Letter – Thomas Wentworth Beaumont to Robert King – 20 Jan 1837

Dublin, January 20, 1837

Sir

	Being on the eve of quitting Ireland on my return to England, I feel anxious, when my conduct cannot be open to misconstruction, to make every reparation in human power for any injury which I have inflicted upon anyone whose hospitality and kindness I have experienced. It is to you alone that any reparation is due; and it is extraordinary, that before my arrival in your country I have always considered myself as the most attached of your friends. Have the kindness to take trouble of reading this letter to the end. I did not place my signature on the outside, not knowing if a communication from me would be at once rejected. When it is no longer possible for me to receive your fire, I offer the most entire and unreserved apology for my strange conduct. While I thought it possible, and indeed desired that you should meet me, in order to show you how anxious I was to give you all the satisfaction possible, I insisted against the recommendation of my friends, on my tendering the cold and formal apology which you had the generosity to accept on the ground. Had I escaped your fire, I should have, as I informed Martin, discharged my pistol in the air, and declared how totally false and unfounded was every imputation contained in that abominable letter, which I wrote in a state of excitement bordering upon frenzy, in Craig House, on the sudden receipt of yours. Such feelings were never known to be [me?] before; the consequence has been as unaccountable as unpardonable. I have now nothing to add. I have lost the esteem of one whom I esteemed, and probably the kind feelings of yourself, for whom I have long entertained the sincerest regard. The whole affair is unaccountable to me, and on my side is nothing but regret and repentance. The activities of a political, and perhaps it has now become an ambitious life, may give my mind ample distraction; but the loss of a friend under such circumstances leaves a chasm difficult to be supplied. I have relieve the oppression of my feelings in the only manner within my reach, and I beg permission to subscribe myself

	Sir, &c. &c. &c.

		T. W. Beaumont



The Hon. Robert King, Craig House, Sligo

(This letter was in answer to one previously addressed to Mr.King, in which Mr. Beaumont reproached Mrs. King with having encouraged his impure addresses.)