e suffered from
restlessness rather than pain; though his nerves were apparently much
fluttered, his mental faculties never seemed stronger, when he was
thoroughly awake. His lordship's bilious and hepatic complaints seemed
alone not equal to the expected mournful event; his long want of sleep,
whether the consequence of the irritation in the bowels, or, which is
more probable, of causes of a different kind, accounts for his loss
of strength, and for his death, very sufficiently. Though his lordship
wished his approaching dissolution not to be lingering, he waited for it
with resignation. He said, 'It is a folly, a keeping me in misery,
now to attempt to prolong life;' yet he was easily persuaded, for the
satisfaction of others, to do or take anything thought proper for him.
On Saturday he had been remarkably better, and we were not without some
hopes of his recovery.

"On Sunday, about eleven in the forenoon, his lordship sent for me, and
said he felt a great hurry, and wished to have a little conversation
with me, in order to divert it. He then proceeded to open the fountain
of that heart, from whence goodness had so long flowed, as from a
copious spring. 'Doctor,' said he, 'you shall be my confessor: when I
first set out in the world I had friends who endeavoured to shake my
belief in the Christian religion. I saw difficulties which staggered me,
but I kept my mind open to conviction. The evidences and doctrines of
Christianity, studied with attention, made me a most firm and persuaded
believer of the Christian religion. I have made it the rule of my life,
and it is the ground of my future hopes. I have erred and sinned; but
have repented, and never indulged any vicious habit. In politics and
public life I have made public good the rule of my conduct. I never gave
counsels which I did not at the time think the best. I have seen that
I was sometimes in the wrong, but I did not err designedly. I have
endeavoured in private life to do all the good in my power, and never
for a moment could indulge malicious or unjust designs upon any person
whatsoever.'

"At another time he said, 'I must leave my soul in the same state it
was in before this illness; I find this a very inconvenient time for
solicitude about anything.'

"On the evening, when the symptoms of death came on, he said, 'I shall
die; but it will not be your fault.' When Lord and Lady Valentia came
to see his lordship, he gave them his solemn benediction, and