have been uneasy about your friend's long absence from home, but I find that he improves considerably in respect to talents and that his mind strengthens.[1] He lives in perpetual pursuit of information, and his mind appears constantly employed, which makes him happy, and what else are we to look for? My younger son is a quite different character. A very happy temper, with, I would say if I were not afraid of rating him too high, a strong natural judgment. His brother loves him very tenderly, as he may well do his brother who has acted a very noble part by him. Let me now say a word with regard to yourself. You may depend upon it that if I have one quality beyond another it is sincerity, and that in no part of my life I was ever capable of failing in it. I hope and trust that some settlement will take place in France, in which case however happy I may be to see you in England, I should be sorry you thought of quitting it, because I am persuaded from all I have seen and read, nothing can supply the place of early habits and long connections; but if the Reign of Terror should return, you may be assured of finding a home here, and that I will do everything in my power to make it as natural to you as possible. … I expect that peace will revive us here as well as elsewhere, and that I shall be enabled to pursue for some years before I die the dictates of an unshackled mind. I have a very great desire as soon as the peace takes place to see the bonne ville de Paris once more after such wonderful events, and to pass a winter afterwards in some warm climate, arranging so as to pass some little time at Paris going, and more returning. I wish you would have the goodness to make a plan for me how I can see and not be seen. I do not want to make connections, much less to intrigue, or to be active in any pursuit, but my curiosity will be insatiable, as long as it can be gratified in a quiet way. I beg you will write to me a plan in the greatest possible detail, it will serve me at least to dream upon.
"I have not changed an atom of the principles I
- ↑ The allusion is to Lord Wycombe.
