LETTEliS. 189 



when the mind becomes weak, through intense applica- 

 tion, Tom Jones, or Robinson Crusoe, will afford a pleas- 

 ing and necessary relaxation. 



Apropos — now we are speaking of Robinson Crusoe, I 

 shall observe, that it is allowed to be the best novel for 

 youth in the English language. De Foe, tho author, 

 was a singular character ; but as I make no doubt you 

 have read his life, I will not trouble you with any further 

 remarks. 



The books which I now read with attention are Black- 

 stone, Knox's Essays, Plutarch, Chesterfield's Letters, 

 four large volumes, Yirgil, Homer, and Cicero, and several 

 others. Blackstone and Knox, Virgil and Cicero, I have 

 got ; the others I read out of Mr Coldham's library. I 

 have finished Rollin's Ancient History, Blair's Lectures, 

 Smith's Wealth of Nations, Hume's England, and Bri- 

 tish Nepos, lately. When I have read Knox, I will 

 send it you, and recommend it to your attentive perusal ; 

 it is a most excellent work. I also read now the British 

 Classics, the common edition of which I now take in ; it 

 comes every fortnight ; I dare say you have seen it ; it 

 is Cook's Edition. I would recommend you also to read 

 these ; I will send them to you. I have got the Citizen 

 of the World, Idler, Goldsmith's Essays, and part of the 

 Rambler. I will send you soon the fourth number of 

 the Monthly Preceptor. I am noticed as worthy of com- 

 mendation, and as affording an encouraging prospect of 

 future excellence. — You will laugh. I have also turned 

 poet, and have translated an ode of Horace into English 

 verse, also for the Monthly Preceptor, but, unfortunately, 

 when I sent it, I forgot the title, so it won't be noticed. 



I do not forsake the flowery paths of poesy, for that 

 is my chief delight ; I read the best poets. Mr Coldham 

 has got Johnson's complete set, with their lives ; these, 

 of course, I read. 



With a little drudgery, I read Italian— Have got 

 some good Italian works, as Pastor Fido, &c. &c. I 

 taught myself, and have got a grammar. 



I must now beg leave to return you ray sincere thanks 

 for your kind present. I like " La Bruyere the Less" 



