MY DEAR SIR

“ I must entreat you to say to the gentlemen who, in company with you, did me the honor to call upon me yesterday, that I have not been able to oveicome my tirst impression npon the subject of their visit.

“ I have no other reason for declining so gratifying a proof of the good opinion of my friends than that which I attempted to assign verbally, and I must rely upon your good judgment for admitting it to be sufficient. I have, indeed, never objected to becoming a public character, on our small stage, so far as it became necessary in the dischurge of any public duty, but I have private feelings of repugnance to being placed in conspicuous situations, however flattering the occasion, which I will venture to beg of my friends to indulge when they interfere with no public service.

“ Let me, however, beg of you to accept and convey my assurance that, next to the approbation of the Government and the public expression of satisfaction by the two Houses of the Exchequer at the result of my enleavors to be useful to the Province, I must value most this testimony which the proffered compliment conveys to me from gentlemen whom, independently of every association of friendship, I cannot but respect the most highly from their rank and character, and who are exempt, by their situations, from the influence of those feelings which in public matters, at best, often insensibly bias the judgment.

“ You will do me the justice to believe that, next to the grateful sense I entertain of the honor intended me, is my anxiety to learn that I shall not be thought ungrateful in begging to decline it.

“I am dear sir,

“ Yours most faithfully and respectfully,

“ JOHN B. ROBINSON.” “ The Honorable James Bâby."”

“ York, 14th October, 1823.