than is quite natural, and than I think you would yourself approve.
The real truth is, that Charles's opinions certainly do not tend as
decidedly and as professedly as yours have done to intercourse with
the present Ministers, and least of all, perhaps, with Lord C----.
It was very kind in you, therefore, to take upon yourself the
communication by which you intended to do a service to Henry; and
when you had so determined, I think you took the least objectionable
course in applying yourself to _Lord L----_. By so doing, you
effected the very amiable and kind purpose which you had in view,
of assisting Henry's wishes without breaking in upon Charles's
reluctance to pledge himself farther than he could conscientiously
bring himself to do. Having, therefore, yourself taken the step of
applying to _Lord L----_, whenever a renewed application becomes
necessary by a new opening in the diplomatic line, or by the
expectation of one, the easy and natural course of your kindness
will be to renew that application yourself to _Lord L----_. If, on
the other hand, Charles was to apply himself personally to _Lord
C----_ in the present stage of the business, he will be as much and
as entirely committed as if he himself had made the original
application; and your kindness will not have spared him the
embarrassment of becoming a suitor, and of incurring an obligation,
where he wishes to stand free of any, except to you. In truth, as
far as I understand the present position of the business, it does
not seem to me that, after so recent a promise to you from Lord
L---- and Lord C----, any renewed application from you or from any
of Henry's friends is likely to produce anything except a renewal
of the same favourable disposition, whenever occasion should arise.
If any circumstances should produce, or even render probable, any
new opening in the missions, then will be the natural moment, not
for Charles's application to Lord C----, but for the renewal of
yours to _Lord L----_. At the same time, I am sure Charles will not
be unnecessarily reluctant or adverse to any communication with
Lord C---- that may become necessary, or may naturally arise out of
your request to Lord L----, and out of such circumstances as may
require discussion; but though the present state of things seems to
promise no advantage i