so Mahomet and the mountain meet, no matter which moves to the other. Adieu.

Your ever affectionate.

LETTER XIII.

MY DEAR NEPHEW,

July 13, 1755.

I HAVE delayed writing to

you in expectation of hearing farther from you upon the subject of your stay at college. No news is the best news, and I will hope now that all your difficulties upon that head are at an end. I represent you to myself deep in study, and drinking large draughts of intellectual nectar; a

very

delicious state to a mind happy enough, and elevated enough, to thirst after knowledge and true honest fame, even as the hart panteth after the water brooks. When I name knowledge, I ever intend learning as the weapon and instrument only of manly, honourable, and virtuous action, upon the stage of the world, both in private and public life; as a gentleman, and as a member of the commonwealth, who is to answer for all he does to the laws of his country, to his own breast and conscience, and at the tribunal of honour and good fame. You, my dear boy, will not only be acquitted, but applauded and dignified at all these respectable and

awful bars. So, macte tuâ virtute! go on and prosper in your glorious and happy career: not forgetting to walk an hour briskly every morning and evening, to fortify the nerves. I wish to hear, in some little time, of the progress you shall have made in the course of reading chalked out. Adieu.

Your ever affectionate uncle.

Lady Hester desires her best com

pliments to you.

LETTER XIV.

MY DEAR NEPHEW,

Stowe, July 24, 1755.

I AM just leaving this place

to go to Wotton; but I will not lose the post, though I have time but for one line. I am extremely happy that you can stay at your college, and pursue the prudent and glorious resolution of employing your present moments with a view to the future. May your noble and generous love