by dint of
argument and importunity diverted me from my purpose. By the bye, I have
been informed by a person of rank, that my lord discovered exactly the
same disposition in his father's lifetime, and only changed the subject
of his complaint from the word father to that of wife. Indeed, he takes
all opportunities of plaguing my dear parent, as he has just sagacity
enough to know, that this is the most effectual way he can take to
distress me.

"After repeated trials, I have given up all hopes of making him happy,
or of finding myself easy in my situation, and live with him at present
to avoid a greater inconvenience. Not that his ill-nature is all the
grievance of which I complain; exclusive of the personal disgust I
entertain for him, his folly is of that species which disobliges rather
than diverts, and his vanity and affectation altogether intolerable;
for he actually believes himself, or at least would impose himself upon
mankind, as a pattern of gallantry and taste; and, in point of business.
a person of infinite sagacity and penetration. But the most ridiculous
part of his character is his pretended talent for politics, in which he
so deeply concerns himself, that he has dismissed many a good servant,
because he suspected him of having wrong connections; a theme upon which
he has often quarrelled with me, even almost to parting, accusing me
with holding correspondence with the earls of B-- and C--, and Mr.
H-- V--, though I never had the least acquaintance with any of these
gentlemen, except the earl of C--, to whom I have not spoken these ten
years past.

"In short, I have often been at a loss to know, whether he was more mad
and malicious in those fits of enthusiasm, wherein he seemed transported
with zeal for the commonwealth, and tormented me with his admonitions
out of all temper and patience. At length, however, I contrived an
expedient which freed me from these troublesome expostulations, and
silenced him effectually on the score of politics. This was no other
than an open avowal of being connected with all those people whom I have
named. Indeed, I knew him too well to believe there was anything solid
in his intention or professions, even when he carried himself so far
as to demand a private audience of the k--, in order to communicate a
scheme for suppressing the rebellion; and that being denied, solicited
the duke of D--'s interest, for permission to raise and head a regiment
of Kentish smugglers. Na