The old Duke of St.Bungay wrote the following letter to the Duke of Omnium.

The letter purported to be an excuse for the writer's own defalcation.

But the chief object of the writer was to induce the younger Duke once more to submit to harness.
Longroyston, 3rd June, 187--.
DEAR DUKE OF OMNIUM, How quickly the things come round! I had thought that I should never again have been called upon even to think of the formation of another Liberal Ministry; and now, though it was but yesterday that we were all telling ourselves that we were thoroughly manumitted from our labours by the altered opinions of the country, sundry of our old friends are again putting their heads together.
Did they not do so they would neglect a manifest duty.
Nothing is more essential to the political well-being of the country than that the leaders on both sides in politics should be prepared for their duties.

But for myself, I am bound at last to put in the old plea with a determination that it shall be respected.

"Solve senescentem." It is now, if I calculate rightly, exactly fifty years since I first entered public life in obedience to the advice of Lord Grey.