What sin, to me unknown,
 Dipped me in this?  My father’s, or my own?

I am very glad that you have so quietly abandoned a contention for Carlisle.  When these things come to us without trouble it is very well; but when they do not, I do not know one earthly thing that makes us amends, and it is not once in a hundred times that you are thanked for it. ...

I am old indeed, as the papers say, and if not trained up in ministerial corruption, I am used to all other corruption whatever, and of that of manners in particular; and the little attention that is paid to what was in my earliest days called common honesty, is now the most uncommon thing in the world. . . .

Let me have the pleasure of hearing that you are going on well in Ireland,(145) for the loss of that I should have in being there with you, which is impossible.  Keep yourself, as you can very well do, within your intrenchments, that no one may toss your hat over the walls of the Castle.  I dread to think what a wrongheaded people you are to transact business with for the next three years of your life.  But I am less afraid of you from your character, than of another, because I think that you will admit, at setting out, of no degree of familiarity from those you are not well acquainted with.  I hope that Eden goes with you.  I have a great opinion of his good sense and scavoir faire.

(144) John Robinson (1727-1802), the son of an Appleby tradesman.  He grew wealthy by marriage and inheritance, and locally influential.  He became member for Westmoreland in 1764.  In 1770 he was appointed Secretary to the Treasury, which office he retained till Lord North’s fall in 1782.  He was the business manager of the Ministry, and had in his hands the distribution of the party funds and patronage.  He was an honest, able, and cool man of affairs, who regarded politics wholly from a business point of view.

(145) Lord Carlisle had this year been appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.

CHAPTER 4. 1781 THE DISASTERS IN AMERICA

A drum at Selwyn’s—­George, Lord Morpeth—­Dr. Warner—­Sale of the Houghton pictures—­The House of Commons—­Pitt’s first speech—­Selwyn unwell—­Play at Brooks’s—­London gaieties—­Fox and his new clothes —­Gambling—­The bailiffs in Fox’s house—­“Fish” Crawford—­Montem at Eton—­Mie Mie’s education—­Second speech of Pitt—­Lord North—­A Court Ball—­Society and politics—­The Emperor of Austria —­Conversation with Fox—­Personal feelings—­American affairs—­Lord North and Mr. Robinson—­State of politics—­London Society.