Athenæum, Feb. 25. 1850.

"Paris, July 28. 1771.

"Dear S'r.

"I have received no letter from my brother, and consequently have no
answer to make to him. I shall only say that after entering into a
solemn engagement with me, that we should dispose of the places
alternately, I can scarce think him serious, when he tells you he has
made an _entirely_ new arrangement for ALL the places, expects I shoud
concur in it; and after that, is so good as to promise he will dispose
of no more without consulting me. If He is so absolutely master of all,
my concurrence is not necessary, _and I will give none_. If he chuses to
dispose of the places without me, That matter with others _more
important_, must be regulated in another manner,--and it is time they
shoud, when no agreement is kept with me, and I find objections made
which, upon the fullest discussion and after allowance of the force of
my arguments and right, had been given up twenty years ago.

"With regard to your letter, S'r, some parts of it are, I protest,
totally unintelligible to me. Others, which I think I do understand,
require a much fuller answer than I have time to give now, as the post
goes out to-morrow morning. That answer will contain matter not at all
fit for the Post, and which I am sure you woud not wish shoud be handled
there; for which reason I shall defer it, till I can give my answer at
length into your own hands. It will, I believe, surprize both you and my
brother; and show how unkindly I have been {274} treated after doing
everything to accommodate both. As to the conditions which you say, S'r,
you intend to exact from my brother, you will undoubtedly state them to