him himself; and cannot expect I should meddle with them or be party to
them. Neither you nor he can imagine that I am quite so tame an idiot as
to enter into bonds for persons of _his_ recommendation. If the office
is _his_, he must be answerable for it, and for all the persons he
employs in it. I protest against every thing that is not my own act--a
consequence he perhaps did not foresee, when he chose, contrary to his
agreement with me, to engross the whole disposition. I have always known
clearly what is my own right and on what founded; and have acted
strictly according to my right, and am ready to justify every step of my
conduct. I have sufficiently shown my disposition to peace, and appeal
to you yourself, S'r, and to my brother, whether either can charge me
with the least encroachment beyond my right; and whether I have not
acquiesced in every single step that either has desired of me. Your
letter, S'r, and that you quote of my brother, have shown how necessary
it is for me to take the measure I am determined to take. I would have
done any thing to oblige either you or my brother, but I am not to be
threatened out of my right in any shape. I know when it is proper to
yield and when to take my stand. I refused to accept the place for my
own life when it was offered to me: when I declined _that_, it is not
probable that I would hold the place to the wrong of anybody else; it
will and _must_ be seen who claims any part or prerogatives of the place
unjustly; my honour demands to have this ascertained, and I will add,
that when I scorned a favour, I am not likely to be intimidated by a
menace.

"I say all this coolly and deliberately, and my actions will be
conformable. I do not forget my obligations to you, dear S'r, or to your
dead brother, whose memory will ever be most dear to me. Unkind
expressions shall not alter the affection I have for you and your
family, nor am I so unreasonable, so unjust, or so absurd as not to