of arts and letters in Italy, will be
essentially connected with the elevation of the family and the fall of
the republic. The Medicis (stirps quasi fataliter nata ad instauranda
vel fovenda studia (Lipsius ad Germanos et Galles, Epist. viii.)) were
illustrated by the patronage of learning; and enthusiasm was the most
formidable weapon of their adversaries. On this splendid subject I shall
most probably fix; but when, or where, or how will it be executed? I
behold in a dark and doubtful perspective."

Res alta terra, et caligine mersas.

The youthful habits of the language and manners of France had left in my
mind an ardent desire of revisiting the Continent on a larger and more
liberal plan. According to the law of custom, and perhaps of reason,
foreign travel completes the education of an English gentleman: my
father had consented to my wish, but I was detained above four years by
my rash engagement in the militia. I eagerly grasped the first moments
of freedom: three or four weeks in Hampshire and London were employed
in the preparations of my journey, and the farewell visits of friendship
and civility: my last act in town was to applaud Mallet's new tragedy of
Elvira; a post-chaise conveyed me to Dover, the packet to Boulogne,
and such was my diligence, that I reached Paris on Jan. 28, 1763, only
thirty-six days after the disbanding of the militia. Two or three years
were loosely defined for the term of my absence; and I was left at
liberty to spend that time in such places and in such a manner as was
most agreeable to my taste and judgment.

In this first visit I passed three months and a half, (Jan. 28-May 9,)
and a much longer space might have been agreeably filled, without any
intercourse with the natives. At home we are content to move in the
daily round of pleasure and business; and a scene which is always
present is supposed to be within our knowledge, or at least within
our power. But in a foreign country, curiosity is our business and our
pleasure; and the traveller, conscious of his ignorance, and covetous
of his time, is diligent in the search and the view of every object that
can deserve his attention. I devoted many hours of the morning to the
circuit of Paris and the neighbourhood, to the visit of churches and
palaces conspicuous by their architecture, to the royal manufactures,
collections of books and pictures, and all the various treasures of art,
of learning, and of luxury. An Englishman may