Scripto | Transcribe Page

[page 3]

a little odd – & both the dear artists seem to have \rather/ forgot the natural Vanity of an Author who having devoted some 7 or 8 Hours \in every day/ of \his/ Life on an average to Books might naturally expect the dear little Cub \whom/ He had moulded into a Latinist & a Grecian to consult him on a Course of reading rather than call at once for a Cargo of Books without any apparent deference to his Opinion

However as the Vanity of \the/ honest Bookworm whom you thus unintentionally smothered in his own Volumes is a very good natured Vanity He will content himself with giving this little Smiling \half jocular/ reproof to the dear Sons of Minerva whose studies Improvements Health Happiness & Glory are most truly much dearer to Him than his own —-

I am aware my dear Praxiteles that yr dear little disciple has yet taken has hitherto been more attentive to Language than to art & or science - the Time has now come for him to embrace all the pursuits that may be more important to the formation of his \manly &/ professional Character –

I have the most affectionate & happy Confidence in you my very dear Friend as his principal Guide in the formation of both yet we will lay all \our three/ Heads together on this important Object of regular plans of \literary/ Study when I have the Happiness of making one in your little Palladian Cabinet which I hope may be the case for a few days at least before the arrival of Summer — Spring passes away

In the mean Time let me assure you both that you shall never feel any kind of Want