357 
was meant for fancy’s aid.” Rousseau’s own reli- 
gion is somewhat equivocal. It is Julia’s pleases 
me. Her character is inimitable, and her last mo- 
ments are the most pious, the most rational, and 
the most touching surely ever drawn by pen. Ido 
not know whether I shall read all Heloise again, 
but I certainly shall the last volume. I shall study 
it attentively, and I shall like to mark all the beau- 
tiful thoughts in it, and make them very familiar 
to my memory. There are many sentences infi- 
nitely surpass Rochefoucault’s, or any proverbialist 
but the sacred. It is a pity the work is not quite 
fit for young persons, females especially. He has 
said so in the preface, and warned them against it ; 
but there are parts I could select, which every per- 
son, young and old, might be much edified by. I 
was most wonderfully attached to the latter part of 
Heloise, so as I never was to any book before ; and 
in the mood in which I then was, from the solitude 
of my family, it made a deeper impression, I sup- 
pose, than it would at another time. 
Adieu! God bless and prosper you! 
JAMES SMITH. 
From this period, Sir James gave lectures on 
botany and zoology at his house in Great Marl- 
borough-street, where he was honoured with the 
attendance of the Duchess of Portland, Viscountess 
Cremorne, Lady Amelia Hume, and the Honour- 
able Mrs. Barrington, besides professional men. He 
also delivered a course of lectures on botany at 
Guy's Hospital, for several successive years. 
