My Dear Boy:—
"Sunt quibus in Satirâ videar nimis acer."
I find, sir, you are one of those; though I cannot
imagine why you think so, unless something that I
have said, very innocently, has happened to be very
applicable to somebody or other of your acquaintance.
He makes the satire, who applies it, qui capit
ille facit. I hope you do not think I meant you, by
anything I have said; because, if you do, it seems to
imply a consciousness of some guilt, which I dare
not presume to suppose, in your case. I know my
duty too well, to express, and your merit too well to
entertain, such a suspicion. I have not lately read
the satirical authors you mention, having very little
time here to read. [Dublin, February, 1746.]
Inattention.—There is no surer sign in the
world of a little, weak mind, than inattention.
Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well;
and nothing can be done well without attention. It
is the sure answer of a fool, when you ask him
about anything that was said or done where he was
present, that "truly he did not mind it." And why
did not the fool mind it? What had he else to do
there, but to mind what was doing? A man of
sense sees, hears, and retains everything that passes
where he is. I desire I may never hear you talk of
