324. Thoiasor^s last letter to Peterson. May l. 



Thomson's last letter to Paterson, written a 

 short time before his death, in the beginning- 



OF MAT 1748 *, FROM THE ORIGINAL IN ThoMSOn's 

 HAND-WRITING FOUND AMONG HIS PAP-ERS BY HIS 

 EXECUTORS, NEVER BEFORE POINTED. 



Dear Paterson,. No date. 



In the first place, and previous to my letter, I must 

 recoramend to your favour and protection Mr James 

 Smith, searcher in Si Christophers ; and 1 beg of you, 

 as occasion fhall serve, and as you find he merits it, 

 to advance him in the businefs of the customs. He 

 is warmly recommended ,to me by Sargent, who ia 

 verity turns out one of the best men of our youthful 

 acquaintance,- — honest, honourable, friendly, and ge- 

 nerous. 



If we are not to oblige one another, life becomes 

 a paltry selfiflx affair, — a pitiful morsel in a corner ! 

 Sargent is so happily married, that I could almost 

 say, — the same case happen to us alll 



That I have not answered, severar letters of yours, 

 is not owing to the want of ffiend{hip, and the sincerest 

 regard for you ; but you know me well enough to 

 stccount for my silenccj without me saying any more- 

 upon that head. Besides, I have very little to say 

 that is worthy to be transmitted over the great ocean. 

 The world either futilises so much, or we g^row so 

 dead to it, that its transactions make but feeble im- 

 prefsions on us. Retirement, and nature, are more 

 and more my pafsion every day. And now, ev,en 



* P.uer&oawis TUancsori's.degut^ as surveyor of the Lee.wai4 isl<in<}sv 



