SiS A VISIT TO THE INfJlAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



auy acquitUii pkeed on t/m foundation. " I despise," 

 he has lately told Afr. Hume, "the refinemeuts of the 

 poliiiciaii who would separate the pubhc from the piivate 

 chavacter of a geutleman/' 



It will be well if Sir, Hume will show himself what he 

 perhaps I'eallj is ; if he will simke off the appeaianoe — 

 unfortunate for an amiable man — -of indulging in hostiiity 

 wliicli he personally disclaims. That Sir James Brooke 

 has some few enemies is erident : his public friendii lia^ve 

 plainly pointed out both men and motives ; even now 

 All', Hume argues from documents confessedly suppHed 

 by tftem. Patriotism should sbun mspkion : the clean 

 should not bo found with the unclean, unless they would 

 be thought to have lost their nobler natures, and to be 

 content, though eagles born, to feed on carrion. 



I would fain adopt in Hr, Hume's behalf ajiy stretch 

 of charity, — any strain of construction — any metamor- 

 phosis of words, which would free him from the 

 imputation of employing his waning talents, and the 

 evening of his days, in vitiating the truth that he may 

 crush the good. His only escape is offered him by 

 Mr Drunimond. If / be asked who pulls the wires for 

 his anniversary exhibition in July, 1 wLIJ only say I am 

 not called upon to grope for them ; nor should / think it 

 necessary, since Mr, Hume disowns such influences, to 

 force to the light any one, who, whatever may be his 

 moral or his social erroi-s, has the taste^ the discretion, 

 or the luck to walk in the darkness which becomes his 



