It is impossible to estimate the weight of this consideration, but it may be great.

Still we have a sufficient number of his letters to be able to say that on the whole they are neither thoughtful nor graphic: they give us neither pictures of events nor insight into the times.

It must be, however, remembered that Gibbon greatly disliked letter-writing, and never wrote unless he was obliged.
It was no secret that Gibbon wanted a place under government.

Moderate as his establishment seems to have been, it was more expensive than he could afford, and he looked, not without warrant, to a supplement of income from one of the rich windfalls which, in that time of sinecures were wont to refresh the spirits of sturdy supporters of administration.

He had influential friends, and even relatives, in and near the government, and but for his parliamentary nullity he would probably have been provided with a comfortable berth at an early period.