“I waited upon Lord Oldborough to tell him my conclusion. With professions of gratitude, respect, and attachment, more sincere, I fancy, than those he usually hears, I began; and ended by telling him, in the best manner I could, that I thought my trade was more honest than his, and that, hard as a lawyer’s life was, I preferred it to a politician’s.--You don’t suspect me of saying all this--no, I was not quite so brutal; but, perhaps, it was implied by my declining the honour of the secretaryship, and preferring to abide by my profession. Lord Oldborough looked--or my vanity fancied that he looked--disappointed. After a pause of silent displeasure, he said, ‘Well, sir, upon the whole I believe you have decided wisely. I am sorry that you cannot serve me, and that I cannot serve you in the manner which I had proposed. Yours is a profession in which ministerial support can be of little use, but in which talents, perseverance, and integrity, are secure, sooner or later, of success. I have, therefore, only to wish you opportunity: and if any means in my power should occur of accelerating that opportunity, you may depend upon it, sir.’ said his lordship, holding out his hand to me, ‘I shall not forget you--even if you were not the son of my old friend, you have made an interest for yourself in my mind.’ “Thus satisfactorily we parted--no--just as I reached the door, his lordship added, ‘Your brother, Captain Percy--have you heard from him lately?’ “‘Yes, my lord, from Plymouth, where they were driven back by contrary winds.’ “‘Ha!--he was well, I hope?’ “‘Very well, I thank your lordship.’ “‘That’s well--he is a temperate man, I think. So he will stand the climate of the West Indies--and, probably, it will not be necessary for his majesty’s service that he should remain there long.’ “I bowed--was again retiring and was again recalled. “‘There was a major in your brother’s regiment about whom Captain Percy spoke to me--Major--’ “‘Gascoigne, I believe, my lord.’ “‘Gascoigne--true--Gascoigne.’ His lordship wrote the name down in a note-book. “Bows for the last time--not a word more on either side. “And now that I have written all this to you, my dear mother, I am almost ashamed to send it--because it is so full of egotism. But Rosamond, the _excuser general_, will apologize for me, by pleading that I was obliged to tell the truth, and the whole truth. “Love to Caroline, and thanks for her letter.--Love to Rosamond, upon condition that she will write to me from Hungerford Castle, and cheer my solitude in London with news from the country, and from home. “Your affectionate son, “ALFRED PERCY. “P.S. I hope you all like O’Brien.”