dans les auberges; que vos lettres ne me sont paryenues (sauf la vôtre) qu'après des circuits immenses; que deux me galoppent et ne me sont point encore parvenues; que je suis rendu de fatigue plus que motivée par une expédition d'une activité et d'une audace presque sans exemple; qu'enfin, si le prochain courrier je ne suis pas à la Bastille, vous aurez tous trois ou quatre une grande lettre de moi.-N. B. Que si j'y étois, Mde. de le manderait, et qu'il ne faudrait pas beau coup s'en effrayer. Sur le tout, cher ami, aimez-moi comme je vous aime, et montrez sur-le-champ cette lettre à Elliot et Baynes, car il est temps qu'ils sachent ce qu'ils auroient dû deviner, que j'étois incapable d'une négligence si coupable, et qu'il falloit bien qu'il y eût un dessous de carte qu'ils ignoroient.-Vale, et me ama; car je tombe de sommeil, mais j'ai voulu saisir le courrier. Justifiez-moi aussi auprès de M. Vaughan. the book was written in inns); that all the letters of my English friends, with the exception of your own, made enormous circuits before they reached me, and that two of them are still in pursuit of me; that I am exhausted with fatigue more than accounted for by an expedition almost unexampled for its activity and boldness; and, finally, that, by the very next post, if I am not then in the Bastille, you shall all three or four have a long letter from me.-N. B. That if I were there, Mde. *** would send you word of it, and there would be no great reason for alarm. To sum up, my friend, love me as I love you, and show this letter, forthwith, to Elliot and Baynes, for it is time they should know, what they ought to have guessed, that I was incapable of such culpable neglect, and that of course there was an under-current of which they knew nothing. Vale, et me ama; for I am dropping from my chair with sleep, but I was resolved to save the post. Set me right also with Mr. Vaughan. Sir, LETTER XLII. FROM THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE. Bowood Park, Dec. 25. 1785. I should have thanked you sooner for the favour of your letter, but deferred doing it till I had time to read the book', which accompanied it, with the attention which any thing coming from you will always command from me. The principles of penal law is the subject of all others upon which I am most ignorant, and most unread. However, your arguments, and the authorities to which you refer, incline me to think that a revision of our penal law is not only desirable, but necessary, for the purpose of making it agreeable to the spirit of the times, and such as can be executed. Mr. Blackburne's plan was stopped during my time at the Treasury. I was assured that if the number of ale-houses could be lessened, the Vagrant Act inforced, and the general administration of justice as it stood invigorated, a great deal might be done without having recourse to any new institution. As Parliament was not sitting nothing could be done about the public-houses; but a proclamation was issued, and every method tried to bring about the two last, and the effect answered the most sanguine expectation. I see by a late charge of Mr. Mainwaring's to the grand jury of Middlesex, that those most conversant in the police continue of the same opinion. Under these cir 1 Entitled Observations on a late Publication, entitled "Thoughts on Executive Justice, by Madan." See antè, p. 88. cumstances, it was impossible for me to consent to so great an expenditure upon a plan which I plainly saw had been partially taken up, and the whole of the subject not properly considered. No man would do so in his private affairs; and I still think it would be inexpedient, in the double light of expenditure and punishment, till the measures, to which I allude, have had a fair and effectual trial. Upon the change of ministry these measures were dropped; and a number of persons confined under the Vagrant Act were immediately set at liberty; who have made, if I am rightly informed, a material part of those who have infested London since. I propose to be in London in about a fortnight; when I shall be very glad of the pleasure of talking to you upon this or any other subject. I am, with great truth and regard, Sir, LANSDOWNE. Dear Sir, LETTER XLIII. FROM SIR GILBERT ELLIOT. Park Street, Feb. 10. 1786. I thank you for the very excellent work 2 you have favoured me with. As I am writing to yourself I shall be more reserved than with any other man I can converse with on the subject; but you must just give me leave to wonder that you 1 Afterwards Lord Minto. 2 The work alluded to in the preceding letter. should feel the least desire to conceal the name of the author. Your design is too honourable, I think, to leave you much anxiety about the performance, even if that were at all doubtful: but one is worthy of the other, and you know, from me, c'est tout dire. I do assure you, the perusal has given me the greatest pleasure, both from the certainty of the very high credit you must derive from it, and from the hope it affords me of seeing real and extensive good result, from our penal law and our administration of criminal justice being treated with your views, and by your pen. I entreat you to go on. I send you the paper you desired, and some others which you may perhaps either have already or not want; but they may take their chance of serving you. Believe me most sincerely, dear Sir, Your faithful humble servant, GILBERT ELLIOT. LETTER XLIV. FROM M. TARGET. [Paris,] 19 Juin, 1786. Recevez, Monsieur, tous mes remercîmens du bon ouvrage que vous m'avez envoyé. Je l'ai lu avec l'intérêt qu'inspire un grand objet social, et l'attendrissement que l'on ressent toujours à la LETTER XLIV. 19 June, 1786. Accept my best thanks, my dear Sir, for the excellent work you have sent me. I read it with the interest which a great social object must inspire, and with the feelings which must be always excited in read lecture d'un écrit dicté par l'amour de l'humanité. Ces sentimens s'accroissent de tout ce que peut y ajouter l'amitié que vous m'avez marquée, et dont je conserve un précieux souvenir. Ecrivez, combattez toujours, Monsieur, pour la bienfaisance et pour l'utilité publique; c'est le meilleur emploi d'une vie qu'on perd toutes les fois qu'on ne la consacre pas aux choses utiles. Je suis délivré depuis peu de jours d'une affaire dont toute l'Europe a parlé: vous savez sans doute que par arrêt du 31 Mai dernier, M. le Cardinal de Rohan a été déchargé de l'accusation, et a obtenu une victoire pleine; les mémoires que j'ai faits pour lui sont à Londres; il y en a même une traduction Angloise, que je désirerois avoir si cela. étoit possible. Je ne recommande point à votre zèle la cause de Mad. de Rochard, qui me remercie à chaque occasion du présent que je lui ai fait en vous indiquant pour défenseur. Je n'ai sûrement aucuns ing what is dictated by the love of mankind. Much is to be added to these feelings from the friendship you have shown me, the recollection of which is most valuable to me. Continue, Sir, to write and to labour in the cause of benevolence and of public utility; it is making the best use of a life which, when not devoted to usefulness, is thrown away. It is only a few days since I have been set at liberty from a cause which has engaged the attention of all Europe. You, no doubt, know that, by the decree of the 31st of May last, the Cardinal of Rohan has been freed from the accusation against him, and has obtained a complete victory; the defence which I made for him is in London; there is even an English translation of it, which I should wish to have if possible. I do not beg you to be zealous in the cause of Mad. de Rochard, who takes every opportunity of thanking me for the present I made her in pointing you out for her counsel; no exertions of mine are |