258 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, xvm 



kigh did not send in his resignation and that, for the present 

 at least, he does not intend to do it. The resolution was 

 most hasty and rash, and I don't pretend either to justify 

 or account for it, but I conceive that the overwhelming 

 interest that he has in retaining his office had the effect 

 which would be natural with some minds, that it alarmed 

 him and made him distrust all the suggestions of his under- 

 standing in favour of retaining his post, that he was, in 

 short, fascinated, and ended the struggle like the little bird 

 who jumps into the open mouth of the glaring snake. 

 Having now got over the first impression, I am in hopes 

 that the arguments for retaining his office will have their 

 due weight with him, and especially as his mind is now 

 turned to exertion for the removal of unnecessary oaths, 

 in which he must see that his situation as an acting magis- 

 trate will give him a weight which would be lost by giving 

 up his office. If after taking sufficient time to restore the 

 equilibrium of his mind, after giving the subject ample and 

 deliberate consideration, taking all means of informing 

 himself and profiting by the learning and judgment of 

 others, he should form a solid conviction that administration 

 of oaths by a Magistrate is forbidden by the gospel, there 

 can be no doubt that it will be his duty to resign ; and how- 

 ever great may be one's concern one cannot blame him, 

 though even then he cannot expect to be supported by 

 much of the sympathy, respect, and admiration, which are 

 given to great sacrifices for objects which all men feel to 

 interest human nature. 



Your kind solicitude induces me to say of myself that I 

 am quite well, and I suppose even my looks are better than 

 on the occasion when they created Jessie's compassion. I 

 was rather surprised at Jessie's pity for my lot in life, 

 having always thought myself a fortunate man. It is true 

 I have suffered some losses in which my affections were 

 much concerned, and some misfortunes; the chief of which, 

 my dear Bessy's state, is lightened and almost removed by 

 the gentleness, sweetness, and cheerfulness with which she 

 bears her lot, and with which her delightful nature shines 



