Of course, I say this with great pain, and rather between ourselves, as it were; for heaven forbid, that a single syllable should escape either my tongue or pen, that might injure that gentleman's character.

The path of duty, however, is often a stern one, as I find it to be on the present occasion.

The truth, then, is, that I fear Mr.Hickman must have kept the disturbed state of your tenantry from your Lordship's knowledge, owing probably to a reluctance in exposing his own laxity of management.

Indeed, I wish I could with a conscientious sense of my duty to your Lordship end here, so far as he is concerned.

But under every circumstance, truth, and honesty, and candor, will in the long run tell for themselves.