March came to the door at eleven, but hearing that supper was served, and almost over, and perhaps hearing of the company too, he went away; they were all good kind of people, and who I dare say had conversation enough in their own families, but although we were all related, we had not one word to say to one another.  There was Mr. Methuen, Lady Boston’s father, who seems to be a shrewd entertaining man, if he was where he found himself at home.  The cook, the housekeeper, and Maitre Jacques all exerted themselves, and did their parts tolerably well, but rien n’a pu me mettre a mon aise, and the more I tried to be at home, the more I was desoriente; so I believe I shall try some other kind of party for the future; otherwise I may say que le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle.  But now for your letter.

George’s subject is not the first in course, but it has taken the first place in my thoughts.  I do assure you that I am not his puff.  What I tell you of his reading is literally true; but it is not reading that expresses it, for I could have said as much if he had read nothing but the History of Cinder Breech and that kind of biography.  He read with me English History, and stopped for information, and showed an uncommon thirst for it.  He asked me as many questions in the History of George 1st concerning the South Sea Scheme, the prosecution of Lord Macclesfield, and the Barrier Treaty, as another boy would have asked me about Robinson Crusoe.  He likes other books too, and it is agreeable to hear him talk of them.  For which reason I should be glad, if you approved of it, that he had a choice of books, to a certain amount —­a little library—­as many as would fill a small bookcase.  Mr. Raikes tells me that he is remarkably careful of his books, and therefore was not displeased that those which you gave him I had well bound, and that it was a fair edition.  An early love of books will produce a desire to read, which amusements may suppress for a time, but is a constant resource against ennui.  I have been years without looking in a book, and God knows in my long life how few I have read; but when it has happened that I could, par force, do nothing else, I have collected together a number, began a piece of history, and have thought at last the day too short, because I wanted to read more; and this I attribute to having once read, although it was but a very little.  Rollin was the first author I read by choice. . . .

I am in hopes that your kindness to Storer will take place; il en est digne, soyez en assure, sur ma parole.  I never doubted, I was quite persuaded indeed, that you would do what you have done, and properly too.  I have been told that he is to have this place, but I have not seen him much lately.  I hope that he will dine here to-morrow, or on Tuesday, when all the Gregg family comes, and it may be, Dr. Warner.  Your letter to Hare was sent to him by the post of the day that I received it, and you will have had information of it, I doubt not, by this time.