probably such as would redound either to his own honour, or to the
benefit of others, were they to be read. He must be conscious of
this, since Mrs. Fortescue says, 'that in the great correspondence by
letters which he holds, he is as secret and as careful as if it were
of a treasonable nature;--yet troubles not his head with politics,
though nobody knows the interests of princes and courts better than he
is said to do.'

That you and I, my dear, should love to write, is no wonder. We have
always, from the time each could hold a pen, delighted in epistolary
correspondencies. Our employments are domestic and sedentary; and we
can scribble upon twenty innocent subjects, and take delight in them
because they are innocent; though were they to be seen, they might not
much profit or please others. But that such a gay, lively young
fellow as this, who rides, hunts, travels, frequents the public
entertainments, and has means to pursue his pleasures, should be able
to set himself down to write for hours together, as you and I have
heard him say he frequently does, that is the strange thing.

Mrs. Fortescue says, 'that he is a complete master of short-hand
writing.' By the way, what inducements could a swift writer as he
have to learn short-hand!

She says (and we know it as well as she) 'that he has a surprising
memory, and a very lively imagination.'

Whatever his other vices are, all the world, as well as Mrs.
Fortescue, says, 'he is a sober man. And among all his bad qualities,
gaming, that great waster of time as well as fortune, is not his
vice:' So that he must have his head as cool, and his reason as clear,