‘Scotch influence not long after restored him. You will find the letters in Lind’s appendix to the defence of Lord Pigot. You are now, of course, so much of a politician as not to be surprised (shall I say disgusted?) at Macpherson’s conduct. The opinion of the King of Prussia as to your book I value not a straw; but that of the Marshal de Castries certainly carries with it great weight. ‘He is one of the few who adhered to Necker from gratitude, when the latter was turned out of his post about ten years ago; and I heard a very good character of the maréchal when I was last in France. St. Paul, as you and the duke are pleased to call him, is finished, and the preface is on the stocks.[157] ‘Why do you wish Clarke had commented on the Epistle to the Romans? Locke and Taylor have done it admirably; and easy as you may think the Gospels are, they have been rendered much more so by Clarke. ‘What do you mean by saying that the Gospels want no explanation? St. John is extremely difficult in some parts, notwithstanding Clarke’s paraphrase; and I think, with Markland, that he is as yet very far from being perfectly understood. Adieu! ‘I remain, ‘Ever your sincere friend, ‘JOHN SYMONDS.’ ----- Footnote 152: By Act of Parliament, 1793. Footnote 153: This recantation of Arthur Young’s former democratic utterances was published in June 1793. Footnote 154: Marquis de Castries and Maréchal of France. Joined the _émigrés_ on the Revolution, and served in Condé’s army. Footnote 155: _Village Politics_, by Will Chip, 1793; price 2_d._ Footnote 156: William Coxe, 1747-1828, author of _Travels into Poland, Russia, Sweden, and Denmark_, &c. &c. Footnote 157: Evidently an allusion to some work of the writer. ----- CHAPTER XI THE SECRETARYSHIP, 1794-95-96 The Secretaryship and its drawbacks—Social compensations—Illness and death of Elizabeth Hoole—Letters of Jeremy Bentham and others—A visit to Burke—Home travels—Enclosures.