JET. 32.] JEFFREY. 503 



on my * American friend's ' view of the genius ' and 

 Kesources of the French Government/ &c. rather, 

 however, on the title than the book, the greater part 

 of which is filled with insignificant details of finance. 

 I have not yet meditated the general subject, but it 

 is easy to see that it is larger, and lets into many im- 

 portant speculations in foreign politics. If you think 

 anything is to be made of this, give me some hints 

 and caution. I shall also do some poetry, I think, 

 and any light thing that comes in my way. I have 

 got very little positive promise of contributors, but am 

 in treaty for several. Can't you suggest some theme 

 for Playfair, or a job for Mill? or anything safe and 

 popular for Smith ? I have not been able to find out 

 the haunts of this vagabond priest ; but I hope he 

 is not forgetful of me : since the new arrangement 

 don't pay, I find him much more tractable than for- 

 merly. I shall write you again, as soon as I am in a 

 better state of preparation. In the mean time, what 

 I am most anxious about is your own contribution, on 

 which I depend more completely perhaps than at any 

 former period. Do you take the Catholics ? at all 

 events I hope the responsibility and something else 

 political at such a moment as this it is really throw- 

 ing away your great powers to employ them on any- 

 thing else. Do let me know about this as soon as 

 possible. The quid, the quando, and the quantum. 



" I believe I asked you before whether you knew 

 any dull Whig, who could read Gifford's Life of Pitt 

 and note the lies and blunders. It is so base and 



