home, and that I first see you, if I find you ungraceful in your address, and awkward in your person and dress, it will be impossible for me to love you half so well as I should otherwise do, let your intrinsic merit and knowledge be ever so great. [Same date.]
English Abroad.—I am informed there are now
many English at the Academy at Turin, and I fear
those are just so many dangers for you to encounter.
Who they are, I do not know; but I well know the
general ill conduct, the indecent behavior, and the
illiberal views of my young countrymen abroad;
especially wherever they are in numbers together.
Ill example is of itself dangerous enough; but those
who give it seldom stop there; they add their infamous
exhortations and invitations; and, if these fail,
they have recourse to ridicule, which is harder for
one of your age and inexperience to withstand than
either of the former. Be upon your guard, therefore,
against these batteries, which will all be played
upon you. You are not sent abroad to converse
with your own countrymen; among them, in general,
you will get little knowledge, no languages,
and, I am sure, no manners. I desire that you will
form no connections, nor (what they impudently
call) friendships, with these people; which are, in
