J. B. NICHOLS, 25, PARLIAMENT STREET.
BLUE-STOCKING HALL.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
HENRY COLBURN, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
1827.
BLUE-STOCKING HALL.
LETTER XII.
Mr. Otway to General Douglas.
[In point of time, this letter should not appear till later in theseries; but as it is an answer to the preceding, the Editorjudged it expedient to insert it in this place.]
Lisfarne.
My dear General,
It gave me sincere pleasure to see your hand-writingonce more; and if I had required anything beyond the gratification of an assurancethat you had not forgotten your old friend,to put me in good humour, the commissionwhich you have given me would secure all thebenevolence of which I am possessed in excusing [Pg 2]your long silence. Most readily do I acceptthe trust which you confide in me, and happyshall I be if my exertions facilitate the event ofyour return to your native land, there to enjoythe otium cum dignitate to which every mannaturally aspires who has passed the best of hisdays in toiling for and realizing an honorableindependence.
It is one of the sophisms of this paradoxicalage in which we live, to prove that the absenteecommits no crime against either patriotism, orpolitical economy; but I rejoice that you havenot fallen into the snare, and are coming to reposeyour mind, and spend your money, whereevery honest man ought to bring himself toanchor; namely, in his own country, andamongst his own people. By a lucky coincidencethere is a splendid mansion with highlyfinished grounds and plantations, just offeredfor sale in Hampshire; and if I am fortunateenough to conclude a bargain for the sumwhich I have offered in your name, I shall thinkmyself no ordinary diplomatist. The presentpossessor, Sir Reginald Barnes, is like yourself, [Pg 3]a nabob, but after rendering his demesne atMarsden a fit residence for a prince, he is grownweary of it, and is so anxious to dispose of thewhole as it stands, that I am not without hopeof procuring all you want at a single stroke.
This letter shall be sent through Ingoldsby, tocatch you at the Cape, and of my farther negociationwith Mr. Snubb, Sir Reginald's agent,you shall have due notice. I know the place forwhich I am in treaty, and therefore, if I succeed,my trouble will be as zero. If not, I mustlook elsewhere, and you shall have reports ofprogress.
With respect to your relations, I have thepleasure to give you satisfactory intelli