be with you, and my chief reason for delaying is, that I wish to make a longer stay than I could just now.  The advice I hinted at, in the former part of this letter, was Lady Suffolk’s, and I am sure you will think it very sensible.  She told me, should I now go to Paris, all the world would say I went to try to persuade you to resign; that even the report would be impertinent to you, to whom she knew and saw I wished so well; and that when I should return, it would be said I had failed in my errand.  Added to this, which was surely very prudent and friendly advice, I will own to you fairly, that I think I shall soon have it in my power to come to you on the foot I wish,—­I mean, having done with politics, which I have told you all along, and with great truth, are as much my abhorrence as yours.  I think this administration cannot last till Christmas, and I believe they themselves think so.  I am cautious when I say this, because I promise you faithfully, the last thing I will do shall be to give you any false lights knowingly.  I am clear, I repeat it, against your resigning now; and there is no meaning in all I have taken the liberty to say to you, and which you receive with so much goodness and sense, but to put you on your guard in such ticklish times, and to pave imperceptibly to the world the way to your reunion with your friends.  In your brother, I am persuaded, you will never find any alteration; and whenever you find an opportunity proper, his credit with particular persons will remove any coldness that may have happened.  I admire the force and reasoning with which you have stated your own situation; and I think there are but two points in which we differ at all.  I do not see how your brother could avoid the part he chose.  It was the administration that made it—­no inclination of his.  The other is a trifle; it regards Elliot, nor is it my opinion alone that he is at Paris on business:  every body believes it, and considering his abilities, and the present difficulties of Lord Bute, Elliot’s absence would be very extraordinary, if merely occasioned by idleness or amusement, or even to place his children, when it lasts so long.

The affair of Turk Island, and the late promotion of Colonel Fletcher(656) over thirty-seven older officers, are the chief causes, added to the Canada bills, Logwood, and the Manilla affairs, Which have ripened our heats to such a height.  Lord Mansfield’s violence against the press has contributed much—­but the great distress of all to the ministers, is the behaviour of the Duke of Bedford, who has twice or thrice peremptorily refused to attend council.  He has been at Trentham, and crossed the country back to Woburn, without coming to town.(657) Lord Gower has been in town but one day.  Many causes are assigned for all this; the refusal of making Lord Waldegrave of the bedchamber; Lord Tavistocl(’s inclination to the minority; and above all, a reversion, which it is believed Lord Bute has been so weak as