given publicity to the business by your orders to consular agents, I surely cannot be blamed in following your royal example.
Lady Hester Stanhope to Mr. Speaker Abercrombie.
Sir,
Probably the wheel-horse has forgotten his driver, but the latter has not forgotten him.[1] I am told that the chief weight of the carriage of state bears upon you; if so, it must be a ponderous one indeed, if I can judge by a specimen of the talent of those who guide it.
You, who have read and thought a great deal upon men and manners, must be aware that there are situations almost unknown in Europe from which persons, in what is called a semi-barbarous country, cannot extricate themselves with honour without taking a part either for or against humanity: besides, there are extraordinary gusts of knowledge—of extraordinary information—which, if you do not take advantage of them at the moment, are lost to you forever. I have, therefore, exceeded my pecuniary means, but always with the hope of extricating myself without the assist-
- ↑ This alludes to the childhood of Lady Hester Stanhope, when she had played at horses with Mr. Abercrombie.
