"First, then, let it be your greatest care (which I hope strictly to adhere to myself) and chief study through life to make the declining years of your parents sink with pleasure into the grave, by the comfortable reflection that they leave a son behind worthy of the trust and confidence of the care and support of his sisters. That you may be able to perform this, you must diligently apply yourself to those studies which form the man of science, and make a man respectable in society, and esteemed by his friends, by becoming eminent in his profession. Having grounded yourself in this, you will then be armed at all points by fearing your God.

"Wisdom,' says Seneca, is a right understanding, a faculty of discerning good from evil, what is to be chosen and what rejected; it sets a watch over our words and deeds; it informs us of all the duties of life, as piety to our parents, faithfulness to our friends, charity to the miserable, judgment in counsel: it searches nature,

gives laws to life, and tells us that it is not enough to know God or His will, unless we obey Him.'

"This I conceive to be the true definition. Let us both with eagerness endeavour to attain it; for we are told in the Proverbs of Solomon that wisdom is of more value than gold. Let us in our youth endeavour to learn, although it be painful; for it is less pain for a man to learn in his youth, than in his age to be ignorant. Sobriety is another grand point, a virtue of which permit me to congratulate you in the possession; for wine and wisdom cannot agree, they being two contraries.

"I had a very affectionate letter last week from Dr. Geach. He is an invaluable man, and of genius and learning not to be equalled in the whole world.

"I was yesterday over Bedlam Hospital: it is a favour to be admitted. I was some time since introduced to the governor, whose name is Rixon. He yesterday called, and very politely offered to take me in

VOL. I.

C

his carriage, and invited me to dine; but I have no time to spare for dinners. I saw Margaret Nicholson, who, you know, made an attempt to kill the king. She is a handsome woman, has black eyes, and is of middling stature. She talked very rationally with me for some time, and I sat down in her cell. Speaking of the extreme cold, she said she supposed it was January in London as well as there.-I likewise saw Stone, who, if you recollect, fell in love with the Princess Royal. Although he is perfectly mad, he makes very neat straw mats, some of which I bought as curiosities, and intend taking them, if I live to return, to Devonshire with me."

"Re

In a letter to his sister he says, turn my thanks for my dear mother's blessing, with my affectionate duty. If you have been introduced to Dr. Geach, I think it is a great honour. I had a few days since a most valuable letter from him.

"You will not in this letter find a scrap

of poetry, to let you see I can write without; which, from former experience, might be doubted. . . . Study is the delight and soul of man: it keeps the mind in active energy, and prevents evil. I do therefore conceive that the close application to study in youth is essentially necessary to the health and welfare of mankind, as well as to one's own happiness, and therefore to be carefully pursued.

66

Improve yourself as much as you can: read deliberately, and think on what you read. Let the generality of novels pass by; and the few which the fashion of the age may compel you to read, let reason and judgment preside over. The romantic lovesick tales related to fill up the book make it pleasing to the tender, foolish female. But stop; -I am not paying due respect to the sex, and could I blot out the expression, I would do so; therefore regard it not, my dear sister."

CHAPTER II.

Mr. Knighton's return to Devonshire.-Appointed Assistant-Surgeon to the Royal Naval Hospital.-Correspondence in Rhyme.-Death of Dr. Geach.-Mr. Knighton's Law-suit against his Uncle.-He settles in Devonport. His Medical Practice.-Extracts from Letters to Mrs. T.

ON Mr. Knighton's return to Devonshire, his excellent friend Dr. Geach took him entirely under his own protection and roof, with the intention, as his own words expressed, "to model you as I like, introduce you into life and business, and make your talents known."

In the beginning of the year 1797 he procured him an appointment as assistantsurgeon to the Royal Naval Hospital, and also obtained a diploma from the University of Aberdeen for an essay on putrid fever by his young friend.