Reflection 71

On living by “higher motives,” including a prayer for wisdom and strength to act with integrity – without regard to prevailing principles of “honor and party spirit” – in the trial of Lord Melville*...

Such rules of conduct could not satisfy one who acted upon higher motives. Honour and party spirit afforded him no standard. “I have difficult and trying questions before me in parliament,” is the language of his private Journal; “I will pray for wisdom, and pursue the path presented by conscience, and then peace will follow. Lord, give me wisdom. Do Thou enable me to act, tomorrow, honestly and uprightly, without fear of man or any other unlawful motive. O Lord, give me Thy wisdom, and set me above this world and all that it contains.” He felt deeply the importance of maintaining, at all costs, a high standard of integrity in public men; and viewed with peculiar indignation any tendency in parliament to screen such delinquents for party purposes.

*Lord Melville (Henry Dundas) was impeached for financial misconduct that occurred under his watch as Navy Treasurer some twenty years before.

Date: Late March/Early April 1805

Volume 3: Pages 220-221

Posted: 20260603