Will you ask them to appoint (_without salary or
emolument_) a noble Italian (whom I will name afterwards) consul or
vice-consul for Ravenna? He is a man of very large
property,--noble, too; but he wishes to have a British protection,
in case of changes. Ravenna is near the sea. He wants no
_emolument_ whatever. That his office might be useful, I know; as I
lately sent off from Ravenna to Trieste a poor devil of an English
sailor, who had remained there sick, sorry, and pennyless (having
been set ashore in 1814), from the want of any accredited agent
able or willing to help him homewards. Will you get this done? If
you do, I will then send his name and condition, subject, of
course, to rejection, if _not_ approved when known.

"I know that in the Levant you make consuls and vice-consuls,
perpetually, of foreigners. This man is a patrician, and has twelve
thousand a year. His motive is a British protection in case of new
invasions. Don't you think Croker would do it for us? To be sure,
my _interest_ is rare!! but, perhaps, a brother wit in the Tory
line might do a good turn at the request of so harmless and long
absent a Whig, particularly as there is no _salary_ or _burden_ of
any sort to be annexed to the office.

"I can assure you, I should look upon it as a great obligation;
but, alas! that very circumstance may, very probably, operate to
the contrary--indeed, it ought; but I have, at least, been an
honest and an open enemy. Amongst your many splendid government
connections, could not you, think you, get our Bibulus made a
Consul? or make me one, that I may make him my Vice. You may be
assured that, in case of accidents in Italy, he would be no feeble
adjunct--as you would think, if you knew his patrimony.

"What is all this about Tom Moore? but why do I ask? since the
state of my own affairs would not permit me to be of use to him,
though they are greatly improved since 1816, and may, with some
more luck and a little prudence, become quite clear. It seems his
claimants are _American_ merchants? _There goes Nemesis!_ Moore
abused America. It is always thus in the long run:--Time, the
Avenger. You have seen every trampler down, in turn, from
Buonaparte to the simplest individuals. You saw how some were
avenged even upon my insignificance,