224 CHARLES STUART. [1800. 



I had ever done before, those great qualities which 

 distinguished him, and earned him to the head of his 

 profession in most difficult times. It is enough to say 

 that The Duke placed in him the most unbounded 

 confidence when he was our minister in the Penin- 

 sula, and when he afterwards succeeded him at Paris. 

 He is the most remarkable example I know of the 

 great evils attending our political system, at least in 

 its administration the conferring all the important 

 offices in the State on persons who possess the debating 

 power. Stuart, but for his never having cultivated 

 that faculty, would have filled the highest place in 

 the conduct of our affairs during the many long years 

 that the party ruled to which he was both hereditarily 

 and personally attached. I speak of his great and 

 good qualities after constant and cordial intimacy of 

 much above half a century. 



1800. In this year happened the greatest misfor- 

 tune of my life greater than any, save one. that has 

 ever yet befallen me my brother Peter, the most 

 beloved, the most highly prized of all our family, was 

 killed in a duel by Campbell of Shawfield. Even at 

 this distance of time I feel it as if it were a recent 

 affliction. At the time I was nearly distracted ; in- 

 deed I verily believe my mind was for a time un- 

 hinged, for I left Edinburgh and wandered about I 

 know riot where. My prevailing idea was to avenge 

 his death. As the duel had taken place at St Sal- 

 vador, on his way to India, Campbell was far beyond 

 my reach ; but I vainly thought he ought to be in- 



