Lord Northington(131) brought me home two nights in his coach, and in one of them the conversation turned upon you.  He said there was nobody had a better idea of what a gentleman should be than Carlisle; that you was so throughout.  There is a singularity and frankness in some people’s manner of delivering their sentiments, by which they receive great advantage.  You remember Sir R. Payne’s way of describing you, which was still more odd; he said if anybody looked through the keyhole at any time to see how you behaved when you was alone, that he was sure there would be no more impropriety in it than if you had a hundred eyes upon you.  I don’t like commending you myself, but I like to hear others do so, and especially when they speak about what they think, and when what they think has the air of verite in it.

I hope you make my compliments to Ekins, and that he has by this time read Atterbury quite through.  I do not propose the Bishop as a pattern for anything but for eloquence; and for argument, on n’en trouve pas, chez lui.

I think that Storer, John St. John,(132) and I, shall set out in about ten days.  My coach, cloak, and muff are ready.  Adieu most affectionately.  My respects to Lady C(arlisle) and my love to the children, and last of all do not despair of me about Hazard, for it being what I love so much, is precisely the reason why I shall be more upon guard in respect to it.  I do not mean by this to limit, but the ense recidendum; every other parti is delusive and childish.

(129) See ante, note 105.

(130) William Eden, Lord Auckland (1744-1814).  He was educated at Eton and Oxford; called to the Bar in 1769.  In 1778 was one of the peace commissioners to America with Lord Carlisle, accompanying him later to Ireland as secretary.  Between 1785 and 1789 he filled appointments as ambassador successively to France, Spain, and the United Provinces.  In 1789 he was created Baron Auckland in Ireland, and in 1793 raised to the English peerage.  He married Eleanor, daughter of Sir Gilbert Elliot and sister of the first Earl of Minto.

(131) Robert Henley, second Earl of Northington (1747-1782), a friend of Charles Fox.  The main event of his political life was his tenure of the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland in the Coalition Ministry in 1783.

(132) John St. John (1746-1793), third son of John, second Viscount St. John, a typical specimen of the macaroni.  He was an M.P. from 1773 to 1784, held a sinecure post as Surveyor-General of Land Revenues.  He wrote some political pamphlets, a play, and an opera.  The play was a tragedy—­“Mary Queen of Scots”; it was acted at Drury Lane with some success in 1789, Kemble and Mrs. Siddons taking the leading parts.