Do you remember what Mr. Fairford said to me on this subject--it
did not become my father's son to speak in that manner to Sam's
father's son? I asked you what your father could possibly know
of mine; and you answered, 'As much, you supposed, as he knew of
Sam's--it was a proverbial expression.' This did not quite
satisfy me; though I am sure I cannot tell why it should not.
But I am returning to a fruitless and exhausted subject. Do not
be afraid that I shall come back on this well-trodden yet
pathless field of conjecture. I know nothing so useless, so
utterly feeble and contemptible, as the groaning forth one's
lamentations into the ears of our friends.

I would fain promise you that my letters shall be as entertaining
as I am determined they shall be regular and well filled. We
have an advantage over the dear friends of old, every pair of
them. Neither David and Jonathan, nor Orestes and Pylades, nor
Damon and Pythias--although, in the latter case particularly, a
letter by post would have been very acceptable--ever corresponded
together; for they probably could not write, and certainly had
neither post nor franks to speed their effusions to each other;
whereas yours, which you had from the old peer, being handled
gently, and opened with precaution, may be returned to me again,
and serve to make us free of his Majesty's post office, during
the whole time of my proposed tour. [It is well known and
remembered, that when Members of Parliament enjoyed the unlimited
privilege of franking by the mere writing the name on the cover,
it was extended to the most extraordinary occasions. One noble
lord, to express his regard for a particular regiment, franked a
letter for every rank and file. It was customary also to save
the covers and return them, in order that the correspondence