This story of rational madness reminded Ld. H. of one which Fontana was fond of telling, because it squares with the common definition of madness, and proves that a man may reason logically upon false premises. A very intelligent Jesuit went mad, and his predominating madness was that he believed himself to be a Cardinal. He was a loss to their community, and being a very subtle logician two or three of the cleverest of the Order undertook to argue with him, and convince by reason that he laboured under an illusion, which he might dissipate by force of mind. They asked him several questions as to the ceremonies necessary to be undergone previous to the instalment of a man in the College of Cardinals, to all of which he pleaded ignorance. ‘Why then,’ said one, ‘how can you imagine yourself to be a Cardinal?’ He replied, ‘I tell you that I am a Cardinal, and if you do not believe me such when I assure so, you must suppose me to be mad, and if I am mad, how can you be so mad as to try to convince by reason one who in that case must be labouring under an alienation of it?’ This syllogism posed the Reverend Brothers. Wm. Lamb is returned from Glasgow quite bitten with a Scotch mania. He thinks the Scotch have outdone in moral philosophy and ethics all who have gone before them. To use his own expression, ‘They have gone far beyond Locke and Paley,’ ‘Yes,’ replied Ld. H., ‘so far, that they are unintelligible,’ He was under Professor Millar,[121] a friend of Ld. Lauderdale’s, a man who has written upon Governt., and who is the greatest enemy of all _belles lettres_ and poetry; the latter he calls a mere jingle which proves no facts. Lamb is very clever and pleasing, and will improve when he gets out of his love for singularity. [Sidenote: LORD HENRY PETTY] Ld. Henry Petty unites to a sound, strong understanding a pleasant vein of cheerful humour, with talents and advantages far beyond his years. His simplicity and unassuming manner is the most winning of his qualifications. His character is very like Ld. H.’s, only he has less playfulness of imagination, and less vivacity; his turn of mind is rather serious, but in temper, artlessness, and integrity they are more nearly allied even than by blood. Ld. Lansdown idolises him, and with pleasure I perceive that his tenderness is bestowed upon an object that will reward him with interest; poor old man, he wants filial comfort.[122] Bonaparte in his passage through Switzerland went to Coppet to see Necker; some imagine that he proposed to him to accept the post of Minister of Finance. Madame de Staël greeted the hero, and made a political tirade for full twenty minutes; when she ceased she expected a complimentary eulogism, all he said was, ‘Madame, a-t-elle nourri ses enfants?’ A cutting rebuke.[123]