Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 1).djvu/461

Rh "I flatter myself, indeed, that I might render his Lordship some service with respect to the education of his children, as that is a subject to which I have given very particular attention, and with respect to which I have had a good deal of experience; but everything of this nature I consider as superseded by the tutor his Lordship will choose for them; and whoever he be, it is not probable that he will submit to be directed by another.

"It is true that my reading and studies have had as great a range as, I believe, those of most people; but I imagine that the information which his Lordship might occasionally want would relate chiefly to things of a political nature, which I have not particularly studied, and require more acquaintance with modern history than I can pretend to.

"But supposing that, by changing the course of my studies, I could become whatever his Lordship wishes me to be, I am so habituated to domestic life, and am so happy at home, that it is not possible I should receive any compensation for not living in my own family. Or, if it could be compatible with his Lordship's views to compromise this article with me, his living partly in London and partly in the country would make it impossible for me to take any advantage of officiating as a Dissenting Minister, if any society in London should make choice of me, which however I do not think very probable; nor do I see from what other source I could benefit myself, except perhaps from reading lectures, either in Natural Philosophy, or the subjects on which I used to give lectures at Warrington.

"Please to represent to Lord Shelburne my sentiments on the general view of his Lordship's proposal. If he should think that the obstacles I have mentioned may be removed in a manner consistent with his own views, he shall find me very ingenuous and explicit on the subject."