A TRAVELLER AT BERLIN. I39 



probably live to fee the time, when this academy will 

 be wholly compofed of Germans. 



I muft account it one of the moft unpleafant acci- 

 dents of my journey, that I have not improved my ac- 

 quaintance with Mendelffohn, and the worft part of it 

 is, that I am not altogether free from felf-reproach on 

 this fubjedt. At the beginning of my Hay here, I had 

 an opportunity of feeing this worthy perfon ; who, 

 though indebted for his inftruclion to no one but him- 

 felf, and was obliged to work his way through innume- 

 rable prejudices, yet carried his genius, though oppreffed 

 by numerous and burdenfome affairs, to fuch a pitch 

 of elevation, that all Germany reveres him, and the 

 men of moft folid learning are his firmeft friends — but 

 at that time I poftponed my viftt : as it is always my 

 cuftom, in every city I come to, to begin with its out- 

 ward objects ; and foon afterwards he was attacked by 

 that malady, which terminated but too quickly in his 

 death.. Nothing then was left for me but to witnefs the 

 pain all good men felt on this occalion, and the lamen- 

 tations that burft from his familiar friends. His berl 

 praife is certainly this ; that every man in Berlin 

 eftecrned him, and that his lofs was univerfally deplored. 

 Wherever he is fpoken of it is always with refpecl, and 

 fuch as do not dwell upon his literary merits, yet fpeak 

 highly of his domeftic virtues. 



LETTER VI, 



Berlin, January, 1787. 



I HAD a great delire to write to you from Potfdam, 

 from whence I returned hither yefterday, and to give 



you 



