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LETTER XLVII.
March 24.
I HAVE written to court for leave to resign; and I hope I shall
obtain it. You will forgive me for not having previously
consulted you. It was expedient for me to leave this place. -- I
knew all you could alledge in order to induce me to stay, and
therefore --. I beg of you to soften this news as much as you can
to my mother, when you acquaint her with it. I can do nothing for
myself; how should I do any thing for others? She will
undoubtedly be grieved to find, that I have stopped short in that
career which would have led directly to my being first a Privy
Counsellor, and then Minister; and to see me thus returning to my
original nothing. Argue on the subject as much as you will,
combine all the reasons which should have induced me to {135}
stay; -- I am going, that is sufficient. But that you may not be
ignorant where I am going, I shall tell you that here is the
Prince of ----, who is much pleased with my company, and who
having heard of my intention to resign, has invited me to his
country house, to pass the spring months with him. He assures me
that I shall be left quite at liberty; and, as we agree on all
subjects but one, I shall venture to accompany him.
