Chiefs of Grant > Correspondence

432 ADDITIONAL GRANT CORRESPONDENCE. [C. 1760-
thought is most pleasing to one who looks upon your friendship as one of the greatest sources
of his happiness, and who sincerely hopes that however differences in views or opinion
may arise, that you will continue him the satisfaction of having a friend to whom he can
always open his mind as freely as he has hitherto done to you. Reflecting upon these
things, a thought struck me to examine narrowly into the character most consistent with the
man of honour as representative of his country in the House of Commons. Many are the
duties to which he is bound, and it requires great learning as well as principle to put them
always in execution. When we cannot absolutely reach that, let us at least do our utmost.
He should have studied thoroughly the real advantages or dissadvantages that attend every
form of government. He should consider what laws, what method of levying taxes, in short,
every thing that regards the internal police, is most consistent with each, what laws are
suitable to the commercial and what to the warlike nation, how far to an extensive or
small dominion ; he should be master of the law of nations in general, as well as of those
particular treaties which subsist between different powers. He should be capable of dis-
tinguishing when it is necessary to incline the ballance towards the executive part of the
government and when to the people, as he should curb the licentiousness of the latter and
ambition of the former, which if the legislative power does not do their duty, are equally
apt to encroach and endanger the constitution. He should consider any bill that is offer'd
in Parliament in the most extensive light, weigh all its consequences, and be carefull least in
endeavouring to remedy any small disadvantage he should introduce a president which may
be detrimental in the main. In short, every great quality that our nature is capable of, ought
to be aim'd at by him. He should be a father to his family and tenants, a sincere and true
friend, a modest and open companion ; he should be as cool and unprejudiced in his deter-
minations, as expeditious and resolute in executing them ; to sum up his character in a few
words, he should be slave to his country, subject to his King, and friend to all mankind.
When once I begin a letter to you, my pen flows so easily that it is difficult to leave of,
but I am conscious, my dear friend, a letter may be too long, so I shall confine myself now
to answering a few particulars of the last you favour'd me with. Tho' it was nothing more
than I expected, yet it gave me infinite pleasure to hear you like Naples. There is a secret
pleasure in finding one's opinion correspond with that of their friends, whether that sensa-
tion arises from pride or diffidence I can't say, but it is certainly a fact which every one
must experience. It was with infinite regret I left Eome, which I may say was the only
place I found myself really happy since I came abroad, and what contributed to make it
more dissagreeable was the not having the pleasure to see you and communicating to you
some letters I received a few days before. Wynn received a letter from his friends, telling
him they heard I was expected home every week. This saved me a great deal of trouble.
We separated at Verona, and I assure you to my infinite concern. Every day I enjoyed his
company, I had stronger reason to look upon him as a most aimiable and sensible man.