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“ About two months ago I wrote a letter to Lord Grenville ; ashort one, in truth, but comprehending my plain opinion on theCatholic question. I send you an extract, from which you willrightly infer, that though I am not afraid of Popery, I am afraidof Pope Buonaparte; and I heartily wish that Government wereas much afraid of him as I am.
“ I have left off riding: walking fatigues me; and I cannot yetsubmit to an airing in a carriage. Whether it is by Her or byHis Majesty that I am laid on the shelf, I do not at all repine atthe position ; for I can truly say with the philosopher,
“ Ici je trouve le bonheur,
Ici je vis sans speotateur;
Dans le silence literaire,
Loin de tout importun jaseur;
Loin des froids discours du vulgaire.Et des hauts tous de la grandeur.”
“ But my literary retirement, though it improves my own mind,will not improve the world; for I shall never more attempt to dothat either in politics or religion. I have too much respect forpublic opinion to expose to public animadversion the dregsof life.
“ I am, &c.
“ R. Landaff.”
This I believe was the last letter which I ever wrote to Mr.Harrison: he died in February, 1811. I have inserted it in theseanecdotes, because I consider it as a circumstance honourable tomyself, that I maintained for above half a century a warm friend-