chearful, because they live under the government of a Sovereign, who is incessantly employed for the good of his subjects, and who does not think himself happy but in proportion as they are contented.

I advise you to wait upon his minister, Count Firmian, who by his knowledge and virtue, does honour at the same time to Religion, Learning, and Humanity.

Tell our good Father the Barnabite from me, that he shall have leave to come immediately to Rome, and that I shall be very glad to see him, provided (but that is between ourselves) that he is more laconic in his conversation than he is in his Letters. He thinks that he is obliged to pay me compliments till he is out of breath; to me tuo who have no claim to compliments, and who never desire that any should be made to me.

You surely will not neglect to go and see the Church where St. Augustine received the seal of Christianity. It is a place where I frequently poured forth my soul, in praying to God, that he would bestow upon me a small spark of that Heavenly fire which consumed that great Teacher, and

a compass, into the hand of a Spaniard, said Cardinal Portocarréro, who honoured me with his favour, and I answer his head will serve him well when it is time to execute.

Appoint me your agent for all your affairs and commissions; I accept that employment, but on condition that I be comprehended in your prayers, and that you remember before the Lord the poor Ganganelli, who so sincerely loves you. Endeavour to revive learning among your brethren : inspire them with horror against ambition, by filling them with emulation.

I love to see my Order flourish in learning and virtue, as to it I owe every thing, and never can forget it. I have seen some of its members, before whom I am confounded and humbled, and who bore with me in the kindest manner, at a time when I laboured under the greatest imperfections. I bear their images in my heart, from which nothing can ever obliterate them.

Assure all those who yet remember me, that except my hat, I am exactly what I was, still equally plain, equally chearful.

I shall take care of the execution of the commission you received to F. Pacciandi, (a Theatin)

with

with whose merit I have long been acquainted. He possesses in common with many of his brethren, a fund of learning equally useful and agreeable; and which has gained him the esteem of several Sovereigns.

I shall remember you to R. F. Jacquier, who at once does the honour to the Order of Minims, to France, and to Italy, as I do honour to myself, when I assure you of all the esteem with which I am,

Your affectionate, &c.

Convent of the Holy Apostles, 31st May, 1768.

1

LETTER CLXXVI.

TO THE SUPERIOR OF A COMMUNITY AT

PARIS.

REVEREND FATHER,

YOU could not have addressed yourself to a man who is more sincerely a friend to religious Orders than I am, but I imagine that the commis

which made him so zealous for the interests of the grace of Jesus Christ.

The person you mentioned to me is certainly very learned, but she does not come near to our friend, whom I look upon without prejudice as a prodigy of knowledge in Mathematics and Astronomy; and what is most excellent, he leaves it to others to say so, and is by no means sensible of his own merit.

I endeavour to repair the breaches which you have made in my Library, without being able to make any in that friendship which I have vowed to you for my life, and with which I am with all my heart,

Your most affectionate, &c.

HOME, Convent of the Holy Apostles, 27th April, 1768.

LETTER

LETTER CLXXV.

TO THE SAME.

REVEREND FATHER,

was cured of his

1 Told you that Cardinal prejudices. He has a great soul, and is therefore far above listening to the calumnies of informers.The case is not the same with ****; that man's understanding is as narrow as his heart, and he fritters away the greatest objects, that he may see them in little. Religion, that master-piece so vast and so sublime, is by him converted into a heap of all the minutia proscribed by the Gospel.

Your journey into Spain ought to console youfor quitting the Italians. They have a great resemblance, as is remarked in their manners, their imagination, and writings. I have made this observation in our general Chapters, where our Deputies from Spain have always amazed me by the depth and elevation of their powers. Put a pen,

a fcm