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for fear of swelling your expenses. Solomon says, 
“There is a time to scatter, and a time to gather:” 
do you scatter wisely, and I will endeavour to gather 
carefully, and hope I shall so far succeed as to leave 
a comfortable subsistence to every one that depends 
upon me for support. I think you had better not 
fix a time to leave off your tutor: ’tis impossible to 
tell where you may be situated, or how; and scholar- 
ship will recommend in all parts of the world. And 
as you have the elegancies of French and Italian, the 
useful Latin, with a little Greek, will be desirable. 
God be with you and bless you, my ever dear child! 
Your affectionate Father, 
JAMES SMITH. 
Mr. James Edward Smith to his Father. 
Honoured Sir, Edinburgh, March 11, 1782. 
I want words to answer as it deserves that part 
of your letter concerning my expenses: can only 
say, your kind indulgence will have a most power- 
ful influence in making me as ceconomical as real 
prudence will allow of. With respect to diversions 
interrupting my application, I dare say you have no 
apprehension of that: as you know my inclination 
for the pursuit of science, you will easily believe that 
to be the highest pleasure I can enjoy, as I am at pre- 
sent circumstanced with every advantage for that 
pursuit, and at full liberty to explore the vast stores of 
knowledge that are presented to me on every side. 
The diversions here will be over in a few days; as 
