While he was thus employed to
such good purpose, and while his friends in their intercourse with him
constantly found a vigorous intellect and a lively imagination, it is
melancholy to read in his private register, 'My mind is unsettled and my
memory confused. I have of late turned my thoughts with a very useless
earnestness upon past incidents. I have yet got no command over my
thoughts; an unpleasing incident is almost certain to hinder my rest.'
What philosophick heroism was it in him to appear with such manly
fortitude to the world while he was inwardly so distressed! We may
surely believe that the mysterious principle of being 'made perfect
through suffering' was to be strongly exemplified in him.
On Sunday, April 19, being Easter-day, General Paoli and I paid him a
visit before dinner.
We talked of sounds. The General said, there was no beauty in a simple
sound, but only in an harmonious composition of sounds. I presumed to
differ from this opinion, and mentioned the soft and sweet sound of a
fine woman's voice.
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