Chapter XI: Letter 164: To Mr. Rogers

"February 16. 1814.

"My dear Rogers,

"I wrote to Lord Holland briefly, but I hope distinctly, on the
subject which has lately occupied much of my conversation with him
and you.[15] As things now stand, upon that topic my determination
must be unalterable.

"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.]

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