第13章 LETTER X

LONDON,June 30,O.S.1747

DEAR BOY:I was extremely pleased with the account which you gave me in your last,of the civilities that you received in your Swiss progress;and I have written,by this post,to Mr.Burnaby,and to the 'Avoyer,'

to thank them for their parts.If the attention you met with pleased you,as I dare say it did,you will,I hope,draw this general conclusion from it,that attention and civility please all those to whom they are paid;and that you will please others in proportion as you are attentive and civil to them.

Bishop Burnet has wrote his travels through Switzerland;and Mr.Stanyan,from a long residence there,has written the best account,yet extant,of the Thirteen Cantons;but those books will be read no more,I presume,after you shall have published your account of that country.I hope you will favor me with one of the first copies.To be serious;though I do not desire that you should immediately turn author,and oblige the world with your travels;yet,wherever you go,I would have you as curious and inquisitive as if you did intend to write them.I do not mean that you should give yourself so much trouble,to know the number of houses,inhabitants,signposts,and tombstones,of every town that you go through;but that you should inform yourself,as well as your stay will permit you,whether the town is free,or to whom it belongs,or in what manner:whether it has any peculiar privileges or customs;what trade or manufactures;and such other particulars as people of sense desire to know.And there would be no manner of harm if you were to take memorandums of such things in a paper book to help your memory.The only way of knowing all these things is to keep the best company,who can best inform you of them.I am just now called away;so good night.