«Occupied with the fate of empires, and stationed on so lofty an eminence that the petty concerns of humbler life can scarcely be visible, your Excellency cannot easily imagine how much the mind of a private individual may dwell on a single thought until it becomes painful from intensity.
«Unwilling to be guilty of intrusion (especially on you), yet equally reluctant to appear ungrateful, you perhaps would smile, could you fully know the embarrassment even this letter has occasioned me. But your kind words: «puis-je être bon à quelque chose pour vous?» and the kind tone in which they were attended, have echoed in my heart, until perhaps they have disturbed my head. Twelve long months have now elapsed since I heard them, during which time I have often painfully regretted having very inadequately expressed my deep-felt sense of your kindness; but in truth, it was so blended with other feelings, that I could not dwell on the subject. The hope too, which your Excellency permit to entertain of seeing you here (a hope so pleasing that I overlooked the impossibilities of its accomplishment), awakened my maternal vanity to fancy that my sons might win some portion of your approbation for themselves.
«When I had last the honor of seeing you, you were proceeding to Gloucester Lodge, with the kind intention of speaking in favor of one of my sons to M. Canning, whose accession to the ministry gives him perhaps as much influence with respect to India now, as his own personal destination thither would have done. Assuredly, my own feelings would not lead me to desire such a banishment for any of my children; but my eldest son, Samuel Ives Sutton, now in his seventeenth year, has expressed so decided and steady a wish for some civil appointment in India, that it is my duty to do all in my power to promote it.
«A writer-ship to Madras, for next year, is the summit of his ambition. It is not in itself a very great thing, yet so numerous are the competitors, that it is absolutely unattainable, excepting by the hand of power.
«This then, Mylord, is the point; and how much it has cost me to come to it, you can never know.
«With the most earnest wishes for your health and happiness, and with every sentiment of the highest consideration and respect, in which admiral Sutton begs to be permitted to join, I have the honor to be Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,
«CHARLOTTE SUTTON.»
LADY CHARLOTTE SUTTON À M. DE CHATEAUBRIAND.
«Ditchingham Lodge, près Bungay, 7 juin 1822.
«Occupée du sort des empires et placée à une telle hauteur qu'elle peut à peine s'apercevoir des soucis d'une existence plus humble, Votre Excellence ne saurait aisément concevoir avec quelle douloureuse intensité l'esprit d'une personne privée peut s'absorber dans une seule pensée.