George Ticknor, Life, letters and journals of George Ticknor
George Hillard, Ed.

[502] my seat, and when I come to myself, I say, Omne est rectum. Gaudeo te esse presentum mecum in imaginatione . . . .

January 9, 1816.—In your absence, I dare say, you will never interest yourself in the politics of any nation. Every nation has her own peculiarities, and her party feelings and politics, and is as tenacious of her own opinions as we are, or have been, in this country. As every individual in a nation is as tenacious of his own opinion as the nation herself, so you will be willing he should enjoy it without any opposition. I know you are not violent in any of your opinions, and that is one of the best traits in your character, and it will always, should you live, give you comfort and consolation in old age.

October 22.—Your No. 46 tells us that, although you have given us accounts of duels and disturbances among the students, yet you have no interest in any of their concerns, but associate with few, and those are professors of the University, who can be of use to you in all your pursuits. This course I approve, and it must be of great advantage to you. I never supposed you would associate or become acquainted with any of the students. . . . . Your No. 49, of July 6, tells us also that you are a little sad. I am very sorry for it. You are too far from home to be sad. Brighten up, my son, we will do all for you we can. We can't be on the spot, you know. You must act the father, the mother, and son. We could do no more were we with you. Do the best for yourself you can, and we shall be satisfied. Your studies go on well, you say. That is great. This ought to rouse you from your sadness, and I am sure it will. You are studying systematically, you say, the moral and political state of Germany under Professor Saalfeld. I hope all your studies will be pursued systematically, so that you can call them into use whenever necessity requires. This, I think, has so long been your practice that it has now become habitual . . . .

November 4.—. . . . I am very glad to learn that you have been so fortunate as to have found such old and pleasant friends and companionable gentlemen as Professor Blumenbach and Judge Zacharia. You may remember, my son, that when you can please, and satisfy, and command their attention and esteem, and give them a fair opportunity to communicate to you, they will be infinitely more useful to you than young men of great learning, who lack in wisdom and experience. Therefore, if you mean to receive any benefit from the aged, give them an opportunity to tell their own story in their own way, and you will be improved, and they will be pleased. But they should never be contradicted, nor be told ‘I have often thought so ’