255 
Dr. Younge to J. E. Smith, Turin. 
My dear Sir, Basle, July 17, 1787. 
The truth is, that I have been so long used to a 
participation of the pleasures of travelling with you, 
that even in my present situation I meet with no- 
thing new or pleasing which I do not wish you to 
see as well as myself; and though you may proba- 
bly get information similar to my own from other 
persons, yet with regard to the particulars of which 
I shall speak, you will find none more authentic. 
After travelling during the whole night along a 
road rendered very rough with repeated rains, I 
arrived at Basle on the 15th instant in the morning. 
The situation of the city, upon the banks of the 
Rhine, which is about as large and rapid as the 
Rhone at Lyons, is charming. The inn where I 
now am, the 77ozs Rows, is built upon the very 
edge of it; so that the river runs directly under the 
window. I recommend this inn to you for good 
bed and good dinner ; but bad tea and coffee. As 
Basle was the residence of the justly celebrated 
Erasmus (whose writings I have always esteemed 
from the days that his innocent jokes alleviated my 
tasks at school), and of Holbein the painter, whom 
he patronized, my first business was to inquire after 
them. I knew that there existed in the library 
some paintings by Holbein, and some manuscripts 
by Erasmus ;—but how to see the library? It was 
necessary either to signify my desire in writing or 
in person to Professor Falkner : I chose the latter, 
