"Woodbridge, April 15th, 1814.
"My Lord,—I should be truly sorry if my importunity should defeat its own purpose, and, instead of interesting your Lordship on my behalf, should make you regret the indulgence you have already granted me; but I really feel as if I had staked every remaining hope on the cast of the die, and, therefore, before it is thrown, I wish, my Lord, to make one or two more observations.
"Although in my last, which, as I before observed, was hastily written, I express'd my wish to be allow'd,
in some capacity or other
, to serve your Lordship, yet I am not so foolish as to think of fastening myself on you, my Lord,
bon gré ou malgré
. One reason for my expressing that wish, was an idea that your Lordship might go abroad before long; and, added to my own wish to see something of the world on which fate has thrown me, it occurred to me at the moment, that on such an occasion the services of one who is warmly attach'd to you, perhaps
romantically
, for I know nothing of your Lordship but by your writings, might be acceptable.
But, my Lord, although I have thus alluded to what would most gratify my own wishes, it was not intended to dictate to you the manner in which you might promote my interest. If your Lordship's superior judgment and greater knowledge of the world can suggest anything else for my consideration, it shall receive every attention.