Editor’s NoteEditor’s Note1314To William Wilberforce27 February 1798 (Aet 50)

My dear Sir

Nothing has given me so much comfort for this long time as your accusations. I am so glad to find I was wrong, that I don't care how much blame falls to my share. Whenever you have a quarter of an hour disengaged, I will thankfully profit by it.

Meantime I will state to you distinctly where every thing centers with me—it is in the sink of perdition—the Hulks. The Bill for this Session is hopeless: for tho' I do not myself see how the case can come within the reason of the Rule (indeed I have not yet been able to see the Rule itself)—yet as they² do, there is an end of it. Plying the Committee, would be like bringing an Action upon a Judgment: a man gets another judgment for his pains. It depends indeed on me to render it impossible for them not to hear me: which is what Mr Rose little thinks of:—but I have no stomach for it—As to the Hulks, what do you think of Mr Rose's sending me to the Committee? You saw the pencil marks³—He might as well have sent me to the Pope.—Can there be any thing more perfectly in the power of Mr Pitt?—Can there be anything more perfectly out of the power of every body else?

• Your's respectfully and entirely
• Jeremy Bentham

W. Wilberforce Esqr.