LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP SHARP. 123 



it with respect to myself, and yet I should do no 

 great good; and therefore I made it a rule to 

 myself not to be concerned in these matters, 

 unless there was absolute necessity for it, as in 

 the case of a notorious bad man that should 

 offer himself, &c. Nor had I ever since I came 

 to this place broken this rule, and for these 

 reasons I begged they would excuse me. But 

 this I would promise them, that though I could 

 not serve them by making any votes for them, 

 yet I would never disserve them by espousing 

 any interest against them. These, madam, are 

 my sentiments ; and this declaration I have 

 made to these two gentlemen, and indeed to all 

 others as occasion has been offered. And now 

 I leave your ladyship to judge how I am to 

 behave myself in the matter your ladyship 

 writes to me about. Your ladyship sees I can- 

 not serve my Lord Hartington in the way you 

 desire ; but yet you see I am under no engage- 

 ment to any, and therefore may promise you as 

 I have done to these gentlemen, that though I 

 can make no votes for him, yet I shall make 

 none against him, but leave every one that I 

 converse with to their own liberty. But in all 

 other things it will be a great pleasure to me to 

 pay all the respects to his lordship that I am 

 capable of doing. 



" I am, madam, with hearty prayers for the 



