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more on the good disposition of their ruler, than on the nature oftheir civil constitution; whilst that of men, who live under freegovernments, is more dependent on the principles of their con-stitution, than on the virtues of their Prince. How happy, then,may our situation justly be esteemed! We certainly live underthe best form of civil government that was ever established in theworld; and we have the comfort of knowing, that it is ad-ministered by a King whose virtues, public and private, wouldrender even despotism itself not destructive of the happiness ofhuman kind.
“ May God , in his good providence, long continue to us theblessing of Your Majesty’s life and health, and preserve, to ourlatest posterity, the blessing of the British constitution.”
I am so little conversant with the manners of a court, that Iknow not whether to refer the following letter to the order of theKing, or to the spontaneous courtesy of the Secretary of Statefrom whom I received it.
“ My Lord, Whitehall, 13tli April, 1789.
“ I have this day had the honour of presenting to the King theAddress of the Archdeacon and Chapter, and Clergy of thediocese of LandafF, which Your Lordship transmitted to me,congratulating His Majesty on the happy re-establishment of hishealth; and I have the satisfaction of informing you that HisMajesty was pleased to receive the same in the most graciousmanner.
“ I have the honor to be, My Lord,
“ Your Lordship’s most obedient humble servant,