William[749], Oct. 4, 1630, “Your accounts of my son give me great pleasure:  if he goes on in the same manner, he will have reason to be satisfied with me.”  Gerard Vossius directed his studies; and by a letter[750] of thanks from Grotius to him, we learn that he was of an indolent turn.  “The exhortations you give Peter are worthy of the friendship you have always entertained for me and mine.  I cannot think why my children should be so idle; perhaps it is because they see their father’s diligence has turned to so little account.”

In 1634 Peter Grotius was sent to[751] Amsterdam to learn the use of the globes and navigation:  Grotius intended that he should afterwards serve in some expedition at sea:  he seems at this time to have designed him for a Sailor.  Peter had an inclination to learn Arabic under the learned Golius at Leyden:  but his Father would only suffer him to visit this eminent professor, and consult him about the pronunciation of that language, which he thought his son might learn without a master at his leisure hours.

Grotius was desirous that his son should make a voyage to the East-Indies[752], or, if that was too long a voyage, that he should go to the Brasils, or some other part of America, to learn what was not to be learnt at home, and might be of use to him afterwards.

Vossius, in the mean time, gave ample testimonials not only of Peter’s progress in the sciences, but also of his moral conduct.  He wanted to join, to the studies recommended to him by his father, that of Law; and Grotius was not against it.  He appears to have been somewhat uneasy about what this youth would do:  May 17, 1635, he writes to Vossius, “I should be glad to know what my son’s health will permit him to do, and to what his inclination leads him:  there are some things which will prevent his being agreeable at court, or his undertaking long journies by land.  I am not against his trying the sea; but I would not force any of my children against their inclination.  The make of his body would require a sedentary life; but I am afraid he has too much vivacity to bear with it.  I would beg of you to consult with himself and his friends on this subject; and at the same time to give me your own opinion.”

He writes again to Vossius some time after, that if his son had a dislike to long voyages, he would nevertheless have him study Commerce and Navigation rather than the quibbles of the Law:  “Not but a general knowledge of public law, and the laws of his own country, may be of use to him whatever manner of life he chuses:  but I would not have him make it his principal study; and remember Horace’s precept, to keep his eye ever on the mark.  If it is out of regard to me he wants to translate the Tragedy of Sophomphaneus, he deserves to be commended, even if he should make some mistakes:  however I should not be sorry if it were done by one more advanced in years, and better skilled in poetry.”