25 
tion, as the foundation of a genius successful in that 
branch, but also a patient discriminating judgement, 
joined to constant industry and close observation 
to seize the varieties of nature in her productions, 
I persuade myself that genius and taste, joined to 
those qualities which you possess in an eminent 
degree, will enable you to discern wherein the essen- 
tial of medicine lies, and to discover not only as far 
into the nature of diseases, and what relates to them, 
as human knowledge has yet gone, but I go further, 
and flatter myself you will be distinguished for a 
judgement and penetration that surpasses most 
others, and such as will procure you the esteem and 
veneration of the world, as I am without doubt 
your conduct and behaviour in your practice will 
secure you the love of it.—You say I may depend 
upon your frugality in every case. I know I may, 
my dear; but I would not have you cramp yourself, 
nor deny yourself either any advantage or enjoyment 
upon that account. I am perfectly easy; satisfied 
that you would not wish for what I ought to refuse. 
appear the many mistakes which have made learning generally so 
unpleasing and so unsuccessful : first, we do amiss to spend seven 
or eight years merely in scraping together so much miserable 
Latin and Greek as might be learned otherwise easily and de- 
lightfully in one year. 
*T shall detain you now no longer in the demonstration of what 
we should not do, but strait conduct you to a hill-side, where I will 
point you out the right path of a virtuous and noble education : 
laborious indeed at the first ascent, but else so smooth, so green, 
so full of goodly prospect and melodious sounds on every side, 
that the harp of Orpheus was not more charming.”—WMilton : 
Letter to Master Samuel Harthb. 
