permanent one, nor likely to roll on till Christmas without some change.  The first moment that I can quit party with honour, I shall seize.  It neither suits my inclination nor the years I have lived in the world; for though I am not old, I have been in the world so long, and seen so much of those who figure in it, that I am heartily sick of its commerce.  My attachment to your brother, and the apprehension that fear of my own interest would be thought the cause if I took no part for him, determined me to risk every thing rather than abandon him.  I have done it, and cannot repent, whatever distresses may follow.  One’s good name is of more consequence than all the rest, my dear lord.  Do not think I say this with the least disrespect to you; it is only to convince you that I did not recommend any thing to you that I would avoid myself; nor engaged myself, nor wished to engage you, in party from pique, resentment, caprice, or choice.  I am dipped in it much against my inclination.  I can suffer by it infinitely more than you could.  But there are moments when one must take one’s part like a man.  This I speak solely with regard to myself.  I allow fairly and honestly that you was not circumstanced as I was.  You had not voted with your brother as I did; the world knew your inclinations were different.  All this certainly composed serious reasons for you not to follow him, if you did not choose it.  My motives for thinking you had better have espoused his cause were for your own sake — I detailed those motives to you in my last long letter; that opinion is as strong within me as ever.

The affront to you, the malice that aimed that affront, the importance that it gives one, upon the long-run to act steadily and uniformly with one’s friends, the enemies you make in the opposition, composed of so many great families, and of your own principal allies,(635) and the little merit you gain with the ministry by the contrary conduct,—­all these were, to me, unanswerable reasons, and remain so, for what I advised; yet, as I told you before, I think the season is passed, and that you must wait for an opportunity of disengaging yourself with credit.  I am persuaded that occasion will be given you, from one or other of the causes I mentioned in my last; and if the fairest is, I entreat you by the good wishes which I am sure you know from my soul I bear you, to seize it.  Excuse me:  I know I go too far, but my heart is set on your making a great figure, and your letters are so kind, that they encourage me to speak with a friendship which I am sensible is not discreet:—­but you know you and your brother have ever been the objects of my warmest affection and however partial you may think me to him, I must labour to have the world think as highly of you, and to unite you firmly for your lives.  If this was not my motive, you must be sure I should not be earnest.  It is not one vote in the House of Lords that imports us.  Party is grown so Serious,(636) and will, I doubt, become every day more so, that one must make one’s option; and it will go to my soul to see you embarked against all your friends, against the Whig principles you have ever professed, and with men, amongst whom you have not one well-wisher, and with whom you will not even be able to remain upon tolerable terms, unless you take a vigorous part against all you love and esteem.