tem of public men and public measures which I
believe to be of the utmost importance to the welfare and
prosperity of my country. On the best reflection which I can give
to the subject, weighing what I owe to you and to myself, and what
I owe to others, I shall feel myself _justified_, whatever may be
the consequences; but certainly my feelings upon them will be such
as to prevent my ever again putting myself into a similar
situation, even if the circumstances to which I have alluded in the
beginning of this letter did not, as they probably will, render
such an event absolutely impossible.

When I speak of contributing to the overthrow of the present system
you certainly understand me to refer to the probable consequences
of our withdrawing ourselves from it, and not to any idea of your
being led, which I am persuaded is impossible, to contribute
actively to the triumph of a most wicked and profligate faction. I
should feel that I gave you just cause of offence, if I thought it
necessary to say, that this is a point to which no consideration
could lead me.

You will excuse me if I have said so much in this letter upon my
own subject, in treating of a point which relates to your conduct
and to your situation. I feel that the two subjects are too
intimately connected for me to speak of them separately, and I felt
that you could not but be desirous, in the moment of deciding a
step so interesting to us both, that I should open my heart to you
in as free and unrestrained a manner as I have now done.

One thing more I must recommend to your serious consideration.
Nothing is clearer to my mind than the propriety of the step you
have taken in dismissing Ponsonby, of the intimation which you have
given to Lord Shannon of the necessary consequences of his present
conduct, and of the measures you have adopted for securing to
yourself efficient assistance by the removal of Fitzherbert, and by
the nomination of Hobart on the persuasion which you entertain of
his ability to serve you. But I must entreat you to reflect that
this line of conduct is only to be justified on the supposition of
your being to remain in Ireland; while, on the other hand,
entertaining as you now do the idea of quitting your situation, it
is surely a duty which you owe to yourself