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of that respect and regard, with which I have the honour tobe, My Lord,
“ Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant,
“ Cathcart.”
I had not the least acquaintance with Lord Cathcart, and re-turned by his messenger the following answer: —
“ My Lord,
“ I am sorry Your Lordship has had the trouble of writingto me on the subject of what passed yesterday in the House of Lords . The arguments I used on a former day are entirely atYour Lordship’s service, and at that of every other noble Lord,to be commented upon at any time, and in any manner whichmay be thought fit; if they will not bear the test of every exami-nation, so far from wishing them to influence the judgment ofother men, they shall not continue to influence my own. As towhat Your Lordship seemed to apprehend, my having spokendisrespectfully of the Peers of Scotland, I do beg leave to assureYour Lordship, that you had totally misconceived my meaningon the occasion; there is not a man in England who thinksmore respectfully of the talents and spirit of the Scots Peersthan I do.
“ Permit me the liberty of saying, that I take nothing amissthat fell from Your Lordship yesterday; my temper is neitherirascible nor revengeful; in my own mind I honourably acquittedYour Lordship, even at the time you were speaking, of anydesign to misrepresent me, and I am convinced that, in doing