The Life, Letters, and Friendships of Richard Monckton Milnes - First Lord Houghton #224765

I do not mind 's not having paid mel — that may be almost impossible for him to have done — but he might have sent me the interest, and asked me to let the principal stand over till better times, which I should have done at once. As one gets on in life, one of the most annoying reflections is the little good one has done by what people call benevolence; in fact, how little man can be benefited by others. On the other hand, it is just the best men who can be benefited, as one feels in the life of Goethe. How different his development would have been under adverse circumstances! And how much Carl August had to do with his genius in giving it the peaceful prosperous air in which it delighted to grow! I have had a domestic grievance which has given me much vexation. Lord Palmerston, for my sake, has offered my father a peerage, which the said father refused without consulting me, thereby affronting the Premier, and disappointing my fair claims. I care about the social position for the sake of my wife and children, and I should be glad of a quieter and less confused sphere of political action as I get older and then it distorts the relation between my father and myself in a very uncomfortable manner. As we do not live in Abrahamic times, Isaac may be permitted not fully to appreciate the merit of the paternal sacrifice. Peace is inevitable. Russia acts on a well-settled principle of interest, and cares little about honour. The Czar saw he must be a loser, and bravely submitted to necessity. Consoled with the notion that he had aggrandised France as against England, he will make no small difficulties.