I am told that you are not likely to be alone in the generous stand you are to make against this unnatural monster of court popularity.  It is said, Mr. Hussey, who is so very considerable at present, and who is everything in expectation, will give you his assistance.  I rejoice to see (that very rare spectacle) a good mind, a great genius, and public activity united together, and united so early in life.  By not running into every popular humor, he may depend upon it, the popularity of his character will wear the better.

    Non ponebat enim rumores ante salutem;
    Ergo postque magisque viri nunc gloria claret.

Adieu, my dear Sir.  Give my best respects to Lady Bingham; and believe me, with great truth and esteem,

Your most obedient and most humble servant,

EDM.  BURKE.

BEACONSFIELD, 30th October, 1773.

TO SIR CHARLES BINGHAM.

A

LETTER

TO

THE HON.  CHARLES JAMES FOX,

ON THE AMERICAN WAR.

OCTOBER 8, 1777.

My Dear Charles,—­I am, on many accounts, exceedingly pleased with your journey to Ireland.  I do not think it was possible to dispose better of the interval between this and the meeting of Parliament.  I told you as much, in the same general terms, by the post.  My opinion of the infidelity of that conveyance hindered me from being particular.  I now sit down with malice prepense to kill you with a very long letter, and must take my chance for some safe method of conveying the dose.  Before I say anything to you of the place you are in, or the business of it, on which, by the way, a great deal might be said, I will turn myself to the concluding part of your letter from Chatsworth.

You are sensible that I do not differ from you in many things; and most certainly I do not dissent from the main of your doctrine concerning the heresy of depending upon contingencies.  You must recollect how uniform my sentiments have been on that subject.  I have ever wished a settled plan of our own, founded in the very essence of the American business, wholly unconnected with the events of the war, and framed in such a manner as to keep up our credit and maintain our system at home, in spite of anything which may happen abroad.  I am now convinced, by a long and somewhat vexatious experience, that such a plan is absolutely impracticable.  I think with you, that some faults in the constitution of those whom we must love and trust are among the causes of this impracticability; they are faults, too, that one can hardly wish them perfectly cured of, as I am afraid they are intimately connected with honest, disinterested intentions, plentiful fortunes, assured rank, and quiet homes.  A great deal of activity and enterprise can scarcely ever be expected from such men, unless some horrible calamity is just over their heads, or unless they suffer some gross personal insults from power, the resentment of which may be as unquiet and stimulating a principle in their minds as ambition is in those of a different complexion.  To say the truth, I cannot greatly blame them.  We live at a time when men are not repaid in fame for what they sacrifice in interest or repose.