I cannot end this letter or (I believe) any other, without repeating my recommendation of the graces.  They are to be met with at Turin:  for God’s sake, sacrifice to them, and they will be propitious.  People mistake grossly, to imagine that the least awkwardness, either in matter or manner, mind or body, is an indifferent thing and not worthy of attention.  It may possibly be a weakness in me, but in short we are all so made:  I confess to you fairly, that when you shall come 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.  If that would be your case with me, as it really would, judge how much worse it might be with others, who have not the same affection and partiality for you, and to whose hearts you must make your own way.

Remember to write to me constantly while you are in Italy, in the German language and character, till you can write to me in Italian; which will not be till you have been some time at Rome.

Adieu, my dear boy:  may you turn out what Mr. Harte and I wish you.  I must add that if you do not, it will be both your own fault and your own misfortune.

LETTER LXX

London, May 15, O. S. 1749.

Dear boy:  This letter will, I hope, find you settled to your serious studies, and your necessary exercises at Turin, after the hurry and the dissipation of the Carnival at Venice.  I mean that your stay at Turin should, and I flatter myself that it will, be an useful and ornamental period of your education; but at the same time I must tell you, that all my affection for you has never yet given me so much anxiety, as that which I now feel.  While you are in danger, I shall be in fear; and you are in danger at Turin.  Mr. Harte will by his care arm you as well as he can against it; but your own good sense and resolution can alone make you invulnerable.  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 they 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