is not necessary that every man should enter into
Parliament with such exalted hopes. It is to acquire a title
the most glorious of any in a free country, and to employ
the weight and consideration it gives in the service of
one's friends. Such motives, though not glorious, yet are
not dishonourable, and if we had a borough in our command,
if you could bring me in without any great expense, or if
our fortune enabled us to despise that expense, then indeed
I should think them of the greatest strength. But with our
private fortune, is it worthwhile to purchase at so high a
rate a title honourable in itself, but which I must share
with every fellow that can lay out 1500 pounds? Besides,
dear sir, a merchandise is of little value to the owner when
he is resolved not to sell it.

"I should affront your penetration did I not suppose you now
see the drift of this letter. It is to appropriate to
another use the sum with which you destined to bring me into
Parliament; to employ it, not in making me great, but in
rendering me happy. I have often heard you say yourself that
the allowance you had been so indulgent as to grant me,
though very liberal in regard to your estate, was yet but
small when compared with the almost necessary extravagances
of the age. I have indeed found it so, notwithstanding a
good deal of economy, and an exemption from many of the
common expenses of youth. This, dear sir, would be a way of
supplying these deficiencies without any additional expense
to you. But I forbear--if you think my proposals reasonable,
you want no intreaties to engage you to comply with them, if
otherwise all will be without effect.

"All that I am afraid of, dear sir, is that I should seem
not so much asking a favour, as this really is, as exacting
a debt. After all I can say, you will remain the best judge
of my good and your own circumstances. Perhaps, like most
landed gentlemen, an addition to my annuity would suit you
better than a sum of money given at once; perhaps the sum
itself may be too considerable. Whatever you may think
proper to bestow on me, or in whatever manner, will be
received with equal gratitude.

"I intended to stop here, but as I abhor the least
appearance of art, I think it better to lay open my whole
sche