239
his colleague, Lord Euston, I would not suffer his accidental dif-ference in politics from me, to lessen, for a moment, my privatefriendship for him: in a word, I informed Mr. Stewart, that hemust not entertain any hopes of my assistance. He asked me ifhe might tell the Duke of Portland so. I told him that he cer-tainly might, for that, though I had a great regard for the Duke ofPortland’s Whig principles, and had taken part with the oppositionin the Regency transaction, I would not unite myself to any partybeyond the direct influence of my own judgment in public mea-sures ; and that private friendship was too sacred a thing to beabandoned for the purposes of changeable policy. Mr. Stewartbehaved perfectly well on hearing this declaration, and the in-tended opposition was given up.
In 1789, Mr. Howard published, in a large quarto volume, anaccount of the principal Lazarettos in Europe , and honoured me(though personally unknown to him) with a copy of it, in whichhe had written, with his own hand,—“ Mr. Howard presents hisbest respects to the Lord Bishop of Landaff, and requests his ac-ceptance of this book, as a small testimony of his esteem.” I amnot ashamed to own that such an encomium from such a man washighly acceptable to me, having always considered the esteem ofgood men as the strongest incentive to virtuous exertion and itsfittest reward.
I pursued my intention of retiring, in a great measure, frompublic life, and laid, in the summer of 1789, the foundation of myhouse on the banks of the Winandermere. I have now spentabove twenty years in this delightful country; but my time has not