Autograph letter signed : Edinburgh, to William Pulteney, 1770 Jan. 1.

Commenting on the politics of the time and expressing his criticisms of the current Ministry; apologizing for his tardy thank you for sending him a copy of Mr. Grenville's speech; saying "The Subject of it has been often the Topick of Conversation amongst the Circle of your Friends here, our Opinions in that affair are pretty much united, and Adam Ferguson who thinks deep and reasons forcibly on every Subject to which He applies his Mind has conveyed to you in his Letters my Sentiments with greater Energy That I myself could have express'd them, and has not I am persuaded fail'd to make an Impression tho' I see you do not yet view things in the same light as we do here - Tho' the Object of the present political Contests in England is if I dare say the same as usual viz. The Desire of getting into Place, yet I cannot help thinking that the Tendency of the Measures pursued in prosecution of that Object is of the most dangerous and alarming Nature as the Maxim of the Leaders of Opposition seems to be to lay aside every consideration of Right and Wrong, and to employ every Engine which They think will conduce to their own Purposes, no matter what confusion it may produce, no Matter what Ruinous Consequences it may lead to. - I am sorry tho' not surpriz'd to see the Ignorant People imposed on, and their Passions interested and excited as if their Libertys were in Danger, when all that is in View is to get Lucrative Employments to a Sett of most unworthy Men, but That Gentlemen of Liberal Minds and Independent Fortunes who wish well to their country and mean to act only for the Publick Good, That They should be the Dupes of such base Designs, and Should lend the Weight of their names and Influence to support the false Cry of Danger to Liberty, and to aid the Selfish Views of Those who have raised that Cry, would be indeed deplorable. - I am or rather I was no Friend to the present Ministry, on the contrary I very sincerely wish'd to see them turn'd out of office, to make Room for Men whom I believ'd more deserving, but the Conduct of Those Men of whom I thought so well, and the flagitious Means (for such they appear to me) which They have employ'd in their Struggles for power, convinced me That They are unworthy of it, That They are devoid of every Principle of Publick Virtue, and That any Ministry, however otherways improper, ought to be supported against Those who seem willing to put a firebrand to the State That They may rob in safety amidst the Confusion of the flames...You cannot imagine how much I enjoy the serene Obscurity and calm contentment in which we live in this Country and which nothing would make me exchange for the Scenes of Bustle and Agitation in which you are engaged."