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on you that you will not so misapply your time. There is, however, one science, the first and greatest of sciences to all men, and to merchants particularly-the science of Political Economy. To this I think your chief attention should be directed. It is in truth the science of your own profession, which counteracts the-(word lost with seal)-and narrow habits which that profession is sometimes apt to produce; and which is of perpetual appeal in every discussion on mercantile and financial affairs. A merchant well instructed in Political Economy must always be fit to lead the views of his brother merchants-without it, he is a mere trader. Do not lose a day, therefore, without providing yourself with a copy of Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations, and read and re-read it with attention-as I am sure you must read it with delight. In giving you this advice I consider you as a merchant, for as that is to be your profession in life, your test of the importance of any acquirement should be how far it will tend to render you an honourable and distinguished merchant;-a character of no small estimation in this commercial country. I therefore consider the physical sciences as greatly subordinate in relation to your prospects in life, and the society in which you will be called to mingle. All but chemistry require a greater preparation in mathematics than you probably have, and chemistry it is quite impossible to understand without some opportunity of seeing experiments systematically carried on. If, however, you have the opportunity to attend any of the lectures on that science in London, it will be well worth your while, and in that case I think you should purchase either Dr. Thompson’s or Mr. Murray’s new system of chemistry, so as to keep up constantly with your lecturer. Even of physics in general it is pleasant to have some view, however superficial, and therefore though you cannot expect without mathematics to have anything but a superficial view, you had better try to attain it. With this view you may read Gregory’s Economy of Nature, which though not a good book, and not always accurate, is, I believe, the best popular book we have, and sufficiently accurate for your purposes. Remember, however, that though you may be permitted to be a superifical natural philosopher, no such indulgence is to be given you in Political Economy.

“The only other circumstance remaining for me to request of you is that you will not suffer yourself to lose any of the languages you have acquired. Of the modern languages there is less fear, as your mercantile communications will in some measure keep them alive; but merchants do not correspond in Latin, and you may perhaps lose it unconsciously. Independently, however, of the admirable writers of whom you would thus deprive yourself, and considering the language merely as the accomplishment of a gentleman, it is of too great value to be carelessly resigned.

“Farewell, my dear sir. Accept the regard of all this family, and believe me, with every wish to be of service to you,

“Your sincere friend,

“T. BROWN.”

145. It may easily be conceived that a youth to whom such a letter as this was addressed by one of the chiefs of the purely intellectual circles of Edinburgh, would be

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