| Description | (Directed to the Hotel de Chaulnes, rue d'Enfer. A portion of the letter has been torn away.)
I yesterday receiv'd my dear son's letter of the 5th instant, after begining to dispair of ever receiving another, as the last was of the 30 January.
You must own that I have good grounds to suspect that you have been very idle, or very ill, or perhaps both, for one is often a natural consequence of the other; however, I should hope for the best if I knew how to find an excuse for you. You know my sentiments from my former letters respecting the necessity of constant application in the acquireing of knowledge, the cultivating of honorable and virtuous principles, and the avoiding of improper company, particularly that of young Englishmen at Paris.
I agree with you in opineon that it may be proper to learn a little German before you go into that country, and if dureing the little time you stay at Paris you think you can acquire a little of that language I have no objection to your takeing a master, but at the same time you must not neglect writing a French letter every day and reading alowd to Mr. Manuel, in order to exercise your ear and your organs of speech. When one observes the children who are born upon the borders of France and Germany speak two languages distinct by the time they are three years of age, I have no doubt but you may learn German without hazarding the spoiling of your French.
I beg you will go to Mr. Droz directly and present my best compliments, and tell him I have receiv'd his letter of the 3d and that I have also receiv'd two small boxes per dilligence, the one containing impressions of the new dye in lead, with four ecus, &c., and the other ten (viz. four gilt and six copper*) specimens of the copper sous, which gave me much pleasure. [Marginal note, upside-down at the head of the page: * Mr. Droz says "14 demy sols, savoir six dorré et huit en cuivre," but there is only four dorre and six en cuivre. Pray enquire into this mistake.] I have deliver'd part of them this morning to our Lords of Council, who also were pleased with them, but since my return home I have receiv'd the inclosed from Lord Hawksbury, who is the President of the Council, and I beg you will read and explain his remarks to Mr. Droz, whom I must request to do a new die of the Britania, hopeing he hath reserved a puncheon or an original of it, for I am sorry to observe that the die is broke in the hardening or tempering, or in the striking of the pieces. It takes off so much of the bea. . . of haveing one qu. . . and the figure sh. . . As soon as Mr. . . . milling upon th. . . a few may be m. . . lately sent hi[m] . . . English whic[h] . . .
But pray obse[rve] . . . some perfect piece[s] . . . [w]ill finish the draw. . . for all the part[s] of the presses, as I [have] great fears that they will not be executed in good time.
I beg you'l begin to be a man of business. Be silent about every thing that passes between me and Mr. Droz; call on him often and urge him to expedition, and write me as often how he goes on. It is the only business you can assist me in at Paris at present.
Your sister is here with me, but we shall return home on Saturday. She desires her love to you and joins with me in every kind wish for you.
Please to present my kind compliments to Mr. Manuel and to all my friends and favourites in rûe Coqheron. God bless and preserve your soul and body, remaining ever your very affectionate father,
M. Boulton
[Edited transcript.] |