LETTER LXVIII.

IGNATIUS SANCHO TO MR. B- •

London, July 18, 1772.

MY DEAR FRIEND, NOTHING could possibly be more welcome than the favour of your truly obliging letter, which I received the day before yesterday. Know, my worthy young man—that it ́is the pride of my heart when I reflect that, through the favour of Providence, I was the humble means of good to so worthy an object. May you live to be a credit to your great and good friends, and a blessing and comfort to your honest parents!--May you, my child, pursue, through God's mercy, the right paths of humility, candour, temperance, benevolence-with an early piety, gratitude, and praise to the Almighty Giver of all your good!—gratitude and love for the noble and generous benefactors his providence has so kindly moved in your behalf! Ever let your actions be such as your own heart can approve—always think before you speak, and pause before you act-always suppose yourself before the eyes of sir William-and Mr. Garrick. To think justly, is the way to do rightlyand by that means you will ever be at peace within. I am happy to hear sir W

cares so

much about your welfare-his character is great, because it is good; as to your noble friend Mr. Garrick-his virtues are above all praise-he has not only the best head in the world, but the best heart also ;-he delights in doing good. Your father and mother called on me last week, to show

me a letter which Mr. Garrick has wrote to youkeep it, my dear boy, as a treasure beyond all price-it would do honour to the pen of a divineit breathes the spirit of father-friend-and Christian;—indeed I know no earthly being that I can reverence so much as your exalted and noble friend and patron Mr. Garrick. Your father and mother, I told you, I saw lately-they were both well, and their eyes overflowed at the goodness of your noble patrons and with the honest hope that you would prove yourself not unworthy of their kindness.

I thank you for your kindness to my poor black brethren-I flatter myself you will find them not ungrateful-they act commonly from their feelings: I have observed a dog will love those who use him kindly—and surely if so, negroes in their state of ignorance and bondage will not act less generously, if I may judge them by myself—I should suppose kindness would do any thing with them;-my soul melts at kindness-but the contrary, I own with shame, makes me almost a savage.—If you can with conveniency—when you write again-send me half a dozen cocoa-nuts, I shall esteem them for your sake-but do not think of it if there is the least difficulty. In regard to wages, I think you acted quite right-do not seek too hastily to be independent-it is quite time enough yet for one of your age to be your own master. Read Mr. Garrick's letter night and morning-put it next your heart-impress it on your memory-and may the God of all mercy give you grace to follow his friendly dictates! I shall ever truly rejoice to hear from you, and

your well-doing will be a comfort for me ever; it is not in your own power and option to command riches-wisdom and health are immediately the gift of God—but it is in your own breast to be good-therefore, my dear child, make the only right election-be good, and trust the rest to God; and remember he is about your bed, and about your paths, and spieth out all your ways. I am, with pride and delight, your true friend.

LETTER LXIX.

FROM THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO HIS NEPHEW THOMAS PITT, ESQ.

Afterwards Lord Camelford.

MY DEAR CHILD,

I AM extremely pleased with your translation now it is writ over fair. It is very close to the sense of the original, and done, in many places, with much spirit, as well as the numbers not lame, or rough. However, an attention to Mr. Pope's numbers will make you avoid some ill sound and hobbling of the verse, by only transposing a word or two, in many instances. I have, upon reading the eclogue over again, altered the third, fourth, and fifth lines, in order to bring them nearer to the Latin, as well as to render some beauty which is contained in the repetition of words in tender passages; for example, Nos patriæ fines, et dulcia linquimus arva; Nos patriam fugimus: tu, Tityre, lentus in umbrá Formosam resonare doces Amaryl

lida sylvas." We leave our native land, these fields so sweet; our country leave: at ease, in cool retreat, You, Thyrsis, bid the woods fair Daphne's name repeat." I will desire you to write over another copy with this alteration, and also to write smoaks in the plural number, in the last line but one. You give me great pleasure, my dear child, in the progress you have made. Í will recommend to Mr. Leech to carry you quite through Virgil's Æneid from beginning to ending. Pray show him this letter, with my service to him, and thanks for his care of you. For English poetry, I recommend Pope's translation of Homer, and Dryden's Fables in particular. I am not sure if they are not called Tales, instead of Fables. Your cousin, whom I am sure you can overtake if you will, has read Virgil's Æneid quite through, and much of Horace's Epistles. Terence's Plays I would also desire Mr. Leech to make you a perfect master of. Your cousin has read them all. Go on, my dear, and you will at least equal him. You are so good, that I have nothing to wish, but that you may be directed to proper books; and I trust to your spirit, and desire to be praised for things that deserve praise, for the figure you will hereafter make. God bless you, my dear child. Your most affectionate uncle.

LETTER LXX.

FROM THE EARL OF CHATHAM TO HIS NEPHEW THOMAS PITT, ESQ.

Bath, Oct. 12, 1751.

MY DEAR NEPHEW, As I have been moving about from place to place, your letter reached me here, at Bath, but very lately, after making a considerable circuit to find me. I should have otherwise, my dear child, returned you thanks for the very great pleasure you have given me, long before now. The very good account you give me of your studies, and that delivered in very good Latin, for your time, has filled me with the highest expectation of your future improvements: I see the foundations so well laid, that I do not make the least doubt but you will become at least a perfect good scholar; and have the pleasure and applause that will attend the several advantages hereafter, in the future course of your life, that you can only acquire now by your emulation and noble labours in the pursuit of learning, and of every acquirement that is to make you superior to other gentlemen. I rejoice to hear that you have begun Homer's Iliad; and have made so great a progress in Virgil. I hope you taste and love those authors particularly. You cannot read them too much they are not only the two greatest poets, but they contain the finest lessons for your age to imbibe lessons of honour, courage, disinterestedness, love of truth, command of temper, gentleness of behaviour, humanity; and in one word, virtue in its true signification.