induced me to bind them in a parcel containing other select papers, and labelled with the titles appertaining to them.  They consist but of three letters, which I believe were all that I ever received from Dr. Johnson.  Of these, one, which was written in quadruplicate, under the different dates of its respective dispatches, has already been made publick[227], but not from any communication of mine.  This, however, I have joined to the rest; and have now the pleasure of sending them to you for the use to which you informed me it was your desire to destine them.

’My promise was pledged with the condition, that if the letters were found to contain any thing which should render them improper for the publick eye, you would dispense with the performance of it.  You will have the goodness, I am sure, to pardon my recalling this stipulation to your recollection, as I should be both to appear negligent of that obligation which is always implied in an epistolary confidence.  In the reservation of that right I have read them over with the most scrupulous attention, but have not seen in them the slightest cause on that ground to withhold them from you.  But, though not on that, yet on another ground I own I feel a little, yet but a little, reluctance to part with them:  I mean on that of my own credit, which I fear will suffer by the information conveyed by them, that I was early in the possession of such valuable instructions for the beneficial employment of the influence of my late station, and (as it may seem) have so little availed myself of them.  Whether I could, if it were necessary, defend myself against such an imputation, it little concerns the world to know.  I look only to the effect which these relicks may produce, considered as evidences of the virtues of their authour:  and believing that they will be found to display an uncommon warmth of private friendship, and a mind ever attentive to the improvement and extension of useful knowledge, and solicitous for the interests of mankind, I can cheerfully submit to the little sacrifice of my own fame, to contribute to the illustration of so great and venerable a character.  They cannot be better applied, for that end, than by being entrusted to your hands.  Allow me, with this offering, to infer from it a proof of the very great esteem with which I have the honour to profess myself, Sir,

Your most obedient
And most humble servant,
‘WARREN HASTINGS.’

’P.S.  At some future time, and when you have no further occasion for these papers, I shall be obliged to you if you would return them.’

The last of the three letters thus graciously put into my hands, and which has already appeared in publick, belongs to this year; but I shall previously insert the first two in the order of their dates.  They altogether form a grand group in my biographical picture.

TO THE HONOURABLE WARREN HASTINGS, ESQ.

’SIR,