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man you will not think I have much reason to ar- 
rogate merit to myself, if I am uncorrupt. Indeed, 
James, I never doated on money; and were I not 
influenced by any motive of conscience, I believe 
the principle of honour would prevent my being 
very rapacious; though perhaps it would not of 
itself make me so rigid as I now feel myself obliged 
to be. 
I have caught the honourable infection from my 
superior, and enter into the interests of the Com- 
pany in this quarter, and into the prosperity of the 
provinces, with a force very uncommon. I have a 
great deal to do, but I do it with pleasure, as it is 
business of consequence ; and as I find that with 
ordinary abilities, a degree of activity and diligence, 
with good dispositions, and great power to perform 
your wishes, a country like this may be made happy 
in itself, and productive to its owners. 
It has been the want of strict integrity that has 
hurt the English name more than any one thing. 
The black people, though corrupt to a man, have the 
highest opinion of integrity. They consider Irwin 
here as a wonder; and did they not know his abili- 
ties and labours in this country, they would believe 
he was crazy for not accepting the presents brought 
him. The rents are now as regularly collected as 
in Europe ; athing before unknown. It was always 
the custom for the Nabob to let his country at a 
high rent; but what with the constant elopement 
of renters, and the many hands the revenue passed 
through, the Nabob was happy with one half, and 
often I believe a quarter, of the nominal rent. You 
