Letter from George Grote, London, to Mr. Hickson, 1835 April 11 : autograph manuscript signed.

Discussing the formation of a new Ministry; saying "I beg to return you my thanks for your communication of Thursday last, & to assure you that the valuable suggestions which it contains shall not be lost upon me. To what extent it will be practicable for the more Liberal members of the Opposition to affect or modify the course of the Ministry now forming, I do not yet see : but I shall be most happy if it be in my power to assist in instigating them towards good, & I shall not lose any opportunity of doing so. I perfectly agree with you as to the very great importance of the question of the Stamp Duties, & you may rely upon it that I shall do all I can to enforce that topic. As to the Ballot, although I am myself as deeply convinced of its necessity as ever, yet I should not ask from a Liberal Ministry under existing circumstances any thing more than an engagement not to oppose that question. They ought to leave it an open question, without declaring as a Ministry either for or against it : this is all which I should now ask of them, in reference to the Ballot;" adding, in a postscript, "I have to thank you for the American newspaper on the Ballot, which I shall certainly take care of."