wing it, I ventured to confirm my first assertion,
by saying, that if I had any I was utterly at a loss to imagine where
it could be, or wherein it consisted. Thus ended the conference. Mr
Grenville squeezed me by the hand again, kissed the ladies, and
withdrew. He kissed likewise the maid in the kitchen, and seemed upon
the whole a most loving, kissing, kind-hearted gentleman. He is very
young, genteel, and handsome. He has a pair of very good eyes in his
head, which not being sufficient as it should seem for the many nice
and difficult purposes of a senator, he has a third also, which he wore
suspended by a ribband from his buttonhole. The boys halloo'd, the
dogs barked, Puss scampered, the hero, with his long train of
obsequious followers, withdrew. We made ourselves very merry with the
adventure, and in a short time settled into our former tranquillity,
never probably to be thus interrupted more. I thought myself, however,
happy in being able to affirm truly that I had not that influence for
which he sued; and which, had I been possessed of it, with my present
views of the dispute between the Crown and the Commons, I must have
refused him, for he is on the side of the former. It is comfortable to
be of no consequence in a world where one cannot exercise any without
disobliging somebody. The town however seems to be much at his
service, and if he be equally successful throughout the county, he will
undoubtedly gain his election. Mr Ashburner perhaps {92} was a little
mortified, because it was evident that I owed the honour of this visit
to his misrepresentation of my importance. But had he thought proper
to assure Mr Grenville that I had three heads, I should not I suppose
have been bound to produce them.

Mr Scott, who you say was so much admired in your pulpit, would be
equally admired in his own, at least by all capable judges, were he not
so apt to be angry with his congregation. This hurts him, and had he
the understanding and eloquence of Paul himself, would still hurt him.
He seldom, hardly ever indeed, preaches a gentle, well-tempered sermon,
but I hear it highly commended: but warmth of temper, indulged to a
degree that may be called scolding, defeats the end of preaching. It
is a misapplication of his powers, which it also cripples, and teases
away his hearers. But he is a good man, and may perhaps outgrow it.

Many thanks for the worsted, which is excellent. We are as well as a
spring hard