The second is, that your dear lady-elect (who is it seems herself so fine and so sententious a writer) will see by this, that it is not our faults, nor for want of the best advice, that you was not a better man than you have hitherto been.

And now, in a few words, for the conduct I would wish you to follow in public, as well as in private, if you would think me worthy of advising.  —­It shall be short; so be not uneasy.

As to the private life:  Love your lady as she deserves.  Let your actions praise you.  Be a good husband; and so give the lie to all your enemies; and make them ashamed of their scandals.  And let us have pride in saying, that Miss Harlowe has not done either herself or family any discredit by coming among us.  Do this; and I, and Lady Sarah, and Lady Betty, will love you for ever.

As to your public conduct:  This as follows is what I could wish:  but I reckon your lady’s wisdom will put us both right—­no disparagement, Sir; since, with all your wit, you have not hitherto shown much wisdom, you know.

Get into parliament as soon as you can:  for you have talons to make a great figure there.  Who so proper to assist in making new holding laws, as those whom no law in being could hold?

Then, for so long as you will give attendance in St. Stephen’s chapel—­ its being called a chapel, I hope, will not disgust you:  I am sure I have known many a riot there—­a speaker has a hard time of it! but we peers have more decorum—­But what was I going to say?—­I must go back.

For so long as you will give your attendance in parliament, for so long will you be out of mischief; out of private mischief, at least:  and may St. Stephen’s fate be your’s, if you wilfully do public mischief!

When a new election comes, you will have two or three boroughs, you know, to choose out of:—­but if you stay till then, I had rather you were for the shire.

You will have interest enough, I am sure; and being so handsome a man, the women will make their husbands vote for you.

I shall long to read your speeches.  I expect you will speak, if occasion offer, the very first day.  You want no courage, and think highly enough of yourself, and lowly enough of every body else, to speak on all occasions.

As to the methods of the house, you have spirit enough, I fear, to be too much above them:  take care of that.—­I don’t so much fear your want of good-manners.  To men, you want no decency, if they don’t provoke you:  as to that, I wish you would only learn to be as patient of contradiction from others, as you would have other people be to you.

Although I would not have you to be a courtier; neither would I have you to be a malcontent.  I remember (for I have it down) what my old friend Archibald Hutcheson said; and it was a very good saying—­(to Mr. Secretary Craggs, I think it was)—­’I look upon an administration, as entitled to every vote I can with good conscience give it; for a house of commons should not needlessly put drags upon the wheels of government:  and when I have not given it my vote, it was with regret:  and, for my country’s sake, I wished with all my heart the measure had been such as I could have approved.’