University of Virginia Library

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22

LETTER VIII.

I am very glad to find that you and Buona[1] are
pleased with your situation, and that you have begun to
learn French. At the same time, my son, if it is not incompatible
with Dr. Haller's plan of instruction, I wish you
both to resume your Latin. Present my respects to the
Doctor, and communicate this circumstance to him.

The following errors in your letter, a little care and reflection
would, I am persuaded, have led you to avoid.
"Have began" is not grammatical: began is the imperfect
tense of the verb begin; have begun is the perfect. "None
of us ever go in the street:" it should be into the street.
The preposition "by," instead of the verb buy, to purchase.
"Mellons," for melons. "I am dictated by the
corrections, &c.," is not good English: it should be, I am
directed by, &c. There can be no excuse for false orthography:
and what but inattention could have caused the errors
I have noted, or occasioned Buona to spell watch, thus—
"wacth?" God bless you both, my children.