motion: I had due warning of the alternative, that presented itself to my choice. I had a holding on Lord Halifax, founded on my father's merits, and a long and faithful attachment on my own part; but as I had hitherto kept the straight and fair track in following his fortunes, I would not consent to deviate into indirect roads, and disgrace myself in the eyes of his and my own connexions, who would have marked my conduct with deserved contempt. In attending upon him to Ireland I had the example of Doctor Crane to refer to, and I had his advice and approbation on this occasion for tendering my services, when he received the seals, as a point of duty, though not with any expectation of my tender being accepted. The answer was exactly what I looked to receive-cool in its terms, repulsive in its purport-I was not fit for every situation-Nothing could be more true, neither did I oppose a single word to the conviction it carried with it in that I acquiesced respectfully and silently; but I said a few words in thankful acknowledgment of the favour he had conferred upon my father, and for that, which I had received in my own person, namely the

Crown-Agency of Nova Scotia. Perhaps he did not quite expect to have disposed of me with so little trouble to himself, for my manner seemed to waken some sensations, which led him to dilate a little on his motives for declining to employ me, inasmuch as I did not speak French. This also was not less true than his first remark, for as certainly as I was not fit for all situations, so surely was I unfit for this, if speaking French fluently, (though I understood it as a language) was a qualification not to be dispensed with. In short I admitted this objection in its full force, well persuaded, that if I had possessed the elegance and perfection of Voltaire himself in that language, I should not have been a step nearer to the office in question. When we know ourselves to be put aside for reasons, that do not touch the character, but will not truly be revealed, we do well to acquiesce in the very first civil, though evasive, apology, that is passed upon us in the way of explanation.

Finding myself thus cast out of employ, and Mr. Sedgewicke in possession of his office, I began to think it might be worth my while to endeavour at succeeding him in his situation at

the Board of Trade, and submit to follow him, as he had once followed and now passed me in this road to preferment. After above eleven years attendance, my profit was the sole attainment of a place of two hundred pounds per annum, my loss was that of the expence I had put my father to for my support and maintenance in a style of life, very different from that in which I was found; this expence I had the consolation of being enabled to replace to my father upon the receipt of my wife's fortune; but by this act of justice and duty so gratifying to my conscience the balance upon 30007. which was the portion allotted to Miss Ridge, was very inconsiderable when it reached me. I had already three children, and the prospect of an increasing family; my father's bishopric was not likely to benefit me, neither could it be considered as a compensation for my services, inasmuch as the past exertions of his influence and popularity in Northamptonshire might fairly give him a claim to a favour not less than that of appointing him second chaplain to Doctor Oswald, who was a perfect stranger to his lordship, till introduced and recommended by his brother James. These con

siderations induced me to hope I could not be thought a very greedy or presumptuous expectant, when I ventured to solicit him in competition with a gentleman, who had only been in his immediate service as Master of the Horse for one session in Ireland, and at the same time they served as motives with me for endeavouring to succeed that gentleman, whose office, if I could obtain it, would be an addition to my income of two hundred per annum. The Earl of Hillsborough was first Lord of Trade and Plantations, and, being an intimate friend of Lord Halifax, was I presumed not indisposed towards me. I thereupon went to Bushey Park to wait upon Lord Halifax, and communicated to him the idea, which had occurred to me, of making suit for the office, that Mr. Sedgewicke had vacated. He received this intimation in a manner, that did not merely denote embarrassment, it made it doubtful to me whether he meant to take it up as matter of offence, or turn it off as matter of indifference; for some time he seemed inclined to put an interpretation upon the measure proposed, which certainly it could not bear, and to consider it as an abandonment on my part of a con

nexion, that had uninterruptedly subsisted for so many years. When a very few words on my part convinced him that this charge could not lie against me, he stated it in another view as a degradation, which he was surprised I could think of submitting to, after the situa tion I had stood in with respect to him: this was easily answered, and in terms, that could not give offence; thus whilst I was guarding my expressions from any semblance of disgust, ́and his lordship was holding a language, that could not come from his heart, we broke up the conference without any other decision, than that of referring it to my own choice and discretion, as a measure he neither advised nor opposed.

As it was from this interview with the noble person, to whom I had attached myself for so long a term of years, that my future line in life took a new direction, I could not pass it over in silence; but though my mind retains the memory of many particulars, which, if my own credit only was at stake, I should be forward to relate, I shall forbear; convinced, that when I lost the favour and protection of that noble person, I had not forfeited his real good opi