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“ I know perfectly well the personal indiscretion of pretendingto think for myself on political subjects, and how much a manwho does so is traduced, ridiculed, and contemned by all parties;but I cannot do otherwise.

“ To be overlooked by Mr. Pitt, or by any other minister, forwant of character or ability in my profession, would cover mewith shame; it would be a silly affectation in me to say, that Ifeel any uneasiness on that account, when I compare myself withthe rest of my brethren; but to be overlooked for want of poli-tical pliancy, is a circumstance I need not blush to own, and letthe consequence be what it may, I shall never lament it.

“ I am, &c.

“ R. Landaff.”

The restoration of the King’s health soon followed. It was theartifice of the minister to represent all those who had opposed hismeasures, as enemies to the King; and the Queen lost, in theopinion of many, the character which she had hitherto maintainedin the country, by falling in with the designs of the minister. Sheimprudently distinguished by different degrees of courtesy on theone hand, and by meditated affronts on the other, those who hadvoted with, and those who had voted against the minister, insomuchthat the Duke of Northumberland one day said to me, “ So, MyLord, you and I also are become traitors.”

She received me at the drawing-room, which was held on theKing’s recovery, with a degree of coldness, which would haveappeared to herself ridiculous and ill placed could she haveimagined how little a mind such as mine regarded, in its honour-

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