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the Field for conversation is on that head equally as
confined for I can inform you of nothing that you
do not either know, cannot most readily sup-
-pose. But for the want of something more in-
-teresting to relate I may be permitted to say how
often I wish for your presence to communicate the
thoughts that arise in my mind, some of which
perhaps I should cherish and others probably
I ought to banish; I often feel the disadvantages
of my mind not being in some degree under
a better guidance and in true like the World
in general I desire a good reason ardently
because I know it is not to be obtained – I wish
for your conversation, I think it essential to my
well being, and tho' no doubt it would contribute
infinitely to my happiness, the impossibility of
being gratified still enhances the value of the desire
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Lord Chesterfield recommends is not [to] be acquired in a Regimen-
tal society, a great insight into the human heart is. Every
day I see what I once would not have believed but be assured
my dear Father, I will pursue my own integrity of principles
amonst the many instances I may yet be doomed to see, to the con-
-trary. I will now advert to my studies. On the 18th of
last Month I took an Italian Master, at four dollars a month
& have already learned all that is most essential to be ac-
-quired of the Grammar, I can read prose tolerably well, and
can compose in Italian with tolerable accuracy. I asked
the Master some days since how many Scholars he had – he
told me several, but that altho' some he has attended four
Months, and others more, that none had made such ad-
-vancement as I had. If the Regiment continues six
Months in Sicily, I will be Master of the language.

I have improved myself wonderfully in French