169 
whom you respect, and whose opinion you esteem, 
as is too often the case with young people at a di- 
stance from home. I know your objects and incli- 
nations are of the most noble kind, that as your 
mind is possessed with the purest principles of truth 
and virtue, so your genius and understanding, ex- 
cellent as they are from nature, are, the one alming 
at, and the other acquiring, the most valuable trea- 
sures of human knowledge, upon which to establish 
a character and reputation that will be of advantage 
to yourself and all your connexions, as well as an 
honour to your family and country. I would not, 
then, check you in your progress. I hope it will 
please God to enable me to provide for your ex- 
penses without injuring the rest of you. For the 
risk of life and health I trust in Providence and your 
prudence for your preservation, to which I hope my 
unworthy prayers may contribute something. 
I cannot object to your visit to the Marquis 
Durazzo anything but so long a journey in short 
days, in which the passage of the Alps, if you go 
that way, may be disagreeable, if not dangerous. 
But I should think there may be a way along the 
coast from Provence to avoid the Alps. If you go 
to Turin, you will call on my correspondents, who 
no doubt will show you every civility. 
As for the election, we never had one upon which 
there is so much to say: it is so difficult to do it 
justice, that I would not have you expect it from 
me, who am neither practised in descriptive writing, 
nor have abilities for it. The canvass for the Ho- 
nourable Henry Hobart began two months ago, and 
