Autograph letter signed : Howick, to Sir Arthur Pigott, 1808 September 4.

Concerning a pamphlet titled "A plain statement of the conduct of Ministry & Opposition toward H.R.H. the Duke of York;" saying "The air of authority with which it is written was well calculated to create the impression which I understand has been very general, of its coming from head Quarters. This however I know not to have been the case & the Duke of York feels very sensibly the malignity of this publication. The abuse heaped on myself, I should disregard as I have done every thing of the same nature. But there are some pretended facts stated in p. 30 which accompanied by the causes assigned for them are so injurious to me that I do not know how to pass them over; for tho' I am satisfied that they had no sanction from the D. of York, this is not generally known, & the air of information with which they are stated may give them currency & credit - I therefore feel much [illegible] to prosecute, but before I come to that determination, am anxious to have your opinion both as a lawyer & a Friend;" quoting a passage from the pamphlet and defending his position against the assertions; adding "There is a further tendency in the Pamphlet generally injurious to me; which is that all these things are stated to account for my enmity to the D. of York, as if I had been one of the Persons who either promulgated or encouraged the libels that have been published against him;" asking for his opinion on the merits of his argument, on how he should prosecute if he should decide to prosecute and if he would agree to conduct the prosecution and saying "...there is no person to whose care I would so readily commit my cause affecting my character & honor;" adding, in a postscript, a reference to another passage in the pamphlet on page 28 as evidence of more abuse against him.