“I am extremely sorry,”—said this gentleman, after replying to some other parts of Mr. Rittenhouse’s letter—“to find your Ambition so low, as to render you indifferent to that _Fame_ to which you might justly aspire; and your Spirits so sunk, as to put you out of humour with the world. My dear Brother, what can this be owing to? You have, indeed, received a severe blow: but I am sure that your Philosophy has taught you, with the Poet,—that, “To be from all things that disquiet, free, Is not consistent with Humanity.” “Your case is not singular;—nay, it is favourable in comparison with that of thousands. Though you have been deprived of one comfort, yet many have been continued to you; such as, a tolerable share of health—-your children—the means of subsistence—the esteem of your friends—the applause of your countrymen, &c. &c. Banish therefore, I beseech you, this serious sadness—these melancholy reflections; which, if _Dr. Cadogan_[165] is to be credited, must be more injurious to your health than any other cause can be.” ----- Footnote 165: Dr. William Cadogan’s “Dissertation on the Gout and all Chronic Diseases,” &c. made its appearance in America about that time; and the Rev. Mr. Barton, who had long experienced an hereditary gouty affection, then thought favourably of the Doctor’s general theory, although he could not adopt that ingenious theorist’s doctrine, denying the existence of any hereditary diseases. ----- “I know not, indeed, what kind of _Melancholy_ yours can be. To use the words of the immortal Shakespeare,— “You have neither the Scholar’s Melancholy, Which is Emulation; nor the Musician’s, Which is fantastical; nor the Courtier’s, Which is Pride; nor the Lawyer’s, which is politic; Nor the Lady’s, which is nice; nor the Lover’s, Which is all these: but it is a Melancholy Of your own,—compounded of many simples, Extracted from many objects,—and, indeed, The sundry Contemplation of the”——STARS. “If you will promise to pardon your saucy niece, I will tell you what she attributes it to. She says you are _in Love_; and, really, you seem to insinuate as much, yourself: If it be so, I sincerely wish you success in your “Addresses;” or a happy deliverance from the effects of Love.” “It would give me great pleasure to hear, that you had fairly resolved upon going to England;[166] because it would be the means not only of cheering your spirits, but of establishing your interest as well as reputation. You give me some hopes of seeing you soon: your Sister and I would be extremely glad, indeed, to see you at Lancaster.[167] ----- Footnote 166: