372 Life of Count Ruin ford. 



44 But, notwithstanding this, I feel as great a desire of seeing 

 my best surviving friend, and the companion of my youth and 

 early part of my life, as ever. And when I add to this that 

 long-established desire, that ardent wish, which I feel for seeing 

 England and feasting on the improvements of that country, I 

 still think that I shall visit the seat of science. 



il In the arrangement of my pursuits, when the power is in 

 me to choose, I have deviated perhaps from the general run of 

 mankind, for I would wish to apply the last day of my labors to 

 plan and execute a canal, or plant out an orchard, or something 

 that would result in some permanent benefit for posterity. 



41 We have had the pleasure of your daughter's company a 

 few days, and the inexpressible satisfaction of hearing from her 

 mouth the circumstances of the first interview with her father, 

 and how deeply you are engaged in philanthropic pursuits, also 

 some of the interesting events that have happened during her 

 absence from America, and are exceedingly pleased with the 

 improvement of her mind. 



44 1 have received three letters from you since I wrote you 

 last by Mr. Welsh the 3151 of July, 1798. The first of these 

 letters was dated September 28, 1798, another March 14, 

 1799, and the last by your daughter, of 24th August, 1799, 

 with the plan of your new Institution, for which I beg you to 

 accept of my sincere thanks, and I wish you Divine success in 

 that undertaking. I have a disciple for you now in his last year 

 at Harvard College, reading with love for the arts. 



41 I am conscious of my neglect in not writing to you as I 

 ought to have done. I was about closing a letter to you last 

 January, to be accompanied by the answer from the inhabitants 

 of the town of Concord to the proposal made by your daughter 

 establishing a fund for clothing twelve industrious children of 

 the poorer class of citizens, &c. But Dr. Walter happened to 

 make me a visit just at that time, and brought me your favor of 

 the 28th September, 1798, and at the same time read me a 

 paragraph of one of your letters to him that expressed so fully 

 your determination to make us a visit in the spring that I pro- 

 ceeded no further in the business, and you cannot readily con- 



