PREMIERE LETTRE

Ditchingham Lodge near Bungay, 17th June 1823.

« Oçcupied with the fate of empires, and stationed on so lofiy an eminence that the petty concerns of humbler life can scarcely be visible, your Excellency cannot easily imagine how much the mind of a private individual may dwell on a single thought until it becomes painful from intensity.

a Unwilling to be guilty of intrusion (especially on you), yet equally reluctant to appear ungrateful, you perhaps would smile, coiild you fully know the embarrassment even this letter has occasioned me. But your kind words : « puis -je être bon h quelque chose pour vous? » and the kind tone in which they were attended, hâve echoed in my heart, until perhaps they hâve disturbed my head. Twelve long months hâve now elapsed since I heard them, during which time I hâve often painfully regretted having very inadequately expressed my deep-felt sensé of your kindness; butin truth, it was so blended with other feelings, that I could not dwell on the subject. The hope too, which your Excellency permit to entertain of seeing you hère (a hope so pleasing that I overlooked the impossibilities of its accomplishment), awakened my maternai vanity to fancy

that my sons might win some portion of youi* approbation for themselves.

« When I had last the honor of seeing you, you were proceeding to Gloucester Lodge, with the kind intention of speaking in favor of one of my sons to M. Canning, whose accession to the ministry gives him perhaps as much influence with respect to India now, as his own personal destination thither would hâve done. Assuredly, my own feehngs wpuld not lead me to désire such a banishment for any of my children; but my eldest son, Samuel Ives Sutton, now in his seventeenth year, has expressed so decided and steady a wish for some civil appointment in India, that it is my duty to do ail in my power to promote it.

(( A writer-ship to Madras, for next year, is the summit of his ambition. It is not in itself a very great thing, yet so numerous are the competitors, that it is absolutely unattainable, excepting by the hand of power.

« Thisthen, Mylord, is the point; and hoio much tt has cost me to corne to it, you can never know.

« With the most earnest wishes for your health and happiness, and with every sentiment of the higliest considération and respect, in which admirai Sutton begs to be permitted to join, I hâve the honor to be Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, «Charlotte Sutton.»