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“ God , in his inscrutable providence, rules the world: Catholics and Protestants believe this ; and if they are wise they will believealso that afflictions are designed for, and do in fact produce themelioration of mankind. A prince may lose a throne, but if theloss makes him submit with resignation to the Divine dispensa-tion, he will gain something better than a throne, he will makeGod his friend.
“ If ever this usurpation should be overthrown, and regal go-vernment be re-established in France , I please myself with the ex-pectation that the noble conduct of England, shown in this dayof calamity, will be everlastingly remembered; and that the twogreatest and most enlightened nations in Europe will, by theunion of their councils, preserve the peace of Christendom ; andby their abhorrence of religious domination, extinguish thebigotry which has, for so many ages, disfigured the fair form ofgenuine Christianity .
“ I met the Due de Montpensier in London , and desired himto present to you my best respects; that I did not do it in personI beg you to attribute to my little knowledge of, and less regardfor etiquette; and this defect you will have the goodness to ex-cuse in an old man, who feels an activity on great, but none onceremonious occasions, and to allow me the honour of assuringYour Highness of the sincerity with which I am
“ Your faithful servant,
“ R. Landaff.”
The Duke of Orleans, if he ever reads this, will pardon myprinting his answer to my letter: I am certain that it will do himhonour wherever it is read; and I beg him to consider the pub-lication of it as a posthumous token of my respect and good will.