and, as far as I can discern, are
rather intimidated than provoked at the denunciations of the court in
the Archbishop of York's sermon. I thought that sermon rather imprudent,
when I first saw it; but it seems to have done its business.

In this temper of the people, I do not wholly wonder that our Northern
friends look a little towards events. In war, particularly, I am afraid
it must be so. There is something so weighty and decisive in the events
of war, something that so completely overpowers the imagination of the
vulgar, that all counsels must in a great degree be subordinate to and
attendant on them. I am sure it was so in the last war, very eminently.
So that, on the whole, what with the temper of the people, the temper of
our own friends, and the domineering necessities of war, we must quietly
give up all ideas of any settled, preconcerted plan. We shall be lucky
enough, if, keeping ourselves attentive and alert, we can contrive to
profit of the occasions as they arise: though I am sensible that those
who are best provided with a general scheme are fittest to take
advantage of all contingencies. However, to act with any people with the
least degree of comfort, I believe we must contrive a little to
assimilate to their character. We must gravitate towards them, if we
would keep in the same system, or expect that they should approach
towards us. They are, indeed, worthy of much concession and management.
I am quite convinced that they are the honestest public men that ever
appeared in this country, and I am sure that they are the wisest, by
far, of those who appear in it at present. None of those who are
continually complaining of them, but are themselves just as chargeable
with all their faults, and have a decent stock of their own into the
bargain. They (our friends) are, I admit, as you very truly represent
them, but indifferently qualified for storming a citadel. After all, God
knows whether this citadel is to be stormed by them, or by anybody else,
by the means they use, or by any means. I know that as they are,
abstractedly speaking, to blame, so there are those who cry out against
them for it, not with a friendly complaint, as we do, but with the
bitterness of enemies. But I know, too, that those who blame them for
want of enterprise have shown no activity at all against the common
enemy: all their skill and all their spirit have been shown only in
weakening, dividing, and indeed destroying their allies. W