227

the Prince, “ and mind who it is that tells you so, you shall neverretire; a man of your talents shall never be lost to the public.” —I have now lived many years in retirement, and, in my seventy-fifth year, I feel no wish to live otherwise.

On occasion of the duel between the Duke of York and ColonelLenox, I find that I wrote the following note to Lord Rawdon,who had been the Duke’s second, and of whose high honour andeminent talents I always entertained the best opinion: —

“ My dear Lord, Cambridge, May 28. 1789.

“ I know you will forgive the liberty I take in requesting youto present, in the most respectful manner, to the Duke of Yorkmy warmest congratulations on a late event.

“ As a Christian bishop I cannot approve of any man’s exposinghis life on such an occasion. As a citizen I must think that thelife of one so near to the Crown ought not to be hazarded like thelife of an ordinary man ; but as a friend to the House of Brunswick,I cannot but rejoice in the personal safety, and in the personalgallantry too, of so distinguished a branch of it.

“ I am, &c.

“ R. Landaff.”

The dismission of the Duke of Queensberry and Lord Lothianfrom their offices, and the treatment which Lord Rodney andothers received on account of their having voted in the businessof the Regency against the minister, finished Mr. Pitt’s character,for public consistency, with me. I had believed him to havebeen as sincere as I was in wishing for the independency of par-

g g 2