LETTERS TO BRYANTON AND CONTARINE.

"many happy years do I wish you ! and nothing but want of health can take from
"you happiness, since you so well pursue the paths that conduct to virtue.
" I am, my dear Uncle, your most obliged,

" Most affectionate nephew,

" OMVEK GOLDSMITH.

"P.S.—I draw this time for 6Z., and will draw next October but for 4Z., as I
" was obliged to buy everything since I came to Scotland, shirts not even exeepted.
"I am a little more early the first year than I shall be for the future, for I
'' absolutely will not trouble you before the time hereafter.

"My best love attend Mr. and Mrs. Lawder, and Heaven-preserve them! I
" am again your dutiful nephew, 6.GK

" I have been a month in the Highlands. I set out the first day on foot, but
" an ill-natured corn I have got on my toe has for the future prevented that
" cheap method of travelling • so, the second day I hired a horse of about the
"size of a ram, and he walked away (trot he could not) as pensive as his master.
"In three days we reached the. Highlands. This letter would be too long if it
" contained the description I intend giving of that country, so shall make it the
"subject of my next." • . •

III. TO THE REV. ME. CONTAKINE.

The second letter to Mr. .Contarine, referred to at p. 54, is not dated,
but was undoubtedly written at the close of 1753 :

" MY DBAK UNOLE,

"After having spent two winters in Edinburgh, I now prepare to
" go to France the 10th of next February. I have seen all that this country can
" exhibit in the medical way, and therefore intend to visit Paris, where the
"great Mr. Farhein, Petit, and Du Hammel de Monceau instruct their pupils in all
'' the branches of medicine. They speak French, and consequently I shall have
"much the advantage of most of my countrymen, as I am perfectly acquainted
"with that language, and few who leave Ireland are so.

'' Since I am upon so pleasing a topic as self applause, give me leave to say
" that the circle of science which I have run through, before I undertook the
" study of physic, is not only useful, but absolutely necessary to the making a
" skilful physician. Such sciences enlarge our understanding, and sharpen our
" sagacity ; and what is a practitioner without both but an empiric, for never yet
" was a disorder found entirely the same in two patients. A quack, unable to
" distinguish the particularities in each disease, prescribes at a venture : if he
" finds such a disorder may be called by the general name of fever for instance,
" he has a set of remedies which he applies to cure it, nor does he desist till his
" medicines are run out, or his patient has lost his life. But the skilful physician
" distinguishes the symptoms, manures the sterility of nature, or prunes her
" luxuriance; nor does he depend so much on the efficacy of medicines as on their
"proper application. I shall spend this spring and summer in Paris, and the
" beginning of next winter go to Leyden. The great Albinus is still alive there,
" and 'twill be proper to go, though only to have it said that we have studied in
" so famous an university.

& a the whole indued