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LE sh

WINTER,

371

“eny pecple, then it will be two months yet before the royal 1846.
hang oan reach the Act for the total repeal of the Corn Law. ar. 42.
Shoulg the Peers attempt a compromise, I have reason
to foo] satisfied that the Government will be firm ; and then
"e may possibly have a dissolution. A. sharp stroggle in
the Country would in all probability be followed by total
“1d immediate repeal, carried with a high hand. But,
“SSuming the most probable event, viz. that the Lords do
Pass the Bill, then my mind is made up to accept the
Chiltory Hundreds the day after it receives the royal
A38ent

“Now, my dear sir, the rest must be lef to the chapter
*f tate, and I shall be preparc i to meet it, come what may.
This decision is entirely the result of my own cogitations.
y have consulted nobody. If the rumour got abroad
"Wongst; my friends, I should be persecuted with advice or
*omonstrance, to which I shonld be expected to give answers
"volving explanations painful to me. And it is quite
Marvellous how apt the newspapers are to get raw material
“ough for an on dif if a man suffers bis plans to go beyond
his own boson, I could, of course, make my health honestly
the Plea for leaving Parlisment, aud can show, if need be,
the advice of the first medical men in London sed Edinburgh
 to justify me in seeking at least a twelvemonth’s
*slaxation from public Life.
“I have thus given you au earnest of my determination
® do al) that I can to acquit myself of ray private as well as
Public duties. It has always been to me a spectacle
Worthy of reproach fo see a man sacrificing the welfare of
hiy own domestic circle to the cravings of a morbid desire
for public notoriety. And God, who knows our hearts, will
free tae from any such unworthy motives. I was driven
Nong 4 groove by accident, too fast and too far to reiresl
With honour or without the risk of some loss to the country,