LETTERS. TO HIS BROTHER NEVILLE. DEAR BROTHER, Nottingham, September, 1799. In consequence of your repeated solicitations, I now sit down to write to you, although I never received an answer to the last letter which I wrote, nearly six months ago; but, as I never heard you mention it in any of my mother's letters, I am induced to think it has miscarried, or been mislaid in your office. It is now nearly four months since I entered into Mr. Coldham's office; and it is with pleasure I can assure you, that I never yet found anything disagreeable, but, on the contrary, everything I do seems a pleasure to me, and for a very obvious reason,-it is a business which I like a business which I chose before all others; and I have two good-tempered, easy masters, but who will, nevertheless, see that their business is done in a neat and proper manner. The study of the law is well known to be a dry, difficult task, and requires a comprehensive, good understanding; and I hope you will allow me (without charging me with egotism) to have a tolerable one; and I trust with perseverance, and a very large law library to refer to, I shall be able to accomplish the study of so much of the laws of England, and our system of jurisprudence, in less than five years, as to enable me to be a country attorney; and then, as I shall have two more years to serve, I hope I shall attain so much knowledge in all parts of the law, as to enable me, with a little study at the inns of court, to hold an argument on the nice points in the law with the best attorney in the kingdom. A man that understands the law is sure to have business; and in case I have no thoughts, in case that is, that I do not aspire to hold the honorable place of a barrister, I shall feel sure of gaining a genteel livelihood at the business to which I am articled. I attend at the office at eight in the morning, and leave at eight in the evening; then attend my Latin until nine, which, you may be sure, is pretty close confine ment. Mr. Coldham is clerk to the commercial commissioners, which has occasioned us a deal of extraordinary work. I worked all Sunday, and until twelve o'clock on Saturday night, when they were hurried to give in the certificates to the bank. We had also a very troublesome cause last assizes, The Corporation versus Gee, which we (the attorneys for the corporation) lost. It was really a very fatiguing day, (I mean the day on which it was tried.) I never got anything to eat, from five in the afternoon the preceding day, until twelve the next night, when the trial ended. TO HIS BROTHER NEVILLE. Nottingham, 26 June, 1800. DEAR BROTHER, * * My mother has allowed me a good deal lately for books, and I have a large assortment (a retailer's phrase.) But I hope you do not suppose they consist of novels ;no-I have made a firm resolution never to spend above one hour at this amusement. Though I have been obliged to enter into this resolution in consequence of a vitiated taste acquired by reading romances, I do not intend to banish them entirely from my desk. After long and fatiguing researches in Blackstone or Coke, when the mind becomes weak, through intense application, Tom Jones, or Robinson Crusoe, will afford a pleasing and necessary relaxation. Apropos-now we are speaking of Robinson Crusoe, I shall observe, that is allowed to be the best novel for youth in the English language. De Foe, the author, was a singular character; but as I make no doubt you have read his life, I will not trouble you with any further remarks. The books which I now read with attention, are Blackstone, Knox's Essays, Plutarch, Chesterfield's Letters, four large volumes, Virgil, Homer, and Cicero, and several others. Blackstone and Knox, Virgil and Cicero, I have got ; the others I read out of Mr. Coldham's library. I have finished Rollin's Ancient History, Blair's Lectures, Smith's Wealth of Nations, Hume's England, and British Nepos, lately. When I have read Knox I will send it you, and recommend it to your attentive perusal; it is a most excellent work. I also read now the British Classics, the common edition of which I now take in; it comes every fortnight; I dare say you have seen it; it is Cooke's edition. I would recommend you also to read these; I will send them to you. I have got the Citizen of the World, Idler, Goldsmith's Essays, and part of the Rambler. I will send you soon the fourth number of the Monthly Preceptor. I am noticed as worthy of commendation, and as affording an encouraging prospect of future excellence.-You will laugh. I have also turned poet, and have translated an Ode of Horace into English verse, also for the Monthly Preceptor, but, unfortunately, when I sent it, I forgot the title, so it wont be noticed. I do not forsake the flowery paths of poesy, for that is my chief delight; I read the best poets. Mr. Coldham has got Johnson's complete set, with their lives; these of course I read. With a little drudgery, I read Italian-Have got some good Italian works, as Pastor Fido, &c. &c. I taught myself, and have got a grammar. I must now beg leave to return you my sincere thanks for your kind present. I like La Bruyere the Less' very much; I have read the original La Bruyere: I think him like Rouchefoucault. Madame de Genlis is a very able woman. But I must now attempt to excuse my neglect in not writing to you. First, I have been very busy with these essays and poems for the Monthly Preceptor. Second, I was rather angry at your last letter-I can bear anything but a sneer, and it was one continued grin from beginning to end, as were all the notices you made of me in my mother's letters, and I could not, nor can I now, brook it. I could say much more, but it is very late, and must beg leave to wish you good night. I am, dear brother, Your affectionate friend, H. K. WHITE. P. S. You may expect a regular correspondence from me in future, but no sneers; and shall be very obliged by a long letter. TO HIS BROTHER NEVILLE. Nottingham, 25th June, 1800. DEAR NEVILLE, * You are inclined to flatter me when you compare my application with yours; in truth, I am not half so assiduous as you, and I am conscious I waste a deal of time unwittingly. But, in reading, I am upon the continual search for improvement: I thirst after knowledge, and though my disposition is naturally idle, I conquer it when reading a useful book. The plan which I pursued, in order to subdue my disinclination to dry books, was this, to begin attentively to peruse it, and continue thus one hour every day; the book insensibly, by this means, becomes pleasing to you; and even when reading Blackstone's Commentaries, which are very dry, I lay down the book with regret. With regard to the Monthly Preceptor, I certainly shall be agreeable to your taking it in, as my only objection was the extreme impatience which I feel to see whether my essays have been successful; but this may be obviated by your speedy perusal, and not neglecting |