this matter, or if you had any regard to a family you owe so much to; but I fear you hugged the false report to cancel all feelings of gratitude that must ever glow in a generous breast, and to justify what you had declared, that no regard to the family was any restraint to you. These refinements are past my low understanding, and can only be comprehended by you great wits.
I always thought in you I had a friend in Ireland, but find myself mistaken. I am sorry for it; my comfort is, it is none of my fault. If you had taken any thing amiss, you might have known the truth from me. I shall always be as ready to ask pardon when I have offended, as to justify myself when I have not. I am, sir,
Your very humble servant.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORD PALMERSTON,
AT HIS HOUSE IN ST. JAMES'S SQUARE, LONDON[1].
I DESIRE you will give yourself the last trouble I shall ever put you to; I mean of reading this letter.
- ↑ This letter is already printed in vol. XII, p. 175, from Swift's rough draught, which he has dated Jan. 31, and endorsed, "An answer to lord Palmerston's civil polite letter." But the editor having been favoured by the present lord Palmerston with the loan of the original, in which are several material alterations, it is here reprinted. The noble lord, to whom it was addressed, has written on the back of it, "Not answered."
