11 



LETTER II. 



Annan, August 12, 1813. 



engagement to furnish you with a diary of 

 passing events reminds me of the habit of past 

 times. For years my head never reached its 

 pillow, without having previously registered the 

 transactions of the day, with observations on 

 what and on whom I had seen. I was led to 

 make these sketches by the advice of my valued 

 friend, the late Lord Kames, who in recom- 

 mending the practice, observed, " that our best 

 and surest road to knowledge was by profiting 

 from the labours of others, and making their 

 experience our own." Those who are averse 

 to study should try to learn, by taking notes of 

 what is passing before their eyes, and thus ac- 

 quiring by habit the art of thinking. Many, no 

 doubt, would ,sicken at the idea of imposing 

 such a task upon themselves ; but as we are all 

 the children of habit, the attempt once made, 

 and persevered in for a short time, would soon 

 become a custom more irksome to omit, than it 

 was difficult to commence. 



