Jane Wren was, by tradition, Sir Christopher’s favourite child, and when she died at the age of twenty-six Wren suffered the greatest sorrow of his life. Of his son Christopher’s boyhood we know little, but Sir Christopher wrote to him in France, probably in 1698, when the young man was twenty-three, a very charming parental letter, which has been preserved in the heirloom _Parentalia_. It runs as follows: MY DEAR SON, I hope by this time you are pretty well satisfied of the condition of the Climat you are in: if not, I believe you will ere Lent be over, and will learne to dine upon Sallad.... If you thinke you can dine better cheape in Italy you may trie, but I thinke the passing the Alpes and other dangers of disbanded armies and abominable Lodgings will ballance that advantage: but the seeing of fine buildings I perceive temptes you, and your companion Mr. Strong, whose inclination and interest leades him, by neither of which I can find you are moved; but how doth it concerne you? You would have it to say hereafter that you have seen Rome, Naples and other fine places, a hundred others can say as much and more; calculate whether this be worth the expence and hazard as to any advantage at youre returne. I sent you to France at a time of businesse and when you might make your observations and find acquaintance who might hereafter be usefull to you in the future concernes of your life: if this be your ayme I willingly let you proceed, provided you will soon returne, for these reasons, the little I have to leave you is unfortunately involved in trouble, and your presence would be a comfort to me to assist me, not only for my sake, but your own that you might understand your affaires, before it shall please God to take me from you, which if suddenly will leave you in perplexity and losse. I do not say all this out of parsimony, for what you spend will be out of what will, in short time, be your owne, but I would have you be a man of businesse as early as you can bring your thoughts to it. I hope, by your next you will give me account of the reception of our ambassador; of the intrigues at this time between the two nations, of the establishment of the commerce, and of anything that may be innocently talked of without danger and reflection, that I may perceive whither you look about you or noe and penetrate into what occurres, or whither the world passes like a pleasant dream, or the amusement of fine scenes in a play without considering the plot. If you have in ten weeks spent half your bill of exchange besides your gold, I confesse your money will not hold out, either abroad for yourself or for us at home to supply you, especially if you goe for Italy, which voyage forward and backward will take up more than twenty weekes: thinke well of it, and let me hear more from you, for though I would advise you, I will not discontent you. Mr. Strong hath