which he earnestly sought to dissuade him from proceeding either with the essays or with the studies which led to them. Among my father's letters in answer were the following:

"DEAR FATHER,

"London, Oct. 6th, 1793.

"I received your very kind letter yesterday morning. With respect to my past behaviour, I have often said, and I now assure you, that it did not proceed from any real disaffection, but merely from the nervous disorder to which, you well know, I was so much subject. This was really the case; however improbable it may appear. Nothing particular occurred from the time I wrote last, till the Saturday following. On the Wednesday before, Corrie had given me a theme. As it was not a subject suited to my genius, and from other causes, I had not written any thing on it: so that I was not pleased to hear his bell on Saturday morning, which was the time for showing our themes. When I came to him, he asked me whether I had prepared my theme. I told him I had not. You should have a very good reason indeed, sir, says he, for neglecting it. Why really, sir, says I, I could not write it.

Did you never write any thing, then, says he? Yes, sir, I said; I have written some things.

Very well, then, go along and write your theme immediately, said he. I accordingly went away, but did not make much progress in my theme; an hour after, when his bell rang for another lecture. My eyes were much swollen, and I assumed as sullen a countenance as I could, intimating that he had not treated me well. After the lecture, as I was going away, he called me back, and asked me very mildly if I had never written any thing. I answered, I had written several things. On which he desired me to let him see one of my compositions, if I had no objection. I immediately took him my Essay on Laws, and gave it to him. When he had read it, he asked me a few questions on the subject, which I answered very satisfactorily, I believe. Well, sir, says he, I wish you'd write some more such things as this. Why, sir, said I, I intended to write several things which I have planned, but that I could not write any of them in a week, or two or three weeks. What did you intend to write? says he. Among other things, I told him that I intended to enlarge and improve the essay he had been reading. Aye, says he, I wish you would. Well, I will do it then, sir, said I. Do so, said he; take your own time now; I shall not ask you for it; only write it as soon as you can, for I shall often be

*

thinking of it, and very desirous of it. This he repeated once or twice. On this I wished him a good morning, and came away, very well pleased with the reception I had met. The Greek class which I have been in this week consists of two old students, J. Mason, and myself. I think that I translate more correctly, and much better, than any of them. The other day, Mason was laughing at me, while I was translating a passage, on account of my way of speaking. Says Corrie to him, 'Mr Mason, you should be sure you can translate yours as well as Mr Hazlitt does his, before you laugh at your neighbours.'

"I believe I am liked very well by the students, in general. I am pretty intimate with one of them, whose name is Tonson. F. Swanwick has been hitherto in a different class; but on applying to Corrie, he has been put into the same class with me. Farewell!

66

"I am your affectionate son,

"W. HAZLITT."

66

DEAR FATHER,

Sunday evening.

"I received your letter safely on Monday. On the preceding Saturday I finished the introduction to my Essay on the Political State

of Man,' and showed it to Corrie. He seemed very well pleased with it, and desired me to proceed with my Essay as quickly as I could. After a few definitions, I give the following sketch of my plan :—

"In treating on the political state of man, I shall, first, endeavour to represent his natural political relations, and to deduce from these his natural political duties, and his natural political rights; and, secondly, to represent his artificial political relations, and to deduce from these his artificial political duties, and his artificial political rights.' This I think an excellent plan. I wish I could execute it to my own satisfaction. I hope, however, to do it tolerably by Christmas. I have already got the greatest part of the ideas necessary, though in a crude and undigested state; so that my principal business will be to correct and arrange them. But this will be a terrible labour, and I shall rejoice most heartily when I have finished it.

"Corrie seemed much pleased with some of my translations this week.

"I passed the Ass's Bridge very safely and very solitarily on Friday. I like Domine (that

is the name by which Dr Rees goes here) and

his lectures very much.

"I am your affectionate son,

"WILLIAM HAZLITT."

"DEAR FATHER,

"I was sorry to hear from your two last letters that you wish me to discontinue my Essay, as I am very desirous of finishing it, and, as I think it necessary to do so. For I have already completed the two first propositions, and the third I have planned, and shall be able to finish in a very short time; the fourth proposition, which will be the last, will consist only of a few lines. The first section you know I have done for some time; and the first and fourth propositions are exactly similar to the first, second, and fourth of the second section, so that I have little else to do than to alter a few words. The third will consist principally of observations on government, laws, &c. most of which will be the same with what I have written before in my Essay on Laws. My chief reason for wishing to continue my observations is, that by having a particular system of politics, I shall be better able to judge of the truth or falsehood of any principle which I hear or read, and of the justice or the contrary of any political transactions. Moreover, by comparing my own system with those of others, and with particular facts, I shall have it in my power to correct and improve it continually. But I can have neither

VOL. I.

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