ailed in his second
attempt. At the same time he owned, that the exertions made by
the men after the first action, in order to meet the second,
were beyond conception or example. Indeed, they must surpass
Mr. Addington's conception, since even Lord St. Vincent told
Dumaresq that it was far beyond what he himself could imagine.
In short, my dear Sir James, you have been achieving a deed
that has held you up to the contemplation of mankind, and that
secures you the gratitude of your country.

You will, no doubt, soon receive very distinguished marks of
the royal and the national favour. In the mean time you will be
delighted, equally with ourselves, to find that the stream of
prosperity, beginning to flow towards you, has already involved
your brother Nicholas, who was sent for yesterday from
Brighton, in order to wait on Mr. Addington to-morrow morning.
It can be for no other purpose than to make his fortune. God
knows the poor fellow has suffered enough on your account! for
we had the rascally French despatches full ten days before we
received yours; and, when we did receive the first account,
your brother Richard was not satisfied. He feared the business
was not done, and his mind dwelt upon it with anxiety. At last,
on the 1st of August, and not before, all our fears were
removed; and yesterday we received the news that Mr. Addington
had sent for Nicholas.

Indeed, Sir James, you have electrified your whole circle of
friends in a masterly manner; for the very great success you
experienced at last, came with double effect upon those who had
greatly feared for you at the first: and, let me add, that not
only your actions, but your letters also, are very much
admired, and, I think, most deservedly.

Dumaresq is just like yourself,--unassuming and unaffected. He
had been with us an hour with his commission in his pocket,
without telling us of it; and it was only accidentally that we
discovered he had been promoted.

And now, my dear Sir James, let me speak like an _old woman_. I
tremble for you. Had you only dangers and difficulties to
encounter, I should not fear; but now you are going to be
overwhelmed with wealth, titles, fame, adulation, and
distinction; with everything, in short, that can make a man
forget himself;