They openly wished you might be guillotined, or sent to
Cayenne, or any thing else. And these expressions were finally stifled
from a principle of policy only, and to prevent you from being urged
to a justification of yourself. From this principle alone proceed the
silence and cold respect they observe towards you. Still, they cannot
prevent at times the flames bursting from under the embers, as Mr.
Pickering's letters, report, and conversations testify, as well as the
indecent expressions respecting you, indulged by some of them in the
debate on these despatches. These sufficiently show that you are never
more to be honored or trusted by them, and that they wait to crush you
for ever, only till they can do it without danger to themselves.
When I sat down to answer your letter, but two courses presented
themselves, either to say nothing or every thing; for half confidences
are not in my character. I could not hesitate which was due to you. I
have unbosomed myself fully; and it will certainly be highly gratifying
if I receive like confidence from you. For even if we differ in
principle more than I believe we do, you and I know too well the texture
of the human mind, and the slipperiness of human reason, to consider
differences of opinion otherwise than differences of form or feature.
Pages:
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719