Il6 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



certainty, unlefs the novelty of objeds, and the 

 flexibility of his brain gave, to the impreffions of 

 his early years, a charader not to be effaced. At 

 that period of life are formed the inclinations and 

 the averfions which influence the whole of our ex- 

 iftence. Our firft affedions are likewife the laft. 

 They accompany us through the events with which 

 human life is variegated. They re-appear in old 

 age, and then revive the fenfibilities of childhood 

 with ftill greater force than thofe of mature age. 

 Early habits have an influence even on animals, 

 to luch a degree, as to extinguifli their natural 

 inftind. Lyciirgits exhibited a ftriking example 

 of this to the Lacedemonians, in the cafe of two 

 hounds taken from the fame litter, in one of 

 which education had completely triumphed over 

 Nature. But 1 could produce fi:ill ftronger in- 

 ffcances in the Human Species, in which early ha- 

 bit is found triumphant, fometimes, even over 

 ambition. Hillory furniflies innumerable exam- 

 ples to this purpofe ; 1 beg leave to produce one 

 which has not yet obtained a place in the hiftoric 

 page, and which is, apparently, of no great im- 

 portance, but is highly interefting to myfelf, be- 

 caufe it brings to my recolledion perfons who 

 were juftly dear to me. 



When I was in the RufTian fervice, I frequently 

 had the pleafure of dining at the table of his 



Excellency 



