36 MEMOIR OP 



to the building of airy castles and brain windmills, 

 that it has become one of my earthly comforts, a 

 sort of rough bone, that amuses me when sated 

 with the dull drudgery of life." No plan appears, 

 at this time, however, to have been matured for 

 commencing the great Work ; but our author was 

 daily adding to an already large collection of draw- 

 ings, and prosecuting with zeal his practice as a 

 draughtsman, which will be best understood from 

 the following letter to his friend Mr. Bartram : 



" To Mr. William Bartram. 



" KINGESSING, March 31, 1804. 



" I TAKE the first few moments I have had s : nce 

 receiving your letter, to thank you for your oblig- 

 ing attention to my little attempts at drawing, and 

 for the very affectionate expressions of esteem with 

 which you honour me. But sorry I am, indeed, 

 that afflictions so severe as those you mention 

 should fall where so much worth and sensibility re- 

 side, while the profligate, the unthinking, and un- 

 feeling, so frequently pass through life strangers to 

 sickness, adversity, or suffering. But God visits 

 those with distress whose enjoyments he wishes to 

 render more exquisite. The storms of affliction do 

 not last for ever ; and sweet is the serene air and 

 warm sunshine after a day of darkness and tem- 

 pest. Our friend has, indeed, passed away in the 

 bloom of youth and expectation ; but nothing has 

 happened but what almost every day's experience 

 teaches us to expect. How many millions of beau- 



