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Letter to Lord Brougham after the Peterloo Massacre (25 August 1819), quoted in E. A. Smith, Lord Grey. 1764–1845 (1990; 1996), p. 217
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[T]his indeed is one of the most mischievous effects of the proceedings of the Radicals, that by abusing popular privileges they establish precedents for abridging them. My views of the state of the country are more and more gloomy. Everything is tending, and has for some time been tending, to a complete separation between the higher and lower orders of society; a state of things which can only end in the destruction of liberty.

— Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "[T]his indeed is one of the most mischievous effects of the proceedings of the Radicals, that by abusing popular privileges they establish precedents for abridging them. My views of the state of the country are more and more gloomy. Everything is tending, and has for some time been tending, to a complete separation between the higher and lower orders of society; a state of things which can only end in the destruction of liberty." in the context of "Letter to Lord Brougham after the Peterloo Massacre (25 August 1819), quoted in E. A. Smith, Lord Grey. 1764–1845 (1990; 1996), p. 217" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey" (Quotes, 1810s) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app

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#Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey#tending#state#mischievous#proceedings#destruction#privileges#precedents#everything#separation#establish#abridging

About Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey

Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, KG, PC (13 March 1764 – 17 July 1845), known as Viscount Howick between 1806 and 1807, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 22 November 1830 to 16 July 1834. A member of the Whig Party, he backed significant reform of the British government and was among the primary architects of the Reform Act 1832. In addition to his political achievements, he famously gave his name to Earl Grey tea.