To express to you how much I have been touched by your goodness, and by the reception you have given me, would be impossible. Permit me to offer you the just homage of my acknowledgement. For almost twenty years all sorts of misfortune have not ceased to overwhelm me, and I venture to say, that it is to you alone that I am indebted for having been able to forget them for an instant, and during these twenty years, the hours that I have passed at Milton are the happiest that I am able to count up. This is neither a compliment nor phrase, the heart alone speaks in this moment, and it is the only homage which can please you, and which is worthy of you. I have never dared to speak to you, my lord, of all the sentiments that have made me feel the goodness and the nobleness with which you have deigned to come to my help on my first request, and if I had not had the honour of being known to you I should have feared to wound your delicacy; I have dared still less to acquaint you with all the misfortune of my actual position, but I confess to you, my lord, that on seeing you I was at once filled with respect and with confidence. I cannot tell you what I have felt, it only belongs to a nature such as yours to be able to judge; I have lost all, fortune, friends, family—my honour only remains. In you I have believed to find all again—pardon, my lord, this excess of frankness and freedom. I enclose a note which I beg you to read, please give it some attention. It is both importunate and indiscreet—but I am sure it will not hurt your feelings. Misfortune has claims upon a soul as great and as noble as yours, and it will pardon the importunity and indiscretion. The favour which I implore of you, above all others, my lord, is, that this note may not be taken amiss by you; whether you deign to have any regard for it, or whether you reject it, pray do not deprive me of your goodness; although I have no right to lay claim to it, permit me to hope that the excess of liberty that I dare to take will not deprive me of it. Everything with you and in you has convinced me that I have found a father and a benefactor. I have the honour to be, with respect, my lord, Your very humble and very obedient servant, THE BISHOP OF MOULINS. BELL INN, STILTON, 21_st March_ 1808. II _The Memoir in the handwriting of the Bishop_, _inclosed in his letter of the_ 21_st March_ 1808, _addressed to the Earl Fitzwilliam_.