In 1767 Selwyn and Carlisle had not long been friends. "Don't lead
your new favourite Carlisle into a scrape," wrote Gilly Williams to
Selwyn in the previous year. The words were written without serious
intent, but they are noticeable because they are so opposite to the
whole course of the rising friendship. The relations of the two men
were remarkable.

It has been well said of Selwyn by a statesman of to-day that he was
a good friend, a fact never better exemplified than in his
friendship with Carlisle. In his affairs he took a greater interest
than would be expected of the nearest of relatives, and with this he
united a singularly warm and open-hearted affection not only for
Carlisle but for his family. It lasted to the day of his death.
There was between them, as Pitt said of his relations with
Wilberforce, a tie of affection and friendship--simple and ingenuous
and unbreakable.

The nobleman who has been referred to simply as Lord Carlisle had
many of the qualities that mark a leader of men. He did not attain,
however, to the eminence as a statesman, man of letters, or in
society which had once been expected of him.

He succeeded to the earldom when ten years of age, following a
father who had shown no disposition for any activities beyond those
of a respectable country gentleman. His grandfather, Charles, third
Earl of Carlisle, had, however, filled an important place in his
day. His local influence in the North was great, and he' was a man
of sufficient capacity and ambition to become a personage of some
position in politics and at court.