Always Ask.—Never be ashamed nor afraid of asking questions; for if they lead to information, and if you accompany them with some excuse, you will never be reckoned an impertinent or rude questioner. All those things, in the common course of life, depend entirely upon the manner; and in that respect the vulgar saying is true, "That one man may better steal a horse, than another look over the hedge." [Same date.]
Two Heads.—I am very glad that Mr. Lyttelton
approves of my new house, and particularly of
my Canonical[1] pillars. My bust of Cicero is a very
fine one, and well preserved; it will have the best
place in my library, unless, at your return, you bring
me over as good a modern head of your own, which
I should like still better. I can tell you that I shall
examine it as attentively as ever antiquary did an
old one. [Same date.]
A Picture.—Duval, the jeweler, is arrived, and
was with me three or four days ago. You will easily
imagine that I asked him a few questions concerning
you; and I will give you the satisfaction of
knowing that, upon the whole, I was very well
pleased with the account he gave me. But, though
he seemed to be much in your interest, yet he fairly
- ↑ A pun; the pillars from Canons in Middlesex.
