JET. 29.] MISSION TO PORTUGAL. 369 



say so, there is a defect about him, which I can still 

 less pardon than his want of sense. I mean his total 

 want of that first-rate quality which gives a man's 

 words the right to be believed. 



" I can scarcely express this more delicately. He 

 has on all subjects the above disease, to a degree 

 quite unexampled. 



" However, let that pass. I have done my part of the 

 business, and I am sure have humoured him in every- 

 thing, to his merest caprices, and to his very heart's 

 content. I only lament that the consequences of his 

 character here are a total want of respect either from 

 common society, or from those he has to do business 

 with. I don't wish to judge harshly, but I can 

 scarcely wonder at this, from what I know and see of 

 him. Certainly he is not the man to change a 

 ministry here. Pray discourage him from writing 

 loose letters to you, for his silliness makes him brag 

 of it everywhere, and so, I suppose, do his blackguard 

 companions, to the great annoyance of one who has so 

 real a respect and friendship for you as I have. 



" Eeferring you to my public letters, pray allow me 

 now to add that I have heard nothing at all from 

 Permentile, which alarms me not a little for his safety. 

 I feel he will go the way with Strangford's other 

 agent, for it is now above seven weeks since he was 

 sent. All the other agents and correspondents are 

 doing their duty as well as possible ; but I rather 

 fear the effects of an old spy being lately condemned 

 at Barcelona. 



VOL. i. 2 A 



