me, had you rather be the brilliant De Stael or the useful Edgeworth?—­though De Stael is useful too, but it is on the grand scale, on liberalizing, regenerating principles, and has not the immediate practical success that Edgeworth has.  I met with a parallel the other day between Byron and Rousseau, and had a mind to send it to you, it was so excellent.’

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’Cambridge, Jan. 10, 1827.—­As to my studies, I am engrossed in reading the elder Italian poets, beginning with Berni, from whom I shall proceed to Pulci and Politian.  I read very critically.  Miss Francis[A] and I think of reading Locke, as introductory to a course of English metaphysics, and then De Stael on Locke’s system.  Allow me to introduce this lady to you as a most interesting woman, in my opinion.  She is a natural person,—­a most rare thing in this age of cant and pretension.  Her conversation is charming,—­she brings all her powers to bear upon it; her style is varied, and she has a very pleasant and spirited way of thinking.  I should judge, too, that she possesses peculiar purity of mind.  I am going to spend this evening with her, and wish you were to be with us.’

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’Cambridge, Jan. 3, 1828.—­I am reading Sir William Temple’s works, with great pleasure.  Such enlarged views are rarely to be found combined with such acuteness and discrimination.  His style, though diffuse, is never verbose or overloaded, but beautifully expressive; ’tis English, too, though he was an accomplished linguist, and wrote much and well in.  French, Spanish, and Latin.  The latter he used, as he says of the Bishop of Munster, (with whom he corresponded in that tongue,) “more like a man of the court and of business than a scholar.”  He affected not Augustan niceties, but his expressions are free and appropriate.  I have also read a most entertaining book, which I advise you to read, (if you have not done so already,) Russell’s Tour in Germany.  There you will find more intelligent and detailed accounts than I have seen anywhere of the state of the German universities, Viennese court, secret associations, Plica Polonica, and other very interesting matters.  There is a minute account of the representative government given to his subjects by the Duke of Weimar.  I have passed a luxurious afternoon, having been in bed from dinner till tea, reading Rammohun Roy’s book, and framing dialogues aloud on every argument beneath the sun.  Really, I have not had my mind so exercised for months; and I have felt a gladiatorial disposition lately, and don’t enjoy mere light conversation.  The love of knowledge is prodigiously kindled within my soul of late; I study much and reflect more, and feel an aching wish for some person with whom I might talk fully and openly.

’Did you ever read the letters and reflections of Prince de Ligne, the most agreeable