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ageously to prosecute your studies more in detail. I am deeply solicitous that, with an accurate knowledge of your particular professions, which will be essential to your success in them, you should unite that general science which will so much increase your usefulness, your reputation, and your enjoyment in after life. Of the importance of an intimate acquaintance with the classics, as the depositaries of fine sentiments (doubtless with some trash, and worse than trash,) but as the unrivalled and unimpeached standards of all that is eloquent and correct in taste, I trust I need not say any thing to you, and I have no doubt you both pursue these most important studies. Of physical and moral science you learned only the elements at college, and these you must enlarge, particularly in physical science, mineralogy, and botany, which will increase so much, to say no more, your enjoyment of the works of nature. The knowledge of the modern languages of French and Italian is, on many accounts, important, and almost indispensable; and I hope by my return that you will understand both, and be able to converse at least in the former. Various studies may be carried on at the same time, provided this be done steadily and systematically. I rejoice to learn from Dayton's letter, that Professor M'Vickar has been so good as to give you his advice. ***.

"But what, my dear son, affords me the highest consolation, is the belief that you and your brother do not neglect what should be paramount to every other concern, the securing of your Christian privileges, and preparing for that future life which is to be the final destiny of our being.

"A long letter which I wrote to your sisters in November last, from Basle, in Switzerland, gave you some of those details with respect to my travels which you desired. To attempt to tell you all that I have seen, is out of the question. I keep a kind of diary in travelling, and make notes in the guide books which I have, which may perhaps hereafter afford me and my family some amusement.

"You wish to know whether I have had a servant. I got one soon after I arrived in England, and he is still with me. And yet I have often wished that! could do without him, for though much better that the generality, he is in some respects a great plague to me. But, situated as I have been, particularly in regard to health, a servant was indispensable. Terrible indeed would have been my situation, ifI had been without him when I was sick last June on the lonely mountain of Radicofani, and afterwards at Sienna, when he was my only nurse. I bought a carriage last spring at Paris, which I still have, and in which I travel post. The roads are excellent wherever I have travelled, far superior to ours in America. The countries which have most interested me were Switzerland and the Tyrol. But the cities of Italy are more interesting than any others. "Your affectionate father,

"J. H. HOBART.'

From Bishop Hobart to Mrs. Hobart.

"Rome, April 23, 1825

"I shall set off in a few days for the north of Italy

in company with Mr. Dash and his family, which

circumstance will add much to the comfort and pleasure of my journey, which hitherto, from my travelling alone, has not contributed as much as it would probably otherwise have done to my health and spirits. It is dreary travelling any where alone, and especially in a strange land. Some time in June I expect to reach England, and I am exceedingly desirous to be present at the commencement of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, after which I shall lose no time in returning to my home, which I am impatient to see, and to my duties, on which I long again to enter. ***.

"Ever most affectionately yours,

"J. H. HOBART."

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From the same to the same.

"Genoa, May 21, 1825.

"I found my health so much improving at Rome, that I was induced to prolong my stay there. * I am in hopes that I have got rid of my bilious complaint, and wish that I could say the same of the dyspepsia. I intend to pass through Switzerland on my way to England, and to try riding on horseback among the mountains, with a view of strengthening my system. This exercise I am persuaded would be of the greatest service, but hitherto I have not been strong enough to use it for any length of time. I expect to be in England towards the latter end of next month, and then, after passing a few days in Ireland, to take my passage from Liverpool for home to join my beloved family, my friends, my congregations, and my VOL. I. 40

diocese, never more, I trust, during life to be separated from them.

I shall have a great deal to say to you about Italy. When I was here last year, I was so unwell that I could not enjoy it; but I must now join the general voice, and pronounce it a most lovely country and climate. I left Mr. Dash and his family at Florence, and may probably see them again in the north of Italy, on their way to Geneva; but this is uncertain. The road from Florence to this place passes through a most delightful country, and affords the richest views-the fertile vale of Arno, and then the Appennines on the Gulf of Genoa, the summits of which, lofty and picturesque, but naked, finely contrast with their sides, which are loaded with olive, fig, chesnut, and other trees, and with vines and grain, exhibiting the most crowded and luxuriant vegetation I ever saw.

"This is a remarkable and splendid city, but not perhaps as much so as Venice, in some respects. Your information of the health and improvement of our children delights me. That God may bless you and them, is the prayer of

"Your ever affectionate,

"J. H. HOBART

From Bishop Hobart to myself.

"Geneva, July 12, 183

"I am really apprehensive that you will begin think that your friend is not disposed speedilyt return to his family, his congregations, or his dioces But the truth undoubtedly is, that had I done s

at an earlier period, I could not have indulged the reasonable expectation that I should have been able permanently to enjoy my family, or to have discharged my duties to my congregations or to my diocese. My health, indeed, had been gradually improving through the winter, but I had still frequent and serious monitions that my complaints were not substantially removed. * * *.

"I had every reason to believe that a return to the cares and duties which, in an increased degree would press upon me at home, would bring on a renewal of my former complaints. I felt it a duty to make a decided and vigorous effort to renew my constitution, and I was induced to believe that exercise, on foot and on horseback, among the Alps of Italy and Switzerland, would produce this effect. The winter, however, lingers so long in those high regions, as you know, that travelling there is not safe or practicable until June. For nearly this month past I have been among the Alps, and with the happiest effect on my health, of which I can give you no better proof than that, between the 16th of June and the 10th of this month, I have passed over, in different places, the Alps of Italy and Switzerland twenty times; have travelled about three hundred miles on foot, often several days successively between twenty and thirty miles up and down steep and lofty mountains; concluding this Alpine expedition by passing over the Great St. Bernard and round Mont Blanc to this place, where I arrived on Saturday last; and I now feel myself as well as I ever was. The fact is, that my complaints are of a nature only to be removed by a

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