46 
i like, and drink tea with them; and the Doctor 
and I sometimes walk together. He is an excellent 
mineralogist, and is very communicative, very clear, 
and of a candid though quick temper; in short, I am 
quite charmed with him. He has a noble collection 
of fossils, which he likes to show :—by the way, I do 
not mean to prosecute this study any further than 
is necessary and proper for me to be acquainted 
with; it requires infinite attention and labour, and 
there are few certain conclusions to be found. I 
shall endeavour to get a general knowledge of every 
branch of literature as it falls in my way ; but believe 
I shall find enough to employ me in the strict line 
of my profession, with the two first kingdoms of na- 
ture by way of relaxation; for I am fully persuaded 
that an intimate acquaintance with these is not only 
peculiarly ornamental, but highly necessary, to form 
an accomplished physician, as literature now stands: 
and am sure the benefit I have derived, wherever 
I have been, and am continually deriving, from the 
little knowledge of this kind which I am possessed 
of, is greater than could have been imagined,—I 
mean with respect to introducing me to the lite- 
rary world; for if I had been without such an in- 
troduction, I might have drudged here perhaps a 
couple of years before I could have done anything 
to have signalized myself, or have been taken half 
the notice of which I now am. 
I promised to give you some account of my 
young acquaintances. The name of the one I have 
contracted most intimacy with is Batty; he comes 
from Kirby Lonsdale in Westmoreland; is about 
