"I declare to you most sincerely that there is no human being on whose regard and esteem I set a higher value than on Lord Holland's; and, as far as concerns himself, I would concede even to humiliation, without any view to the future, and solely from my sense of his conduct as to the past. For the rest, I conceive that I have already done all in my power by the suppression.[16] If that is not enough, they must act as they please; but I will not 'teach my tongue a most inherent baseness,' come what may. You will probably be at the Marquis Lansdowne's to-night. I am asked, but I am not sure that I shall be able to go. Hobhouse will be there. I think, if you knew him well, you would like him. "Believe me always yours very affectionately, "B." [Footnote 15: Relative to a proposed reconciliation between Lord Carlisle and himself.] [Footnote 16: Of the Satire.] * * * * * LETTER 165. TO MR. ROGERS. "February 16. 1814. "If Lord Holland is satisfied, as far as regards himself and Lady Hd., and as this letter expresses him to be, it is enough. "As for any impression the public may receive from the revival of the lines on Lord Carlisle, let them keep it,--the more favourable for him, and the worse for me,--better for all. "All the sayings and doings in the world shall not make me utter another word of conciliation to any thing that breathes. I shall bear what I can, and what I cannot I shall resist. The worst they could do would be to exclude me from society. I have never courted it, nor, I may add, in the general sense of the word, enjoyed it--and 'there is a world elsewhere!' "Any thing remarkably injurious, I have the same means of repaying as other men, with such interest as circumstances may annex to it. "Nothing but the necessity of adhering to regimen prevents me from dining with you to-morrow. "I am yours most truly, "BN." * * * * * LETTER 166. TO MR. MOORE. "February 16. 1814. "You may be assured that the only prickles that sting from the Royal hedgehog are those which possess a torpedo property, and may benumb some of my friends. _I_ am quite silent, and 'hush'd in grim repose.' The frequency of the assaults has weakened their effects,--if ever they had any;--and, if they had had much, I should hardly have held my tongue, or withheld my fingers. It is something quite new to attack a man for abandoning his resentments. I have heard that previous praise and subsequent vituperation were rather ungrateful, but I did not know that it was wrong to endeavour to do justice to those who did not wait till I had made some amends for former and boyish prejudices, but received me into their friendship, when I might still have been their enemy.