[dateline] Aug. 18. 1782
[salute] My dear Son
It is with Pleasure that I enclose this amiable Letter from your Sister, which breaths
a very commendable affection for You and solicitude for your Welfare. There is nothing
more tender than these Correspondences between Families, as there is nothing more
sacred than the Relations of Brother and sister, except that of Parent and Child.
It is your duty to answer her.
I say again, it is a moral and a religious duty to cultivate these amiable Connections
by constant Correspondence, when We cannot by Conversation. But I need not recur to
any Thing so austere as the Idea of Duty. The Pleasure of corresponding with a sister
so worthy of you ought to be Motive sufficient. Subjects can never be wanting. Discriptions
of Cities, Churches, Palaces, Paintings, Spectacles, all the Objects around you, even
the manners and Dress of the People will furnish ample materials.
{ 367 } It is a long time since you have written to me. You should think of your Fathers Anxiety,
for the Success and Progress of your Studies.
You study I hope among other Things to make yourself as Usefull and agreable to your
Patron as possible.
You have no doubt had the Opportunity to see the Empress upon some publick Occasions.
I had that of supping, at Court, at the Maison du Bois with the Comte and Comptess
du Nord.
1 Your Patron will see in the Courier du Bas Rhin and in the Gazettes of Leyden and
the Hague, a Projet or a Speculation, calculated to favour some of his Views.
2 How does he like it? and how is it taken where you are? or is it not talked of.
I long to see you. You should be at Leyden or at Cambridge. A public Education you
must have. You are capable of Emulation, and there alone you will have it.
Adieu.