, I think it right to give you information respecting my intention of coming forward again to represent the County, reports having been very generally in circulation of my wish to take the first opportunity of withdrawing myself from it altogether.  I must first candidly state to you that about a fortnight ago this was my wish, & it was coupled with another, of leaving a Country where I have experienced so much affliction, as well as unkindness, where I had reason to expect the contrary.    Mr Hedley Colburne induced me not to accept the Chiltern Hundreds, for which I had applied.  The latter I have overcome & having resolved to remain in England, I shall withdraw myself from no public station whatever, that can give an idea of my feeling myself less fit for its duties, than I have hitherto shown myself to be.   That I have incurred the censure of the world, (tho’ only for a private transaction) those who know the world & its grounds of censure and praise, will impute as a demerit to me in proportion to the value they set upon its judgement & integrity.  As for those who do not even pretend to think for themselves it is of course immaterial to me what are their opinions.  You I am sure, will have formed yours (for it would be mere affectation in me to suppose you have not heard the accounts circulated of the transaction I allude to) or even upon those accounts, and upon your knowledge of my character, & such other grounds as are independent & candid man thinks it fair & right to consider.  I shall not state my justification, or the causes which drove me to what I cannot but deeply lament to have been necessary except where an attack upon me, should any be made, render it indispensable.  But to the purpose of my letter, I wish to say, that it is my determination to offer myself at the next Election, as Member for the County, whatever opposition shall be formed against me.   I am afraid of no inquiry, & that course which is most likely to bring one on, will, as far as my Honour is concerned, be the most agreeable to me.  My Whig friends, I have much reason to think, will abandon me, but I feel myself by that circumstance only forced to do what has been often in my thoughts, And for which late Affairs have much contributed to brace my mind & give me adequate nerves.  I mean to take a line of public conduct totally unconnected with Party.  I know the difficulty & feel that I may be perhaps accused of presumption for I throw myself not on the passions of the Multitude but on the good sense of honest men.  In a corrupt & Nefarious country, such an assertion & <interetion> would meet with more ridicule than applause from our Public Men.  The times however are such as to make people know in spite sometimes of their conscience for they will begin to discover that it is the best policy & therefore their interest.

       This is not intended as a canvassing letter, though I should be very uncandid if I were not to express the anxiety I have, that you may think my cause and <my …>  deserving of your support.   I thought it necessary & right and indeed only a proper return for your favour, to inform you of my intention with regard to the County, & I have found it impossible to avoid entering shortly into the grounds on which I shall come forward & stating frankly by the effect which late circumstances have had upon my views.  I believe there to be very considerable Independence in Northumberland, but I am rather apprehensive that old prejudices & habits with a want of Election discipline may present great obstacles to my success the first time but this would not deter me from the attempt, and so many accidents are continually arriving in favour of any conduct thoroughly honest, that I am far from despairing of the issue.  After Easter it is my intention to attend the House of Commons.      

       I am Sir your obt Servt.

       Thos. Beaumont 



PS.  My direction will be 14 Conduit Street until the 1st April when I leave town to pass ten days or a fortnight at Bywell Hall near Newcastle.



Worthing March 23 1824



Copy of a letter from Thos Beaumont Esq to <J> Grey