xxu 



Arabic language was spoken in its greatest purity, he studied that 

 language ; and, at the same time, made it the occasion of acquiring 

 a more familiar knowledge of the literature and affairs of Portugal, 

 by conversations on these subjects with his friendly instructer, who 

 had lived many years in the country. He also studied the Italian 

 language at this time, and probably the Spanish. It having been 

 expected that Mr. Smith would be sent on a mission to Constanti- 

 nople, Mr. Pickering indulged the pleasing vision of seeing the 

 East, and treading the classic ground of Greece and Rome. With 

 this view, he undertook the study of the Turkish language ; but the 

 mission to that country was abandoned, and he never realized his 

 anticipated delight. 



In Lisbon, as in college, music was his favorite social recreation. 

 Mr. Smith himself had a fine taste for music, and the musical par- 

 ties among his friends were to Mr. Pickering a source of instruc- 

 tion as well as entertainment. He joined them on the flute, and 

 thus acquired that correct taste and cultivation which he could 

 hardly have obtained at that time in his own country. He became 

 so well versed in the science of music, that in later life he took 

 much pleasure in explaining its principles to his young friends. 

 His mechanical ingenuity, which discovered itself so early in life, 

 was perhaps most manifested in his practical knowledge of the con- 

 struction of musical instruments. 



The noble father kept a steady eye upon his son's higher im- 

 provement, and therefore, satisfactory as was his connection with 

 Mr. Smith, he made arrangements for his removal to London, 

 where his advantages would be more ample. During the two years 

 he had passed with Mr. Smith, their mutual regard had ripened 

 into the sincerest friendship, and, on parting with him, Mr. Smith 

 expressed his exalted esteem, and his deep regret at losing the 

 society of so estimable a companion and friend. 



