Dear Charley/—

As I had not an opportunity of seeing you on the Saturday Night previous to your breaking up, I must now like “a friend misericord” just warn you against the Encouragement of idleness, to which I know you are ever fully inclined. I s^d— advise you to read some of Xenophon’s Philosophical Treatises which you will find in the Dalzel² p. 297 in my edition, immediately following the Excerpta Rhetorica. I have great reason to believe that Iliff³ will set you some part from that selection: and if he does not, the words that you will meet with in Xenophon, are continually used by all other authors, and consequently will in the end prove of advantage. I can form no idea with regard to Wakefield⁴ as a master— he’ll never fill the place of his good predecessor Sheepshanks,⁵ our mutual friend, tho’ when at School he shewed me very much attention. Read Hor: Od: 1–24⁶ and think of Sheepshanks, bearing in mind that “desiderio” in the first line means “regret” and answers to the Greek πόθος. If you will ride over here, I shall at all times feel much gratification in helping you over any difficulties that occur, if I can, for you well know my abilities:— “My loom” as Shakespeare has somewhere observed “is of a mingled yarn”,⁷ — to speak in more plain English I am very stupid. Do you remember ever quibbling with me as to the right pronuntiation of sloth? You, if such a trifle has not fled your mind, w^d always call it short—thus slŏth.— I will transcribe two lines from our sweet poët Goldsmith which will indubitably confi⁠⟨⁠rm my⁠⟩⁠ opinion

“The robe that wraps his limbs ⁠⟨⁠in⁠⟩⁠ silken sloth Has robb’d the neighb’ring fields of half their growth”

These lines you will find in the Deserted Village, and I beg you will henceforward call it “slōth”—mei memor. When you write remember me very kindly to Old Strol—⁸

Hastily, Your very Sincere Friend | John Warter

Cruck-Meole⁹

Dec: 23^rd. 1824 | Thursday Morning—