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Re Irish poor; lengthy economic arguments on approaches to problem; agrees with Howick that emigration not complete answer to Irish problem but still considers it an important factor. Draft ff. 1-2 missing.

Has beard that S. has been asked to stand for Oxford in forthcoming election; only S. likely to win seat; presses him to take opportunity as the liberal cause is in need of men with good 'personal qualifications.'. 'Private'.

'Flattered' by H.'s note, '... but yet the strong inclination of my opinion is against standing for Oxford'. Gives reasons; offer from Mr [? David Alphonso] Talboys; cost would be £6-700 but S. believes it could be as much as £3,000; explains his financial position; 'I must add that I do not think I shd make a good candidate.' Has never made a speech; 'The University considers me as the first person who broached the spoilation of the Irish Church, as an enemy to corn laws, a friend of House of Lords reform, an intimate friend of Hampden's, & in short as a pestilent agitator.' Feels that even if he entered House of Commons he would diminish not increase his usefulness. Illness prevents him working in winter and has heavy legal business; sorry to give reasons in full but '... they are necessary as my excuses for what may appear a selfish retreat from duty'. Draft. Attached is [? final] draft of the letter, dated: 1837, June 20. Includes additional note 'Mr Talboys now proposes that Mr [Samuel] Jones Loyd shd be applied to.' Has been offered Bristol where '... the liberal party wd frank their candidate' thus removing Nassau William Senior's financial obstacle, but will probably decline.

Returns papers. 'The scheme of a committee of Privy Council to consider the reform scheme is original & I think might be very useful.' Agrees but does not think reform that necessary. 'I think that, but for Lord John, we might have escaped one, & that if Lord Palmerston had been firmer in 1855 he might have avoided pledging himself to one.' Criticises his style of writing. 'Ought peerages for life, under certain restrictions, to be a part of the next reform bill?'.

Grey may keep journals; [Edward] Ellice has written to him from Paris saying that feeling there the same as in the autumn: 'Anti Italian. Anti-liberal', and anxious for 'conquest, influence and aggrandisement.' Comments on Montalembert. Remains in England until the Education report is signed and will then leave for '... a safer climate - probably to Rome.'.

Returns the notice having altered parts. 'I never was poor law Commr in Ireland... If you would like a list of my works, I can give you one. You are mistaken in supposing they are not numerous.'. [Copy of note included]. [Typewritten copy by Mrs Strachey from Contemporary Biography letters to C. Griffin BM MSS 28512, ff. 105-7].

Invites S. to a party on July 11; hopes to invite him to a 'rural "disjune"' at her country home (Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire); provides map; enjoyed recent party at Nassau William Senior's home.

Sat. 2nd [May] suits S.; goes to Brussels on the 9th; has no chance of '... hearing the [Jenny] Lind'; describes stay at Castle Hill; 'no stars & only one Leonulus, [Edwin] Chadwick.' Names guests; spent considerable time looking '... into cottages and inspecting drains.' 'Lord Fortescue, whose political tact I esteem, thinks that Peel means to keep in if he can & that the Tories will repent & keep him in. I expressed my approbation of this result. To which Lord F & his son answered that their only objection to Peel was his Chartism. That his principle was to tax the rich & flatter the poor & yield everything to agitation - nothing to reason - a line of conduct leading they think straight to revolution. They prefer therefore the slower pace of Lord John [Russell]. Whately writes to me on the same sense.' Comments on his horse 'Dragon.'.

Describes journey to Italy; 'This is the most remarkable town that I ever was in.' Has visited Mdme. Arconati and talked to [Alessandro Francisco Tommaso Antonio] Manzoni; '... we talked of course (for that has been the case throughout our tour) nothing but English & Irish politics. Everybody in Italy seems to think that we have given the death blow to protection. I shall bring back with me a few of the liberal pamphlets which the Government has allowed to be printed &, some of them, sold. The bulk of the aristocracy is said to be liberal. The King is a shuttlecock, tossed between the Jesuit & Austrian party on one side & the liberal & Italian party on the other. His cabinet is a sample of his mind, consisting of hostile elements.' Feels liberal element is 'preponderant' and railroads will help. Genoa and Piedmont reconciled; expects a constitution in 20 years. Prandi's 'companies are schools of self government'; describes the aristocracy. Copy attached.

Apologises for not writing; very busy with P.L.C.: 'I have been perhaps the most active, but have no preeminence whatever.' P.L.C. will accept Arrivabene's report, but he needs to print it quickly. [See letter from Arrivabene to Senior, dated Dec. 13, 1833, included in Two Reports addressed to His Majesty's Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Administration and Operation of the Poor Laws by C. H. Cameron, John Wrottesley and J. W. Cowell, Esquires, and a letter from Count Arrivabene on the Management of the Poor Belgium, London, 1834, pp. 197-201. Also included is the report on the Belgian Poor Law referred to in the letter].

Will visit Antwerp tomorrow and return to London on Monday; pleased with tour; comments on society in northern Italy; '...the bulk of the young nobles have no career. They devote themselves therefore to love making'; feels sorry for Austria, '... the people are in a chronic conspiracy against her...'. Comments on expected civil war in Switzerland; sees that his article has appeared in the Edinburgh [Review], '... but the part of Hamlet [? Peel] left out. My general views of Irish politics were not too strong for Lord Lansdowne's stomach, but others it seems had weaker digestions. I have not read Mill on [George] Grote.'. Copy attached.

Has discussed the story of Jenny [Lind] with Lord Liverpool, '... authorising him to tell the Queen Mrs Stanley's part in it.' Ref. to [Claudius] Harris; Lind should not write to the Queen but to G. Anson; stayed at Richmond with Lansdowne who commented on govt's desperate efforts to pass the navigation laws; has received a letter from Michel Chevalier whom S. would like recipient to meet: quotes from letter. Comment in margin: 'Lord L. does not think that the Court commands more than 7 or 8 votes.'.

Pleased to read proofs of Nassau William Senior's article on Lamartine; comments at length on the situation in France and Italy.

Staying with the Ashburtons and Miss E. Baring; description of house and estate; the Austins to arrive next week; has received lectures from Mrs Sydney [? Smith]; Ashburtons wish to meet recipient.

Plans for his tour; has heard from Tocqueville. 'As we recede from the centres of civilization. London & Paris, the people get every 100 miles more & more childish.' Sir Frederic[k] Adam would like to meet Grote; desires to know how to meet Col. [William] Moore at Rome; critical of Austrians, Neapolitans & Italians. 'We are all puzzled here by Lord John Russell's letter. I explain it as a claptrap...'. '... Palmerston is de-ified. I suspect that I pass for a Tory as I do not join in the canonization.'.

Pleased to have missed meeting of the 'Poor Law adepts'; pokes fun at Chadwick and Twisleton; Visit of 'my Swedish dragoon' [Jenny Lind]; future plans; family news. See also nos C410 and C434.

Accepts dinner invitation.

Re his son's [Nassau J. Senior] matriculation; does not wish him to enter Oxford until next year - too immature; asks advice on this; hopes to visit recipient on May 16 or 17.