35 
so that next winter I hope to be able to attempt a 
little Greek (a very little will do; but I would 
not be entirely ignorant of it.) Few physicians go 
further than the works of Hippocrates, which are 
very easy I am told. Indeed I am far from being sin- 
gular in my deficiency in the knowledge of Latin ; 
but I assure you no application shall be wanting to 
complete me in it as much as possible. I am really 
very fond of the language, and have got over 
the worst part: I am before most students in the 
knowledge of French and Italian, the former of 
which is of the greatest use ; and both have assisted 
me wonderfully in acquiring Latin. 
I have learned to pronounce Latin like Italian ; 
as it is pronounced so here, as well as by all foreign- 
ers; I mean the vowels *. 
I know no entertainment equal to Dr. Monro’s 
physiological lectures; his remarks are so inge- 
nious, satisfactory, and curious, that we could never 
be tired with hearing them. He cannot forbear 
throwing out remarks now and then, when he 
finds either of his great rivals Haller or Hunter in a 
mistake. 
Your affectionate Son, 
JAMES EpwaRD SMITH. 
* «“ Their speech is to be fashioned to a distinct and clear pro- 
nunciation, as near as may be to the Italian, especially in the 
vowels, For we Englishmen, being far northerly, do not open 
our mouths in the cold air wide enough to grace a southern 
tongue; but are observed by all other nations to speak exceed- 
ingly close and inward ; so that to smatter Latin with an English 
mouth, is as ill hearmg as law French.”—Milton on Education ; 
in a Letter to Master Samuel Harthb. 
D2 
